Dave & I both talked with our friend/tutor, Sara, who is a very well-educated, well-read Mexican with an interest in politics, about the latest news this past weekend. Her input is really interesting.
The US is complaining about 1 million Mexican refugees flooding the border demanding asylum. I told Sara she could come live with us in MI ;) but she said no way, Jose - it's much too cold there!
Sara also promised to stop talking with us if we invaded her country. Which, honestly, is pretty fair.
I read this commentary today, written by a US-born Mexican American who went to University with current Mexican President Calderon:
"Even so, this business about Mexico on its way to being a "failed state" is just a lot of hot air. The rumors of our neighbor's demise have been greatly exaggerated.
A country of 110 million people, Mexico is still a functioning democracy with press freedoms and bold leaders, like Calderon, who are tackling the issue of drug violence head on. There is plenty of reason for optimism.
Frankly, one reason the doomsday talk about Mexico catches on is because it distracts Americans from our own problems. I learned a long time ago that, for many of my countrymen, Mexico serves a purpose in tough times by providing something to which we can feel superior. Even with the banking bailouts, mortgage crisis, a plummeting stock market and rising unemployment, the thinking goes, we can at least be grateful that we're not Mexico." http://www.cnn.com/2009/POLITICS/02/27/navarrette.mexico/index.html
Friday, February 27, 2009
Tuesday, February 24, 2009
Don't believe everything you read/hear
While I was enjoying a sunny, relaxing weekend of shopping, and hiking, and writing, and eating here in central Mexico, I still watched the news. I always do.
So imagine my surprise when I discovered on Monday that I had missed some very cruicial news over the weekend.
Mexico is dangerous.
Very dangerous.
A "fair and balanced" news report may have started with some facts, but after a slow news day, the take-away message that the Americans heard/understood was this:
Mexico is now as dangerous as Pakistan, and the US is considering full-scale attacks on both countries in the near future. Over 1 million Mexican refugees will likely rush the US border, seeking asylum, and ruining our already fragile economy. In the meantime, 3 border crossings between Texas and the US have already been closed, due to violence, and there is no longer any police force or government of any kind in the Mexican state of Chihuahua. Travel alerts are at orange. mission trips are being cancelled, churches are demanding their missionaries to come home. Families are expecting to see their loved ones on top of their homes, being rescued like Saigon, or being abandoned like Katrina.
Sheesh.
Before you panic, picturing us stranded at the embassy, or kidnapped for ransom, or scared in our homes, let me remind you that NONE of this was in the Mexican news. Or the international news. Or even on CNN international.
This is why I was able to confidently shop from street vendors and eat in restaurants and walk down the street while this news was being spread:
Mexico is no more dangerous today than it was last week. The US gov't re-issued its prior security alert, which basically warns idiots from walking up to drug lords and asking for directions to the police station. That would still be a bad idea.
Three border crossings were temporarilly closed because of peaceful protesters. They have since reopened. No one was hurt.
One local police chief quit his job; the city is now being patroled by state & federal police, as well as the Mexican army. Considering that local police don't carry guns, and are most likely to take bribes, it wasn't a huge loss to the community.
Driving through Southern Texas into Northern Mexico is just as crazy of an idea today as it was last week. It is a no-man's-land deserted wasteland of nothingness.
Flying into the International Airport in the 2nd largest city in the world, on the other hand, is perfectly safe. We are in no danger. And we plan to come home in a plane, not a helicopter.
But thanks for your concern.
(For those of you who want to read the stories that led to the exagerated response, see below. I also heard that there was an interview with a US senator on US tv this weekend, but obviously I didn't see it. I don't recommend re-voting for that guy.)
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,491964,00.html
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,479906,00.html
http://blogs.courant.com/travel_columnists_leblanc/2009/02/state-department-issues-warnin.html
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/29243407/
http://www.thenews.com.mx/home/tnhome.asp?cve_home=1133
So imagine my surprise when I discovered on Monday that I had missed some very cruicial news over the weekend.
