Julian at 8 – a boy and his dog

In the news of late have been reported problems of tainted pet food. A recall of potentially deadly pet food has dog and cat owners on edge. This got me to thinking about pets in Mexico – here there is a major cultural difference.

In the United States our pets are often treated better than our relatives. We decided a few years ago to not own pets because of the travel problems, especially across borders, and we were having problems with the guilt of possessing birds that perhaps should be in nature. So we gave up pet owning.

But – the other day we were going into the mall and there at the entry doors were two young girls with a box full of golden Labrador retriever puppies – be still my heart! I picked up one of the little guys and held it close to my chest. The tiny soft puppy cuddled up to me seemly appreciating the warmth. To write that I am a soft touch for Labradors and puppies in general would be putting it mildly.

I can’t keep my hands off them. I/we have owned many dogs over my sixty years of life, most of them Labradors. So you get the picture, I was weak in the knees to own this puppy – but Anita who is not a dog lover made me put the little guy back in the box and move on in to the store. We were sad (the puppy and I) – ouch!

What we don’t need right now is a little puppy to house break, train to behave and to sacrifice a shoe or two to. OK so once away from the box of total temptations I settled back into our pet less life style – but darn those little guys were cute. For the rest of the day I would blurt out – “I wanted that puppy!” Anita understood and said nothing.

With all the problems over bad pet food I am kind of relieved to not have the worry on top of the aforementioned issues. Right at this moment of writing a television commercial came on where a little dog was jumping on hind legs trying to reach the water bowl area of a toilet. I am thinking how cute. Anita, a few feet away from me decried, “Yuck that’s disgusting. Give that dog a water dish.” I should add she has no idea what I am blogging about today. This pretty much covers our differences on the dog owning issue ;-0

In fairness to Anita she has always been a good pet owner to the animals I have brought home. Once she knows this is to be a family addition she accepts the role and they love her for it. She owned a goat once – but I won’t go there this morning we are talking about owning pet cultural differences between Americans and Mexicans.We have also owned quite a few birds.

Julian at 12 with our Blue & Gold Macaw Ozzy.

Sadly I must report that while in the U.S. our pets are put on pedestals Mexican pets are second class citizens in a third class world – what does that make them fifth or? I have never seen so many pets suddenly die or disappear in my life. I have also never witnessed such lack of attention and poor care as Mexican pets seem to receive?
Not long ago I heard a comic routine about New Yorkers walking their pets with the plastic glove and bag where they can claim their dog’s mess as a matter of law. The comic goes on to suggest whom might a visiting Martian think is the master the person scraping up the poop or the one who is standing nearby watching the effort – maybe giving a few licks to the face of the stooped scooper. Funny.

What aren’t funny are the harsh lives of Mexico’s “pets.” I have witnessed so many pet treatment atrocities in Mexico. Sadly while these animals are not loved in the way we Americans fawn over our pets the Mexican people are insistent on owning hardly cared for animals. Our Mexican next-door neighbors had a cage full of birds that stayed out in raining 45-degree weather obviously cold and unhappy. After nearly two years the birds were gone – one died and the other two were sold. They also own a couple short leashed dogs.

Up the road a family that barely has enough money to feed their two young children acquires a BIG white rabbit ostensibly for the kids. Each time we visited you could see the terror in the rabbits eyes as the kids chased the big white fur ball around the dirt floor – a short while later it died.

One of our neighbors is on their third puppy for their 11-year-old son. In two years the others have just died. I could go on – but you get the idea. I have yet to see anyone walking their dogs in Ursulo Galvan except for our gringo neighbors Esther and Jim who faithfully walk their dogs as well as feed the street dogs on the corner. A few months ago Esther took a street dog to the vet who had been hit by a car. They paid to have its leg removed – not cheap even at Mexican Vet prices. I asked Jim what that cost he didn’t know, or want to know.

I see dogs that seem to spend their entire lives on a chain or wire that is three feet long – even shorter. To not be able to move beyond a two or three foot perimeter for your entire life hardly could be described as anything but cruel and unusual punishment. And this is typical.

Before we moved to Colorado we lived in a suburb of Prescott Arizona I used to call the Dog Pound. There were so many barking dogs, barking 24/7 that there simply was no more apropos name for the community. Ursulo Galvan runs a close second – but what’s more disturbing is knowing that most of these barking dogs are barking in pain and discontent – not the case in Prescott, Arizona.

