Bill Moyers and Luis Alberto Urrea on The Devil's Highway

Moyers & Company

8 May 201204:37

Summary

TLDRThe speaker initially approached the U.S. Border Patrol with a preconceived negative bias, viewing them as 'bastards' due to personal and cultural reasons. However, through interactions with agents, particularly Senior Supervisory Agent Ken Smith, his perspective changed dramatically. Smith's openness and humanity, especially during a revealing moment on the 'Devil's Highway,' challenged the speaker's assumptions. The agents' request for an honest portrayal, despite potential personal risks, highlights a desire for truth in media representation, often felt to be lacking.

Takeaways

📚 The speaker initially had a negative perception of the U.S. Border Patrol, viewing them as 'bastards' due to personal biases and experiences.
🔍 The speaker's attitude towards the Border Patrol began to change after engaging with them, realizing that their initial interactions were a form of testing.
👮‍♂️ Senior Supervisory Agent Ken Smith played a pivotal role in altering the speaker's perspective, showing a human side to the Border Patrol agents.
🛣️ The 'Devil's Highway' is a significant location both historically and in the context of the speaker's book, symbolizing a place of dark and complex history.
🌵 The speaker describes the stark reality of the borderlands, emphasizing the absence of a physical barrier and the stark contrast between the U.S. and Mexico.
🔒 The Border Patrol's actions were under scrutiny in the script, with allegations that they may have intentionally caused a catastrophe for their own purposes.
🤝 The speaker highlights a turning point in their relationship with the Border Patrol when they were trusted with sensitive information despite their preconceived notions.
💔 The emotional impact of being trusted by the Border Patrol agents is underscored, as they handed over their careers and reputations to the speaker's narrative.
📖 The agents' request for the speaker to tell the truth about them, despite potential personal risks, emphasizes their desire for an accurate portrayal in the media.
🔍 The speaker acknowledges the agents' feeling of being misrepresented by the media and their hope for a fair and honest account of their work.
🌟 The script conveys a message of transformation and understanding, as the speaker's journey leads to a deeper appreciation of the Border Patrol's role and humanity.

Q & A

What was the initial perception of the U.S. Border Patrol by the speaker?
-The speaker initially perceived the U.S. Border Patrol as the 'bad guys', influenced by his background in the Chicano literary world and personal experiences.
What was the speaker's initial approach to writing about the U.S. Border Patrol?
-The speaker approached the subject with a preconceived notion of the Border Patrol being antagonistic, without prior personal interaction or understanding of them.
How did the speaker's view of the U.S. Border Patrol change over time?
-The speaker's view changed after spending time with the Border Patrol, particularly with Senior Supervisory Agent Ken Smith, who showed him their work and humanized the agents.
What significant event in the speaker's research involved Ken Smith?
-Ken Smith took the speaker on patrol, showed him how to track and read the dirt, and had a heart-to-heart conversation on the significance of the Border Patrol's work.
Why did the speaker feel that the U.S. Border Patrol initially made his life difficult?
-The speaker believes they were testing his resolve and authenticity, as it's not common for someone to walk into a police organization and request access to their secrets.
What was the turning point in the speaker's relationship with the Border Patrol agents?
-The turning point was when the agents began to trust the speaker and shared their personal experiences and perspectives, despite knowing his background and potential biases.
What did the speaker learn about the Border Patrol agents that surprised him?
-The speaker was surprised to learn that the Border Patrol agents had hearts and souls, and that they cared deeply about being truthfully represented in his writing.
What did the speaker discover about the Border Patrol's perception of the media?
-The speaker discovered that the Border Patrol felt misrepresented and misunderstood by the media, and they sought someone who would tell their truth.
What was the speaker's final takeaway from his interactions with the Border Patrol?
-The speaker's final takeaway was the importance of truth in nonfiction writing and the trust that the Border Patrol agents placed in him to tell their story accurately.
How did the speaker describe the location of the 'Devil's Highway'?
-The 'Devil's Highway' is described as a dirt road in southern Arizona along the border, with a history of dark and significant events, and is also the endpoint of Cormac McCarthy's 'Blood Meridian'.
What did the speaker mean when he said the agents were his 'jackbooted thugs in shining armor'?
-This phrase signifies the speaker's realization that despite their tough exterior and the negative preconceptions, the Border Patrol agents were protective and had a noble purpose.

Outlines

00:00

🤔 Initial Bias and Encounters with U.S. Border Patrol

The speaker begins with an admission of initial arrogance and bias against the U.S. Border Patrol, stemming from personal and political beliefs. They recount their initial perception of the Border Patrol as the 'bad guys' due to past experiences and the Chicano literary background. The speaker describes their challenging introduction to the Border Patrol, where they were initially met with resistance and testing of their resolve. This experience was part of their research for the book 'The Devil's Highway,' which discusses a catastrophe possibly caused by the Border Patrol for their own purposes.

🛡️ Transformation of Perception through Personal Connection

The narrative shifts as the speaker recounts a transformative experience with Senior Supervisory Agent Ken Smith, who played a significant role in the book. Ken Smith took the speaker on patrol, demonstrating tracking and reading the terrain, revealing a depth of skill and humanity that challenged the speaker's preconceived notions. A pivotal moment occurred on the actual 'Devil's Highway,' where Ken Smith confronted the speaker's assumptions, leading to a profound realization about the complexity of the Border Patrol agents' roles and the speaker's own biases.

