What can the History of Mexico teach us?
Here’s a big secret: most Mexicans want to live in Mexico!
“Among individuals, as among nations, respect for the rights of others is peace.”
The translation is from Benito Pablo Juárez Garcia, shown above. He was the first Indigenous president in the postcolonial Americas, a Mexican politician, military commander, and lawyer. He served as the 26th president of Mexico from 1858 until his death in office in 1872.
I took this photo at the Instituto Allende, part of a huge mural entitled “Ignacio Allende y la Historian de México,” completed in 1999 by acclaimed artist David Leonardo.
The mural itself is a visual history of Mexico, with moving vignettes covering 500 years of history.
I lost track of time as I studied the details, some known to me, most not.
The man on the white horse is, of course, Ignácio Allende, with his compatriot Hidalgo holding the torch behind.
The Instituto Allende is an accredited visual arts school in San Miguel de Allende that offers a wide range of art and language courses. The school occupies a large historical hacienda and courtyard from the 18th century, immaculately preserved and maintained. It is a must stop on any tour of SMA, if for no other reason than to experience the 42 square meter mural that occupies the east wall of the courtyard.
The mural takes no prisoners and tells it like it is, starting with the murder and enslavement of the indigenous people by the conquistadores.
It covers the battles for Women’s Rights, the Mexican Revolution (which I hope to cover in a future post) and even 8 de marzo, International Women’s Day.
I want to explore the history of Mexico in more detail. The native population was enslaved to produce silver, rather than depopulated by disease and war. The invaders relied on Mexico’s indigenous population for centuries, while the Spanish drained the country of its resources to support the royal treasury.
But here’s the thing: Mexico recognized, early on, that respect for the rights of others is critical both in International Relations as in Domestic Policy.
Which requires me to interrupt this post for a Public Service Announcement, prompted by my contemplation of the mural and the overriding topic here in Mexico caused by the gyrations in Washington.
Dear Readers, Friends and Followers,
I know many of you are concerned, upset, angry, sad, or perhaps hurting and anxious right now. I feel your pain, I really do. Every conversation I have here, with Mexicans, Canadians, and Americans, is dominated by the stress, concern, and anxiety generated by the news.
Please don’t think that the fact that I don’t write about politics or the ongoing destruction of the US means I don’t care. I do.
But the votes were cast, and many of our fellow citizens have asked for this.
I’ve seen them here in SMA, in the expensive boutiques, talking loudly in the parks, ignoring the beauty all around and bitching about one thing or another.
I’ve resisted the urge to tell them to shut up and enjoy Nature, explain that they are missing the point, remind them that they are guests here and not entitled elites, or lecture them on their ‘ugly American’ misconduct.
I would have done so a few years back.
But it’s beyond my control. I can’t change them. Only they can do so. They’ve cast their votes and must live and learn from the consquences (although I’m not sure they ever will).
Instead I choose to highlight the beauty I see, the things I learn, and the good people I meet.
We’re responsible for our own happiness. We can focus on the dog poop on the park path or the butterfly in the bush, the loud mouth gringo or the friendly fellow from Boston (yes I met a really Nice Americano today, originally from Chicago, 83 years old, been living here for 7 years, an artist, who loves SMA, in spite of the rich right wingers building mansions here in the hills above town).
It’s hard to step back from the pain, hard not to protest our transformation from a caring and sharing society to an angry “ME FIRST!” Imperialism.
But beyond casting my ballot, I can’t change it. It’s beyond my control. This little blog isn’t going to convince the Fox News crowd of anything.
I still believe that the pendulum will swing back towards justice, fairness, and equality. But misguided blustering bullies are in power now, focused on busting things up rather than building a better place. I will do nothing to help them, nothing to empower them, nothing to ratify their misconduct, lies and aggression. But I can’t change the current situation.
My remaining time on Earth is short. And I chose to spend it searching for beauty, helping my loved ones, and satisfying my curiosity.
I want to appreciate and understand other peoples, focus on the nature, history, and geography of the World, and record my perceptions, before the lights dim.
We do know from history that democracies turn into empires and empires into dictatorships before fading into obscurity.
As Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. said, “The arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends towards justice."
I believe that.
You may say, “David if you wrote about politics you could make a difference!”
I don’t think so. Logic, reason and preaching can’t move these people. It will have to play out.
If you think I am wrong, that’s ok. Have at it. I support you! I hope you succeed and I wish you well. Someday the tide will turn, and if you can help make that happen, then Thank You!
Believe it or not, I haven’t met a single Mexican who is at all interested in leaving this beautiful country, and I’ve been coming down here for 7 years.
But I sure have met a lot of folks who have left the USA for Mexico, and guess what, they’re happy they did and ain’t going back!
Sorry for that interruption.
So glad you’re here~!
Stay curious, keep the faith and focus on the beauty!
Thanks so much for traveling along~!
Post #1 in SMA Series: Welcome to San Miguel de Allende
Post #2 in SMA Series: Parroquia de San Miguel Arcángel
Post #3 in SMA Series: Carnival, Markets and Art Galleries
Post #4 in SMA Series: Beauty is in the Simple Things
Post #5 in SMA Series: What can the History of Mexico tell us?
Post #6 in SMA Series: If you go: Hotels, Restaurants and connections.
Thx you David. Your blogs are daily reminders of what is important. They allow me to escape one narcissistic reality to a reality that is tried and true and has existed for millions of years. The moral arc will bend toward justice! I believe.
Well said, David. We creatives need to fill the various platforms with the beauty and wonder we find before us, not wallow in the angst, hatred, and disunity that continues to fester from all points the political spectrum. I'm sad to hear that rich Americans have planted their stakes in SMA, but you're right about Mexicans not really wanting to become Americans. They may purchase homes and gain citizenship here, but those actions are more about helping their families earn prosperity that they can't quite manage in Mexico. Many of the people I met in Truckee had properties in Guanaguato, but they work here to support those assets and relatives back home. They are very much Mexican at heart and will always remain so.