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Patrick McCarty

Mar 28, 2003, 5:01 PM

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Mexican attitudes toward tourists during the war

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My wife and I have been to Mexico many times in the last ten years (22 states so far), but never during anything like the current Iraq war. We usually encounter the famous Mexican hospitality, but I have read about anti-war rallies recently, and since we will be in Mérida the last week of April, I was wondering if anybody could tell me what we can expect. I will appreciate any information.

Thanks

Rolly

Mar 28, 2003, 6:02 PM

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Re: [Patrick McCarty] Mexican attitudes toward tourists during the war

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The one and only comment I have heard where I live in northern Mexico was from the checkout lady at Sam's who told me she though Saddam was a terrible man. I think most Mexicans are too polite to say anything unkind to you. Come on down and enjoy a peaceful stay.

Rolly Pirate

E-visit me http://Rollybrook.com
On Facebook as Rolly Brook

Patrick McCarty

Mar 28, 2003, 6:28 PM

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Re: [Rolly] Mexican attitudes toward tourists during the war

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Thanks, Rolly,

We were coming anyway, we need a Mexico fix, but I appreciate the encouragement and the knowledge that Mexico is still México.

jennifer rose

Mar 28, 2003, 6:49 PM

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Re: [Patrick McCarty] Mexican attitudes toward tourists during the war

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There is no singular “Mexican attitude.” There are surely those who think that bombing Iraq is the best idea since sliced bread, and there are those who don’t like what is happening. There are those who will use any reason whatsoever for a stone-throwing demonstration, and there are those who simply light candles.

There was a peace demonstration last night in Patzcuaro, full of children’s posters, all surely made by Mexican children and many written in English. And a candle-lit vigil. All very calm, very peaceful, and not in any way disruptive. And life went along, just as it always does, around the Plaza Don Vasco.

Whatever your political stance is, I don’t believe that you’ll encounter any difficulties or anti-American sentiments which would mar your vacation.

Brian

Mar 28, 2003, 7:32 PM

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Re: [jennifer rose] Mexican attitudes toward tourists during the war

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Well, in San Miguel the largest sign at the rally was in Spanish and read "Bush Terrorista"...I expect, however, it was probably written by a gringo but of course cannot prove it. I think I like the general tenor of the demonstration described by Jennifer in Michoacan rather than the one-sided bashing of the US President displayed in SMA...it just seems more balanced and peaceful, verdad?

Ed and Fran

Mar 28, 2003, 8:15 PM

Post #6 of 10 (1023 views)

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Re: [Brian] Mexican attitudes toward tourists during the war

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I agree with the general tone of the earlier posts in that there is no single Mexican opinion of the war or of the States in general. We were in Xalapa when the bombing started and in Tuxpan afterwards. From what I saw/encountered it was a non-event for most people. (Then again, maybe I just run in a very quiet part of the country.)

Oh yeah, I did have to explain to my youngest brother-in-law how we were not trying to either a) take over Iraq for its oil, or b) colonize the country. I'm sure he got it, like a lot of other strange ideas, from the popular press down there. The tabloids there are like tabloids all over the world, trying to sensationalize things to sell papers, as opposed to trying to report the news.

esperanza

Mar 28, 2003, 9:35 PM

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Re: [Patrick McCarty] Mexican attitudes toward tourists during the war

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The most telling comment that I heard on the Wednesday the war started was from a tianguero whom I overheard making this statement to some friends of his as I walked by.

"Bueno, pues, se me hace que lo único que nos queda es que todo se acabe bien rápido, y que el lado del bueno gane. El problema es saber cual es el lado del bueno."

"Well then, it seems to me that the only thing left is that it gets finished really fast, and that the side of good wins. The problem is knowing which is the side of good."

The people with whom I have talked have been uniformly against what the Bush administration has done~and these are people who don't know me, or the stance that I have toward the situation. There has been lots of head-shaking, lots of lamentation that Bush has no idea what the long-term ramifications of this attack will be, and lots of regret that Americans AND Irakis are going through this.

http://www.mexicocooks.typepad.com

Brian

Mar 29, 2003, 5:06 AM

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Re: [esperanza] Mexican attitudes toward tourists during the war

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Esperanza

I am a pacifist and agree with your post but it typifies what I meant by "one-sided"...what I can't understand is why more people don't protest the role played by the leader of Iraq in this conflict. At the first demonstration in SMA, I felt like carrying a sign that said "Saddam, for the sake of all people, cooperate with the inspections!!" I didn't do it though because it was obvious that the demonstration, or at least those who organized it, had a broader agenda in my opinion.

esperanza

Mar 29, 2003, 6:40 AM

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Re: [Brian] Mexican attitudes toward tourists during the war

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Try this link for more information...

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/iraq/

http://www.mexicocooks.typepad.com

Jim in Cancun

Mar 31, 2003, 11:16 AM

Post #10 of 10 (946 views)

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Re: [esperanza] Mexican attitudes toward tourists during the war

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I have encountered a feeling of Mexican superiority over the U.S. in 100% of the cases where the topics are either capital punishment or war.