Civil Disobedience…
The VIDEO for this week focuses on the recent news story developing in Mexico. As a student it should “curl your hair.” Thoughts?
The VIDEO for this week focuses on the recent news story developing in Mexico. As a student it should “curl your hair.” Thoughts?
Reading this article and listening to the recording really felt like something out of a movie. It just doesn’t sound real! How can a major political figure have a well known association with one of the most violent drug cartels in their community and still stand in office? Further, if it was known from the beginning that the police were involved with the harassment of the students who went missing, how was the chief able to disappear without questioning? If it were no secret that the governor was affiliated with the cartel than how was he able to go without questioning for four days before he managed to disappear with his wife and the chief? This really sounds like one big corruption and that is kind of scary. I mean the mere thought of a gang persuading the majority of a police force and a political party is scary! These are the people who we look to for protection and they seem to be making matters worse in their region. I really don’t know what else to say, this leaves me almost speechless and very terrified for the people living in the area.
I thought the news recoding was very interesting. I do not know much about the politics of Mexico, but I do know that the drug cartels are in charge of more then we would probably like to think. I thought that it was surprising that police were involved yet the chief of police (who is on the drug cartels payroll along with have close ties to the cartel) and his wife (also has close ties to the cartel) were able to just disappear…I am wondering if they disappeared on their own free will to avoid getting into more trouble or if this also had something to do with the cartel? I also wonder why DNA samples haven’t been taken yet to find out if the bodies are part of the missing students and also why were students being targeted?
This actually reminds me somewhat of the early 1900’s in America, especially large cities such as Chicago and new York. It seems the more things change, the more they stay the same. It took a strengthening of the federal government to turn things around in our country, unfortunately for Mexico they have alot more issues with international drug trade, rather than local racketeering.The mayor could swing either way dead or alive, but I imagine the college students are likely all dead. Also it is the same in many less developed nations with bribes and power influencing anyone in a position of power. There is alot more to gain for self in these poorer nations, than following the honorable approach. And I myself cannot blame them for finding an alternative means to gain a better life.
This article was very interesting. It’s terrifying and sad to hear that it’s all one big corruption. Like how the mayor’s own mother-in-law says he was on the drug gang’s payroll, receiving $155,000 a month…wow…that’s an insane amount of money!! That’s crazy…They say that crime has been terrible since Jose Luis Abarca took over. That’s not how a society should be, police force and a political party should be there for protection and it’s terrible that 43 students had to disappear over it and how 28 of them might be dead…that’s too many people to be involved in something like this.
None of this surprises me. Cartel violence and state corruption have been out of control in Mexico for a long time. I would like to see the drug legalization trend expanded here in the U.S.. By reducing illegal drug demand from here, there would be a corresponding decrease in cartel violence and political corruption within Mexico. On the other hand, cartels and corruptable politicians will follow the money into whatever new venture is profitable and the violence and corruption will continue over into some other new activity. If corruption is then inherent to [parts of] the Mexican system, I would find their Constitution itself at fault. Since violence is a major problem in Mexico, and the only way to stop a bad person with a gun is a good person with a gun, I wondered what their firearms laws are there. It turns out that Mexicans are not allowed to carry firearms for self defense purposes outside of the home unless specially licensed (LEO, security, etc). Aside from the illegal firearms provided to Mexican drug cartels by our own U.S Government (Google: fast and furious), I would imagine there are also a lot of otherwise legitimate citizens that illegally carry firearms for their own protection. Thus, my solution to the political corruption and cartel violence in Mexico is two fold: Legalize marijuana within the U.S (and why not Mexico too?) and amend the Mexican constitution to allow its citizens to protect themselves.
I guess I am glad I don’t live in Mexico. I don’t understand how an area can be so corrupt due to the people who are supposed to be protecting it. I think its disgusting that the mayor and many police officers take part in the drug cartel and are earning money from it. How is a society supposed to feel safe if the people who are supposed to be protecting a community are part taking in the violence and crime? I would think that if there was a significantly big increase in crime after the mayor had been elected, there would be suggestions on how to get him out of office. Clearly he’s not of any assistance with making a society or community better.
This recording really seems very unreal. Something that you would see from a CSI show. It really caught my attention that twenty-eight bodies were discovered. I really hope the best for Iguala, Mexico.