The street dogs are a breed of their own. I have no affiliation with them and Anita avoids them like the plague. It is common to see dead dog carcasses at roads edge and for days on end. But the cruelest part of it all is the disregard for the family pet be it a bird, bunny, cat or dog. When things are really tough a lot of dogs disappear; believed to become dinner for some poor family – I don’t even want to think about that.

I have no idea why animals are treated so badly in Mexico? But, if you are thinking your pet is so loved and pampered that when you come back you want to come back as a dog – be sure you add in America because you don’t want to wake up as a canine in Mexico. Stay Tuned!

Over the weekend we attended a wedding. One of our neighbors on Red Creek Ranch has a daughter that got hitched. Our next-door neighbor Manny is a photographer amongst other things. He asked me even before we returned from Mexico if I would help photograph the wedding. I did the digital shots while Manny took the film shots. My Minolta digital camera took 90 images before it died. I was left with Manny’s digital point and shoot camera. My camera has been acting up since just before we left Mexico ;-( I am looking at the Canon Rebel EOS 400D – 10 mega pixels and a real SLR – any comments on this?

It rained for about 30 hours straight Monday and Tuesday. This morning I see reports of a foot of snow just 30 miles from here – we didn’t get any snow – just a lot of rain. During the rainstorm I noticed that the water spigot coming from our 2500-gallon catch water tank was leaking with a hairline crack.

Anita and I braved the weather. While Anita held an umbrella over us, with a hacksaw I cut the plastic pipe behind the spigot and attached a cap to stop water flow. In the nearly six years we have been here this pipe has never frozen. I can only assume it must have been very cold here while we were in Mexico. In the pouring rain we made the repair.

I spent the balance of the day working on a sales blurb and gathering photos of the Earthship property. We have had an amazing amount of interest in Rancho Calypso from a single “For Sale” page we put on the Internet many months ago – this when we haven’t actually began the process of selling – I jumped the gun on this I suppose. But now we are close to wanting to sell and the interest as well as the inclement weather spurred me on to spend the day warm and dry getting some info together.

Now we aren’t entertaining the idea of actually showing the place until sometime in May but here is a link to the photos and WORD document for those having interest and friends who can make suggestions on how to do a good job.

http://www.ranchocalypso.com/Earthship/

I am thinking about hiring Julian to help us do a nice web site for selling the property; but at $85.00 an hour he is an expensive alternative ;-( I wonder if he will give his parents a discount?

It appears to be a beautiful Rocky Mountain day headed our way – they are saying we will need a jacket and sunglasses today – my kind of Colorado day. They are predicting temperatures in the 80’s on the weekend – oh boy!

Last night we popped popcorn and watched old episodes of Northern Exposure (a GREAT television show by the way). Anita and I have had this big commercial popper since we lived in Oregon some 13 years ago.

Our BIG Popper

Last Night in Action – Yum!

Do you think this will cause attention crossing the border? I figure it might double as a coffee roaster

Tomorrow I am going to write more about cultural difference between our Mexico neighbors and us gringos – Stay Tuned for that.

Unless you live under a rock you know today is Earth Day. I think I can write with all humility that for Anita and me every day is Earth Day. I don’t believe that anyone who knows the two of us would disagree with the characterization of us being tree huggers or granola heads or maybe more succinctly and nicer environmentalists. We walk the talk no one will deny. Yet another Earth Day.

Now don’t get me wrong, way back in 1970 when Anita was 10 and I was – well older than that -I was an Earth Day celebrator. The fact that there has been 37 Earth Day’s and finally there are signs that the people of the United States are starting to catch on is sad and then again happy. The glass half empty or half full thing I suppose. I’ll take the half full side of this and celebrate with you all on this beautiful Rocky Mountain morning.

We are ecstatic that our shared planet is starting to get some much deserved and needed attention now that the ice caps are sliding into the sea and global warming has been discovered by Al Gore.

I had this idea that if we were to incorporate making resolutions to do better things for the well being of the earth every April 22 then the day after and the day after that the earth might be better for it, and just perhaps when Monday rolls around and we go back to life as usual the thought of those resolutions would be better for this marvelous planet we all share. If we started thinking that every day is Earth Day, how great would that be?

