Cultural differences

This was explained to me by my neighbors a couple days ago.
Mexicanos place life in this order.
1. Family
2. Patriotism
3. Money

They see the gringos placing their priorities in this order.
1. Money
2. Patriotism
3. Family

Let's see what kind of concoction this kind of observation stirs up from the
m-asses

It took someone to explain this to you?

Politicians...

Actually guys

Even I could understand that much Spanish. And to say that what they were telling me is complete and utter bullchit, is complete and utter bullchit!
And, I didnt say it included everyone and every family, but from what I have experienced and seen in many parts of the u.s. and Mexico, it really is a pretty accurate summarization.
How do you think all those divorces in the u.s. affect family morals? Makes for some pretty strong family values eh .
And then when the parents die, the brothers, sisters and family members are attorneys favorite folks as it generally means major battles amongst each other for the money.
Rightio gringo patriots, you are truly a special breed to ignore whats really going on there.

JR, you are stuck in some kind of a warp. Not a time warp, more like a closed-mind warp. You just proved that with your comments on Braulio and Oso. Do you have any idea who these guys are and how they fit into the picture of Mexicans and Americans? You probably figure these are guys that know only gringo enclaves, right?

And by the way, how many of those free Baja Search and Rescue directories did you finally distribute to the contributors?

Dare I guess?

Can't you find some other way to think highly of yourself besides feeling superior to others?

fools

I was repeating what was told to me

and the same old riff raff has to turn it into an argument. Or shall I say bull ya base as I mentioned in the first posting.
I know Oso and Braulio are fluent in Spanish and I am not. So friggen what, Im trying to learn and not embarrased to try.
Most of my friends are Mexican and not ones who live in the border towns where things are a little different than the rest of Mexico.
For me to post what was told to me and then have people , do you know who I am
, attack and say that it wasnt said is very P-nche gringo like in my books.
Perhaps San Luis is a great example of what most Mexicans think but I seriously doubt it considering the location.
I think you guys are better off with the insight of the coop groupers when it comes to spending time and knowing areas of Baja besides the border towns and gringo enclaves which these guys all live in.
Rosarito, hahahahahahaha

A subject of particular interest to me...

and one that I have studied at the university (both US and Mexican)...

I would be surprised to see patriotism make the top 3 in most Mexicans' view of the world. At least in the way that we view patriotism in the US. We tend to associate patriotism with loyalty and support for our government whereas I believe Mexican patriotism is focused more on national pride and thus many Mexicans consider themselves patriotic even while having near absolute contempt for the government.

Dave's assertion that pursuit of money=concern for family is not entirely accurate either. That often is the initial motivation but it quickly becomes a lie that people tell themselves. In my professional world, I see people all the time working ridiculous hours to "get ahead" telling themselves that "I'm doing it for my family" even though that family has become a group of people they barely know and never see or actually talk to because they are always at work. I used to be one of those people. All studies have shown that as our national collective wealth increases, the family structure breaks down more. The same thing appears to be happening in places like Mexico as well. The fact is that it takes very little money to provide the basics for our families' existence (food, shelter, etc) The other things that we strive to earn more money for to provide for them to make their lives "easier" do not necessarily make their lives "better." Educational opportunities may be one of few exceptions.

I do not believe you can determine an individual's value system based on their nationality. I DO believe that you will find more people who genuinely have a valule system that places family first south of the border than you will north of the border (and sociological research would suggest the same.)

I do not believe, however, that it is due to any particular sense of altruism inherited through Native American, Spanish or Mestizo genes. In fact, I believe the diferences stem from the fact that all people are inherently selfish.

Mike H. hit the nail on the head in a post a while ago when he theorized on why a rural Mexican rancher in a remote part of Baja is more likely to help someone in need. He mentioned that the guy would not likely see himself as having done anything special. That it is just what is necessary to survive in a world that has more harsh natural challenges. You see, that guy and anyone around him is most likely going to need the assistance of others at some point in his life to survive himself so that behavior becomes ingrained as a way of life in his world.

I believe we see the same thing with the family unit. Historically, the family unit was a key enabler helping people survive and even thrive in a world of man vs. his environment. Having a family meant more resources available to thwart the calmaties that life can throw our way.

As our world becomes less primitive, through technological advances and wealth accumulation, our families become less important or even irrelevant to our survival. In fact they can even become impediments to our prusuits. We begin to focus on wants and desires once survival has become a given.

The even more rapid breakdown of the family in poorer US communities over the last 70 years further demonstrates this. In a welfare society, a single poor working man and a single mother on welfare are much better off financially than a family with a single working poor father in the home, especially if the mother cannot (or will not) indentify the father.

That is why I, like JR, prefer spending as much time as possible in places where families and community are still more needed, and thus, more appreciated and more highly valued. Sadly, it won't stay that way for long as it will soon be replaced by what we call progress!

Finally, Capt George: I almost agree although I would actually replace money with power. For most politicians I've met, power is the source of climax for them. Money is just the aphrodisiac and foreplay to make it possible...

Worshipping false Gods

'Ni heolas go haontios'

In English from Ol' Irish (Gaelic):
There is no knowledge without unity; or less accurate: 'You don't know a person until you live with them'

RandyMac

Too Weird

A few nights ago I started getting this feeling of anxiousness, a heavy heart or a sense of dread, and couldn't sleep. Thought I was close to having the big jammer, but the Doc says everything's okay. Aching back, arms, chest was tight etc, so I decided to go for a brisk walk before I hit the hay. Felt much better, went back to sleep and had an extremely vivid reoccurring dream.

