The Not-So-Simple Life

The U.S. State Department is warning American citizens to exercise extreme caution when traveling to Mexico now in light of the crime problems with the drug cartels there. As a result large U.S. colleges are strongly suggesting their students not travel to Mexico for spring break. Personally, I wouldn't go near a spring break site in Mexico or elsewhere, but it breaks my heart this possibly crushing blow to an already addled Mexican economy.

Mexico has its problems that need to be dealt with if its government wishes to take advantage of the world's tourism dollars. It's not difficult to find horror stories on the internet about unsafe hotels and untrained medical personnel and muggings and corruption in Mexico, but the majority of the drug cartel issues occur along the border towns of northern Mexico--hardly the spring break destination of American students. The recession here at home has hit Mexico hard. Jobs are drying up and family members can no longer send money home to their villages in order to give their families just a glimmer of a normal, safe and healthy existence. 

I wish the world could see the Mexico I see. This country has a magical landscape of mountains and seas, brilliant flowers and cacti, evergreens and palm trees. Its interior is as beautiful as its coasts. The views everywhere are sweeping and gorgeous and lush and green. The food of Mexico is transformational, spicy and warm and filling like a big, boisterous family. You could visit Mexico one hundred times and experience something completely different each time. But Mexico's true point of pride is its people. Hardworking, open-hearted and friendly, Mexicans welcome you with pride to their beautiful country and live their lives with a quiet passion that is often lost in contemporary society.

Man, I hope we can work this out.