After I wrote all of this except this one paragraph I went back and read last years Earth Day entry – my mind is running in the same direction, as it has for the last 37 Earth Days. Gas is still going up in price. Truly it seems that raising the price of things to control damage to the earth has pretty much simply proved that the rich can afford to pollute more than the poor and offers little more in the way of a solution.

The only real way to be green is to embrace the concept of care and survival of the planet. Punishing us financially simply hasn’t worked. The handwriting was on the wall for me when companies started selling their pollution credits and people refused to stop polluting the fresh waterways because it just seemed to be a step backwards to defecate in a dry bucket instead of the more civilized way of polluting fresh water – hmmm.

So make some resolution(s) like replacing all your incandescent bulbs with compact fluorescents or unplugging all your black power cubes from your wall sockets, eating less red meat and taking better care of your health, or start a compost bin, or better still get a compost toilet. OK maybe the compost toilet is a little over the top for you beginners. Pick a resolution or two that you can stick to – you’ll feel better for it and so will Mother Earth. HAPPY EARTH DAY! Stay Tuned!

There is no question that Mexicans give priority to their families. As we have lived amongst these people the sense of family is overwhelming. Personally I prefer the more traditional family values found in Mexico. More important than work are weekends, holidays and festivities. Looking into the inter workings of the Mexican family is complex.

Stemming from Spanish tradition, a Mexican usually has two family names, for example, Juan Perez Lopez. Perez is the family name of Juan’s father and Lopez is his mother’s family name.

In rural areas such as Ursulo Galvan in Xico the girls are supervised closely in the home until they are married, while boys have more freedom. In general both men and women follow the traditions of gender-based roles – women in the home as wives and mothers and men in the workplace.

Because of the incredible poverty women are leaving the home for work usually as maids or child caretakers for the wealthy. There are differences in the culture and values of Mexico’s different classes. The gap between the very wealthy and the poor has grown much wider over the last couple of decades. The very poor are growing in numbers and struggle to survive.

Religion is the linchpin of family relations. Mexico is more than 90 percent Catholic – in our area nearly 100%. Recently I wrote about the reconstruction of the bridge leading to Poor Man’s Shangri La. As you headed across the bridge towards the turn into Ursulo Galvan, right in the middle of the bridge was a small shrine with a picture of the Virgin. Often there were flowers and or candles burning.

When the bridge was rebuilt including widening for foot traffic the shrine was removed. There was a ceremony for the opening of the newly completed bridge. People were greatly disappointed and complained that the shrine was no longer there. A few days later more workers showed up and in a couple of days following there appeared a new shrine at the entrance of the bridge. The new shrine had a picture of Christ.

Whereas children in America often leave home for school or work out of high school it is customary for all Mexican children to remain in the home until they marry. In the more urban areas these attitudes are beginning to change.

I have also spoken to the machismo of the Mexican male. This refers to a traditionally imposed code of behavior for men. The man who is macho is proud, confident, and in control. He never reveals the soft emotions of fear, disappointment, or sadness. Generally, it is important that a Mexican man appears strong. In reality it seems that there is a deep-rooted insecurity in the Mexican male.

Some anthropologists theorize that machismo began with the mating of the Spanish men and Indian women. Creating the concepts of betrayal by women and conquest, domination, force and even rape by men. As the conqueror could never trust the conquered, the macho man must thus brace himself against betrayal. Combining the Spaniard’s obsession with honor and the Indian’s humiliation at seeing his woman taken by force the emergence behavior is the perverse form of machismo.

The macho’s defense of honor becomes the Mexican’s defense of his fragile masculinity. This takes the form of worship of the female ideal exemplified by the image of the long suffering pure Virgin of Guadalupe and personified by each Mexican’s own mother, who is seen as a giver of life and therefore incapable of betrayal. Conversely, the wife, who as an object of sex is considered an aberration from feminine perfection and thus be dominated and ultimately humiliated since a husbands faithfulness, excessive affection and apparent love would imply vulnerability and weakness. Mistresses provide the man the opportunity to conquer and betray in anticipation of betrayal. The wife’s resentment of her husband is then translated into smothering love for her son, who in turn elevates her to the status of female ideal but adopts his father’s example as a husband.