Upon waking, I decided to start again on JR's logo. I felt good. It was one of the many things weighing on my noodle, but not the most weighty item. An important line item. But that's the least concern of my feelings as of late. The logo has been fun to take care of (okay it's not finished, but it appears to be on the right track)-- especially since the JR is pleased as punch. Delivering on a promise is important.. Important yes, but it's not my excuse for the dreadful feelings. Perhaps it's too much BBC and Tsunami stuff? So I have tuned it out, to chill a bit.

Of yeh! The DREAM, and dread sh77.
There is something out there that I can't quite put a handle on? Is it the life force of so many people being squelched out? Perhaps? Maybe it's my angst towards falling prey to days of old?

THE DREAM
The dream was about impending doom, greed, society against society, the rat race of today's work environment, 80 -- 100 hours being demanded each week, but for 40 hour week pay -- no time to ponder why an ant is an ant, and seems to be so content at just being an ant.

The dream seemed to be in pure thought, but not in my regular native tonque dreams I'm used to having, but in ol' Gaelic or Old Irish. Like some ancient message fed into a blurry receiver.

I can't remember much Galeic, but I do remember my Gran used to speak to me in this way cool old language when I was young. She tossed out these profound sayings all the time, such that my friends would get mezmerized by the spoken words, even though they could hardly understand much of anything she said. I'd do my best translation, and we'd chant them back as best we could the whole time we were playing out in the back forty. Come to think of it. At one time it was full of trees and bush and always full of kids. Now not one kid plays there, unless it's organized soccer. It's a big green park now and kids aren't allowed to explore. All the cool things were cleared away. Kind of like it's life force has been zapped. Go figure.

My Gran used to always tell me: 'EEEh Raaaandaaall, de rhut' of all evil is not de quest ah money, but da jealousy'. Understand de jealousy my youngin, an' live da life as it was meant ta be.'

Not being one to disregard it as random gibberish, I have tried to interpret this strange, but interesting experience.

I just recently went back to the software industry. Not because I wanted to, but it's what I know best, or so I believe. Why? A friend needs some help and called me just before I was to head off to the Baja, and she's been a real good friend to me, especially when I needed a true friend, and someone to trust, and I won't let her down in her time of need.

I agreed to only go back to this often life crippling, greed driven industry, but on my strict terms. I will work 40 hours a week -- for 40 hours pay. Screw all the stock options and crap. I won't bite or be driven by the 'BFGF' hook again. (BIG F----ing Greed Factor).

Pay me for what I deliver in those 40 hours, no more, no less. It's not going to be my whole life, just a small percentage of my life. I have other plans, and dying at a desk, delivering over and above a pile of unrealistic demands from some management cakehole is not my idea of living the last days of my precious life, and, nor is it my absolute duty to do so. The team of software engineers I manage will take walks, hike in the Alps, when necessary, and they'll have a family life, and we'll deliver on all our promises. We won't get sucked into the black hole. We'll put out world class software solutions to better people's lives.

I'm extremely excited about the job, but I do have to admit that I have a feeling of making a mistake. Probably why I have been feeling anxious lately. Not for helping a friend, but for jumping back into the digital high tech rat race. Talk about a greedy cutthroat dog eat dog soul sucking industry!!! I've been there hook line and sinker. I was extremely driven 16 years ago, made a ton, spent a ton, gave away a ton, wazzed away a bus load on glittzy digs, frivolous crap, big parties, dingy bars etc. You get the drift. I never seemed to be happy.

I was able to help my family and some friends and that gave me good piece of mind. BUT! Five years ago I decided to walk away from it all. A few people felt I deserved the break, but it did wazz many many people off. It's amazing what people will expect out of one person, and what they'll say behind your back, but few people have the balls to cut straight to it. Such as this: Hey Mac, I'm a greedy sack of crap, and you owe me. I found out all about who my friends are since that day. Take one hand, fold back 2 or 3 fingers, and the true one(s) are few and far between.

To make a longin' shorter.

Five years ago at a tender age of 42, I packed it all in, bought a little motorhome, little 4x4 and went on my merry way to Yucatan Mexico. I had felt like I had just started life (again), and I learned more than I ever could in any business, or social setting that the previous 16 years of the often exciting, but life mangling high tech arena could throw at me. A few years later it was the Baja.

Too pinch it off. THE DREAMTIME: Don't fall back into the same old rut and turn into a sack of *&$% again. If so, I deserve it. Deliver on your promises, but remember to live.

When I finish my task at hand, I'm headed to the Baja. No motorhome, no fancy digs. I plan to stick to my promise of not getting caught up in the rat race, crazy life sucking people issues, mud slinging, gringo crap this, gringo crap that, you name it. I plan to stay away from it all. And if that means going aboriginal, or turning part mountain man, so be it.

The Quest: GIve all my possessions away, help needy people, get closer to nature and befriend that ant. Maybe we'll learn some life skills from each other, and what it takes to be truly happy.

RandyMac
Ramblings of a Mad Man.


[Edited on 1-13-2005 by RandyMac]

God Bless You Randy Mac!!

Skeetster!! How are you my friend?

reminds me of this very important quote...