Looking Past Mexican Violence Into The Future

By Zach Gonzalez & Arthur D. Soto-Vásquez

A Mexican newspaper publisher of Grupo Reforma and professor at the University of Texas, Alejandro Junca De La Vega gave a speech Saturday titled, “A View form Mexico: What Could Possibly Come Next?” He noted the great fear many feel about Mexico’s future, “By any measure the country of Mexico was in better shape when Kennedy was president 50 years ago than it is today.”

“I come from a country where today dreadful things are happening. However uncomfortable it may be, I must speak the truth.” He opened the beginning of his segment by explaining the “legacy of dysfunction” present in Mexico as the root of the current state of issues.

The four different topics he highlighted were education, healthcare, the rule of law, and natural resources.  The continuing thread among each sector was that the institutions of Mexican society do not live up to their role of what Junco de la Vega calls “the street level,” meaning whether or not the policies were even implemented. Looking to the newspaper El Norte, Alejandro shared many stories of corruption within law enforcement, unequally distributed medical care, natural resources seen as a curse and not a blessing, and the fear that lies within the minds and views of Mexican citizens.

Apart from the frightening stories, Alejandro shared the criticism mexicanos receive speaking their minds.  “Friends (citizens and politicians) tell me to tone down what’s happening. Even enemies (the cartel) tell me to tone down the reporting,” he said, even as as he talked about how three grenades were thrown on the steps of the newspaper offices in Mexico. Bigger problems happen to lie farther than what the pictures and video clips of violence in Mexico shows us. Alejandro mentions that the problems that Mexico faces will not be easily solved nor by the current proposed initiatives that are presented.

“Your neighbor is bleeding. What specifically can we do, though? If we hold this idea of the game of life that states, ‘If you work hard, respect the rules, you will be rewarded,’ we need to put an end to those who need to be protected. Especially in a land where we say the resources belong to all, they really belong to no one.” Alejandro finished his discussion by looking around the room at the audience and patiently saying, “I ask that you look beyond the grim images I’ve shown you, and that you see the intrinsic beauty within the people that make Mexico beautiful.”