I've been wanting to write a post about the hysteria that seems to be gripping the US press over Mexico. I kept putting it off because it really pisses me off but getting angry rarely helps get your point across. I do wonder though, who benefits from all this? If GWB were still in charge I would be worried about an eminent invasion of Mexico, and believe me this was not an idle worry for many Mexicans. I think Obama is not only smarter but measured and sane so I no longer think it is all leading up to the Marines moving into Veracruz to "protect" the oil fields.
There are benefits to tourist areas in the southern US, that seems kind of stretching it though. Gun dealers certainly benefit, both from increased paranoia inside the US and from their unholy profits selling automatic weapons to the cartels. Still, tourists going to Mexico don't really threaten that. The Teamsters have a huge investment (that paid off recently) in portraying Mexico and Mexicans as dangerous and irresponsible, that's a possibility.
I don't know, it could just be that blood and terror sells and everyone loves to be told that someone else's house is in worse shape than their own. Now I think I am getting close to the truth.
If you live in any city in the US you are bombarded by news of murders, rapes, robberies and the always entertaining random mass murder by a)some sick teenager b)jilted lover or c)pissed off employee. It could make you start wondering if you really are living in the very best country in the world. Rather than realize that perhaps there are enormous problems in the Shining Light of Democracy, let's concentrate on the heads of narcos found alongside a road in Sinaloa. Remind yourself that you are safe in the bosom of the US of A and feel good about yourself and your country.
I think that is it.
I'm not from the boondocks of the US, I grew up outside Los Angeles and spent most of my adult life in and around San Francisco. I retired as a Lieutenant in the San Francisco Sheriff's Department. I have a couple of street smarts bouncing around in my head and I would say my danger radar is pretty well honed. I sniff the air a lot and I tend to err on the side of caution. I'm no longer young and I'm no longer armed and I no longer have anything to prove, so I'm never looking for trouble and I've got no qualms about beating feet if I see it coming. Here's a shocker for you, I've never felt the need to get the hell away from somewhere or someone here in Mexico. It could happen, I'm still looking all the time. But, it hasn't happened and you want to know why that is? Because I don't do drugs, I don't hang out with drug users or dealers, I don't go to sleezy nightclubs, I don't get so wasted that I don't know who I'm talking to or where I am. The same good sense that I use in the US, I use here. WTF folks, this isn't rocket science. If you don't know how to behave off the farm then you should stay on it.
I don't have a lot of sympathy in these days of TV and internet for the sheep who get regularly fleeced and hurt in any city anywhere in the world. Grow up, watch TV, buy some smarts. If you take a midnight tour of southcentral LA and you are white and stupid, you will get robbed and you will probably get hurt. If you decide to go off to Juarez for a night on the town and buy some blow and try and pick up some gangster's girlfriend, you will get hurt and you could easily get dead. If you wander off to Afghanistan to "help" the poor people there, you are taking a much bigger risk than I think a normal, sane person should. All three of those places are war zones, you can get hurt even if you aren't in the fight. So, use your head and stay out of all of them.
Now that you know that southcentral LA is not safe, does that mean you shouldn't go to Malibu? or Tucson? or Portland, Maine? Because that's the same as saying that because there is a drug war going on at the US/MX border, it isn't safe to go to Guadalajara or Puerto Vallarta or Cancun. You can get hurt in any of those places if you are stupid and in the wrong place at the wrong time. The thing is, the wrong place is really apparent and it doesn't include upscale hotels and restaurants or the beach. The wrong time is pretty clear too, if it is 3am and you can't walk straight it is the wrong time to go wandering down the beach by yourself - especially in Malibu. The recent press saying that Mexico is a failing state is just crap. Come down sometime and see the new housing developments being built, the new malls, the downtowns of big cities that are being renovated and turned into fashionable areas. Stroll the Plaza Grande here in Mérida some evening, enjoy the clowns and magicians playing for the kids, have a coffee or a beer at a sidewalk cafe, listen to the city sponsored bands in every park. Best of all, do as I do and walk home at midnight through the center of the city with no fear, no furtive looks over your shoulder. This is a city of over a million people and the downtown is safe, safe for women and children, safe at night - how many cities of the same size in the US can say that?
