60 Minutes: The All-American Canal + Chef Jose Andres

If you consistently read hhb expecting a 60 Minutes post come Monday- or not being surprised there is one, well you are a regular. :) Perhaps you put it on your queue and also look forward to watching it on Sunday now too?

What I found interesting about the May 2nd line up of 60 Minutes, was how similar yet very different- ironic even the two reports, "The All-American Canal" and "Chef Jose Andres" are. Both are about immigrants with very different outcomes and perspectives. One commenter (it's clear where they stand) summed up their differences as: In the 'Canal' segment illegal immigrants suffer the consequences of their illegal behavior. In the 'Chef' segment a legal immigrant prospers in the U.S. I don't think that intention was behind the reports though I can see how one might think so. I just found it timely that it follows on the heat of Arizona's new racial profiling law allowing police to stop anyone and ask for their ID.



The All-American Canal, is the most dangerous body of water on the Mexican border with California, which brings water from the Colorado River to the area mainly for year round crops. To date 550 people, mostly illegal immigrants have drowned trying to cross. Scott Pelley reports about it's danger and if anything is going to and should be done to put safety equipment in the canal to help prevent future deaths.



The second report about, pioneer Chef Jose Andres, was rather uplifting and a very successful story of an immigrant from Spain. Andres takes Anderson Cooper's tastebuds on a savory tour of his pioneer culinary laboratory, featuring his avant-garde cooking technique, molecular gastronomy. It looked rather amazing and delicious. Andres, since he first arrived has always given back by volunteering his time in a tough neighborhood, at a Washington DC kitchen. "I always felt like I have to give back to America what America has given to me," Andres explained.

I do not think illegal immigrants should be able to abuse programs such as welfare, etc, but I think there is an easier way to stop the abuse... Change the programs. Am I advocating that illegal immigrants be able to show up how ever they like- definitely not. I do however, strongly believe we are all people. We are all immigrants and can we blame them for wanting a better life? Think about it.

P.S. A side note off the topic of immigrants, but I thought it was interesting on what Andres said about meat... The chef told Cooper he thinks meat is overrated. "Well, meat to me, it's slightly boring. Hold on, I love meat too but only once in a while. You get a piece of meat and you put it in your mouth, you chew, the first five seconds, all the juices flow around your mouth, they're gone, and then you are 20 more seconds chewing something that is tasteless at this point. Something like this doesn't happen with a pineapple, an asparagus, or a green pea," he explained.