Boycott Mexico? No, boycott American stupidity
by Eric Lucas
The market vendor handed me the sack of fresh-made potato chips she’d just hauled out of the fryer, and motioned that I should add a bit of salt and lime juice. I told her thanks in my serviceable Spanish (mil gracias, senora) and did as instructed. Then I gently lifted one chip from the sack and took an experimental bite. I’d never tasted made-on-the-spot potato chips until my wife and I wandered by this food cart in the market in Patzcuaro, Michoacan, Mexico.
;)
It was the best potato chip ever.
Too bad that one potato chip had more mental acuity than some of our own countrymen. Don’t go to Mexico and spend your money, urge the Americans United to Halt Tourism in Mexico, on the novel theory that the way to discourage Mexican immigrants from coming here to earn money is for us to not go there and spend money.
“Do not give your tourist dollars to Mexico!” AUHTIM fliers growl.
Americans are infamous for witless ignorance (name another country that ever had a political party called the “Know-Nothings”), but this is a particularly egregious example of mush-for-brains activity. Campaigning to collapse one of the healthiest parts of the Mexican economy might not be the best way to discourage its citizens from seeking work elsewhere. Mexico gets 22 million visitors from the United States every year. Tourism is 8 percent of the country’s GDP. It amounts to more than $10 billion a year.
The sponsors of this boycott would actually accomplish more if they stopped driving around--Mexico is the number 3 source of petroleum for the US, at 1.1 million barrels a day--but they’ll give up their Dodge Rams and Jeep Cherokees when someone wraps their cold, dead fingers from around the wheel. Oh, and how are they going to keep selling American machine guns to Mexican drug runners if we curb their foreign exchange revenues?
Aside from the breathtaking stupidity of the idea, boycotting Mexico is yet another example of American bigotry masquerading as righteous populism. Are these cave people proposing we boycott travel to Cuba, Russia, China, Vietnam—all countries that have sent huge numbers of immigrants, legal and not, to the United States? And I presume their own ancestors have been here since they were chasing down mastodons on the Great Plains? Oops—that’s the Oglalla Sioux.
Now, joining in the know-nothing chorus is the danger choir. Don’t go to Mexico—it isn’t safe. Drug violence, kidnappings, rape, assault and other excesses. Why, in Mexico vicious contest promoters force innocent young American women to drink huge quantities of beer and strip off their T-shirts, when these girls really intended to go to church youth group camps and study Bible verses.
Actually, it’s safer there than here. For example, the murder rate in Mexico is about 11 per 100,000 people a year. In New Orleans, it’s almost seven times worse, 71 per 100,000. Atlanta, Cleveland, St. Louis—all have higher murder rates than Mexico.
I’ve been to Mexico more than 25 times, starting with boyhood trips with my family to the Yucatan, up to last year’s marvelous romantic getaways with my wife to peaceful beach resorts. I’ve encountered thousands of lovely people who are happy to share their colorful country with visitors. I’ve sampled handmade tortillas, listened to spicy ranchera music, marveled at the remnants of huge civilizations built while Europeans were flinging sewage out their front doors into the street. I’d much rather go dozens of places in Mexico than dozens of places in the United States, though there are certainly wonderful destinations here, too.
It’s tempting to say we should boycott the hometowns of these nativist US bigots, but that would disfavor some worthwhile places, such as Orange County, California and southern Arizona. So the best idea I have is to urge everyone to go to Mexico. While you’re there, drop a postcard in the mail to the folks behind this stupidity, the California Coalition for Immigration “Reform,” 5942 Edinger Avenue, Suite 113-117, Huntington Beach, CA 92649.
Dear Peabrains: Having a great time. Wish you were here!
Eric Lucas’s travel, business and natural history journalism concentrates on the meaning and purpose of travel and enterprise. His work appears in the Los Angeles Times, MSN.com, Boston Globe, Westways Magazine, Alaska Airlines Magazine, Western Journey, Michelin Maps & Guides, among others. He lives in Seattle’s Ballard neighborhood, where he grows and sells organic garlic.. He is an expert gardener, wilderness fisherman and downhill skier. To learn more, visit his website at: http://www.trailnot4sissies.com/.
26 Comments
Reader Comments (26)
it is wonderful that you are picking up the cudgels on this issue. que vive mexico!
judie
I love Mexico more each time I visit. There's simply no accounting for the ignorance of folks involved in this anti-travel schtick to Mexico. Lame. That's the kindest word that comes to mind. In the meantime, I'm plotting my return to the wonderful coastal town of Manzanillo, with a trip to Oaxaca in the Spring. Can't wait.
I've been calling Mexico home part-time for the past decade and wholeheartedly agree with your affection for the place and with your outrage over a boycott.
My husband and I drove to Baja in February and couldn't believe what a ghost town the place was. Although we loved the empty beaches and friendly welcome to our visit, we couldn't help but be saddened by how fear and ignorance was keeping people away.
Many thanks for sharing!
Vámonos!