Then, start wondering why such a different picture is being painted in the US press.
For some real information from expat bloggers living throughout México, take a look at this site The Truth About Mexico.
posted by Jonna at 10:03 PM
24 Comments:
Nice analysis, Jonna. I am just as baffled as you are on the press coverage. Relatives, colleagues, and people at church all start their conversations now with: "Certainly you are not going to Mexico since the war broke out." They may as well say: "Can you give me directions to the sixth dimension?" I do not even know how to respond other than to say: "Yes, I am. Are you driving home today? Do you know how many people get killed on the highway?" They never get the point.
Amiga - Nice work.
My take on this nonsense is most of the sensible, financially capable U.S. citizens would escape like rats in daylight to Mexico were it not for a bunch of ridiculous propaganda causing fear and loathing for Mexico and its people.
If it is too good to be true - it is Mexico. But don't tell anyone.
This is silly. The picture painted in the US press is not that every town in Mexico is dangerous. The US press has reported criminal acts that sometimes have sometimes have a horrible nature. (Just how many headless corpses were found near Merida??) It isn't surprising that some people get turned off when they read those stories. The erroneous generalizations should be blamed on the readers, not the news reports.
Thank you for the sane perspective. I have sent this blog along to my family and friends in the U.S. who think I am in immediate danger of being kidnapped or shot. In Chelem.
Marlene
Nice job. I think all, or most, of us Bloggers have written on this ridiculous subject. I don't think we are going to change any image but it is out there if people want to read the truth. Except that it really hurts my friends who depend upon the tourist industry, I would say "fools stay away".
Good work Jonna. I am going to post a link to it on a Playa mostly tourist board that has a safety thread going on.
I haven't commented here lately, but I still read regularly and was glad to see your name pop up amongst the supporters of Heather in three-legged race that supports the Bomberos over on the Caribbean coast!!
Say hey to Mimi for us.
I couldn't have said it better. I think you hit the nail on the head, it's mass hysteria, similar to the Salem Witch trials but with better media coverage.
regards,
Theresa
Great post Amiga! You put everything in perspective. My mother used to tell me that "nothing good ever happens after midnight" and that I should be home and in bed by then. This while thing proves she was right.
See you on the road! Hi Mimi!
Croft
You know Rob, if that was really all the press was doing, reporting serious crimes that are occurring in Mexico then I would not have a problem with it. That's not what I see in the press. I see hysteria, warnings that going to Mexico on vacation is taking your life in your hands and risking kidnapping or beheading. Yes, last year there were 11 headless bodies found on the outskirts of Mérida. ALL of the victims were local small time drug dealers and the message pinned to the bodies was a threat from one cartel to another. It's terrible but it doesn't make me think that I will be next.
Right now I am horribly saddened by the murder of 3 Oakland police officers yesterday and the serious wounding of another. Cold blooded murder of men who are the good guys and who are trying to maintain order in a city known for its gangs and violence. Needless, senseless, murder by some piece of shit that never made a positive contribution to his city, country or community. Still, I used to drive through Oakland fairly regularly but I was careful about my route and there were many areas I would never drive through alone, day or night. By the way, this killing happened in broad daylight at 1 in the afternoon. There are no such areas here in Mérida that I would not drive through. There are actually no areas that I wouldn't walk through in the daytime. There are areas I would not walk through late at night, perhaps it would be safe but I don't know them and, like I said, I err on the side of caution. In some ways, I think I am more paranoid about these things than local Meridanos because I am from the US where it is a whole lot more dangerous. You have to compare like to like, it is safer in small town USA than it is in Mexico City. It is not, however, safer in Oakland or Chicago or New York than it is in Mérida and it is a LOT safer in Cancun than it is in Miami.
