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Guy Courchesne

Joined: 10 Mar 2003 Posts: 9650 Location: Mexico City
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Posted: Sat Jul 19, 2008 8:44 pm Post subject: |
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I'll always jump to Mexico's defense when the criticisms I read of here are ridiculous. I'd volunteer that there is a lot of racism here too, though not quite the same as you see in the US or Canada as our histories are different.
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| Seems to me like there is politics of fear here also. The U.S. doesn't have a monopoly on racism and hatred. Both are alive and well in Mexico too. People here can't even have guns in their homes to protect their families from parasites. The Mexicans don't respect the cops or politicians here, they fear them from what I've seen |
As a Canadian living in Mexico, all I can really note here is how similar the US is to Mexico. Anyone here respect their US representatives in politics? I know I just love PM Harper in Canada While I suppose from some people's point of view it would be great to have a shotgun to defend against cockroaches, I tend to think that Raid is a better solution.
Are you really going to compare the gun ownership dispute to what's on offer in Mexico? C'mon...you can do better than that. |
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El Gallo

Joined: 05 Feb 2007 Posts: 318
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Posted: Sat Jul 19, 2008 9:57 pm Post subject: |
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| Guy Courchesne wrote: |
| El Gallo wrote: |
Thanks! This is very useful information.
I may become a Mexican citizen (although I know I will always be a gringo here) after 5 years of my FM-2. This is certain if the 27% neocon bullies in the US. through their politics of fear, hatred and racism, again manipulate joe-six-pack to vote for McCain. |
Cripes, then what what would you do if they vote Obama? I guess there's always Haiti to run to...is he campaigning there too this week? |
Sounds like you like McCain better which is curious because your fellow Canadians have spent a lot of time the last 7 years disliking Americans because of Bush. McCain is more of the same. |
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Mrs L
Joined: 20 Mar 2008 Posts: 72 Location: Rainy England
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Posted: Mon Jul 21, 2008 10:53 am Post subject: |
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That citizenship test is interesting geaaronson, cheers. I've also wondered what it involved but it doesn't seem too hard. Currently helping my husband study for the British one, and I'm learning lots about my country that I never knew, and never really needed to know either. It's such a fun way to spend an afternoon  |
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Prof.Gringo

Joined: 07 Nov 2006 Posts: 2236 Location: Dang Cong San Viet Nam Quang Vinh Muon Nam!
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Posted: Mon Jul 21, 2008 2:29 pm Post subject: |
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| jfurgers wrote: |
| El Gallo wrote: |
This is certain if the 27% neocon bullies in the US. through their politics of fear, hatred and racism, again manipulate joe-six-pack to vote for McCain. |
Seems to me like there is politics of fear here also. The U.S. doesn't have a monopoly on racism and hatred. Both are alive and well in Mexico too. People here can't even have guns in their homes to protect their families from parasites. The Mexicans don't respect the cops or politicians here, they fear them from what I've seen
And racism?! The Mexicans seem to do a great job at being racists also. They don't want any foreigner saying ANYTHING bad about Mexico. Don't say ANYTHING negative about my country they say, and never involve yourself in OUR politics.
Funny....last time I checked the ILLEGAL MEXICANS in my country are able to have MASSIVE demonstrations where they %$&! about my country and how it needs to take care of them more while I would be thrown out of Mexico on my head if I even thought about putting together a demonstration. And other religions besides the evil catholic church?? Never would it get a chance to become mainstream. Too much racism here for alternative viewpoints.
Let's not say, well Mexico was screwed by the States that's why they want no one involved in their politics who isn'y Mexican.Poor excuse. Another example,I don't like tortillas. Doesn't mean I hate Mexico. I just don't like tortillas. My wife asked me a couple of days ago, do you want any tortillas? I said no, I don't like them. And her nephew mocked me saying in a nasty tone, no I don't like them.I could care less if a Mexican in the States doesn't like a particular food up there.
Remember, Mexico has PLENTY of racism and hatred. |
I agree with most of what you said. It is not anger or hate to point out the flaws in any place. Yes, it also boggles my mind how Mexicans always want things their way, and they never seem to see the other side. What would happen if me and a few other Americans here wanted to stage a protest against the treatment of foreigners by Mexicans? How would the police and people respond if we marched in the streets and carried American flags and chanted anti-Mexico slogans in English? I think that getting deported would be the least of my worries. Would the police protect me like they do the illegal immigrant marchers in the US? We all know the answers, so why act like Mexico is so much better?
How do Mexicans and la migra here treat the Central American and other migrants? I have asked many immigrants about their treatment in Mexico vs. the US. Guess what? They would all prefer to be caught by the US Border Patrol then be caught and beaten, raped, robbed and /or killed by the Mexican "authorities".
Many Mexicans are very narrow minded, racist, intolerant of other cultures, and constantly beat their chests to show how great Mexico is to others. What would we call that in the US? A redneck. But the people (ESL teachers for example) that do seem to come here are so blinded by being P.C. and further to the left than Obama, have to show their solidarity with their oppressed brown brothers. Only difference between the ignorant Mexicans I just described above and the same type of rednecks in the US is that here they are brown and wave a different flag around.
I don't hate Mexico. I have been here almost four years. I am not a right-wing Republican either. I am proud to be an American. I will never renounce my citizenship under any circumstances (even if McCain wins!). I don't care about being a Mexican citizen. It has no advantages to me, except that I can participate in a broken, corrupt political system. A FM-2 or 3 is just fine.
Even if I was a Mexican citizen, I would never be a Mexican. Just like a foreigner can have US citizenship, but they will never be an American. |
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Phil_K
Joined: 25 Jan 2007 Posts: 2041 Location: A World of my Own
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Posted: Mon Jul 21, 2008 3:43 pm Post subject: |
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| MO39 wrote: |
| jfurgers wrote: |
I have seen that most who post something bad about Mexico on this post isn't treated kindly.
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While there are several posters on this forum who tend to jump to Mexico's defense whenever a criticism is offered, most of us try to see the good and bad sides of life here. For example, two recent threads that looked at Mexico with a somewhat jaundiced (yet humorous) eye were quite popular: Mexico -Whys? and You know you've been in Mexico too long when ..... |
Also, most Mexican citizens are very critical of their country, at the same time being patriotic (or is that jingoistic? ) , so we could offer as an excuse that we are more integrated than those who constantly look through rose-tinted spectacles!
We are not on vacation - this is the place we have to eat, drink, pay taxes and go to the bathroom! |
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jfurgers

