In her talk Walk in My Shoes: 30 Days and Immigration, Dr. Kristina Campos considers how to foster empathy in a world marked by division. Her Spotlight begins with Morgan Spurlock’s series 30 Days, part documentary and part reality show, that in 2006 took volunteer border-patrolman Frank George and asked him to live for 30 days with a family of illegal Mexican immigrants in East LA. For our purposes, the political discussion of immigration offers an important set of rhetorical positions to consider, to weigh, and to understand.
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LISTEN to Cornerstone Podcast – Kim MacQuarrie, documentary filmmaker.
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Morgan Spurlock, 30 Days Resources
- Season 2: Immigration episode (49 min)
- Life After Film School: Morgan Spurlock (24 min)
Documentary filmmaker Morgan Spurlock talks about his career after Super Size Me, socially-relevant independent films, and the way technology is changing the future of film.
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Spotlight Resources
Biography
Dr. Kristina Campos is an assistant professor of communication whose research interests include presidential speeches and immigration rhetoric.
25 responses to “Walk in My Shoes”
(Spoiler alert)
I watched the Immigration episode and found myself really touched by the experience Frank went through. A must watch for anyone who wishes to see humanity at its extremes. To see Frank’s transformation from staunch deport all illegals to wanting to help through legal means is a powerful symbol of how human connection can change the hearts of people, even the most hardened of hearts. I never have been well versed in the debate of illegal immigration enough to have a strong opinion on it, but this documentary helped me to see that everyone is a person first, and that citizenship, race and gender all come after. We all are in this together and we should treat everyone as our own. It’s a difficult thing to do, but when people act as if their neighbor is really is their brother or sister, their whole life changes.
After watching the Immigration episode about Frank and then talking about it again today, I really connected because this summer I went to Lesotho, Africa and the situation there for the Basotho is basically the same as the situation of those people living in poverty in Mexico. It was hard watching the clips again today because it just touches my heart to see people like that suffer for no reason, when it’s not their faults!
In specific response to today’s discussion with Dr. Campos, I struggle with the illegal immigration issue because I generally “straddle the line”. I’m not completely against all immigration(even illegal),but yet I’m also not for all immigration either. I think this week’s topic continues with last week’s of loving people and trying to understand.. because I see both sides of the issues and I see the pros and cons to each person and their struggles. I think the real question is how do we learn to truly LOVE people and care for them in spite of their struggles/situations/shortcomings??
I can definitely relate to Bailey in the fact that it’s a constant struggle of human nature against compassion and empathy. I can almost side with both Frank and the family. On the one hand, there needs to be laws about immigration and how to control it and protect as best we can. But at the same time, the situation with the Gonzalez family is tragic and that’s why there is a need for aid for others in similar situation. We don’t live in a perfect world sadly because we have fallen from his grace. But we need empathy to found relationships and to drive us to be God’s hands and feet as Dr. Kampos said. It goes hand in hand with Dr. Beck’s saying loving the sinner and hating the sin and even farther back to God’s commandment to love one another as Christ loved the church. I don’t think there is a cut and dry question to how we love except for when we submit fully and completely to what God calls us individually to do and He lives through us.
Well said, Joshua! :)
I use to think that “my life could be better” not that anything “bad” was going on in my life, just not being satisfied with what I already had. Sometimes you think you’ve got things going on, but in reality there is a whole another world out there hurting day and night. I’ve been on a couple of missions trip to Mexico and saw the poverty that filled the lives of individuals. I never though had the experience to actually “take a walk in their shoes”.
After though finishing the video in which Frank got to experience what it was like on the other side made something inside of me break down. Thinking that there are plenty of people who are close and narrow minded not worrying about anyone but themselves and thinking their way is the only way. Its hard, but I admit to having such thoughts. I think then of what God does for us daily, by paying the ultimate sacrifice for our sake, so that we are free in Him, and able to show His love to all those around us.
In the end Frank did not change his views concerning illegel immigrants, but saw though what people went through on a daily basis, and I believe learned how to be compassionate toward the Rodriquez family. The family showed Frank that no matter what they loved and took care of each other despite of their views or circumstances. I believe that every person should have that kind of a heart.
