If one more person, on my visit to Texas, looks at me with horror on their face and asks about the dangers of Mexico, I might curse.....in my best Spanish (which would not be much).
Instead, I grit my teeth, quote statistics from the latest article by the Travel Editor of Lonely Planet and hope they get my drift. They listen politely, sorta, and then ask things like have I seen all the dead bodies, etc.
Oy vey.
The Houston Chronicle and writer, Dudley Althaus along with Fox News have really convinced most people that life is as dangerous in Mexico as Afghanistan. Of course nothing could be farther from the truth. Actually the homicide rate in Houston per 100,00 per year is far higher then all the places I travel in Mexico, including Mexico City!
But their vision of me driving through gun fire and banditos is common. In the last couple of years that is all people ask - not about the economy or the pristine beauty or the kindness and talent of the people. It is frustrating and aggravating.......
I invite all to visit. Or suggest books to read to give the true picture. I'm probably talking to myself more then the people who are aghast at the very notion that someone would consider not living in the USA.
It is sad indeed that this has come to pass. Mexico needs to mount a HUGE PR campaign. But on the other hand, with the huge increase in tourists from Italy, German, France and China, among other countries, maybe that isn't as important as it used to be. We'll see............
8 comments:
I don't know why Mexico would want any more US expats. Too many bad apples spoils the barrel....also - "the pot calling the kettle black" comes to mind as appropriate.
Over 40 people where shot in Chicago last weekend alone. Does anyone care about that? Apparently not.
The press has an interest in portraying the news as dramatic as possible to sell more. People shouldn't be so gullible as to internalize everything they see on tv and in newspapers.
Ask them if they know how many homicides Chicago has every week...and that's just one city NOB.
Just proves the media has a difficult time doing positive stories, since bad news sells more papers.
We know better.......
The way I figure it - let them have their crazy belief - keeps then on their side of the border where we are both happier.
Ahh but Mic the realtors in Mexico are counting on all those retiring baby boomers to move to Mexico! Aaargh
Dispatch, I didn't hear about the incident in Chicago........It IS true that bad news gets more readers and watchers, sadly.
Leave it to you Calypso to say it so well!
I suppose you saw Steve's blog. It won't help your campaign
Christine - It's no different then the people that wrestle passengers to the ground on planes or whatever. That's life everywhere...
I know exactly what you mean. One of my response is, "there are thousands of people living happily and going about their daily lives just like anywhere else". No, we don't feel threatened, but just keep our heads up just like we do in the USA.
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