Can any other country argue they have had more challenges in the last 400 years in the new world? Recently one of our local Newsletters had an article
by a student journalist suggesting the name Tri-Fecta for Mexico’s recent scrapes; world and regional economy slump, the Swine Flu scare and
unprecedented violent crime laid at the feet of the drug trade combined to stop the country’s burgeoning tourism in its tracks. Who would argue that
the closing of 19 of Cancun’s many posh hotel/resorts is not a seminal milepost.
Growing pains never stop in this country. Even as the country was torn asunder by coups and uprisings, wars and insurrections, it was stretching its
framework to accommodate geo-political baby steps. Like so many other republics it must redesign itself each time the managers change seats – often
four or five years of struggling mightily to enact more and better laws to help them keep pace with the runaway dynamics and chaos of new commerce,
the new people in the seats stop the presses, devolve social gains, set some of them back decades.
Who will argue that the system suffers from corruption so profound and unique as to leave the country unmanageable? The buses still run, oil still
flows, millions thrive, others just stay alive. Given what western media tells us of Mexico and its problems wouldn’t one expect the peso to be
without value against the dollar, against the Euro?
Not every adult in my village has a highschool education. Almost every adult in the village has a cell phone. Cell phones here are not just a fad.
They are here to stay. What are people talking about on their cells? They are talking about the future, they are talking about politics and crime and
tourism, quinceñas, school and jobs and babies.
I think sometimes Mexico’s northern neighbors with our instant oatmeal mentality expect uncommon growth in all things socio-political. We were not
there to witness the beginning, nor the middle ages of this country. Some paint Mexico’s notorious corruption like an emblem of the republic, a big C
in the center of the flag. I will admit that someday it might take its place as an insignificant footnote to the country’s history – Mexico is
changing, evolving. The U.S., under any reasonable economic microscope, is bankrupt, on the brink of having to end centuries of aid to our world
neighbors. The “Stuck on Stupid” label is cute and hip and modern but until you can learn new ways to measure how republics are doing now, will fare
in the future, I’d leaven my harsh words with reason – they will be easier to swallow.longlegsinlapaz - 5-31-2009 at 01:06 PM
Well said & well thunk out, Osprey!comitan - 5-31-2009 at 01:08 PM
Made me feel so good reading that article, and the struggle go's on. Much better than reading Racial Profiling.
[Edited on 5-31-2009 by comitan]Udo - 5-31-2009 at 05:58 PM
Very well tought out, Jorge. You hit the nail on the head without going to right field politics. Paula - 5-31-2009 at 08:05 PM
Good thoughts, Osprey!
Times are tough all over these days. Those of us who've lived so well for so long may suffer more profoundly than our neighbors. Having it all is
not all it's cracked up to be.
I agree
thebajarunner - 5-31-2009 at 09:46 PM
Quote:
Originally posted by comitan
Made me feel so good reading that article, and the struggle go's on. Much better than reading Racial Profiling.
[Edited on 5-31-2009 by comitan]
Much as I tried, I could not put words to that "Racial Profiling" piece of garbage....
So, I just rode it out.
Does not make it any easier to listen to that drumroll of hatred,
but your piece was well spoken
ThanksLOSARIPES - 6-1-2009 at 04:46 AM
Very objective and realistic approach. One could never get close to understanding Mexico -or any other country for that matter- without placing it in
its current world context and considering its historic/social/political drag.
Growing pains.... you bet.rpleger - 6-1-2009 at 02:31 PM
Osprey, Right onBajaGringo - 6-1-2009 at 02:39 PM
Kudos my friend...wsdunc - 6-1-2009 at 03:24 PM
Mexico reminds me a lot of another country I love, Bolivia. While the power changes every couple of years the people keep irrefutably moving forward.
Good people try to make things better for themselves and others. Progress is made. But the folks with the drive for power (and the associated
wealth) seem to do an uncannilly good job screwing up things. It seems like 1 bad guy can undo the work of 100 good guys. To quote Tom Waits:
you got to tell me brave captain,
why are the wicked so strong,
how do the angels get to sleep,
when the devil leaves the porchlight on
Or maybe paraphrase Warren Buffet:
The three things you need in a leader are intelligence, energy, and integrity. The first two traits without the third is a recipe for disaster.
The good news is that in the middle of the chaos the people seem to keep moving foward, 10 steps forward and 9.5 back sometimes, but forward none the
less.
