Diversity in fighting fires – in Mexico

We often think of diversity as a way of being open to different cultures in this country, but I had the pleasure to experience it – intimately – in Mexico.

For many years, I served as a bombero (firefighter) in Tijuana, B.C., Mexico.  I was the only Americano at the time serving in the Departmento de Bomberos de Tijuana (Tijuana Fire Department).

Many times when we went into the barrios (neighborhoods) to fight a house fire, the event would bring every young kid in the neighborhood to watch.

Many of those kids were very young, 8-9-10 years old or younger. They had never seen an Americano serving as a firefighter in their community.  I was an oddity.

Often the very little kids – who learn by touch – would walk up to me and just put their hands on my “turnouts,” the heavy working uniform all firefighters wear while fighting a fire. They were so impressed, friendly and had wide smiles on their faces.

When I was in uniform and walked into a Tijuana supermarket to buy groceries for the firehouse, I was always treated with special respect.

It was diversity in reverse.

I just wish that Americans would treat Latinos – anywhere in the United States – with the same respect as I received from the Mexicans.

It would help to cut through so many of the issues involved in the immigration debate today.

It would also help if reporters and editors in America were aware of that reverse diversity that I experienced in Mexico.