Whether or not this is wholly valid, the male-female relationship Mexican style is often marked by tension and mistrust. In our Hood the women spend most of their time with members of their own sex. Contact with men is too complicated to be casual. At social gatherings the women cling to their husbands or gather with a group of other women. You will not see them engaging in conversation with men in the room.

The Mexican women thus act as mothers and homemakers and suffer enormous social and family pressure when they are forced into the workplace or decide to seek a career. In all cases they are the pivots of the family unit, the most reliable point of reference in a society where illegitimate children, broken homes and absentee fathers are commonplace.

As Anita gained close relationships with a few of the wives in Ursulo Galvan they questioned her as to whether I have mistresses. Many were surprised to learn that the answer to this is no and further that this is looked upon very disparagingly in America.

For me I found my Mexican acquaintances and friends leading very introspective lives. There is a certain commonality of self-restraint and solitude. The fiestas and many celebrations provide an important catharsis. The reason could be a religious or patriotic occasion, a birthday, quinceanera, or a Saint’s day. Fireworks, booming music and general joviality break the inner silence of Mexican men. With the assistance of alcohol the fiesta might unlock mi amigos sentimentality, self-pity, or frustrations of the hard life.

There is a dichotomy between these seemingly dysfunctional family conditions and the warmth, safety and security exuded by greater family values. Because of strong family values Ursulo Galvan is a safe community. It is a flashback to the 1950’s lifestyles in America.

The Mexican family identity will survive as long as their culture can resist the onslaught of individualism, materialism and consumerism inherent in modern ‘progress.’ Of course the family is under siege slowly giving way. Each new generation with the help of television, films, music and invading gringos is advancing towards the diminishment of the family.

One thing is for sure – you will experience different family values South of the Border. Stay Tuned!

Pike’s Peak from Rancho Calypso

The eight inches of snow we received over Thursday and Friday left Saturday faster than it arrived. Sunday was in the low 70′s and terrific. It should be written that I LOVE Colorado and miss it when we are in Mexico. Colorado is a fiercely independent State with its “Make My Day” law and “make my day” people.

Our area, hard by the foothills of the majestic Rocky Mountains, offers every manner of outdoor recreation in a sternly protected, government owned greenbelt that surrounds our Ranch property. Nearby Colorado Springs and our general area is often cited as one of the healthiest and best places to live in the Country. We have more sunny days than San Diego and the cleanest air in America. We live in a very private place with only one neighbor within a mile and really nice ones at that. It is reclusion to the extreme.

Once when Anita and Julian were gone on vacation I stayed naked for two weeks. I mean I have no penchant for nudity or the like – it was just a matter of my getting a real sense for the isolation – just nature and me, save some air traffic flying overhead at 35,000 feet and higher and some curious deer and rabbits. Over those two weeks I saw nothing in the way of other two-legged life forms.

Three years ago when we first started visiting Ursulo Galvan we had to relearn integrating with other human beings. Oh we had done it before off and on, but we had spent the last three years pretty much alone – just the three of us – nice.

Next on my list of cultural differences is: “Mexicans have a higher degree of apparent politeness. You will note I used the word “apparent”. Hmmm – this list was created in minutes much like a first thing that comes in your head test.

Facts don’t interest me much. Facts are for attorneys and accountants. Truth creates illumination. My observations about our neighbors and friends in Mexico are the truth. Interacting with people in Ursulo Galvan has been very illuminating. I learned the key to survival in that context is to above all respect the natives.

Americans aren’t a particularly polite lot. But, when politeness becomes condescending it is anything but. Certainly the feeling of being patronized is not good.

Our part of Mexico is predominantly Nahutal Indians. There is less Spanish influence than some other parts of Mexico. It is true that nearly all of the people have been brought up as Catholics and practice that religion. Their acceptance of the Virgin of Guadalupe as an Indian deity established Christianity and Catholicism. The Virgin is far more apparent and on nearly or equal footing to Christ in our area. I guarantee you there are a whole lot more images and statuary of the Virgin than of Jesus Christ.

Mexico has continuity with the past seldom seen in the much younger U.S., a country of immigrants. There is a hierarchy of deep religious sensitivity and powerful ritual of mystery, magic and superstition. Dominated by fatalism, life involves following the footprints of the past. Loyalty to community is apparent and comes with an inherent unspoken politeness.

