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[Twisting in the Wind]

This isn't an EFL question, but I'll post it because it's been BUGGING the HECK OUTTA ME FOR 20 years, ok?

I was walking in the zona rosa in 1984. A policeman came up to me. No, I don't know what kind of police he was...Mexico seems to have so many...and he said to me in perfect English something like the following, "We of the Mexico City police are committed to being of assistence to tourists. If you ever need help, call on one of us. We will help you. Have a nice day, senorita." He then tipped his hat and walked away. He was very gentlemanly and courteous. It didn't appear he was trying to hit on me. He was not being grosero in any way. I am/was not naive enough to really believe him. I have heard enough horror stories.

So what do you all think? Guy? Mikey? Moonie? Soemone else who's been in Mexico a long time?

[Twisting in the Wind]

OMG, I misspelled a word--"assistance" EEk.

[Guy Courchesne]

That's many years before my arriving in Mexico, but it doesn't surprise me. There's a class of English-speaking tourist cops (marked by a white traffic cop sash/belt) that patrol Zona Rosa, the Alameda, the Zocalo and other parts who are apparently helpful, or at least paid extra to be so.

My wife of 36 years says that the Zona Rosa used to be more international and family friendly than the g-l-b extravaganza it is now. It wouldn't surprise me if the cop in '84 was just being friendly...doing his job. Besides, he could have just been reflecting the same qualities that the vast majority of Mexicans have...helpful, warm, inviting, good people.

Not saying anything about you here Twisty but having lived here on and off for over 4 years, it has become obvious that Mexico City's reputation as being dangerous is grossly out of proportion. I think Hollywood, armchair ignorance, and 70's TV made for an unfair assault on gran Tenochtitlan.

Of course, there are problems, and of course, many cops are corrupt. Danger to me means danger to life and limb. Most things that go on here are about money...petty theft, bribery, and the like. Even reported "express" kidnappings, as they are called, are made to seem worse. Don't get me wrong...not a 'fun' crime to have perpetrated upon oneself, but it's simple armed robbery, not a traditional kidnapping as I think of it. In most cases, these are local issues that rarely affect foreigners.

Here I am on a diatribe, haha. Sorry, I will stop now.

[MixtecaMike]

Nowdays there are the official police that seem very eager to help tourists, the ones Guy referred to above offered assistance to me all the time in English, and I'm certain they're not trying to hit on me, LOL.

20 years ago I am not sure if they existed as such, but I would guess there was some effort made to be helpful to tourists back then.

The corrupt cops drive beatup old thunderbirds with no license plates and threaten to impound your car for driving Hoy no circula, even if you have out-of-state plates. At least the last of AMLO's finest that I met did.

[Guy Courchesne]

I remember one of the first things AMLO did after coming to power was to force all the motorcyle traffic cops to lose weight. Seriously.

The local media made great fun of these guys. Picture Erik Estrada from CHiPS (same uniform, shades, and motorcycle) but add 70 lbs. The whole motorcycle unit was taken off the roads for physical training. Come to think of it, I haven't seen them since 2001, though I don't drive to see them around much. Those guys are known to be corrupt. How many mordidas per day makes that many extra taquito pounds on the waistline?

[Twisting in the Wind]

[quote="Guy Courchesne"]That's many years before my arriving in Mexico, but it doesn't surprise me. There's a class of English-speaking tourist cops (marked by a white traffic cop sash/belt) that patrol Zona Rosa, the Alameda, the Zocalo and other parts who are apparently helpful, or at least paid extra to be so.

My wife of 36 years says that the Zona Rosa used to be more international and family friendly than the g-l-b extravaganza it is now. It wouldn't surprise me if the cop in '84 was just being friendly...doing his job. Besides, he could have just been reflecting the same qualities that the vast majority of Mexicans have...helpful, warm, inviting, good people.

[quote]

Thank you VERY much for your explanation. That makes sense.I, as a woman, have been trained to be very cautious about strange men approaching me in Latin America, but he could have just doing his job and/or being friendly.
And all along I was thinking the worst of him. Hmm. Learn something every day.

What is "G-L-B?"

BTW, much of what I've heard at least about cops being bad, corruption, kidnappings, etc. comes from Latins I've had as students, NOT from tv or other white North Americans. I know what you say, however, when you live in a place, as I did in El Salvador in the early 1980's, you just sort of live with the "danger." It recedes into the background. And all along you have friends and family back home shrieking, "How can you ever live there???"

Thanks also, MixtecaMike. No, I wouldn't probably think anyone was trying to hit on you. [/b]

[Guy Courchesne]

Gay-Lesbian-Bi I stuggled with what to write in that post and though glb would be about as non-evocative as could be. You know this forum...write something and it draws out all sorts of armchair critics.

oh and my Mexican wife of 36 years...that's her age, not how long I've been married to her! my mistake (before she catches that I wrote that)

I've no doubt that it would have been other Mexicans who warned you about the cops. Only the locals would have the true story. I was trying to distinguish between non-violent crime and the horror stories that cause Hollywood to send Denzel Washington to my neighbourhood to play the AMERICAN PROTECTOR OF ALL THAT IS GOOD AND RIGHT.

Real tragedies in Mexico happen in states like Oaxaca, Guerrero, and Chiapas against the indigenous, or near the US border (Cuidad Juarez women).

I lived in Acapulco, Guerrero on and off for almost 2 years, and got to know quite a few of the people who were born there (read: not tourists). Funny how the big drug cartel in Aca wears a badge.

[Twisting in the Wind]

[Guy Courchesne]

[Twisting in the Wind]

Mr. Twisting is going to be 55 and looks 35. I meant no desecration to your age.