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Borderlands: Riding the Edge of America
"The periphery of a place can tell us a great deal about its heartland. along the edge of a nation's territory, its real prejudices, fears and obsessions - but also its virtues - irrepressibly bubble up as its people confront the 'other' whom they admire, or fear, or hold in contempt, and know little about. September 11, 2001, changed the United States utterly and nothing more so than the physical reality, the perception - and the meaning - of its borders."
-from Borderlands
Derek Lundy turns sixty at the end of a year in which three good friends have died. He feels the need to do something radical, and sets out on his motorcycle - a Kawasaki KLR 650 cc single-cylinder "thumper," which he describes as "unpretentious" and also "butt-ugly." Fascinated by the United States' post-9/11 passion for security, particularly on its two international borders, he chooses to investigate.
He takes a firsthand look at both borders. The U.S.-Mexican borderlands, often disorderly and violent, operate according to their own ad hoc system of rules and conventions, and are distinct in many ways from the two countries the border divides. When security trumps trade, the economic well-being of both countries is threatened, and the upside is difficult to determine. American policy makers think the issues of drugs and illegals are ample reason to keep building fences to keep Mexicans out, even with no evidence that fences work or are anything but cruel. Mexicans' cheap labour keeps the wheels turning in the U.S. economy yet they are resented for trying to get into the country illegally (or legally). More people have died trying to cross this border than in the 9/11 attacks.
At almost 9,000 kilometres, the U.S. border with Canada is the longest in the world. The northern border divides the planet's two biggest trading partners, and that relationship demands the fast, easy flow of goods and services in both directions. Since the events of 9/11, however, the United States has slowly and steadily choked the flux of "just-in-time" parts shipments are in jeopardy; trucks must wait for inspection and clearance; people must be questioned. The border is "thickening."
In prose that is compelling, impressive and at times frightening, Derek Lundy's incredible journey is illuminating enough to change minds, as great writing can sometimes do.
-from Borderlands
Derek Lundy turns sixty at the end of a year in which three good friends have died. He feels the need to do something radical, and sets out on his motorcycle - a Kawasaki KLR 650 cc single-cylinder "thumper," which he describes as "unpretentious" and also "butt-ugly." Fascinated by the United States' post-9/11 passion for security, particularly on its two international borders, he chooses to investigate.
He takes a firsthand look at both borders. The U.S.-Mexican borderlands, often disorderly and violent, operate according to their own ad hoc system of rules and conventions, and are distinct in many ways from the two countries the border divides. When security trumps trade, the economic well-being of both countries is threatened, and the upside is difficult to determine. American policy makers think the issues of drugs and illegals are ample reason to keep building fences to keep Mexicans out, even with no evidence that fences work or are anything but cruel. Mexicans' cheap labour keeps the wheels turning in the U.S. economy yet they are resented for trying to get into the country illegally (or legally). More people have died trying to cross this border than in the 9/11 attacks.
At almost 9,000 kilometres, the U.S. border with Canada is the longest in the world. The northern border divides the planet's two biggest trading partners, and that relationship demands the fast, easy flow of goods and services in both directions. Since the events of 9/11, however, the United States has slowly and steadily choked the flux of "just-in-time" parts shipments are in jeopardy; trucks must wait for inspection and clearance; people must be questioned. The border is "thickening."
In prose that is compelling, impressive and at times frightening, Derek Lundy's incredible journey is illuminating enough to change minds, as great writing can sometimes do.
- GenresNonfictionTravel
432 pages, Hardcover
First published May 25, 2010
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
March 4, 2012
“Borderlands” is less about the intricacies and rush of distance motorcycle riding than about the historical antecedents that produced our current borders with Mexico and Canada and the current state of each vis-à-vis the US. I expected more about biking but quickly realized that Derek probably should have avoided motorcycles judging from some of the near misses with death that he recounts on his first outing from the Gulf of Mexico to the Pacific ocean. I do give him credit for exposing the nature of a border and what it means to those living in the nether regions of the US, particularly along the much contested and frequently violent Mexican border.
He effectively portrays the loopiness of the border guards at one of the less travelled northern borders, saying he feels like he’s in “a cartoon and the Border Patrol guys are Yosemite Sam, jumping up and down in impotent rage as sardonic critters go about their insouciant business, not worried at all and only a little inconvenienced by the furious cowboy.” I too like what he had to say about relatively benign nature of the Canadians of which he is one and how many misinformed Americans are clamoring for a border fence similar to the behemoth installed on much of the Mexican/US border to prevent additional terrorists from entering the country as they wrongly believe the 911 hijackers did.