I am really blessed to have watched this video, and learning that we were called to look and care for one another, it pleases God.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100927/ap_on_bi_ge/us_immigration_jobs_4
TO ME NO ONE CAN SAY SOME ONE ELSE LIFE IF THEY HAVEN’T LIVE IN THERE SHOES SO WHY TELL SOMEBODY HOW THEY LIVED AND ANOTHER THING ITS BAD HOW PEOPLE LOOK DOWN ON IMMIGRANTS I MEAN EVERYONE IS EQUAL THAT’S WHAT I SAY AND FEEL THAT EVERYONE SHOULD TREAT ONE ANOTHER THE SAME AS HOW THEY WOULD WANT TO BE TREATED. D.BROWN
the video ”30days” remind me one news in my country. the news was about illegal immigrants family. they have 2 kids. the kids were born in Japan, so they were not illegal. but their parents were illegal. the government didn’t allow them to stay in japan. as a result, they went back to their country, and their kids are living in japan today.
lows are suppose to protect people, but sometimes lows hurt people. I think most of immigrants have reason. some of them have no choice but being immigrants so that they can live. this is a sad fact, but i think these kind of problems will be more obvious because the world is getting complicated..
the 30 days videos makes you think a lot . if i was put in that situation i really wouldnt want to send the immigrants home, because they are hard working and they do jobs that we wouldn’t want to do, and they also contribute to society which is a good thing.The immigrants came here because they did not have a choice.
Even they are just Mexican immigrants, i think they came to America to change something. That may mean there is something wrong in Mexico. I think America has to help them.
From this video. I get know the hardships of the illegal immigrant. Nobody want to leave their hometown to another country to get the work. The work for them in the country is the most bitter , the most tired. I come from China, in China also a lot of people was steal into HongKong. A lot of people may be died in journey, or they had arrived there, but no one hire them, at last they will be starve to death. In a words. All of them do not want to leave their hometown. Because of a lot of reasons, they have to leave.
So this video had moved me. I get know the hardships of them.
What an insanely good idea for a tv show. The transformation of Frank throughout his stay with the Gonzalez family was beautiful to watch. He went from being bitter and angry against something he didn’t fully understand to being able to ‘love people for who they are, all politics aside’.
I saw in Frank a common thing I’ve noticed in others and even myself- the fear of what we don’t know. Illigal immigration has been a hot debate in the media for quite some time, and what I hear them saying is to be afraid of these people stealing our jobs, stealing our homes, stealing our educations, etc. In this I also see a lazy and fearful America, staying in our houses and crying about the lions in the streets. What I’ve understand about the importance of empathy is that you don’t have to agree or disagree with the politics of it, because that’s not the point.
I think we forget the individuality of a human being and mass groups together until they become a blur. We don’t have to worry as much about blurs as we do individuals.
I also appreciate the way Frank held to his beliefs. There’s nothing wrong with being a law-abiding citizen. I hope now that he will take his experiences with the expansion of his mind and his heart and put them to good use. There more than one way to confront any perceived problem.
“30 Days” was a truly inspiring presentation for me. I found it really interesting how Frank and the Gonzalez family had preconceived notions about each other before their amazing journey together began.Frank reminded me of the Pharisees and Sadducees on their narrow thinking with the man made rules and he just would not deviate from his views of illegal immigration at any cost because of “the law”. But in the end, LOVE wins all wars.
I love shows like 30 days. It is always great to watch how people’s perspectives and judgments change when they actually have to walk in someone else’s shoes and live their daily life. It is easy for one to quickly make assumptions or judgments about others, but those change when one gets to know the person. This episode really made me reflect on my own life and how I judge others daily. I do not know what hardships that person has faced. I do not know what their daily life is like. So who am I to judge? So after watching that episode and listening to Campos’ lecture, has made me remember to empathize with others more.
Great post Brenna. I agree with you 100%. It is so much easier to judge others than to try to see where they are coming from, especially if we don’t agree with their positions.
i loved the show 30 days, always made me think, specially the mcdonalds one. The immiagrants one was truly eye opening because it made realize how blessed i am to live in this country and not to b afraid of being deported and seprated from my family. I feel sorry for the life of the illegal immagrant, cause they have to live in constant fear and work long hours for half of what we make. I believe that if immagrants from other countrys, need our help but only if they are willing to accept it.
