Poor Guadalajara, So Far From God....

El Informador was not my paper of choice when I lived in Gdl, but I popped in the last couple of days to read the local coverage of the impact of the Canada/US/DF visit to one of my favorite Mexican cities. While the play by play was interesting, I enjoyed most a story about the impact of the visit on the Corona market near Hidalgo that was shut off from traffic - and from customers.

I'm good with the US going south to discuss its protectionist policies that will strip Mexico and Canada of billions in trade dollars, but it also served as an interesting reminder that we can't even visit Mexico without ripping the food out of somebody's mouth.

Se quedaron los bolillos y las flores...

GUADALAJARA, JALISCO.- Luces en el horizonte de la Avenida Hidalgo. Todo era quietud ahí, frente al Mercado Corona, donde las personas esperaban. “¿Quién va a pasar, disculpe?”, dijo un hombre que se acercó al barandal, como todos los demás. “¡Obama, Obama!”, comenzaron a gritar los niños.

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Playing Both Sides, Gutierrez Barrios Style?

On the home page of Excelsior this evening, buried under the MASSIVE banner about the Steelers victory in the Super Bowl, there was a small notice that Felipe Calderon had visited with the "President of Puerto Rico." Later in the article it referred to Luis Fortuño as governor. In good Mexican journalistic style it referred to Puerto Rico as it would any fully independent nation. But it was the banner that caught my eye... President of Puerto Rico. Is this the sort of left-leaning writing and action that covers up for the right leaning path of the remnants of the Revolution? Would Excelsior really care?

Revolution...part deux

Uno Mas Uno is reporting that as unemployment rises in Mexico, that the largest group affected by the trend is the 18 to 24 set. While the general unemployment index is pegged by UAM at just over 3%, the youth unemployment ranking is at 6.3%. Rising visible violence and youth unemployment are a dangerous combination. (Read the article).

Nevertheless, the entire economy contintues to expand, according to INEGI, with agriculture growing at 4.9% - a rate large enough to balance industrial losses associated with the decline of the US economy. This seems like a good sign for the popular Alberto Cardenas, current secretary of ag and a possible candidate in 2012. Most importantly, I think it bodes well (I hope) for keeping a lid on the spread of political violence as the bi/centennial approaches.

They Say You Want a Revolution

This week my students are discussing Daniel Cosio Villegas and the idea of the Mexican Revolution being alive or dead. Some have gotten bogged down with the question as early as 1911, but others are plugging right along in 2008. I am curious about the centennial celebrations, bicentennial celebrations, and the current war with the narcotraficantes that is dominating many of the headlines these days. Is the Calderon push a new Revolution to take Mexico back from organized crime, or is it the effort of a despot looking to stifle a black market economy that provides income for otherwise impoverished sectors? I know I am less convinced of the mafiosos and their altruistic intentions, but it is hard to travel in Chihuahua and not see their hands working to the benefit of local economies on the surface.

On a happier note, I was interested to see the official government site celebrating the Revolution has items on there from Catholic participants. Take a look. The home site can be found here. I'm sure the intro video will be deconstructed in class rooms accross academia using Ilene V. O'Malley and Thomas Benjamin.