Over the sixty plus years of living I have become skeptical towards some forms of politeness. One can argue the value of politeness as a method to get along on the surface. At the same time if it is a veil for insincerity it is less than gratifying.

I suppose it could also be argued that sincere or not, politeness is preferable over rude or unkind behavior. But it certainly is unkind to put on a false front.

As stated here I am guessing that the more reserved apparent polite behavior of our Mexican friends and neighbors stems from long standing tradition and family values.

Everything in Mexico is not Ward, June, Wally and the Beaver. While family is certainly more central, they are not without their problems. We have seen some controlling parents, even towards children of middle age. Because property is split up and passed down, and usually in the parent’s name, they have the perfect opportunity to lord over their children.

There is a lot of drinking problems amongst the poor Mexicans. We actually have an Alcoholics Anonymous Casa in Ursulo Galvan. The macho element adds to the possibility of wife abusers, and they do exist even in our little community. Fidelity is not a requirement in the minds and behavior of many a Mexican Hombre. We will get more into the Mexican woman as a second-class citizen in the near future.

When we go to people’s houses they always insist on feeding us. On several occasions Anita has gently reminded me, with a swift kick under the table, that it is considered rude to decline an invitation to eat. Only with our closest friends have we spoken up about having just ate or declined from not being hungry. Some of the kitchens I have seen have really detered me from wanting to eat and yet on many occasions I have bit the tortilla and ate anyway. Once or twice I have paid later for this politeness.

It is probably best and certainly easiest to accept politeness at face value and not question it. Perhaps like being reclusive, hiding from, and not knowing what, someone really is thinking about you is a good thing? I have mentioned that from both our houses in Mexico we can see Pico de Orizaba, the third tallest mountain in North America. Here in Colorado we have a view of Pike’s Peak looking to the north from points on our property, majestic mountains and views both.

It is significant that neither the Sherpas nor any of the other mountain people ever thought about climbing the Himalayas until proper bored English aristocrats came there. You do not have to be on the summit of Mount Everest, Pikes Peak or Mount Orizaba to appreciate them. To suggest, “conquering” a mountain is not right, just as you can accept and appreciate politeness without conquering its motives. Stay Tuned!

Today we have a spectacular sunny day, the snow past after leaving 8 inches, covering everything in its path. Out of doors the crisp cool air freshens the lungs and gives a renewed sense of being alive. Back inside the Earthship is warm and comfortable. Life is good on the Front Range on this fine Saturday.

Getting back to my list of observed cultural difference between Mexico and the U.S. Next I listed Mexicans say yes when they mean no and they never, ever, say thank you.

Mexicans worst fears are regularly confirmed by its US relationships. Contiguity with the United States has proved a permanent psychological trauma. Mexico cannot come to terms with having lost half of their territory to the U.S. (why would it?), with the US Governments frequent meddling in its political affairs, with the U.S. hold on its economy and with growing cultural intervention by way of the imposed American way of life.

Gringos have been well warned to NOT get involved or even utter comment about Mexican politics. There are constant reminders from both camps that we are but guests in the country and must conduct our relationship thusly – ugh! When my fellow Americans suggest that I am but a guest in Mexico – I reject the idea suggesting that I am a citizen of planet earth and treat my relationships as such – naïve – perhaps?

Years ago I heard of a local Mexican saying, “What would we do without the gringos? But we shouldn’t ever give them thanks.” Not long ago on the Forum there was discussion about the disappointment with the fact that gringos seem to never be thanked for their kindnesses – maybe if they understood the background this might be more palatable.

I have to admit I have raised the issue with Anita in private – why do you think they never say thank you for anything. We believe they do appreciate the small kindnesses, but I don’t recall ever having been thanked. We get pleasure in noticing their wearing a garment we have given them or using a tool or kitchen implement we have passed on to them. Surely these are small issues, but they most certainly are tied to important conditions stemming from the history between these two nations. Bottom line don’t expect to be thanked – it doesn’t happen.

