A Bicentennial Pity
If you haven't read our State Department's Bicentennial celebration message (which is today) or seen the video it's a hoot.
Thanks to the sacrifice of the heroes of the 1810 fight for independence, today Mexico is a "strong modern country with a vibrant economy...." Please.
It's pretty sad when all I can think about is how much better Mexico would be if they did not achieve their hard fought independence from Spain. I love Mexico, 1/2 my family tree grew up there. 200 years of independence and we find a situation where we cannot even go back to visit our own relatives without a probable kidnapping interrupting our reunion?
When I say "probable" I am not exaggerating. Very often, when relatives find out you are coming for a visit, pretty soon a distant relative gets the idea to get in on all this kidnapping loot the cartel guys are making and you become the victim of an Express Kidnapping. We seriously cannot go back to our ancestral neighborhoods because of this threat and other lawlessness.
Put it this way, my wife and I have to go to Colombia for a safe vacation to visit her side of the family. Yes. I said Colombia.
The 20th Century was disgraceful for this Mexico. Thousands of priests were assisinated, exiled, and/or forced to marry. The government made laws against wearing habits in public, church owned property, and teaching children their faith, or anything else.
We own a record/DVD company. We distribute all over the world, except to our neighbors to the South. They cannot control the piracy.
For me the immigration problem is tied to these problems. The resorts are still safe, and Tijuana during the day is perhaps worth the risk, but Mexico will not function properly until people want to stay there. The best and brightest must have an incentive to stay there and fix the place. It's so beautiful and so precious, but after 200 years of independence, and dependence on the U.S., it's a bicentennial pity.
So congratulations Mexico! I pray for you.
- Comment (7)
- · Quote
- · UnfollowFollow (1)
Comments :
May '10
Re: A Bicentennial Pity
I've lived in South Texas for thirty years, and half my friends and colleagues are Mexican-American. The rot has accelerated in the past couple of years to the point where most simply refuse to "go over" even for a quick daylight bargain in Nuevo Laredo or Piedras Negras.
And this is a pity because, sweltering through the summer, it's torture to know that the beautiful, cool mountains are only a couple of hours to the southwest. The potential is unlimited for that country.
Jun '10
Re: A Bicentennial Pity
Again, I blame broken families. When the men go off to process drugs in the desert for several months, or sneak across the border to work in a factory for several months, or years, they leave broken families behind, with kids who are now at even more risk to join gangs or do drugs.
Re: A Bicentennial Pity
Hillary Clinton: "Mexico today is a strong modern country with a thriving economy..."
Really? If Mexico's economy is the Obama administration's idea of "thriving," I think we better pray for America too.
Jul '10
Re: A Bicentennial Pity
It'll pass.
I'm old enough to remember when no one would go to Cancun for fear of the Frito Bandito...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KSVkOl-5dZw
Re: A Bicentennial Pity
Joe, I feel your pain. I've worked and traveled throughout Mexico. I love the country and find the current situation tragic. I agree that the legacy of the revolution is a terrible burden, but don't you think that with the rise of the PAN, Mexico has been able to shed some of that legacy? Longer term, do you think Mexico can get out from under the drug cartels?
Tan lejos de dios, y tan cerca de los gringos....
Aug '10
Re: A Bicentennial Pity
Well said sir.
Sinner that I am, there are many places whose sorry state is a matter of indifference to me, but Mexico is not among them. It's a beautiful country with strong cultural ties to ours, which makes it heartbreaking that the country lets itself be terrorized by nihilistic narcos. I mean, the Robespierre-esque anti-clericalism of the 1920s was one thing, but now we're facing a situation where narco culture has helped make Satanism (in the form of La Flaca) a serious contender for Mexico's soul.
Re: A Bicentennial Pity
Great point about the narcos and satanism Anon_academic.
Kenneth. I'm also a fan of W.C. Fritos before his campaign was ruined by agism.
Adam,
I don't know a lot about PAN and PRI, just that the conventional wisdom with my family has always been that it doesn't matter who you vote for, or who wins. They are at the mercy of the government.
On another note, I went to a swanky launch party last night for a major Latino media project in L.A. and there was no hint of the holiday, which was fine with me.