The Ugly Truth:
Mexican-Americans Despise Mexico (El Universal, Mexico)
"There is
an urban legend going around: Hillary Clinton asked some of her [Mexican] supporters
a couple of years ago: Why don't Mexican-Americans get along with Mexicans in
Mexico? … And the answer to Hillary Clinton's question?
Well, her backers replied with another question: Why should we
Mexican-Americans worry about undocumented Mexicans when economic and political
elites in Mexico aren't interested in the fate of their poor countrymen in their
country or the United States?"
There is an urban legend going around: Hillary Clinton asked some
of her [Mexican] supporters a couple of years ago: Why don't Mexican-Americans get
along with Mexicans in Mexico?
The befuddlement of the current democratic
presidential hopeful over the mystery is widely shared. The Israeli, Irish,
Italian, Cuban, Chinese, Indian, Colombian and Salvadorian diasporas – all far less
numerous in the United States than the Mexican – provide support to their
countries of origin. They support the agendas of their government in
Washington, finance their candidate's campaigns for elected office, and strengthen
their communities abroad.
Our case is very different. Among some second, third or
fourth generation Mexicans grievances persist: my father, grandfather - my
ancestors - were obliged to emigrate for lack of opportunity, and on top of
that they called us traitors to our country and the Virgin of Guadalupe.
It isn't so much a rejection of Mexico as it is of the class-related and racist
codes that even today prevent upward social mobility in Mexico.
Those who over time forge success in the north are received
with honors when visiting their homeland, where they are referred to as the
"Astronaut of Piedad, Michoacán" or the "Illustrious
Neurosurgeon from Mexicali," when the truth is that they succeeded thanks to their own
personal efforts - without any support from Mexico.
In 1994 Proposition 187,
proposed by Republican Governor Pete Wilson, which denied social, medical and
educational services to undocumented immigrants, was approved at the state
level with support from Mexican-American and Latino voters, who argued that
making life more difficult for undocumented Mexicans would prevent them from going
to California.
The initiative was ultimately stricken down at the federal
level, but today Donald Trump is reviving it, appealing to xenophobia, the fear
of Whites and a core of conservative Latin voters.
And the answer to Hillary Clinton's
question? Well, her backers replied with another question: Why should we
Mexican-Americans worry about undocumented Mexicans when economic and political
elites in Mexico aren't interested in the fate of their poor countrymen in their
country or the United States?
Posted By Worldmeets.US
Take note: the GDP of Mexican-Americans in the U.S. will
soon be greater than that of Mexicans in Mexico and beyond that - their
electoral power increases by the day. They aren't coming anywhere near us because
their interests are there – not here – and because they are tired of the way we
despise them and leave them hanging. It is urgent that we rectify this and
there are at least three things we could do immediately:
Provide incentives to Mexican-Americans to invest
in Mexico. It isn't a matter of privileging them over those of us who live
here, but of taking advantage of their knowhow, their business experience, and
why not? – to generate greater economic competence that on the long run will work
in favor of the Mexican consumer;
Expand scholarship programs to young dreamers there
and here – to children and grandchildren of Mexican-Americans, so they come, get
to know and explore the history and culture of the country of their ancestors in
a safe environment – assuring this last item is most complicated indeed …
;
Strengthen the U.S. agenda of Mexican-Americans.
The embassy and the consulates already support naturalization for all of our
compatriots eligible to achieve U.S. citizenship.
All of this costs money, but to the extent that Mexican-Americans
and Mexicans in the United States become stronger, we will also benefit. We owe
it to ourselves.
*Carlos Heredia Zubieta was born in Tampico, Tamaulipas. Since 2009 he has been
a professor and researcher at the Center for Economic Research and Teaching where
he coordinates the United States Studies Program
