The Mexican Perspective: Understanding Their Culture
US interventions in Mexico
Patrick Osio, Jr
(From Patrick Osio, Jr.’s The Mexican Perspective)
Soon after the U.S.-Mexican war the U.S. attempted to force Mexico under threat of military intervention to sign a treaty giving the U.S. rights to use the isthmus in Southern Mexico and the right in perpetuity to land and sea access from the U.S. border to Mazatlan in the state of Sinaloa. Fortunately, wiser head in the U.S. senate killed the issue, as the demand was headed for another war. Skipping over some of the lesser episodes, but there were episodes, to 1913 when the U.S. Ambassador to Mexico, Henry Lane Wilson, entered into a plot with former General Victoriano Huerta who had served under Porfirio Diaz, and Diaz’s nephew, Felix Diaz, to overthrow Francisco Madero, who had successfully conducted the revolution to oust Diaz.
Huerta had Madero and his Vice-President Jose Pino Suarez taken prisoner, installed himself as the provisional president and four days later had both captives assassinated while held prisoners. President Woodrow Wilson, apparently not knowing about his Ambassador’s involvement beforehand, recalled him on finding out, and demanded Huerta resign – to push on this point, he had U.S. troops invade and take over Mexico’s most important sea-port city, Veracruz.
The invasion from the U.S.-Mexico border by General Pershing and his 10,000 troops in pursuit of Villa was purposely disguised by the U.S. government to avoid using the word ‘intervention.’ Then Secretary of State Robert Lansing sent a letter to President Wilson in which the first paragraph read: “As there appears to be an increasing probability that the Mexican situation may develop into a state of war I desire to make a suggestion for your consideration. It seems to me that we should avoid the use of the word “Intervention” and deny that any invasion of Mexico is for the sake of intervention.”
The balance of the letter was explaining the importance of why the word should be avoided. The reasons for intervention were that Wilson, well intentioned as he probably was, wanted Huerta out of office. So that the interference of the U.S. Ambassador caused the killing of the sitting president, which in turn led to a coup, then in an effort to oust the new ruler, further intervention was needed.
There were other times and other interventions. How strong the influence of the U.S. over Mexico must be might best be reflected on a small entry made by former Mexican Secretary of State, Jorge Castañeda in his 1998 book, La Herencia (The Inheritance). This book deals with interviews he held with former still living Mexican presidents. He was attempting to extract from each the process they used in hand picking their successor. Interviewing former president Jose Lopez Portillo (1976-1982), Castañeda asked what would he have done if after making his selection and announced it, the U.S. government would have let it be known they were not happy with the choice. To which Lopez Portillo answered that he would have changed his choice.
It needs to be noted that nothing I have written above should be mistaken as showing that the U.S. had or did not have reasons or perceived reasons for doing what it did. And that each and the many other instances of conflict have been and continue to be the topics of numerous books written by a multitude of historians. My attempt here is not a definitive last word on the topics, simply a small glimpse of the ‘other side’ of the coin, but my brief explanations leave out much.
What is, as my observation, of importance is that Americans should be aware that such issues have been a part of our relationship with Mexico, and that much of what we have heard on these issues have mostly left out the other side.
Since the objective of this handbook is to help establish relationships in Mexico under favorable terms, it is important to at the very least be aware of these points, and not be so quick to jump at conclusions or jump to judgments based on having only one side of the story.
It is also important to know that no American is expected to be an apologist for history or its events. In fact apologist Americans may win favorable lip service, but not the respect of those in his audience. We as Americans are, however, expected to know that there is the other side, what we all owe is allegiance to the truth.
While in Mexico, it will be a rarity when a Mexican will demonstrate bad manners by bringing up a negative history issue between the two countries in the presence of an American. If this occurs, remember the individual is demonstrating bad manners and lack of courtesy, it is expected of you to demonstrate better manners. Do not get involved in the argument, if you do, there is no way you can win.
If others are present, they will apologize and remind the offender of his social transgression. If there is no answer, excuse yourself and leave with head high. No matter what happens, you will leave with the respect of those present.
By and large, Americans are given the benefit of the doubt, as educated Mexicans are also aware of much of the good the U.S. and its people have done, not only in Mexico, but also in the rest of the world.
Americans running into trouble in Mexico usually bring it on themselves. Breach of etiquette, cultural faux pas, display of bad manners, superiority complex, disrespectful words or deeds are the most common reasons why Americans have problems in Mexico.
Also avoid the comparison game. Don’t compare how good it is in the U.S. and how bad it is in Mexico. Or how we do things better. You’ll be treated as the boor you would be.
As a whole, Americans are liked. Problems may arise from the individual behavior of an American or of a Mexican. But of comfort to the reader should be that most Americans get along famously with Mexicans, and tens of thousands have become friends, some for life, with Mexican counterparts.
As a final note to this particular vignette I must note that the description of ‘American’ to mean U.S. citizens is used. I do this simply because U.S. citizens have become accustomed to themselves and having others describe them as such. The word American belongs to all the people of the Western Hemisphere – Canadians are Americans, as are Mexicans, and the people of all the Central and South American countries. All such people have a right to the name.
To avoid confrontation over the ‘exclusive’ usage by U.S. citizens, Mexicans refer to us as Norte Americanos (North Americans). Technically, Mexicans from the Mexican northern states can also call themselves Norte Americanos, but instead typically refer to themselves as Norteños.
Here again, I would be remiss if I didn’t point one of the most popular and enduring misconceptions Mexicans have about Americans. The most often said – “Norte Americanos have no culture.” What do they mean by this is elusive, but it covers a lot of ground. There is belief that since European immigrants to the U.S. as a majority were from the lower economic class, they had little refined culture, little appreciation for the arts and classic books or history – they were thus defined as ‘having no culture.’ The culture they enjoyed was imported from other countries. Other meanings are that since they don’t know much about Mexico, they have no culture. And yet another meaning is that Americans measure everything in money terms – they are purely motivated by economic gain – it’s all about money. (Don’t ask me what this has to do with culture.)
Needless to say, they are both right and wrong in such a perception. My personal belief is that it makes reference to the newness of Americans as a people – since Europe has existed for centuries, and even Mexico had a university as early as 1532, almost a century before the landing of the Pilgrims, and their great native civilizations that thrived and competed in greatness with the ancient Egyptian civilization – there is a cultural superiority feeling based on history – not on modern accomplishment with which no other civilization can compete.
(Read the entire chapter in the: The Mexican Perspective available for electronic download purchase – read more about the book at: http://www.hispanicvista.com/sales/book_sale.htm)
- Table of Contents
- Excerpts from the manual
- (The E-book costs $9.95. PayPal is an E-Bay company able to accept any credit or debit card - payments are very secure. Once purchased, PayPal notifies Mr. Osio's agent who in turn sends the E-book by E-mail as an attachment. Usually the book is E-mailed within 24 hours or less.)
- About the Author
- Patrick Osio, Jr.
Editor of HispanicVista.com
- Contact information:
- E-mail: Posiojr@HispanicVista.com,
|
- HispanicVista.com – http://www.hispanicvista.com
- If you wish to read some of his articles visit HispanicVista.com or key-word Patrick Osio, Jr on any search engine. Contact at: PosioJr@hispanic.sdcoxmail.com
- HispanicVista.com – http://www.hispanicvista.com