The Mexican Perspective: Understanding Their Culture
American Perceptions of Mexicans
Patrick Osio, Jr
(From Patrick Osio, Jr.’s The Mexcian Perspective)
At one time or another, most of us have been shown one of those “what do you see” pictures. You know the type, do you see an old hag or a young maiden, or another one with the do you see the silhouette of two faces or a chalice?
When not told there is more than one object within the picture, our brain zeros in on the first image it recognizes. Thereafter, it becomes difficult, sometimes impossible, to get the brain to accept another image is also present. Conversely, when told before looking there are two images, the brain accepts the challenge and is able to look for the second image, once the first image is identified.
One can imagine the difficulties when two persons look at the picture containing the old hag and the young maiden. One sees the old hag and the other sees the young maiden. Neither sees both. Their impressions are opposite. Until they can each see what the other sees, it will be difficult for them to agree - old or young, ugly or beautiful.
The above analogy is for the purpose of opening the mind to the possibility that there is more to Mexico and Mexicans than a single image many an American mind has fixed on. Accept the challenge - there is more to Mexicans, and far more positive than what is commonly known in the U.S.
Your best intentions and business plan for dealing in Mexico would be for naught, if because there is no understanding of the culture, protocol and etiquette, a series of faux pas’ are committed, killing deals that otherwise would have been successful. Successful business begins by knowing and understanding your potential counterpart.
Just about every description of Mexicans can be answered with a “yes” (or “no”). Are they honest? - Yes. Are they dishonest? - Yes. Are they tall? - Yes. Are they short? - Yes. Are they handsome? - Yes. Are they ugly? - Yes. Are they smart? - Yes. Are they dumb? - Yes. On and on the descriptions could be answered with a yes to every opposite set of questions.
Part of the perception problem faced by Americans regarding Mexicans is that the image of Mexicans has historically stopped at describing “one of the images in the picture,” - the ugly or negative side. We have this perception based on newspaper accounts, movies and of course, everyone knows someone who has a friend, who was done a wrong in Mexico.
Since most newspapers and other media accounts are based on “bad news”, most of what is digested about Mexico is based on the worst, “the ugly image in the picture”. This does not mean there are no wrongs being committed by Mexicans, but you should know there are far more “right” acts than wrong ones.
For many Americans, having “fixed” for so long on the one image, it is difficult to open the mind to the other image, but it is there. There are far more good and wonderful people in Mexico than those described by the ugly image in the picture. Look for them and you will find them. Establish a new perception - Mexico is home to as vast an array of people as are found in the U.S. The greatest number of Mexicans are good people.
(Read the entire chapter in the: The Mexican Perspective is available for electronic download purchase – read more about the book at: http://www.hispanicvista.com/sales/book_sale.htm)
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- About the Author
- Patrick Osio, Jr.
Editor of HispanicVista.com
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- E-mail: Posiojr@HispanicVista.com,
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