Great post Jonna. I get asked often if I will continue to travel to Mexico on vacation. I don't expect to get shot or kidnapped while I am on Isla Mujeres. I don't buy drugs, wear excessive jewelery, flaunt money around. Use common sense people is what I say.
Hi Jonna
I've read what you (and many other bloggers) have been posting, in response to what is perceived as a bias in the US coverage of Mexico.
I agree -- sort of.
My problem is this: I get most of my news about Mexico from Mexican papers (especially the Diario de Yucatan). What I read is a daily dose of reports of violence in Mexico, including a daily dose of thoughtful commentary about the issue on the editorial pages.
The narco-related violence in Mexico IS a huge problem -- perhaps not in the sensationalist sense of the stories printed in the "popular press", but in the sense that it is having an effect on how Mexicans behave towards each other, invest, travel, etc., throughout the country.
Example -- Yucatan state is indeed one of the safest (lowest violent crime) areas in the country, but a series of violent incidents in the last year elicited a huge public reaction, including people staying away from public places (well, at least for a few days), a rash of police check points which are still being used, and some warrantless searches and questionable arrests based on reports of "strange" activities by concerned neighbors. In other words -- the THREAT of narco violence is affecting the lives of Mexicans in areas where there isn't much violence.
So my point -- yeah, there's a lot of sensationalist press in the US that is potentially damaging to the Mexican tourism economy, and that's bad. BUT, narco violence is in fact affecting how Mexicans live, how government money is spent, etc., and it's equally irresponsible to ignore it.
I have no disagreement with what you are saying Mary, my point is not that this war is being discussed here in México. What I think is odd are the articles in US papers on 'Should I take my vacation in Mexico or will I be killed by narcos' or 'Is it time for the US to take control of Mexico before it is lost to the Cartels.' Legitimate articles on the real war that Calderón is fighting here against the Cartels is news and worth reporting. In the same fashion I would think it odd if there were lots of articles in the Mexican press about the dangers of travel to Disneyworld because of gang activity in Miami. Come on? It's sensationalism and it isn't just a fluke.
1.2 million Americans now living fulltime in Mexico. Imagine all the Canadians, Europeans, etc. There must be something good in all this and I have been in it for a long time.
People say we are defending Mexico. Sure, why not? It's my home.
I guess I don't understand the mentality that says you would want your neighbor to do poorly. With all the talk about illegal immigration, one would think it would be the opposite. Support your neighbor, celebrate their growth and prosperity. Mexico is still the number one consumer of American goods and provides great products to their neighbors to the North not to mention cheap labor that no one ever wants to talk about. What, you don't have a gardner? Go down to Commerce St. in San Antonio and pick one out. Their a dime a dozen and do great work.
I just returned from an rv trip from Monterrey to Naples, Fl. The lonliest trip I have ever taken. I can't wait to get back to Mexico.
If it isn't AIG it is crime waves in Mexico. At least we are doing something to attack the problem. The U.S. continues it insatiable appetite for illegal drugs at a tune of 30 billion dollars a year and no one bats an eye. How does it all get into the greatest country in the world with the best of protection, detection and fervation?
Thanks for a great post Jonna.
It's the same press that heralded Obama as the savior, what do you expect.
Apparently a lot of Mexican don't share your opinion of Mexico. Whatever, live and let live where ever you want to. Life goes on.
Anonymous, when you say that apparently a lot of Mexicans don't share my opinion about Mexico, you are wrong. I know that you are talking about illegal immigrants trying to get into the US for work. Consider this, they are very poor, no one is denying that there is a large class of very poor people in Mexico. But, there are also a lot of very poor people in the US and they aren't trying to find work are they? They are sitting on their ass thinking that someone should do something for them. What a comparison. Poverty is horrible and it is a world wide problem. Even so, in many surveys they have asked illegal workers in the US if they had a choice, where would they live. More than half would return to Mexico if they could find work and support their families. So, NO I don't think that a lot of Mexicans disagree with my opinion, they are just very, very poor they want to work and the jobs are in the US - or at least they used to be. Who knows how this recession brought on by Bush's welfare for the rich will effect jobs for everyone.
