Lifestyles of the Rich and Poor

Two news items have appeared recently dealing with contrasting ways of life existing in our area of Ventura County.

The first one dealt with the investigation of a “serfdom”-type encampment of illegal aliens, and the latter with the “Big” homes being built in the county.

The dehumanization of the illegal aliens contrasted with the obscene attitudes of the castle-builders and purveyors demanded at least a posting of this protest that either extreme is unacceptable.

Both events have occurred within the view of the same little town of Somis. In the first instance we have a scene where desperate men from the mountain Indian villages of Mexico are in fact being held captive by means of fences and fear. These poverty-ridden individuals have left their home, families and everything familiar to them to try to bring back to these families some of the basic needs they are often without. After risking their own lives, they found themselves being used as slave labor with little to show for their 16-hour days of work.

Across the fields, within walking distance of this illegal compound, is being constructed the most ostentatious property of 12,000 square feet. A photo of this monstrosity glares out in color on the front page of Ventura County Life section of April 19. As if this weren’t enough, the residents of Ventura County were assured by John Herrick, president of the Ventura Board of Realtors, that he thinks “it’s good for the county that we’re getting high income people--more professional. . . . I think that’s a better mix than a bunch of blue-collar folks all over the place.”

During this time when so much attention is being given to our environment, perhaps we need to take a closer look at some prioritizing of our human values. Surely there must be a way for capitalism and social justice to coexist. Let’s not just shrug our shoulders when human beings in our midst are being exploited, but insist that social justice be practiced.

Let us also question the right of individuals to use up so much of our limited natural resources to build edifices to themselves as they feed the parasitic greed of such realtors as Mr. Herrick, who hopes to list one these “welcome” monstrosities in the future.

MARY M. QUIRK

Camarillo