We shopped and shopped around for the best quality and deal for some glass both for our new window frames in the Casita as well the need for a glass table top for my custom made bamboo computer table. It would take a lot of virtual ink to tell the whole story. But in short:

We had multiple failures in our attempt to purchase glass and secure installation labor. In two instances even Mexican friends assisted us in the attempt. Anita shopped for glass with Veronica. Stephen, Vincente’s brother-in-law, found us a glass supplier who came to our Casita to give us an estimate. Several times the quotes were favorable and subsequently accepted. The glass men went off to return at a future date with our materials. It never happened – they never returned?

After the second or third failed transaction we asked ourselves why? It became clear to me that the vendor did not want to tell us our request was not something they could do or could afford to supply at the agreed upon amount. Here I thought why didn’t they just up the price to a point where they would be comfortable following through with the transaction?

The bottom line is they did not want to tell us no. A hint to the possibility of an undeclared failed transaction is when we offered a deposit (almost always required) they said it wasn’t necessary. Now I insist on giving a deposit or better still I unilaterally begin to renegotiate realizing there is unstated unhappiness with the stated transaction. In the U.S. if a vendor or service person is not satisfied with the “deal” they have no problem telling you.

The subtle quality of these two examples of very different interaction cannot be over emphasized. The delicate nature of our relationships with our Mexican friends and acquaintances is profound. Don’t expect your logical mind to sort this out. Because Anita is of Latin blood she seems to have a better handle on this or maybe it is because woman have an inherent sensitivity we brutish men do not?

Whatever the reason, you must be sensitive to the interplay between you and our Mexican neighbors – of this I am sure. Stay Tuned!

Colorado Springtime – Our Earthship in the Snow

Just another Friday the 13th. We woke up to news of an earthquake in Mexico (no reported major damage). We have about 4-5 inches of snow buildup in some places. Julian reports that it is about 90 F at his office in Los Angeles.

We haven’t felt the need to light a fire yet – now you have to love a house that has been subjected to two days of snowy weather and it remains warm enough on its own to be comfortable inside – 37” adobe walls work – I can attest to it!

Colorado spring weather is like this – one day the high is 75 F and the next 30 F. The clean air, blue skies and 300 plus days of sun are not a bad way to spend your time in the USA snow or not.

The one thing about inclement weather is it has more rule over your life than more predictable gentler weather conditions like in Mexico. We do have a fair amount of rain – less than the numbers because so much of it is in the evening and night where it is not so much noticed.

Weather has been high up on our list in our searches for places to live for the last 20 years or so – and still here we are in the snow I think your weather choices change with age.

These days I feel that time goes by so quickly that predictable, manageable and milder weather are more important than some of the challenging weather places we have lived in the past.

In a recent Kathy Blog she mentioned that she is starting to go for a coat when the temperature gets down to 80 F. This probably reads funny to most – but really our bodies seem to quickly adapt to our environment. I remember feeling cold in the low 70’s when we were in Puerto Escondido – especially if there was a breeze.

We haven’t seen 60 F for the last week – It is about 67 F inside at the moment (1 PM). You might wonder how an unheated house gets to 67 when it hasn’t been that high in a week. Checkout Earthships – they work. Stay Tuned!

I have made a list of observed cultural differences based on my experiences while living in Mexico over the last three years. Over the next few weeks interspersed with Colorado weather reports and life north of the border will be these observations.

It is snowing big large fluffy flakes right now and it looks as if this will collect into inches all around. Being retired and not on anyone’s time schedule much less my own we will divert any and all outside tasks and travels to when the weather is less inclement – what a luxury or from a Mexican’s perspective is it?

The contrasts between Mexico and the United States are probably as dramatic as any two bordering countries on earth. The two countries are separated by wealth, language, religion, race, philosophy and history.

Mexico lost half its territory to the US in the 19th Century. Mexico was financially bailed out and became economically dependent to the U.S. during the 20th Century. In the 20th and continuing into the 21st Century the United States has developed huge industrial, financial and commercial stakes in Mexico. And yet to the average American, Mexico was barely a blip on their radar until recently.

The US-Mexico border which epitomizes the growing interdependence between the two countries is now in major controversy and turmoil, provoking serious tensions between Hispanics and Anglo populations within the United States and lesser so in Mexico.

Understanding the issues that surround the border controversy is a matter of self-interest and even national security. Most certainly the Mexican culture is part of the equation for this understanding. To gain insight into the Mexican culture we must sift through the country’s past and present for clues. The task is not easy. Yet understanding the culture is not only important to we expatriates, American, Canadians and Europeans, but to all.