Jonna, I must take polite exception to your portrayal of American poor. There may be a segment of poor who feel entitled to free rides but it is not the general rule. These days the free rides have left the station and just about everyone is scrambling to either find a job or hang on to the one they have.
Perhaps. There is poor by US standards and there is poor by Mexican standards which means you could starve, your children would be hungry all the time and there would be no way to make it better. I think that I am jaded about the US poor, I've seen so many that could care less, don't want to work, don't want their children to have a better life. At the same time, they have more than most in other parts of the world. Real hunger probably does exist in the US but there are so many social nets and so many ways to work your way out of it. The ones who run the border from Mexico are for the most part indigenous, with limited education and very limited opportunity. That they see the US as the golden opportunity is sad but true.
Really, I'm over my head now. You can't generalize about people in this way and have it mean anything. There are a lot of thugs that run the border, a lot of the very poor who see an opportunity to work hard and change their lives, and some middle class, educated people who also see a better chance up north. I think that will change but often perceptions last beyond reality.
Thank you for your post. Yet again, your confirming what every other blogger there says, that relatively speaking, Mexico is safer than the US!. Hopefully I'll be moving there soon.
Also, in regards to a post you had about ants, one of the best ways to organically get rid of them is grits or a rough ground corn meal. once they eat it, they'll explode! they'll even take it to their queen. Just put a light circle around the area or mound about 3-5 inches away, then 2 more circles about 18 inches out from each other. hope that helps!
Trey
Reporting from Portland, Maine....it is cold here...a lot colder than home...I have not seen any crime here....maybe this is a safe town this week....KK
Jonna, I was told that by 2 of my Mexican neighbor why they came here. Guess they don't know the difference either. Everyplace has good and bad people. Good and bad area's.
Glad you seem to be in a good area.
Hi again, Robin here. I posted a bit ago about finding out more info on renting your condo. You asked me to email you... and the only email I could find was lulu at the bigdogs addy so I did... is that not the right addy?
Thanks!
Robin
cokelush at gmail
I live in Morelia, many hundreds of kilometers from the US/Mexico border. I've lived in Mexico for nearly 30 years. I am a Mexican citizen. I have been afraid for my personal safety exactly once, just about a year ago, in Chiapas.
I usually read just a little of the US news coverage of the ongoing drug violence in Mexico. I read several Spanish-language Mexican newspapers every single day.
Here are some statistics:
--during 2008, there were nearly 7,000 narco-related assassinations in Mexico.
--during the first 50 days of 2009, there were nearly 1000 narco-related assassinations in Mexico.
--on March 22, 2009, there were three narco-related shootouts on Morelia's streets--at 9.00AM, at 9.30AM, and at 10AM. All were narco-related and aimed at Federal police. One high-level police official was killed, one assailant was killed, and a number of bystanders were injured, including a man and his son who were merely taking a Sunday drive along a city street. Their windshield was shot out. This incident happened just four blocks from my house--my house, in an upscale and quiet residential area of Morelia.
No, I was not the target. No, I am not afraid to live here. But I think it's foolhardy and wrong to say that this kind of activity doesn't affect the fiber of life here. My Mexican friends are frightened of what might come next, tomorrow or in a week or in a month.
I'd rather not stick my head in the sand and pretend this is not serious.
Cristina
Jonna - what a great post. I agree that I have never felt like I was not safe in Mexico. Just like you said it has a lot to do with not putting myself in places or situations that are un-safe. I would not think anything about hopping on a plane today to Mexico.
Bravo on a Terrific Post.
Preface: middle-age, middle class white female, just led 3 others of same through Valladolid / Merida / Izamal / Tulum tour of non-tourist sites and activities, focussing on village and town life, cenotes, pyramids, colonial and Mayan history, the foods, the beach. Outcome: marvellous, fantastic, so memorable and - except for the snake in Izamal - a totally safe-feeling, welcoming, enriching environment. I totally agree with Jonna's point of view. If you engage in negative invitational behaviours, you've yourself to thank and blame for the outcome.
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