Job Discussion Forums

[jacqui]

Never realized studying and observing the social or political movements in the country you would be living would be shady.

[thelmadatter]

studying and observing are not shady, but your original post asked about participating... thats very different

[jacqui]

Apparently you are having difficulty understanding. I reposted because my first post implied that I would be participating in protests etc. By interviewing members of the movement and being present at any demonstrations it would of course appear to the government that I was participating directly as opposed to just observing. This is why I wanted to know the consequences of actually participating because obviously they would be applicable to me. If I had been aware that it would have resulted in rude and judgemental behaviour I would have explained my situation. I agree that in order for a social movement to be successful it needs to come from the people not an outsider, otherwise it will not appear legitimate to the people. This is why I would not protest (unless I felt the people could not do it on their own and their rights were being violated), not because I would be worried about a line in the sand seperating one country from another. I do not think I am a moral cursader coming into Mexico with an arrogant attitude, I am sympathetic to their cause and I want to study it further. End of story.

[richtx1]

The 21 March holiday honors Benito Juarez, author of the Juarez Doctrine that states all countries (and their citizens) should stay out of all other country's internal affairs. Given that foreigners intervened in Mexican affairs throughout the 19th century, and into the 20th, it's no wonder there is a constitutional provision forbidding foreigners from interference in national political issues.

This has nothing to do with the Zapatistas... you can be deported for any interference. Two years ago, several students from Illinois were booted out for joining a demonstration here in Mexico City.

[Guy Courchesne]

Timely post Rich...I notice that the theme is built right into the national anthem as well.

http://www.geocities.com/TheTropics/Resort/4469/mxanthem.mid

The music

The lyrics. Sound odd for a distinctly unwarlike people, but they were written long ago.

Mexicans, at the cry of war,
prepare the steel and the steed,
and may the earth shake at its core
to the resounding roar of the cannon.

I

Gird, oh country, your brow with olive
the divine archangel of peace,
for your eternal destiny was written
in the heavens by the hand of God.

But if some strange enemy should dare
to profane your ground with his step,
think, oh beloved country, that heaven
has given you a soldier in every son.



Chorus

II

War, war without truce to any who dare
to tarnish the country's coat-of-arms! War, war! Take the national pennants
and soak them in waves of blood.

War, war! In the mountain, in the valley,
the cannons thunder in horrid unison
and the resonant echoes
cry out union, liberty!

Chorus

III

Oh country, 'ere your children
defenseless bend their neck to the yoke,
may your fields be watered with blood,
may they trod upon blood.

And may your temples, palaces and towers
collapse with horrid clamor,
and their ruins live on to say:
This land belonged to a thousand heroes.

Chorus

IV

Oh, country, country, your children swear
to breathe their last in your honor,
if the trumpet with warlike accent
should call them to fight with courage.

For you the olive branches!
A reminder for them of glory!
A laurel of victory for you!
For them a tomb with honor!

Chorus

Mexicans, at the cry of war,
prepare the steel and the steed,
and may the earth shake at its core
to the resounding roar of the cannon.

[jacqui]

I can definately understand Mexico's aversion to foreign involvement, you just have to look at their history. One of the main rallying points of the revolution was nationalistic pride linked to the control of foreign oil companies and landowners. Also, post-revolution American and European banking interests attempted to control the Mexican economy. Of course you can't forget the actual invasions by other countries. I think that this attitude/legality is to protect the country from others interfering for their own economical and power interests.

[Guy Courchesne]

Good point on oil...that is a current topic of discussion in congress and the press, and will be a 2006 election issue. People are fiercely protective of this national resource. The union of oil workers is quite strong but there is also much corruption in the state sector. Electrical generation and distribution is another area of contention and national pride as well.

[Ben Round de Bloc]

Fitting in with the theme of demonstrations, politics, and all . . .

Various teachers' organizations have demonstrations in Merida from time to time. Recently, the Sindicato Nacional de Trabajadores de la Educaci�n held an all-day demonstration/rally downtown.

Just wondering if any foreign teachers join -- or are allowed to join -- teachers' organizations or unions in Mexico. If so, do those foreign members actively participate in related political demonstrations?

[Samantha]

That's a very good question. Though I haven't worked there myself, there is a University in my area that is unionized. I do know a foreigner working there although she may now hold dual citizenship. I was once told that all teachers must join their union in order to work there. It is a coveted job of sorts, since they appear to have an easier job, less hours, less days of work etc. than the rest of the teachers around. I will have to check this out and report back. That whole scenario could place a foreign teacher in a precarious situation.

[Guy Courchesne]

Sounds like certain vacas sagradas you know Tim?

[Ben Round de Bloc]