Mexico is dangerous.
Very dangerous.
A "fair and balanced" news report may have started with some facts, but after a slow news day, the take-away message that the Americans heard/understood was this:
Mexico is now as dangerous as Pakistan, and the US is considering full-scale attacks on both countries in the near future. Over 1 million Mexican refugees will likely rush the US border, seeking asylum, and ruining our already fragile economy. In the meantime, 3 border crossings between Texas and the US have already been closed, due to violence, and there is no longer any police force or government of any kind in the Mexican state of Chihuahua. Travel alerts are at orange. mission trips are being cancelled, churches are demanding their missionaries to come home. Families are expecting to see their loved ones on top of their homes, being rescued like Saigon, or being abandoned like Katrina.
Sheesh.
Before you panic, picturing us stranded at the embassy, or kidnapped for ransom, or scared in our homes, let me remind you that NONE of this was in the Mexican news. Or the international news. Or even on CNN international.
This is why I was able to confidently shop from street vendors and eat in restaurants and walk down the street while this news was being spread:
Mexico is no more dangerous today than it was last week. The US gov't re-issued its prior security alert, which basically warns idiots from walking up to drug lords and asking for directions to the police station. That would still be a bad idea.
Three border crossings were temporarilly closed because of peaceful protesters. They have since reopened. No one was hurt.
One local police chief quit his job; the city is now being patroled by state & federal police, as well as the Mexican army. Considering that local police don't carry guns, and are most likely to take bribes, it wasn't a huge loss to the community.
Driving through Southern Texas into Northern Mexico is just as crazy of an idea today as it was last week. It is a no-man's-land deserted wasteland of nothingness.
Flying into the International Airport in the 2nd largest city in the world, on the other hand, is perfectly safe. We are in no danger. And we plan to come home in a plane, not a helicopter.
But thanks for your concern.
(For those of you who want to read the stories that led to the exagerated response, see below. I also heard that there was an interview with a US senator on US tv this weekend, but obviously I didn't see it. I don't recommend re-voting for that guy.)
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,491964,00.html
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,479906,00.html
http://blogs.courant.com/travel_columnists_leblanc/2009/02/state-department-issues-warnin.html
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/29243407/
http://www.thenews.com.mx/home/tnhome.asp?cve_home=1133
Thursday, February 19, 2009
What economy?
Someone who shall remain nameless had the audacity to ask us how the current international economic situation was affecting mexico.
David had to physically restrain me from shouting obscenities through the computer microphone. I'm glad he did.
Once I calmed down, I thought that maybe I should have a little more patience. The average north american doesn't have any clue what's happening in Mexico. Maybe my role is to help people understand, which they are not likely to do after I bite their heads off. So here goes...
In a good year, mexico has 22% unemployment. That roughly rivals the US great depression. The avg. Mexican laborer makes between $6-$10 per day; a family income between $400-$900/month is considered comfortable. In comparison, poverty for a single individual in the US is $43/day and for a family of 4 is $88 per day. While about 15% of Americans are living in poverty right now, about 50% of Mexicans live in poverty.
Many north americans have somehow been convinced that it is cheaper to live in Mexico, or that they don't notice they all live in poverty. That's not true. it's "cheaper" to live in downtown flint than in Ann Arbor, bc downtown flint is a lousy place to live. Poor kids in flint and in Mexico are very aware that other kids have enough food to eat and heat that works and new clothes once in a while. Food, utilities, safe cars, and urban housing prices are about the same here in Mexico as they are in the US. Gas is $2.50/gallon, clothing and electronics cost 50%-75% more here than in the states.
Meanwhile, Mexico has the same numnber of federal government officials as the US (despite 1/3 the population). Their president makes about $1million/ year; each representative makes $360,000 annually. Do the math to figure out the major discrepency between the rich and the poor here, and you'll see why so many Mexicans refuse to pay taxes, why so many police take bribes, and why nobody noticed that the world up north is collapsing.