🤝 The Power of Trust and the Quest for Truth

The speaker reflects on the trust that was placed in them by the Border Patrol agents, despite their potential to be critical. This trust was a significant turning point, as it demonstrated the agents' desire for an honest portrayal of their work and lives. The agents, feeling misrepresented by the media, asked for a truthful account of their experiences, which the speaker acknowledges as a responsibility and a moment of 'grace.' The narrative concludes with the speaker's commitment to tell the truth about the Border Patrol, recognizing the importance of accurate representation.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Devil's Highway

The 'Devil's Highway' refers to a treacherous desert route in southern Arizona along the U.S.-Mexico border. In the video's context, it is the setting for a significant event that the narrator is investigating. The term is used to describe both the physical location and the metaphorical danger and darkness associated with it.

💡U.S. Border Patrol

The 'U.S. Border Patrol' is a law enforcement agency under the U.S. Customs and Border Protection responsible for securing the borders of the United States. In the script, the narrator initially views them with skepticism and bias, but later gains a more nuanced understanding of their role and humanity.

💡Chicano literary world

The 'Chicano literary world' represents a cultural and literary movement that focuses on the experiences of Mexican-Americans. The narrator's background in this world influences his initial perception of the Border Patrol and frames the cultural lens through which he approaches his subject.

💡Catastrophe

In the script, 'catastrophe' refers to a tragic event that occurred in the desert, possibly involving the U.S. Border Patrol. It is a central event that the narrator is investigating, and it is suggested that the Border Patrol may have played a role in it, intentionally or not.

💡Trials and lawsuits

The terms 'trials' and 'lawsuits' indicate legal proceedings related to the events on the Devil's Highway. These legal actions are part of the broader narrative that the narrator is exploring, and they contribute to the complexity and controversy surrounding the Border Patrol's actions.

💡Ken Smith

Ken Smith is a 'senior supervisory agent' of the U.S. Border Patrol who becomes a key figure in the narrator's journey. He is portrayed as a bridge between the narrator's initial prejudices and the eventual understanding and respect he gains for the Border Patrol.

💡Rescue run

A 'rescue run' is a mission to save individuals in distress, often used in the context of law enforcement or emergency services. In the script, it is mentioned as an action led by Ken Smith, highlighting the humanitarian aspect of the Border Patrol's work.

💡Tracking and reading the dirt

The phrase 'tracking and reading the dirt' is used metaphorically to describe the skill and expertise of the Border Patrol agents in following and interpreting signs left by people moving through the desert. It is an example of the practical knowledge that the narrator learns from Ken Smith.

💡Blood Meridian

'Blood Meridian' is a reference to a novel by Cormac McCarthy, which ends at the Devil's Highway. The mention of this novel adds a layer of literary and historical context to the location and its significance, suggesting a long history of violence and struggle.

💡Jack-booted thug

The term 'jack-booted thug' is used to describe a harsh or oppressive figure, often associated with authoritarian regimes. In the script, it is initially how the narrator perceives the Border Patrol, but it becomes a point of transformation when Ken Smith challenges this stereotype.

💡Trust and truth

The concepts of 'trust' and 'truth' are central to the narrative. The Border Patrol agents trust the narrator to tell their story truthfully, despite potential risks. This trust is a turning point in the story, leading to a deeper understanding and empathy from the narrator.

Highlights

The author initially had a negative perception of the U.S. Border Patrol, viewing them as the 'bad guys' due to past experiences and biases.

The Border Patrol initially tested the author with intimidation to gauge his resolve before opening up.

Senior Supervisory Agent Ken Smith played a pivotal role in changing the author's perspective, showing him the human side of Border Patrol agents.

The author learned tracking and reading the dirt techniques from Ken Smith, gaining insight into the Border Patrol's skills and methods.

A transformative moment occurred on the actual Devil's Highway, where Ken Smith challenged the author's preconceived notions about Border Patrol agents.

The Devil's Highway is a significant location in both history and literature, adding depth to the author's experience and narrative.

Ken Smith's self-description as a 'jack-booted thug in shining armor' was a turning point for the author, humanizing the Border Patrol agents.

The author was surprised to find that Border Patrol agents have hearts and souls, contrary to his initial assumptions.

Border Patrol agents trusted the author with their stories and careers, despite knowing his background and potential biases.

The agents' main request was for the author to tell the truth about them, as they felt misrepresented by the media.

The author emphasizes the importance of truth-telling in nonfiction writing, especially when dealing with sensitive subjects and people's livelihoods.

The narrative highlights the complexity and humanity of individuals working in law enforcement, challenging stereotypes.

The author's journey from prejudice to understanding reflects the power of personal connection and empathy in overcoming bias.

The story serves as a reminder that first impressions and assumptions can be misleading and that deeper understanding requires engagement.

The author's experience with the Border Patrol illustrates the need for open-mindedness and the willingness to challenge one's own beliefs.

The narrative underscores the importance of accurate media representation and the impact it has on the public's perception of law enforcement.

The author's account provides a unique perspective on the U.S.-Mexico border situation, offering insights beyond the typical headlines.