Obama Seeks to Banish Stereotypical Image of Mexico

[alp227]

Source: NYT

MEXICO CITY — President Obama, in speech to high school and university students here, said Friday that it was time to banish the stereotypical Mexico of violence and people fleeing across borders and embrace the new image of a strengthening democracy and economy.

“I have come to Mexico because it is time to put old mind-sets aside,’’ Mr. Obama said to vigorous applause from hundreds of students at the National Anthropology Museum. “It’s time to recognize new realities, including the impressive progress in today’s Mexico. For even as Mexicans continue to make courageous sacrifices for the security of your country, even as Mexicans in the countryside and in neighborhoods not far from here struggle to give their children a better life, it’s also clear that a new Mexico is emerging.'’

Although poverty remains deep and wages have stagnated, Mr. Obama focused on the positive signs of the economy, including growth measurements that exceed those in the United States, a surge in the manufacturing and technology industries and rising levels of middle class Mexicans.

The battle in Mexico against drug trafficking and organized crime, in which the United States has invested more than $1 billion in recent years with mixed results, has dominated the agenda between the nations, during the Obama and George W. Bush administrations.

Read more: http://www.nytimes.com/2013/05/04/world/americas/obama-seeks-to-banish-stereotypical-image-of-mexico.html

[truebluegreen]

1. All very well...

but importing the American War on Drugs to Mexico or anywhere else is not and never has been an investment in anyone's future. Speaking as a current resident of Mexico, we would appreciate it if the U.S. dealt with its personal problems at home.

You know, like, banish the stereotypical United States habit of acting as it pleases without regard for the wishes of other people(s).

[Cha]

2. Good! thanks alp

But more than anything, Mr. Obama, who later met privately with business leaders at the museum, sought to deliver a message of hope that stronger economic ties and trade could only benefit both countries and reduce crime and the desire by Mexicans to emigrate to the United States.

“I also believe that the long-term solution to the challenge of illegal immigration — so we’re not dealing with this, decade after decade — is a growing, prosperous Mexico that creates more jobs and opportunity for young people right here,'’ he said.

[freshwest]

3. Too bad he has to remind people of the obvious. When Mexico does well, folks prefer their homes.

Coming to the USA to work is not as great a deal as Rushbo and others claim it is.

[Cha]

5. I know, freshwest I so wish Mexico

could help their people get jobs and homes. What a geographically beautiful place to live.

However, who could blame them for trying to get work in the US when there's nothing at home.

[freshwest]

6. No, and I believe they have a right to come here since Amerian businesses have impacted jobs there.

The business community has not only created this situation in the past, they have gone to Mexico to personally recruit workers. The idea that Mexicans are truly 'illegal' kind of falls flat when it is Americans who are promising them work. But the conservatives bank on xenophobia and racism to paint the picture of them as 'stealing' jobs here. If there is any theft being done, it's to the workers brought in by American bosses who are 'stealing' jobs from 'Americans.' This is good for the working people there, what is happening in Mexico, and it will put things in balance.

[Cha]

7. Excellent points, thank you, freshwest!

[LuckyLib]

4. If we had a functioning media in this country there would be ongoing information

available on the progress happening in Mexico and what a wonderful country it is -- what the American people get is the cartels-crime-murders-danger merry-go-round, which has clearly affected tourism there.

[freshwest]

8. Yes, and the lie that Mexicans are destined for shitwork. Tired of this media!

[loyalsister]

9. Reminds me of Castro's speech

He had a line that really disappointed me... my mom worked and saved "so that I could hold this microphone instead of a mop." I thought it was a disgusting reinforcement of a stereotype.