David had to physically restrain me from shouting obscenities through the computer microphone. I'm glad he did.
Once I calmed down, I thought that maybe I should have a little more patience. The average north american doesn't have any clue what's happening in Mexico. Maybe my role is to help people understand, which they are not likely to do after I bite their heads off. So here goes...
In a good year, mexico has 22% unemployment. That roughly rivals the US great depression. The avg. Mexican laborer makes between $6-$10 per day; a family income between $400-$900/month is considered comfortable. In comparison, poverty for a single individual in the US is $43/day and for a family of 4 is $88 per day. While about 15% of Americans are living in poverty right now, about 50% of Mexicans live in poverty.
Many north americans have somehow been convinced that it is cheaper to live in Mexico, or that they don't notice they all live in poverty. That's not true. it's "cheaper" to live in downtown flint than in Ann Arbor, bc downtown flint is a lousy place to live. Poor kids in flint and in Mexico are very aware that other kids have enough food to eat and heat that works and new clothes once in a while. Food, utilities, safe cars, and urban housing prices are about the same here in Mexico as they are in the US. Gas is $2.50/gallon, clothing and electronics cost 50%-75% more here than in the states.
Meanwhile, Mexico has the same numnber of federal government officials as the US (despite 1/3 the population). Their president makes about $1million/ year; each representative makes $360,000 annually. Do the math to figure out the major discrepency between the rich and the poor here, and you'll see why so many Mexicans refuse to pay taxes, why so many police take bribes, and why nobody noticed that the world up north is collapsing.
Tuesday, February 17, 2009
A little venting...
I am a heavy commuter here in Mexico, and I've accepted that. Most Chilangos (DF residents) spend up to 4 hours per day commuting. They're walking in polluted air, sitting in stop-and-go traffic in crowded, dirty buses, etc.
So, normally, my 100 mile, 2-3 hour daily round trip commute is not something I complain about. I'm blessed to be able to work, I'm blessed to have a great job, I'm blessed to live in Metepec rather than DF, and I'm blessed that my hours are full of climate controlled air, IPOD selections, and phone calls.
today, though - it took me THREE HOURS!!! to get to work. I spent 90 min. going <4km.>huge pilgrimage of people from Toluca to some place called Telango, which I can only assume is in Mexico City. Literally, hundreds of buses, vans, and trucks were bedecked with strands of garlands and pictures of the blessed virgin were trying to get onto the road that I normally take. I discovered this too late to do anything about it. Because there is only one road out of toluca, and we all wanted to be on that road. There is no where to turn around, no alternate route off the mountain.
Once I discovered that I was going to be late, I then discovered that I had no minutes left on my phone. No way to tell the school. And the school had no one to put into my classroom, anyway, as we have no director, the secretary was out sick, and we already had one planned teacher absense today.
ARGH!!!! CRISIS!!!!
I tried, in desperation, to listen to a Christian motivational audiobook to calm me down. Nope - still stressed to the max. I tried to listen to classical music. No go.
Finally, I started blaring Linkin Park at full volume, apologizing to Jesus as I screamed obscene words from the sanctuary of my car.
Ah, the wonders of commuting.
So, normally, my 100 mile, 2-3 hour daily round trip commute is not something I complain about. I'm blessed to be able to work, I'm blessed to have a great job, I'm blessed to live in Metepec rather than DF, and I'm blessed that my hours are full of climate controlled air, IPOD selections, and phone calls.
today, though - it took me THREE HOURS!!! to get to work. I spent 90 min. going <4km.>huge pilgrimage of people from Toluca to some place called Telango, which I can only assume is in Mexico City. Literally, hundreds of buses, vans, and trucks were bedecked with strands of garlands and pictures of the blessed virgin were trying to get onto the road that I normally take. I discovered this too late to do anything about it. Because there is only one road out of toluca, and we all wanted to be on that road. There is no where to turn around, no alternate route off the mountain.