There is a magical, almost surreal air about the Mexicans that refuses to be captured. Most Mexicans are meditative and philosophical, they are discreet, evasive and distrustful, they are proud and consumed by questions of honor, and they are forced to work hard but dream of a life of leisure. They are warm, humorous and sentimental, and occasionally violent and cruel. They are enormously creative and imaginative and yet impossible to organize.

Mexicans are internally set in their ways and externally lacking in control and order. Tradition rather than principles, pragmatism rather than ideology and power rather than law guides their relationship with each other – certainly a departure from their Anglo counterparts north of the border.

First on my personal list of cultural differences is titled Mexican time. Do not expect Mexicans to operate in ways of time as we have learned here in the US. Time itself involves rules that from a Mexican’s perspective must be defied. On a daily basis to a Mexican punctuality seems unimportant, since nothing more enjoyable or important now is worth shortening for the sake of a future appointment.

Eloy and I were expected at 1:30 PM to meet with some people to have luncheon fiesta. All invited save Anita and myself were Mexicans. At Eloy’s suggestion, he and I drove into the back jungle area of Ursulo Galvan to acquire some fresh trout from his Uncle for the fiesta.. This was my first visit to this interesting trout finca (farm). As his Uncle showed us around I snapped photographs, we talked about his solar electric system and he explained the methods of raising shiny, chubby 14-inch trout. We drove out of the jungle at 2:30 PM.

Arriving an hour or more late for a luncheon party does not merit an apology; to the contrary, it is arriving on time that is considered rude. From a Mexican attorney to a glass installer, appointments may be made with little expectation that they will be honored.

Anita and I well knew this time discrepancy the last trip into Mexico; yet we were still bitten by missed appointments right up to the day we left Mexico. Little offense is taken when you do not show up as promised. The practice of absenteeism after a weekend is even institutionalized – St. Lunes (Saint Monday) is considered sufficient explanation. Not long ago in a Blog entry I mentioned that after a three day weekend most offices and shops were closed on the following Monday in order to rest from the holiday.

Coming from the time conscious north these appointment infractions are frustrating and unnerving. If it is payday and the teacher wants to go to the bank to cash her check she quite simply dismisses her students. I can’t tell you how often this was reported to me when I asked in surprise, “Don’t you have school today?” to our friends children.

It is simply the way things go. Fatalism is familiar to the Mexican Indian. The pre-Hispanic civilizations would seek “signs” to the future in the behavior of Nature or their gods. In no way did they feel able to influence events. In the post Colonial period, the Virgin of Guadalupe played the same role, providing the hope of miracles but engendering no bitterness if petitions went unanswered.

The manana syndrome is therefore not a symptom of chronic inefficiency or laziness, rather evidence of an entirely different philosophy of time. If the past is safe, the present can be improvised and the future will look after itself.

Bob Johnson, my artist friend from Xico, recently wrote to me complaining about his continuing wait for a computer technician that has promised to come and install software on his new computer. Tomorrow we will talk about the Mexican never having to say no – in the mean time – Stay Tuned!

A new commenter to this Blog got me to thinking after reading some of his Blog. I suggest you read Kyle de Beausse’s Reasons for My Trip North at his web site.

Kyle’s treatise is very complex. It is a serious attempt to cover a lot of the bases regarding Emigration, Immigration, and Migration; or in other words to leave one’s country of origin, to become part of a country different from one’s origin, and to move about from country to country.

In his comment to my Blog Kyle writes, “I think a lot of what you’re writing in here is really in line with what I advocate…” I totally agree. He goes on to suggest we exchange links – a capital idea I think.

Kyle emphatically makes the point that the reason people are emigrating is primarily because the country of origin has reached a “significant turning point in the degradation of the public’s quality of life.” I have less stressed this point, but don’t disagree.

It is a fact, particularly in my case, that much of the immigration to Mexico by Americans, Canadians and Europeans is motivated by affordability. If you look at the disparity in cost of pharmaceuticals, medical treatment, education. food and housing you get a glimpse into that motivation. Moving to make our small nest eggs go farther is a simplified explanation of the mass exoduses.

The people that are leaving their country of origin to make money to send home are in the working strata of their lives where as the vast majority of first world exits are motivated to stretch their possessed or meted out resources.