Ellen
http://ellenbarone.com
Thank you for writing this. I travel to Lebanon every year and it is safe, too. I am so tired of people getting wrong information about beautiful countries. Beirut was voted #1 place to visit in 2009 by the New York Times and it beat out other amazing cities across the world. Yet, people think it's unsafe. I love Mexico and thank you for sharing the facts.
First-- Mexican chips are definitely the best.
And second-- I agree with you on all these points and appreciate you writing about them. As a part-time resident of Mexico, I'm appalled by US citizens who advocate boycotts against Mexico without knowing anything at all about the country or putting statistics about violence into context, an issue which David Lida addresses effectively in his excellent book, First Stop in the New World.
It angers me that Americans rarely pause to think about the short and long term effects of their speech and their actions on countries like Mexico, an issue which I wrote about recently as well here: http://collazoprojects.com/2009/04/07/shame-on-you-lisa-ling-national-geographic-thoughts-about-el-salvador/
Hey Eric,
Didi you catch your mention in this article on Matador Network? http://matadorpulse.com/is-traveling-to-mexico-dangerous/
Well said Matador!
After 3 weeks in Baja in February, my husband and I are planning a few more weeks in San Miguel Allende this summer. Can't wait.
Cheers,
Ellen
Well said, Eric. You can add swine AKA "Mexican" Flu to that conspiracy theory. All of a sudden no one is talking about the drug cartels anymore? This all happened right after Obama left the nation. My Mexican boyfriend lives in Cancun, one of the biggest tourist cities in the world. I've worked with him for a few months on the plentiful hotel strip. I feel sorry for him and many other Mexicans who rely on the tourist industry to make a living and are now suffering. Schools, clubs, resorts, markets, etc., are ALL closed. If my boyfriend wanted to take a much needed vacation, and help his resort out a bit, he can't! He would be discriminated against and held captive and quarantined from the general public. How embarassing, judgemental, and hurtful. I don't blame him for not wanting to come.
I had plans to backpack through Chiapas to Palenque with him this month and then visit his family in Mexico City for a wedding. Even though I have great health care and don't think for a second I would get sick, society would shun me if I dare book a flight to Mexico. If I wasn't boarding a cruise ship for 67 days with 700 children in a month, I would be sipping an ojo rojo right about now.... damn!
I cannot find enough words to convey my sympathy for Mexico, the wonderful Mexico, astonishing land and bighearted people.
Illegal immigrants come to the U.S. to earn a better living. I'm sure they'd stay in their home country if they were able to earn more there. I say spend your money and have a good time while visiting on vacation.
FunnyBoneApparel.com
Thank you Eric! Although it's been depressing to read pessimistic articles all over the Web that trash Mexico, it's even more disheartening (and frightening!) to read the trail of comments these articles inspire. It's both refreshing and motivating to be reminded that there are many American citizens that do see the big picture and are also willing to spread the good word.
This is much appreciated!
Warm regards from Puerto Vallarta,
Sylvie Laitre
Director
Mexico Boutique Hotels
Agreed. I like Mexico so much, I moved there (here, actually). All the same conveniences of the US at 1/3 the price (overall). And, no "nanny-state" government!
Finally, someone thinks like I do..Americans should not be so fast to judge until we take a look at our own country first! Mexico is the least of our concerns. I go down to Mexico and help build churches and help orphans. I wouldn't have it any other way!
Honest journalists do not cherry-pick data in order to make a point. You wrote: "Actually, it’s safer there (Mexico) than here (US). For example, the murder rate in Mexico is about 11 per 100,000 people a year. In New Orleans, it’s almost seven times worse, 71 per 100,000. Atlanta, Cleveland, St. Louis—all have higher murder rates than Mexico." Why do you compare Mexico's murder rate with that of select US cities? In 2007, the US murder rate was 5.6 per 100,000, or about half that of Mexico based on the data you cited. Why not compare Juarez to Portland, Maine? The BBC reported in March that "gang violence is surging in Mexico." It doesn't exactly sound like an ideal spot for my daughter to spend her next Spring Break unless things make a drastic turn for the better.
By the way, honest journalists cite their sources. That's one of the first things I learned in grad school.
Sources:
http://www.fbi.gov/ucr/cius2007/data/table_01.html
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/7959247.stm
Excellent coment, Mexico has a lot of culture and frindship to discover. Thanks
Dear Josh,
I compared stats for all of Mexico to US tourist destinations because stats for discrete Mexico cities are not available. The BBC also reported, as has every other impartial media outlet, that gang violence in Mexico is directed at other gangs, not tourists.
No, I wouldn't recommend your daughter go for spring break to Mexico. I wouldn't recommend anyone's daughter go for spring break anywhere, especially in the US, unless her parents want to help little Missy learn to get blind drunk, prance around in wet T-shirts for drunk frat boys, and generally demean herself.
My point was that Mexico tourist destinations are as safe as or safer than those in the US, and I'll stick by that until someone shows me statistics proving otherwise.