Once I discovered that I was going to be late, I then discovered that I had no minutes left on my phone. No way to tell the school. And the school had no one to put into my classroom, anyway, as we have no director, the secretary was out sick, and we already had one planned teacher absense today.
ARGH!!!! CRISIS!!!!
I tried, in desperation, to listen to a Christian motivational audiobook to calm me down. Nope - still stressed to the max. I tried to listen to classical music. No go.
Finally, I started blaring Linkin Park at full volume, apologizing to Jesus as I screamed obscene words from the sanctuary of my car.
Ah, the wonders of commuting.
Tuesday, February 3, 2009
Sometimes...
There are still days when I get home and I wonder, momentarilly, if we got any mail that day. Within a half-second, I'm chastizing myself, but old habits die hard.
Monday, February 2, 2009
Historical Symbolism
Puebla, Mexico, is the 4th largest city in Mexico and is about 100km east of Mexico City. (It's about 4 driving hours east of our house in Metepec/Toluca.) It is considered a very "colonial" town, which is a nice way of saying that it looks more like Spain than Mexico. It was one of the first big cities of "New Spain" 500 years ago, and Spaniards thought it may end up being the biggest/best city of "New Spain". Mexico City ended up being the capital, though, so Puebla's history has been largely preserved.
Puebla has a beautiful, traditional "zocalo" or central plaza. It is a big square plaza, full of fountains and gardens and trees and park benches. One side of the plaza is a large catholic cathedral; opposite of that is the munincipal palace and the other two sides are flanked by banks and restaurants and hotels and such. The entire city layout is spread out like spokes of a wheel, with the zocalo in the center. The zocalo fills up with couples kissing, old men reading, kids playing, women gossiping, and vendors hawking during the day. Very classic.
Not too far from Puebla is another small chapel, called "Cholula" which was built on top of a "mountain". That mountain was actually an ancient aztec pyramid, built on that site bc they thought there was holy water in the mountain. The legend goes that the Spanish didn't know it was a pyramid (sure...) because the earth had started to cover up the structure.
But this Spanish Catholic chapel built directly over an indigenous religious structure is very symbolic of Mexico's history. Nearly every brown mexican has a mixed heritage - part indigenous or "native american" and part European. This mixed heritage, shared by an entire culture, has created an inner turmoil for many Mexicans - which heritage should they be proudest of? The one that performed virgin sacrifices or the one that raped an entire society of women? Hmmm...
So normally, they just optimistically remember the best parts of each heritage, and merge it into a new identity. A Mexican identity. One that has a bright future.
Puebla has a beautiful, traditional "zocalo" or central plaza. It is a big square plaza, full of fountains and gardens and trees and park benches. One side of the plaza is a large catholic cathedral; opposite of that is the munincipal palace and the other two sides are flanked by banks and restaurants and hotels and such. The entire city layout is spread out like spokes of a wheel, with the zocalo in the center. The zocalo fills up with couples kissing, old men reading, kids playing, women gossiping, and vendors hawking during the day. Very classic.
Not too far from Puebla is another small chapel, called "Cholula" which was built on top of a "mountain". That mountain was actually an ancient aztec pyramid, built on that site bc they thought there was holy water in the mountain. The legend goes that the Spanish didn't know it was a pyramid (sure...) because the earth had started to cover up the structure.
But this Spanish Catholic chapel built directly over an indigenous religious structure is very symbolic of Mexico's history. Nearly every brown mexican has a mixed heritage - part indigenous or "native american" and part European. This mixed heritage, shared by an entire culture, has created an inner turmoil for many Mexicans - which heritage should they be proudest of? The one that performed virgin sacrifices or the one that raped an entire society of women? Hmmm...
So normally, they just optimistically remember the best parts of each heritage, and merge it into a new identity. A Mexican identity. One that has a bright future.
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