Bending the Third Rail
Because We Should, We Can, We Do
Wednesday, September 27, 2006
Mexico
There is a lot going on in Mexico these days and some of it seems eerily familiar.
The fact that about half of the ballot boxes in Mexico’s presidential election have “adding up” problems is enough to warrant a full recount. The evidence from the most recent partial recount, insofar as it is known, provides further reason to do a full recount. The lack of transparency and withholding of information in the two partial recounts that have been conducted also undermine the credibility of any result that does not allow for a full recount.

The Mexicans, unlike their neighbors to the north, are not sitting at home. Strikes, civil disobedience, and marches are taking place all across the country.

On Sunday of this week, more threats of federal army intervention came forth from the state government to the teachers, and the state director of education declared that if the teachers do not return to the classroom on Monday, September 25, they will be fired and replaced with strikebreakers from among retired teachers and parents. In solidarity, the Oaxaca business community called for a shutdown of the city September 28 and 29, including not using electricity or telephones, not paying taxes, and shutting down transportation.

While the city of Oaxaca may be shut down, the radical movement engendered by its teachers will not. It is spreading and gathering momentum. In the words of the teachers, ni un paso atras—not one step back.

Of course the American media makes no mention of Mexicans except to frame them as illegal aliens spilling across our borders. I told my aunt several weeks ago that it will probably be a good thing that we have so many Mexicans here in this country, for they will be the ones to reintroduce us to the importance of banding together, forming unions, and demanding a decent living from those who govern us. As Emiliano Zapata said, "It is better to die on your feet than to live on your knees."

Full article here.

Written at 5:02 AM by Lynne.
4 comments
4 Comments:
Blogger Bishop Abad said...
I think that the poor citizens of Mexico are taking fire from all around them. The only escape that they had was the friendly soil of the North, and now even here they are facing rejection.

Sincerely,
Fr. Abad+
http://lookstare.com/blog/index.php?blog=6
7:05 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...
The Oaxaca teachers' strike is an annual event. It's happened every year for the past 20 years. To make there case for a pay raise, they ruined the tourism-based economy in the state capital.

As for Lopez Obrador, his tactics are splitting Mexico's left, which is no being viewed as radical and irresponsible. Patricia Mercado, who presented her Alternativa Party as a modern alternative, is what the Mexican left should look like. Street blockades and alternative governments will not win hearts and minds. Heading a constructive opposition would. And it would solidly deliver the presidency in 2012. But these people aren't long-term thinkers.
7:49 AM  
Blogger Lynne said...
I'll be darned, someone does read our blog.
9:17 AM  
Blogger Greyhair said...
LOL.

A few here and there.
9:24 AM  
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