What's Mexico really like?

[LucyR]

The United States has reopened its consulate in Mexico's northern border town of Nuevo Laredo.

It had been shut following a shoot-out between drug gangs involving rocket propelled grenades and machine guns.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/4133618.stm

I confess that this story is basically consistent with my image of the country. However, having never been there and having never known any Mexicans I'm probably wrong.

Anyone here lived there? What was it like? How localized is this kind of crime?

 

[JR "BOB" Dobbs]

I've only spent a week in a a small fishing town on the west coast of the Sea of Cortez. My notes... people: super friendly, environment: barren and trashed. SO many abandoned cars it was weird. I actually thought after several hundred miles that they were either native vegetation or we were paying Mexico to take them off of our hands. Sorry, but I slept through the border areas.

 

[Donks]

I haven't been to Nuevo Laredo, but an uncle used to live in another border town. Yes, they are that lawless. The drug cartels run the place.

As for the rest of the country, no it's not that bad. Lots of crime, but no RPGs. Unless the rebels in the south are still making noise and actually got some.

 

[President Bush]

Mexico! So far from God and so close to this Mexican Velveeta Cheese Dip Recipe. All the federales say they could have had it any day.

Cut 1 onion and a 2 pound box of Velveeta cheese into cubes, set aside. In a cast iron skillet or pot, brown 1 1/2 pounds hamburger. Add onion and cook till the onion is done, then drain. Start adding the cheese cubes and part of 16 ounce jar of salsa, stirring as the cheese melts to prevent scorching. Add remaining salsa and set on back of stove to keep warm. Have a bowl of tortilla chips handy and this will disappear faster than the Texas state school system.

 

[Bodhi Dharma Zen]

Excuse me. But, what kind of people believes a whole country is like that? How is that a small town can be representative of a whole nation? Its like saying that all americans are like the ones who died on Waco.

For crying out loud. This confirms the absolute ignorance of some americans regarding other countries.

Are there other countries? Yes. Shocking?

 

[Phil]

I've spent a lot of time in Mexico, both in the border towns and along the coastlines (Pacific, Gulf, Carribean). I haven't spent a great deal of time in the interior, but I'd submit that the major cities are like any in the world. Each has its own particular allure and also its own particular problems.

The border towns will have drug gang problems occasionally, but the rest of the country is as diverse as any other.

 

[Snide]

Excuse me. But, what kind of people believes a whole country is like that? How is that a small town can be representative of a whole nation? Its like saying that all americans are like the ones who died on Waco.

For crying out loud. This confirms the absolute ignorance of some americans regarding other countries.

Are there other countries? Yes. Shocking?

Excuse me, but what kind of person requires others to speak so literally?

Yes, it's a skeptics' forum, and so numbers, sources, etc. would be nice, and I won't rush to any judgments without them. But I don't mind reading between the lines of anecdotes either.

 

[WildCat]

Excuse me, but what kind of person believes a whole country is like that? How is that a small town can be representative of a whole nation? It's like saying that all Americans are like the ones who died in Waco.

For crying out loud, this confirms the absolute ignorance of some Americans regarding other countries.

Are there other countries? Yes. Shocking?

What makes you think LucyR is an American?

BTW, I've corrected your grammar for you. I wouldn't want people from other countries to think all Americans (you say you live "here" ) have poor grammar, as well as a poor understanding of geography.

 

[LucyR]

For crying out loud. This confirms the absolute ignorance of some americans regarding other countries.

It might, but not in the way you think.

I'm sure there are at least some very nice places to live in or visit in Mexico. However, I still think it's reasonable to ask just how widespread this sort of lawlessness is. Some posters have already helped to anwer this question.

Anyway, just trying to stimulate discussion and hear if possible of personal experiences.

 

[Luke T.]

Punchline: Good thing she didn't ask about donkey shows!

 

[c0rbin]

What I think is funny is that Bodhi makes the same erroneous conclusion he accused the OP of making by assuming that "Americans" were being represented by an individual.

Some people will bend over backwards to jab at the US.

 

[Bodhi Dharma Zen]

My apologies. I was rude. But it is still true that, some Americans, ignore almost everything about the rest of the world.

 

[c0rbin]

Some Russians are Cannibals. Some Arabs are murders. Some Chinese are retarded. Some Angolans are homosexual.

You see, the world is made of people and some people are cannibals, some people are murders, some people are retarded, some people are homosexual.

The second you start attributing human facets to nationalities, you run the risk of becoming a bigot.

You are not a bigot, are you?

 

[Grammatron]

My apologies. I was rude. But it is still true that, some Americans, ignore almost everything about the rest of the world.

That's true for some citizens of everywhere country. Your generalization says nothing other than you have some preconceived notion that Americans are more ignorant.

 

[Bodhi Dharma Zen]

Forget it, I really prefer not to discuss politics. My bad.

 

[a_unique_person]

Forget it, I really prefer not to discuss politics. My bad.

You'll learn, any mistakes will be roundly condemned so you wonder why you ever bothered coming here in the first place. Onward, not backward, upward, not downward, and twirling, twirling, towards skepticism in politics.

But that's the way they like it, and who are we to argue.

 

[Mycroft]

My apologies. I was rude. But it is still true that, some Americans, ignore almost everything about the rest of the world.

That mostly because we can.

Other countries are so tiny, you can't drive for an hour without hitting a national border somewhere. Me, I can drive a thousand miles in any direction and stay within the USA.

I feel sorry for those puny girlie-countries.

 

[Mark]

Excuse me. But, what kind of people believes a whole country is like that? How is that a small town can be representative of a whole nation? Its like saying that all americans are like the ones who died on Waco.

Well, we did elect Bush twice.

 

[Rob Lister]

For crying out loud. This confirms the absolute ignorance of some americans regarding other countries.

Let's see.

Poster LucyR reads a report about a town in Mexico.
Poster LucyR has never been to Mexico.
Poster LucyR wonders if impression given by report is accurate.
Poster LucyR asks those that have been to Mexico.
Poster Bodhi Dharma Zen accuses LucyR of being ignorant for not already knowing.
Poster A_U_P rushes quickly to Bodhi's defense.

 

[Grammatron]

Forget it, I really prefer not to discuss politics. My bad.

Well next time don't start off with ignorant comments and you'll be ok. Remember, this is a discussion forum, we discuss things here; we ask questions and see what people think of the subject.

However, you have to see it from my point of view. You call LucyR an ignorant American when it's clear LucyR is not an American. Then you apologise and still say some Americans are ignorant. The irony of your statement can't not be obvious to you.