In order to affect a global citizenry consciousness the economic playing field is going to have to be more equalized. Contrary to Gordon Gekko’s Greed is Good Speech to Teldar Paper Shareholders – greed isn’t good. More exposure and analysis must be directed at the costs of these major life issues. The disparity between the haves and the have nots is ever widening.

If we call to accountability the executives of oil companies and the like, to demand them to explain and justify their 450 million dollars a year salaries while half the world goes to bed hungry each night, we might then begin to see a way out of this quagmire or at least in part know why we are in it.

Issues like the ever-increasing CO2 in the atmosphere, the exploding population mostly happening via the poor, the abusive use and the destruction of earth’s resources, may force a more global citizenry. These critical issues transcend borders and immigration policies. We are rapidly getting to a point where the rich will not be able to buy their way out of these problems.

The border problems and unjust immigration policies are complex issues – but reducing greed from many of these equations would help level the playing field. An unobtainable fantasy – maybe – but if the topic of greed and economic disparity come to the forefront perhaps some of the hate between common peoples might be lessened and the problems will become more clearly defined.

I encourage you to read Kyle’s Blog and to embrace the idea of global citizenry. Let’s find meaningful ways to tear down the borders between countries and peoples. It just makes sense.

I am going to get to writing about the cultural differences between Americans and Mexicans soon – really. Stay Tuned!

Today in the news there is a lot of flap about Don Imus, a rather pompous radio and television talk-show personality. Imus was called out for racial slurs. His comments were reprehensible. Don’t even get me started on the cast of characters that are throwing stones at this character. It goes without writing there is no place for racial slurs – period. This has to be a universal truth.

I have suggested that clearly there are some universal principles that apply to everyone regardless of culture, beliefs, social standards, sex, age, race or education.

We seem to know universally that it isn’t OK to cheat, steal or kill (terrorist withstanding). I have suggested that not butting in lines, throwing trash just anywhere or polluting fresh water with abandon are also universal no no’s. That surely people know that it is good behavior to responsibly follow through to their word. Believe me when I tell you I have taken a beating for such claims; read the Blog comments and argumentative discussions on the Forum. There certainly are many who will not agree that these civil behaviors are no-brainers.

Personally I see a lot of the objections as an excuse for a ‘life as usual’ standard. I hear about the need to educate those who should know better to begin with in my opinion; and that some of the changes I suggest will take generations to be effective. I should reconsider and revitalize the discussion of reparations through meetings and meaningless dialogue. I listen to people who suggest better conduct is a step backwards and when I suggest that we all just do it rather talk about it, I am rebuked for being a dreamer and unrealistic.

I have argued for freedom at borders sighting bad laws as no excuse for demanding compliance (remember how this Country legally treated the blacks not too many years ago). The border issue is one that certainly has been a debate; and in fact I believe the majority of Americans want the big wall.

I have called for more humane and responsible conduct by US and Mexico immigration offices. I have questioned the right of their authority. You have read it all here.

I have called for more responsible behavior regarding environmental issues – with many suggesting I am unrealistic and expecting way too much from many of my fellow man.

Not one afraid of controversy and tongue-lashings I admit that I am a dreamer with visions of a healthier, safer, more peaceful and happier world; a world where the universality of man will be an accepted norm. Some of my suggestions have not been tied closely to reality. But, I like what the Englishman James Allen wrote more than 100 years ago about dreamers.

“The dreamers are the saviors of the world. As the visible world is sustained by the invisible, so humanity, through all its trials and mistakes and suffering, is nourished by the beautiful visions of its solitary dreamers.

Humanity cannot forget its dreamers; it cannot let their ideals fade and die. It lives in them; it knows them as the realities which it shall one day see and know…Those who cherish a beautiful vision, a lofty ideal in their hearts, will one day realize it.”

There are good people that are falling through the cracks of many of these border and immigration issues. I have written about some of them here. It takes courage and selflessness to embrace those who are different and to support issues that may not make life easier for us personally but may be better for all of us universally.

I wrote a short while back that there would be further discussion about the cultural difference between U.S. and Mexican peoples; and yes differences do exist – no question. But lets start this conversation off by realizing that it will and should include some universal truths and not dismiss them as unrealistic pie in the sky dreams.

Stay Tuned!