The following pretty sums up his philosophizing about the presence and nature of borders: “The idea of the southern U.S. border as a permeable membrane, through which pass illegals – economic pilgrims – searching for a better life, has a northern variant. The Canadian border, too, allows for a flow of people, and for a much greater passage of ideas and culture (facilitated by a common language, and by the respective peoples’ similar origins). But the border is also a sticky, metaphorical membrane. It’s not really undefended. It is garrisoned by an ironic, rueful sense of self, and by an ingrained awareness of the limits of human endeavor.
He effectively portrays the loopiness of the border guards at one of the less travelled northern borders, saying he feels like he’s in “a cartoon and the Border Patrol guys are Yosemite Sam, jumping up and down in impotent rage as sardonic critters go about their insouciant business, not worried at all and only a little inconvenienced by the furious cowboy.” I too like what he had to say about relatively benign nature of the Canadians of which he is one and how many misinformed Americans are clamoring for a border fence similar to the behemoth installed on much of the Mexican/US border to prevent additional terrorists from entering the country as they wrongly believe the 911 hijackers did.
The following pretty sums up his philosophizing about the presence and nature of borders: “The idea of the southern U.S. border as a permeable membrane, through which pass illegals – economic pilgrims – searching for a better life, has a northern variant. The Canadian border, too, allows for a flow of people, and for a much greater passage of ideas and culture (facilitated by a common language, and by the respective peoples’ similar origins). But the border is also a sticky, metaphorical membrane. It’s not really undefended. It is garrisoned by an ironic, rueful sense of self, and by an ingrained awareness of the limits of human endeavor.
December 16, 2013
This is exactly what you would expect from a travel narrative written by a guy riding a motorcycle. Lundy is a fantastic rider. Anyone that rides will understand some of Lundy’s insight and feelings about being on the road. Lundy has by far the best description of the feeling of riding that can be put into words, “The abandonment of constraint”. Could not have put it better myself. As I read through the text I felt like I really got to know Lundy, he does a fantastic job of reporting on what he witnesses as well as relating what he feels.
The descriptions of the two borders is down right terrifying. What are we, as Americans, trying to accomplish with our over fueled borders? The unconstitutional nature of the border patrol’s actions are insane and addressed in this book. I happen to live close to the San Diego - Mexico border and let me tell you as someone who is just driving home from a friend’s house, or headed out to the desert for some camping, I do not appreciate long checkpoint lines and being interrogated without probable cause. It was interesting to me to see what a Canadian, aka a non-American, looks in and sees when they analyze these two border situations.
The one thing I have to say about Lundy though, he makes some questionable mistakes and decisions while riding but I guess the point is he makes it home in the end. And he does admit how ugly his motorcycle is so there’s no denial in the writing.
All in all, this is a fantastic read. Good insight into the political nature of some individuals and great descriptions of the open road cage free. The book is incredibly honest.
The descriptions of the two borders is down right terrifying. What are we, as Americans, trying to accomplish with our over fueled borders? The unconstitutional nature of the border patrol’s actions are insane and addressed in this book. I happen to live close to the San Diego - Mexico border and let me tell you as someone who is just driving home from a friend’s house, or headed out to the desert for some camping, I do not appreciate long checkpoint lines and being interrogated without probable cause. It was interesting to me to see what a Canadian, aka a non-American, looks in and sees when they analyze these two border situations.
The one thing I have to say about Lundy though, he makes some questionable mistakes and decisions while riding but I guess the point is he makes it home in the end. And he does admit how ugly his motorcycle is so there’s no denial in the writing.
All in all, this is a fantastic read. Good insight into the political nature of some individuals and great descriptions of the open road cage free. The book is incredibly honest.
April 21, 2011
Derek can write, but as with some of his other books he tends to try and emulate other writers, as with this book. I think he was trying to do the "Zen and the Art of Mororcycle Maintenance" though with less Zen. I was surpised in his travels on the border with Manitoba/North Dakota he did not mention the one item that I feel really defines the border, and that is the dozen or so Nuclear Missle silos within 20 km of the border. In the USA of course, there are none in Canada. How could you miss mentioning that???
December 26, 2010
Too much history, too little anecdotal story.
February 1, 2012
What a trip!
January 30, 2014
I enjoyed the travel sections more than the history sections.
March 29, 2017
This book is all the more interesting for having been written several years before Trump. As a Canadian, I didn't quite realize the extent of anti-Mexico sentiment that existed back then, and reading it seemed like looking into a crystal ball to see the future, which is our "now". The author's accounts of his travels and encounters with local people in the "borderlands" were the best parts of the book. The background and history lessons were also very informative and taught me some things I hadn't known, but they did become just a little tedious after awhile. And while I don't find the "f" word shocking, I do find it intensely boring, and he tended to overuse it, for no reason that made sense to me. Still, in general I really enjoyed the book and thought it gave a unique and important viewpoint on North America, anti-terrorism, and borders.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews