A Return to Juan Crow

I am here in San Carlos – Guaymas Sonora working with a client. I have been coming here for the last ten years on business. To say it is difficult to get to many places here is an understatement, but when you travel 100% of the time for your work. It is one of the blessings you get, a gorgeous change of scenery and a completely different perspective on how America’s role affects our neighbors to the south. A Mexican friend, I have many, once told me that when the USA sneezes, Mexico catches a cold. I hope this works in reverse this time.
Anti - Mexican and Racist; that is what the newspaper’s here quote the countries leaders when asked about Arizona HB 1070. (La Voz del Puerto 27 April 2010) This profiling law allows law enforcement to focus upon suspected Illegal’s in Az. I understand the pressures leading to the passage of the law, the increased burdens on the state budget, and the now subsiding drug war in the four northern states of Mexico (something our media has largely ignored as we as Americans don’t seem to want to care about it unless it ruins our vacations).
I have worked in Mexico a great deal, in the past 10 years I have spent about 10% of my time here work wise. It has given me a true representation of the country, culture and socio – political – economic climate of the country. I have worked in 21 of the 31 states here. I like to think that I have been blessed to experienced more places and people in Mexico than most Mexicans have.
I have seen Mexico’s good side and their bad side. From the amazing cathedrals and rich cultural traditions during dia muertes (day of the dead) in Zacatecas to the traffic jams in Mexico City, Tijuana and Nuevo Laredo. I watch people with little going for them educationally and fiscally figure out ways to make their lives better and earn a living as there is very little public welfare here. It never ceases to amaze me that Mexicans have the ability to smile after what they have to deal with; From the Drug Gangs (Or Narcos), Inconsistent and Corrupt Government (where is President Salinas now?), Poor infrastructure, Mismanagement of their natural resources (PEMEX), The ever Declining Peso and they get to suffer from the fact that they are our neighbor and honestly, I have to say that we are not a very good neighbor at that. Recent events have made our bad neighborhood status more glaring.
Now I saw a photo in one of the Mexican Daily papers, (Yes, I read the language better than I speak it) and I saw a sign I thought I would never see outside of a history book or documentary, posted in the open again in reference to Jim Crow. The Sign said “Juan Crow”. I felt ashamed and disappointed at my countrymen. I thought we had moved past this type of behavior but the sign says it all. We are going towards the days of Jim Crow and we seem to be focusing upon one group of people who have done nothing but work their tails off for everything they have in America. I also could not help but note that in the Mexican Press that the government in Mexico City called for their people to avoid and boycott Arizona tourism and trade. I for one hope it has an effect.
I guess time will tell, but to my fellow Americans, remember this much. Those illegal’s in question; run our restaurants and build our houses, mow and manicure our lawns, possibly watch our kids and clean our houses. When the fruits of those labors are gone, who is going to do it? Are we willing to pay the price financially for citizens to do it? I think not! So to the ultra conservative right who like to try and boondoggle guilt upon the rest of us moderates. Why are we targeting the people who make our economy move? I don’t hear anyone complaining about Illegal Canadians, Asians or Europeans very often. Many of them have educations and or other skills and we tend to over look them. Many of the people in Mexico don’t have those advantages but they do have one thing I admire; heart and perseverance. Cut them a break please this is not a fair bill.