Joined: 18 Sep 2005 Posts: 442 Location: Mexico City
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Posted: Mon Jul 21, 2008 6:57 pm Post subject: |
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| Prof.Gringo wrote: |
I don't hate Mexico. I have been here almost four years. I am not a right-wing Republican either. I am proud to be an American. I will never renounce my citizenship under any circumstances (even if McCain wins!)
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I agree with you Prf Gringo. |
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jfurgers

Joined: 18 Sep 2005 Posts: 442 Location: Mexico City
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Posted: Mon Jul 21, 2008 9:04 pm Post subject: |
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[quote="Prof.Gringo"]
But the people (ESL teachers for example) that do seem to come here are so blinded by being P.C. and further to the left than Obama, have to show their solidarity with their oppressed brown brothers.
SOOOO true Prof Gringo. I point out the good and bad in my country as well. I have worked at universities for twelve years so I'm very familiar with the poison called P.C. that has caused people to feel ashamed of who they are and ashamed if they even dare point out a flaw in a people that isn't white.
I have learned from my time in Mexico (in the past plus now) that what I have learned in the universities in the States about showing respect to other cultures, is VERY much a ONE WAY STREET.
I don't see the Mexicans being PC, but those from the States seem to show it toward the Mexicans. At least for the most part. |
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jfurgers

Joined: 18 Sep 2005 Posts: 442 Location: Mexico City
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Posted: Mon Jul 21, 2008 9:14 pm Post subject: |
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| Prof.Gringo wrote: |
How would the police and people respond if we marched in the streets and carried American flags and chanted anti-Mexico slogans in English? I think that getting deported would be the least of my worries. Would the police protect me like they do the illegal immigrant marchers in the US? We all know the answers, so why act like Mexico is so much better?
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Again, excellent points you're making Prof Gringo. There are many things I like about Mexico but the attitute that says, don't say ANYTHING bad about my perfect Mexico, is a little too PC for my blood. Mexico is a good place to live if you like teaching EFL (which I do) and if you like the climate (which I do).
I just like a balanced approach, not an approach that has been programmed into so many. The approach of,you are bad but every other people and culture is perfect. That's the liberal thought police trying to tell us what we can and can't say. I thought I would get away from that liberal poison by coming to Mexico but no, it's alive and well right here also. Sad. |
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sweeney66
Joined: 26 Mar 2008 Posts: 147 Location: "home"
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Posted: Mon Jul 21, 2008 9:17 pm Post subject: |
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Here's some more "liberal poison" for you.
Respect. You get what you give. |
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jfurgers

Joined: 18 Sep 2005 Posts: 442 Location: Mexico City
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Posted: Mon Jul 21, 2008 9:33 pm Post subject: |
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| sweeney66 wrote: |
Here's some more "liberal poison" for you.
Respect. You get what you give. |
I always give respect here in Mexico Sweeney. You are showing a BIG characteristic trait of a liberal....ASSUMING that if a Mexican isn't being nice to me then I must be doing something bad to them. It's NEVER the fault of the Mexican, only those bad, disrespectful North Americans.
Whatever Sweeney. Keep looking at the world through your rose colored classes. |
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Samantha

Joined: 25 Oct 2003 Posts: 2038 Location: Mexican Riviera
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sweeney66
Joined: 26 Mar 2008 Posts: 147 Location: "home"
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Posted: Mon Jul 21, 2008 10:44 pm Post subject: |
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My 'rose colored glasses' seem to work pretty well. I'm happy here and don't have any desire to bite the hand that feeds me. A wise old man once told me that the only thing it's possible to change in the world is your own attitude.
Peace. |
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jfurgers

Joined: 18 Sep 2005 Posts: 442 Location: Mexico City
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Posted: Mon Jul 21, 2008 10:58 pm Post subject: |
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| Perhaps YOU need to go back and read El Gallo's comments Samantha. She (or he) turned this thread into bashing the States so I just though I would come to the defense of that evil country, the U.S. I'm well award that pointing out faults in Mexico is looked down upon by most, but not all, on this forum. |
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jfurgers

Joined: 18 Sep 2005 Posts: 442 Location: Mexico City
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Posted: Mon Jul 21, 2008 11:02 pm Post subject: |
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| sweeney66 wrote: |
A wise old man once told me that the only thing it's possible to change in the world is your own attitude.
Peace. |
I'll pass that on to the Mexicans. , Sweeney. They need to know that more than I do. BTW, why would anyone want to become a citizen of Mexico? Seems like one can get everything they need by the FM3. As far as I know even if you were to become a citizen of Mexico,you still wouldn't be allowed to vote. |
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Samantha

Joined: 25 Oct 2003 Posts: 2038 Location: Mexican Riviera
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Posted: Mon Jul 21, 2008 11:07 pm Post subject: |
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| You are wrong. Voting is part of the citizenship perks. Speaking personally, I think that's important if you are here for the long haul and married to a Mexican. An FM3 is for a temporary year to year arrangement that you have to keep renewing. |
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