Sad what's become of Mexico, an extreme example of the challenges presented to post-colonial countries trying to make it on their own. Tainted by corruption especially within government, becomes a society desperate to do anything to survive. People are quick to frown on Mexico, but many do not acknowledge how it came to be.
Mexico, taken by Spain, fought over with America, then most of the desireable parts incorporated into America, leaving the Mexican indigenous peoples at the hands of many corrupt Mexican Nationals (Spanish transplants) still in power, created a class system with a desparity gap so huge between rich/powerful and the poor and uneducated. Christianizing and renaming the indigenous people, effectively destroying most of their native ways. Mexico in essence is a giant "reservation" similar to the reservations now left for native americans in USA (left over parts that colonial government didn't really want anyway). Everyone chastises Mexicans for not learning English if they want to try to make it in America. But isn't it bad enough that most Mexicans have lost their native tongues to an original foreign power's push to "civilize" them and make them all speak Spanish? Lost their original names now replaced by the Spanish surnames of the governing Dons of their region. Lost a lot of their culture, their land, and way of living. As if that wasn't enough for Mexico to integrate, now they must learn English as well?
On an individual level everyone has the power to lead by right or wrong. I'm not condoning crime with the excuse of hardships faced as a nation suffering from post-colonial damage. But on the bigger picture as a whole, you can see how desperate people have become, and possible reasons from the past that span generation after generation which clue us in to understanding reasons why. Perhaps understanding it, though, is not enough to solve it, especially since the problems are so overwhelming and huge; it'd be a daunting task to say the least. But it's always important to not necessarily endorse something or judge it, but take it in with a bit of perspective on the whole.
My mom lives just short of the border. I usually go down into Juarez every year or so. The Rio Grande is a dreadful mess, and you can see tin and cardboard barrios lining the horizon. Garbage is everywhere in the river, which is not so "grande". And that's all just AT the border. Once you cross over into Juarez.... Some places I even literally hold my breath, and I keep my valuables clutched tightly on my person, and keep my family close. Yes, sadly, it IS that bad in some places.
Just sad to see. Mexico wasn't always like this. After conquest was achieved by toppling the indigenous people's nation at the hands of Spanish conquistadors like Cortez, Corruption began at the government level with Spanish, and later those Spanish who remained as Mexican Nationals. Of course much of the population is now mixed. But Remember, the indigenous peoples are the descendants of the once great Aztec Empire. There was a time when Mexico would have been known more for their development of science, architecture, agriculture, art, and technology that was ahead of their time. The roots of the Mexican people are still there. Despite the sad state of affairs the nation may be in at present, we should still show a great respect for it.
