Allow me to offer a translation of sentiment. This was how you expressed an opinion on a nationality 75 years ago:
Not all Mexicans are picturesque Indians in big straw hats.
There is actually a group of what, for want of a pleasing term, must be called “society”. This always seems to come as news to the average American traveller who, on entering a drawing room in Mexico City and finding it full of smartly dressed people talking much as people talk in all the drawing-rooms of the world, is invariably overcome with astonishment. “But how sophisticated!” he is sure to cry out in amazement.
-Vogue, 1937, as seen at Museo Frida Kahlo.
Whereas today, you talk about things like a concern over safety and violence, while overlooking facts such as these:
- Mexico is a relatively safe Latin American country. The main threats come in areas where drug gangs operate, particularly along the US-Mexico border and in Sinaloa.
- Mexico’s domestic risk ratings have remained generally stable.
- [Tourism to] Mexico continues to suffer… [from] negative reputational risk.
-Latin American Monitor, January 2012.
Related: Mexico and the Mean World
I love Mexico. Having spent a lot of time there off and on for years, I have to add that the people have been kind to me. I am lucky to have my fair share of Mexican friends.
Americans also always seem to be surprised that there are really rich people in Mexico, the type who can pay full price at the Louis Vuitton and Prada stores without blinking. It’s one of the world’s 10 largest economies, after all. Only a small minority moves here to find work. The rest are doing fine where they are.
But on the safety issue, here’s one I wrote before with a great video from someone else:
http://travel.booklocker.com/2010/12/22/8-2-million-tourists-heads-still-attached-after-visiting-mexico/
That’s very true, Tim. And even more important to the stability of the Mexican economy, there’s a large and growing middle class. Re:your story and its awesome headline, those heads are still attached, but could stand to do a little more rational thinking.