Maggie's Farm

Mexico suffers from a complex set of bad ideas that are held together by the love/hate relationship with the USA. Yes, culture; all of Latin America rejects the US way of doing things on a daily basis. The "tell them what you think they want to hear" concept is seen in Mexico as the polite, and therefore preferable, way to deal with people. It's dysfunctional, of course, but it is gracious and gets people through a difficult life. And it's none of our business -- their choice, not ours -- so we can shut up and sit down.

The Mexicans can't forget that the USA now owns what was once half of Mexico, and it still rankles. Even in signing it over, Mexico was cheated: Trist was told by Washington to abandon negotiations and come home; he did not mention that detail to the Mexicans, who signed. Then Trist handed the astounded Senate the treaty, and Mexico was carved up. That and more pisses the Mexicans off, heap plenty. That's one set of reasons they make it so hard (VERY hard) for gringos to relocate to their nation.

Most of the world is profoundly corrupt. Mexico is no exception. Now Mexico is nearly a failed state because of the lunatic US "war on drugs," which was lost years ago. Think how Mexicans feel about that! They know the truth, and they are right to blame the USA.

Mexicans correctly perceive an influx of well-off, trained, capable and eager gringos as the final coup de grace to their heritage and future as a distinct entity. As badly as they have governed -- and it's been horrible -- they have the dignity to want their sovereignty. They deserve that.

So they have the kind of immigration laws and enforcement the USA should have.

If the USA can tolerate the UN, it can tolerate Mexico. Of course it would help if the USA were run as well as most citizens of that nation mistakenly believe it is....

...which will never happen with Obama and Hillary in power. And in foreign relations, remember the recent Honduras outrage. The future, as regards Mexico and a lot of other nations, will be a mess.

1. Mexicans cherish the anti-gringo legends and teach them in government schools. There is also the myth of "the heroic children." In the USA, that sort of thing is bad form.

2. My guess is Mexicans consider the treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo anything but a voluntary "sale" of territory. They would compare it to being held up; you don't donate your money and jewelry to the thug. What matters is not your or my perception of historical events, but the Mexicans' view. Too, I don't think historians would agree with you -- Mexico did not really want to hand over all that valuable real estate for a pittance -- but I could be wrong. Remember the fuss over El Chamizal when JFK was president? Mexicans take territorial issues very seriously. I can't blame them.

3. The drug cartels would not exist if not for the US "war on drugs." They could have been put out of business long, long ago, while they were tiny. Instead the USA chose to limit the Liberty of its citizens.

4. Mexican sovereignty is not to be denied because the nation is shot through with corruption. Most of the world is just as bad, or worse. What's your list of nations that do not deserve sovereignty? Be careful; your criteria might bite you where it hurts the most!

5. Certainly it's not for you or me to deny an existing nation its sovereignty; in fact, it would be counter to US ethics. Even in war, the US allows nations to continue to exist (Cuba, The Philippines, Germany, Austria, Italy, Thailand, Japan, Iraq and a bunch of others I can't recall offhand). Only the CSA was destroyed; CMIIAW.

6. Mexicans have fought in and for their country a number of times. Their last revolution ended in the 20th century. The horrible violence going on now indicates (to me) that they are willing to fight for their sovereignty. What more do you require of them?

If you think Mexico does not qualify ethically as a genuine nation, that's fine with me. I can't see your logic, though.