There was a story in the press tonight about the recent resignations of Mexican police in towns threatened by cartels or actually hurt in attacks. Mexico, our direct neighbor to the south, is reverting to the days we know as the Wild West and what are we doing? We are attempting to lock down the border to keep the criminal element out of our country. It is not that easy and we are hiding our heads in the sand if we think we have no obligation to help or at the very least, offer compassion.
Of course, many of you will say that we cannot police the world and that we have our problems to deal with and you will be right. The U.S. is not a humanitarian organization, it is a nation with plenty of struggles on its own soil. Of course this has never stopped us from butting into other places if we felt our own interests were threatened. We can pretty it up however we like, but there is a long history of American intervention when we want or need something and usually we do it under the guise of liberation or humanitarian aide.
It is nearly impossible to extricate our own history and culture from that of Mexico. Our two nations, similar to our close relationship with Canada, enjoy a somewhat symbiotic relationship. Tourism, goods and services, and international friendship have enabled us to enjoy the benefits of Mexico including its beautiful coastline and rich cultural legacy. Let’s also not forget burritos, refritos and guacamole! I would be nothing without these three most important staples to my weekly diet. (Well, I’d be skinnier and maybe less gassy, but also much less satiated.)
So now we have thugs taking over entire towns in Mexico and what is our response? We pass legislation like the vile Arizona law. Mexico isn’t our problem, so let’s just shut them out and turn our backs. Oh wait, Iraq wasn’t our problem either, but we needed to “liberate” them. The Holocaust didn’t seem to bother us either until Japan got us involved and then suddenly we were devastated by the atrocities suffered by the Jews and their friends. I think it is pretty clear we are selfish and never do anything unless it directly benefits us, so maybe that’s what we need to think about with Mexico. I, for one, do not want to lose access to some really great beach resorts, local cuisine and authentic margaritas. Can’t we drum up some legitimate self-preserving reason to want to “protect” Mexico and stop being so un-neighborly?
If you don’t want the current and surely escalating violence of Mexico to spill over into the states, then let’s support our continental roomie. Rather than build a wall to keep “those people” out, let’s work with Mexico to drive the bad element back. We will never be able to adequately secure our borders to the extent that violence or gang/cartel activity will never touch us here so is it not better to take the fight to the source? Our law enforcement will not resign because of hostile actions, they will be supporting by state or national governmental agencies.
We can use this opportunity to help Mexico and to preserve what is good about our own immigrant history. I really do believe that we have a humanitarian obligation to assist, but if that doesn’t fry your chimichanga then commit to the selfish notion that if we don’t help, the next time you’re lounging on a Mexican beach with a cerveza you could be killed by a drug lord with a bad attitude and no law enforcement to keep him in check. I really like beaches and beer so let’s lend a hand, okay?
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