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We wander for distraction, but we travel for fulfillment. ~ Hilaire Belloc
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The Reaper’s Line: Life and Death on the Mexican Border by Lee Morgan Publisher - Rio Nuevo Traveling full time in a RV, we pulled into Douglas Arizona one night just after sunset. We pulled into the local Wal-Mart to get off the road and find a safe place for the night (They allow you to dry camp in their parking lot for free). The parking lot literally butted up to the Mexican Border Fence and we thought it was humorous how close we were staying to Mexico. While taking the dogs for a walk beside the fence, our Pit Bull started growling and was looking very seriously at a bush not far from us. This is not like him and it put us both at attention. Suddenly a Border Patrol Agent came walking out from behind the bush giving my wife and I a smile. I suddenly realized that maybe staying this close to the border might not be that good of an idea. We asked the young agent if we would be safe sleeping this close to the fence which he jokingly replied “If they’re coming over the fence right here, they aren’t going to be bothering you. They’re going to be jumping in a car and getting as far away from here as possible.” For the rest of the night we lightly slept through gunshots, sirens and what sounded like a war zone. It was safe to say we had made a stupid decision! I don’t know if the sun was even up before we were on the road heading West towards Bisbee. Later that day, we were relaxing in a local saloon sipping on a cold one when we started talking to a nice young couple beside us. When we mentioned that we had slept in Douglas the night before, the gentleman, who happened to be a Border Patrol Agent looked at us and said “You’re joking right?” He handed me this book and said “You need to read this!” From the first chapter of The Reaper’s Line to the final page, I gripped the hard cover so tight my hands would cramp up at times. Sometimes I’d be laughing out loud while other times I’d be choking back tears. Lee Morgan lived a life that writers only dream of conjuring up. Life on the border is not pretty, and Morgan doesn’t hold back any punches when describing many of the brutal encounters he’s come up against in his career. The book tells us that we were complete idiots for sleeping in Douglas for even one night that close to the border, and anyone who does a bit of traveling near the dividing of have and have-nots should read this book first. I think this needs to be read by anyone who sends emails claiming we need to do something to tighten up our border situation, and should be required reading for any law enforcement officers working the Reaper’s Line, as Mr. Morgan likes to call it. If more of the politicians who make the laws concerning our borders were to read books like this, maybe we wouldn’t be wasting so many millions on a battle that’ll never be won. If I could quote a few paragraphs from Morgan from some of his pages, these would be my favorites: I’ve spent a good deal of time over the years contemplating the border. And if someone was to ask me what I actually thought of this dividing line in the dirt I’d have to say this: The border is a line of barbed wire and steel pillars that seems only to serve as a symbol of one of many futile lifetime endeavors, his attempts to define Mother Natures boundaries, as well as mans national claims to a piece of what no human can ever definitely call his own possession. Politicians rally their countrymen around their flags and make decisions behind closed doors as to who will possess what lands and where the borders are to be mapped. Men will always be willing to fight and die in follies of nationalism, but they will never continually control their own borders. Whether it be the present U.S.-Mexican border of the formerly defined DMZ in Vietnam, there is only one who may truly lay claim to regulating such bloody barriers. Only this one has complete power over the mere mortal’s proclaimed boarders of this world. Cloaked, with a black hood, he’s a bone-rattling angel who travels along, wielding a sharp sickle. Each one of us will have the opportunity to meet him. Just once. Is that a powerful paragraph or what!?! This is much of what he speaks about while mixing up numerous atrocities committed on the border. Then this line just is one of those all time classic “in your face!” lines that sort of sums the whole argument up no matter what nationality you are. Do you reckon in Geronimo’s native Apache tongue there was a way to say, “What goes around comes around”? Or how about, “You aint all nothing but temporary boarders, so enjoy the view while you’re here.” Basically this book is a must read in this day in age of border arguments. I guarantee after you read this book, you’ll be amazed at what our politicians are getting away with, and where the real problem lies with the U.S.-Mexican border. Review by Pat Bonish – pat@everymilesamemory.com Got something to say about this review, feel free to send us an email. If you'd like us to review any of your work, send us an email and we can provide you with a mailing address
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