Gonzo 1. Xenophobia Airport

I slowly arrived at Customs. I was half asleep, the plane had departed at 7 am but I was up at 3:30. A white gringo officer was standing behind his desk, black coffee and Dunkin’ Donut in hand.

“Where are you from?”, he said.

“Mexico”, I replied proudly.

“What is your purpose in the United States of America?”

“To get my vaccine.”

“Your vaccine?”

“Well…hmm…the vaccine.” I clarified, but found his question off throwing.

“Let me ask you this…who pays for your vaccine?”

“I don’t know.”

“Do you pay for it?”

“No”.

“Well then…who does? Where does the money come from? Make an educated guess.”

“The government?”

“And who pays the government?”

“Taxpayers?”

“Yes. Do you pay taxes in the United States of America?”

“No. I don’t.”, I replied still a bit confused.

“Well you came full circle now, didn’t you? So it is not your vaccine. It’s the vaccine of the people of America. People who pay taxes. US Citizens. What do yo do for a living?”

“I am a physician.”

“A doctor? What kind?”

“Internal medicine, neurology and stroke.”

“Ok, hotshot. I will let you through this time because you were honest. But know this: you shouldn’t be here.”

“Gracias cabrón” (Is what I should have said) but I kept quiet, clenching my fists and cringing under my facemask.

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What? The land of the free? Whoever told you that is your enemy.

-Rage Against the Machine (Know Your Enemy)

12.12.21