And since you're such a fan of the US, why don't you mention that according to law enforcement officials on both sides of the border, the vast majority of the weapons used by this gang violence that disturbs you come from--yep--the good 'ol USA? Not to mention the drug-buying cash that fuels the violence?
Eric
Hi, i'm from Mexico and I really loved you article. I'm really happy to know that someone see this country as it really is, a beautiful country full of culture, folklore and beauty, everywhere!
I always read blogs and never comment but I felt this one deserved it!
I'm considering relocating to Mexico to get away from all these dumb ass Americans. Every where you look are idiots here in the states... Crooks in D.C At least the Hispanics have a great sense of family value.
Well, at first I hoped that your head might be one found by the roadside. Then, I reconsidered and I actually hope that is not the case. But, one never knows....dumb ass. Why do you not care that people from Mexico are killing Americans every day. Why? I don't understand your thought process.
Well, Dave, since you lack the cojones to put your full name with your comments, like I did; and your notion of a compelling argument is "dumb ass," then there's not much explaining to be done here. Viva Mexico!
iant chiliiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii from mexicoooo
i love food in mexican
I've come here to read both sides of the issue. I have a huge trip planned to Mexico around Christmas and we are thinking of changing our plans after Calderon's comments yesterday. While I understand and can appreciate your point of view, I'm not too happy that their President is over here mindlessly spouting Obama's talking points. In that his government has much more stringent laws in place for immigrants, I'm having a hard time believe he really believes what he was saying - or perhaps I'm being naive.
While I would not want citizens from other countries to hold Obama's comments against the US as a whole, illegal immigration is a real problem that needs to be addressed. And if Mexico is going to take the stance that they don't want illegals in their country but it is fine for the US to take all their residents in order to send billions back to Mexico - the US needs to address that issue - whether it be by way of boycott or some other repercussion.
I'm also concerned about the news of electronics being confiscated by Mexican officials with no hope of return. These include cell phones, cameras, laptops, etc.
I'm not to the point of relocating my vacation just yet, but am trying to gather good information on both sides of the issue to make a better informed decision. We've vacationed in Mexico many many times as well as living in El Paso for some time. We lived very close to the Juarez border and yes, we did see some dangerous activity as well as had drive by shootings on our street - this was several years ago, before all the flair up of the gangs and drug runners.
You want to present only one side of the coin (while you make very good points), there are two sides to the story, and if we are being honest, we must address both sides and not only the side for which we want to win. Right now, I'm VERY irritated with Calderon and Obama. I live in the Texas panhandle and support the new Arizona law. If I do change my vacation plans, it will be to visit Arizona and give them my business and vacation dollars.
I'm not a coward by not putting my name on the Internet either. I'm being cautious and NEVER put my real name anywhere on the Internet unless it is absolutely required.
Hey, I am checking this site from my Blackberry and it looks kinda funky. Thought you’d want to know. It’s a great post though, didn’t mess that up
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I used to love visiting Mexico every chance I got. I now live on the border and won't even go to Reynosa for great-tasting Mexican avocados or to Nuevo Progreso for dental care. It has just become too dangerous. Forty-seven people were killed in Matamoros yesterday and 3 international bridges were closed. It is too risky to even take a bus to Monterrey. Even before all this drug war got started, whenever I drove to Mexico with Texas license plates I was setting myself up for a big bite (mordida) or even a trip to the policia for a shake-down. My wife, who is a Mexican, saved my hide a few times. But the wild stories are coming too fast for this gringo, so going to Mexico is now off my list of things to do. I'm not trying to boycott Mexico. I just want to live peaceably
Thank you for writing this piece. It's nice to hear an American citizen other than myself defend Mexico and all of its positive attributes. I am Mexican- American and while I am mostly defending myself I also defend my family in Mexico and all the wonderful people that live there. I even have to defend myself from my brother and sister who have abandoned their other half and have conformed to the American- American society. So when I see pieces like this I feel grateful that I don't stand alone in battling American stupidity.
Spot on :)
I happen to live in Cancun, where I've been based for two years. I have an immersion travel guide for the city, and I write extensively about it with such posts as Cancun, Mexico - Beyond The Hotel Zone and Modern Mexico - The Real Story.
The cost of living is ridiculously cheap, the murder rate is 2/100,000 (compared to Washington D.C.'s 31/100,000), the food is great, the people are amazing, and if you speak Spanish you can really immerse yourself in the Mexican culture...something that most arrogant, entitled Americans never do.
GREAT article, and something that mirrors my own writings on the subject. Spot on :)
I think it is great idea. Its no different than Americans in the US boycott companies for stupid things. Immigrants from Mexico can come here and get food stamps, free education, housing, health care and have anchor babies. I think it makes a lot sense. Of course if you are a liberal, or progressive it does not fit into your agenda of making this great country a socialist/communist country.
It is just a matter of time before the Federal Govt. runs out of money. You can only print money so long before you know what will happen and it will. Most the wealthy in the US are keeping their money out of this country for a reason. I wish I had some so that I could invest in and own foreign companies.