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Uneasily, a Latin Land Looks at Its Own Complexion
The New York Times ^ | 05/19/05 | Ginger Thompson

Posted on 05/19/2005 2:04:38 PM PDT by lsilver5

MEXICO CITY, May 18 - Five days after President Vicente Fox provoked a storm of outrage in the United States by saying that Mexican migrants do work that "not even blacks want to do," the Rev. Jesse L. Jackson said in a visit to Mexico on Wednesday that he welcomed the remarks, in a backhand sort of way.

Perhaps the greatest denial has been here in Mexico, where there is usually very little public examination of race, much less racism. Here, too, Mr. Fox seems to have opened a door, and this week the country seems engrossed by it.

Mexicans typically pride themselves on being a colorblind society of mixed-race people, part Spanish, part Indian, and everyone equal.

But some commentators said that President Fox inadvertently exposed the disturbing reality beneath the facade and forced Mexico to take a more honest look in the mirror. Mexico's 10 million Indians are not only last in almost every social indicator, including levels of literacy, infant mortality, employment and access to basic services. They still appear on television mostly as maids and gardeners.

"Our Indians remain invisible," he said. And then, referring to the 1994 Indian rebellion in the southern Mexican state of Chiapas, he added, "When our Indians try to make themselves seen, we kill them."

Is the American dream just a dream?

(Excerpt) Read more at nytimes.com ...


TOPICS: Constitution/Conservatism; Culture/Society; Foreign Affairs; Mexico; Miscellaneous; News/Current Events; Philosophy
KEYWORDS: aliens; borderissues; jessejackson; mexico; nativeamerican; race; vicentefox
Sorry. Even indios in Mexico feel themselves to be far superior to African descendents. There is racial layering upon racial layering. And Mexicanos do perform hard work, what (unnamed others) will not perform. I can't say too much more without being censored.
1 posted on 05/19/2005 2:04:38 PM PDT by lsilver5
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To: lsilver5

Mexico seen thru a very narrow lense by a squish head who hasn't been there very long. One part she left out is how they make a near-cult out of their pre-hispanic indian culture and roots, and despise Cortez as an object of shame and ridicule. But if it weren't for him, they would still be sacrificing each other by ripping the hearts out of living unfortunates, throwing adolescents into wells and various other assorted unpleasantness. Not that the Spaniards were without cruelty themselves, but they confronted an even crueler and more barbaric culture when they conquered Mexico. Also, most of the blacks in Mexico came from Cuba and the Caribbean, very few to escape slavery.


2 posted on 05/19/2005 2:18:37 PM PDT by 3AngelaD
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To: lsilver5

Unfortunately white folks run Mejico...the ruling class is of European Spanish heritage, Irish heritage (Fox), or Arabic. The predominant faces on Mexican media are white...darker folks are comedic foils.


3 posted on 05/19/2005 2:19:13 PM PDT by kaktuskid
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To: lsilver5
Sorry. Even indios in Mexico feel themselves to be far superior to African descendents. There is racial layering upon racial layering. And Mexicanos do perform hard work, what (unnamed others) will not perform. I can't say too much more without being censored.

Not sure exactly where you're going with that comment... Would you kindly explain? What are you afraid of being censored for?

4 posted on 05/19/2005 2:21:25 PM PDT by Tired of Taxes (News junkie here)
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To: lsilver5

Oh yes my friend. There's a lot of haughty superiority going on that I've seen personally in my face where I live. Not to me, but to other folks and there's a reason why a lot of hispanics keep spanish as their first language and Thomas Sowell nailed it in his study of ethnicities.


5 posted on 05/19/2005 2:22:43 PM PDT by cyborg (Serving fresh, hot Anti-opus since 18 April 2005)
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To: 3AngelaD

One part she left out is how they make a near-cult out of their pre-hispanic indian culture and roots, and despise Cortez as an object of shame and ridicule.

Primarily the Aztec culture (the whole Aztlan tripe) which was only in central Mexico. The other Mexican tribes despised the Aztecs and joined the Spaniards to defeat them.


6 posted on 05/19/2005 2:23:07 PM PDT by kaktuskid
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To: lsilver5
If you see a Spanish Television show, all the stars are European. It's such a joke.

Better is a Spanish talk show. The host is Always European, but look at the audience, they all have the typical Mexican round face.
7 posted on 05/19/2005 2:43:03 PM PDT by LauraleeBraswell (Where were you when Tom Delay demanded justice?!)
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To: lsilver5

American citizens of any race would do the work, if they weren't living on government handouts.


8 posted on 05/19/2005 3:06:43 PM PDT by Tax-chick (I'm a shallow, demagoguic sectarian because it's easier than working for a living.)
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To: Tax-chick

and if wages weren't being undercut by illegals


9 posted on 05/19/2005 3:10:07 PM PDT by cyborg (Serving fresh, hot Anti-opus since 18 April 2005)
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To: cyborg

Wages would be at a market level without government intervention in the labor market.


10 posted on 05/19/2005 3:14:51 PM PDT by Tax-chick (I'm a shallow, demagoguic sectarian because it's easier than working for a living.)
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To: lsilver5

One question to Mexico. Why can't ordinary Mexicans prosper in your glorious country??


11 posted on 05/19/2005 3:44:26 PM PDT by Ursus arctos horribilis ("It is better to die on your feet than to live on your knees!" Emiliano Zapata 1879-1919)
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