Everyone would like to live in happy lives, however, there are a few people live in poverty. In this situation, not eveyone has the same attidude towards those people. From this video, I think that empathy is needed in our lives. People suffer illegal immagration with no reason, this touches my heart and i am moved. I hate these people who damages our homeland and all of our things.
At some point, all Americans were immigrants to the United States. So realistically, far down lineage, our families were fighting their way into the country. Fortunately for all current Americans, the same issues were not present during this time.
The struggle for a better life for these illegal aliens is a very real and harsh battle. While I would like to say that we should allow immigration, legal or illegal, that just is not the case. It’s human nature to want to help these people and give them a better opportunity in our country, however their are people who would take advantage of this. Immigration is definitely a battle between the sympathy we feel towards these people and also the ownership we feel that we have over the United States.
After watching 30 days and Immigration I believe that we all as humans have choices that we take and there are also consequences that we have to face. This being said, it is hard for someone to compare themself to another, or simply try to walk in someone else’s shoes. However, there are immigrants that take advantage of being given the opportunity to better their live by being allowed into another country by stealing, killing, or something simple as being thrown out of college if that is the case. This also goes back to me mentioning the consequences and choices we as humans go through so in the end there is a thin line we recognize when being asked to live in the life of another or feel sympathetic towards someone that took advantage of being given an opportunity to a better life, whether being allowed into the country legally or illegally, they both have consequences and challenges that must be faced at one point and time.
I’m not the type of person that follows anything to do with politics because I don’t like the conflict that comes with it. Watching the “30 Days” episode made me think of my opinion of immigration. I personally believe that as long as you follow the law then you’re good in my book. In the beginning I found myself agreeing with Frank about certain points. Towards the end I had developed a soft spot for the family and others that are going through the same situation but I still think that if you want to get here bad enough that you would do everything that you can to do it legally.
I really like how Dr. Kristina Campos tied alienation, shoes, and the power of Jesus Christ all into one powerful presentation. Overall, it is stating that people need to understand the true meaning of empathy is not just emotionally feeling someone else’s pain, but allowing yourself to go through all the hardships as well. This can be really hard for some people because people all around the world are different in so many ways. I also really like how she tied in narrative probability and narrative fidelity to inform people that not all stories have happy endings. I think alot of people may have also missed the whole theme of this speech and that is how are we as humans going to serve Jesus Christ even though we may all have the feeling of displacement in our lives.
I like the idea of how you really don’t know how a person is or how they live unless you make the effort to walk in their shoes and see their perspective. I think this idea is great because it stresses not to be to quick to judge others but to try to understand and have love for others. I believe God wants us to have empathy for all people.
While I did like the speech Dr. Kristina Campos gave regarding the need for empathy in such a divided world, I do not believe empathy should be focused on as much as sympathy and/or the ability to understand. It was a nice touch to use the Immigration episode from 30 Days to try and prove her point, but I did not see Frank’s fault as so much the lack of empathy he showed the family, despite him being an immigrant, instead though I believe his fault was his inability to part from his strong hatred towards illegal immigrants and view the situation with pure logic. The stepping into one’s shoes as Dr. Kristina Campos explained is a good method to attempt to understand another person or persons, but I reiterate that I do not believe the feeling of empathy, or even sympathy, is required in the understanding of a person or group of people. Overall though I enjoyed the presentation and agree that the lack of understanding, especially in the divided world we live in, is a problem which can only be solved if people are willing to.
We are constantly looking to protect ourselves and and try to provide what is best for our families and people we love. Who’s to say we wouldn’t do the same by moving to another country or place whether it’s legal or illegal, to make sure our families and loved ones have more opportunities to better themselves and provide a brighter future? Empathy and awareness of drastically different lives is essential for a person to obtain. Without an understanding of our world and the different people that make it up, we are simply living selfish lives being unaware of the other people that contribute to the function of society.
I’ve always been fascinated by the concept of walking in peoples shoes. My favorite authors (Ann Rinaldi, ect.) write using that concept, and I try to di it as well. What I loved most is the how much emphasis Dr. Campos put in the fact that, to walk in someone’s shoes is to take on their troubles and do more to relate than just imagining how that person may feel. I think it brings a bigger picture of who the person is, and not just how they may feel.