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Samantha · Joined: 25 Oct 2003 Posts: 2038 Location: Mexican Riviera

I have to respectfully disagree with the last comment. It's not anti anything. After being married to a Mexican and living in this country for several years I can tell you this is simply Mexican pride. Mexicans are fiercely proud of their country. All you have to do is watch an Independance day parade and notice facial expressions to begin to understand this pride.

What they do feel from foreigners, are very sensitive to, and dislike very much is the "we are better than you at everything" attitude displayed by so many foreigners in this country (perhaps unintential). I always tell people that if you are forming a sentence beginning with "Why don't they..."(as in why don't they do it the way we do) or "Why do they..." (as in why do Mexicans do things a certain way, unfamiliar to us)...then don't say it. Don't even go there. It will be resented.

Don't tell me you have never had the air let out of your tires in the Center of the Universe (that's what we western Canadians call Toronto, behind your backs. Wink

).

sickbag · Joined: 10 Jan 2005 Posts: 155 Location: Blighty

I always thought that intense Mexican pride was a simple case of low self-esteem - or have I misunderstood Octavio Paz?

MikeySaid · Joined: 10 Nov 2004 Posts: 509 Location: Torreon, Mexico

PlayadelSoul · Joined: 29 Jun 2005 Posts: 346 Location: Playa del Carmen

I'm a bit baffled by the things I am reading. I have lived in Mexico for almost 10 years, and have never suffered from any form of anti-foreign or anti-gringo sentiments. Granted, I have only lived on the Yucatan peninsula, but I do travel quite extensively for work.

I am either not sensitive to it or have been fortunate, I guess. I find that you get what you give. Attitude plays a big part, as well. I am proud to be an American and will have the friendly arguments over football with my Mexican friends. We all take our lumps, no matter who wins (usually the US, these days).

I think one part of the problem is with the expectation that Mexicans feel the same way about Bush as some Americans do. I know many Mexicans that appreciate Bush, especially with his stance towards immigration.

If one feels like he deserves to be pooped on, someone will probably be there to help him out. Wink

lisa1968 · Joined: 10 Aug 2006 Posts: 52

I hear this saying once in Chiapas,

Pobre de Mexico, tan lejos de d�os
y tan cerca de los Estados Unidos

So close, and yet so far. It must be somewhat frustrating, but I agree, your attitude helps alot, in either direction.

ls650 · Joined: 10 May 2003 Posts: 3484 Location: British Columbia

Johnny T. · Posted: Fri Jun 15, 2007 1:59 am Post subject:

What is it like to be Japanese in this country? Imagine what it would be like to be Chinese in this country. What do your students do when the word "Chinese" comes up? Mine, to a person, immediately go into the most racist impressions imaginable and laugh and laugh. I have Japanese students who say it's even more unpleasant for them to go out in public than for me. I have a female Japanese student married to a Mexican who tells me that almost every night people are coming by to look into her windows to see what a Japanese person does at home. When I first came to Aguascalientes I heard that there were several hundred Japanese people living here, but only in their own little community with their own schools, etc. I thought that was terrible on their part - now I understand why and in a year I have only seen one or two Japanese families out on the streets of Aguas. What would it be like to be black here in Mexico, or from India, or from Iraq?

ls650 · Joined: 10 May 2003 Posts: 3484 Location: British Columbia

Samantha · Joined: 25 Oct 2003 Posts: 2038 Location: Mexican Riviera

Johnny, this is indeed very strange. It's like you are living on another planet there.

Here is a local success story from over here in Sinaloa state where we have loads of locals with Chinese heritage. Our phone book is full of Oriental surnames. One of the best insurance men here is Juan Chong. Most of the gringos go to him because his English is perfect and his service is superb. Our market opens very early in the morning thanks to the Chinese influence. And our Chinese food? Awesome. My point is that they are walking the streets, not in hiding, and thriving just fine, better than many. Mexicali up at the border has the largest concentration of Chinese in Mexico.

This article states there is no racism felt by those of Chinese heritage here.

http://www.geocities.com/jonclark500/stories06/ley.html

Clip from the full story:

PlayadelSoul · Joined: 29 Jun 2005 Posts: 346 Location: Playa del Carmen

Prof.Gringo · Posted: Fri Jun 15, 2007 9:11 pm Post subject:

I have heard ignorant and racist comments here in Mexico. I wouldn't say that I've heard them as much as in the US, but those views are here. Like everywhere. The condition of humanity. Mexico does seem to have a national inferiority complex. Part of that seems to be proximity to the US and a perception here that Americans look down on Mexico and Mexicans. That, unfortunately seems to less myth and more reality. I don't know how many times I've heard racist, hateful, ignorant, stupid things said by Americans of Mexico and Mexicans as well as Latins in general. How about the reactions I get from Yankees when I tell them I live and work in Mexico? Usually shocked disbelief followed by the usual, "Why would anyone want to live there?" As if living in Mexico is like living in Iraq or in the most screwed up country/place in the whole world. I usually smile and tell them "What is it people always say? America love it or leave it" Then I sit back and wait for that person to get "it".

Mexicans do seem to resent the US, and to have never quite forgotten the Mexican/American war. Not too hard to see why, either. In a totally unprovoked war, Mexico lost half of its national territory and the balance of power in North America shifted in favor of the US ever since then. How many Americans (or Canadians for that matter?) can even remember the dates of the war or even how it happened.

Yes, Mexico is very nationalistic. No doubt about that. People have an intense pride in their country. They are proud of their language, customs, traditions, clothing, people, history, land, myths, music, food, etc. Why not? Mexico is a great country. Maybe not an economic powerhouse like the US ( very few countries are) but a great and proud country nevertheless. Let us give thanks that it is so different yet so close.

sickbag · Joined: 10 Jan 2005 Posts: 155 Location: Blighty

corporatehuman · Joined: 09 Jan 2006 Posts: 198 Location: Mexico City

I encountered some anti-American sentiment in my time in Tuxtla as well, mostly evil dirty looks and occasionally someone would lecture me about something (like I shouldnt be here, or deserve to pay higher prices.) Also encountering this sentiment depends on the locations you frequent. Some places there are more than others. In tuxtla I think it has more to do with the Charlie Petterson guy than anything, EVERYONE knows his story and they ALL think of it when seeing a white guy in Tuxtla.

C

gringojoe · Joined: 28 Feb 2007 Posts: 26

Samantha · Joined: 25 Oct 2003 Posts: 2038 Location: Mexican Riviera

http://www.amw.com/fugitives/case.cfm?id=24462
http://unsolvedcoldcasemurders.blogspot.com/2006/04/fugitive-john-patrick-addis.html
http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20061021/cdn_missing_061021/20061021?hub=World