In recent decades, immigration to the United States has reached historic proportions. Many observers liken this large and sustained wave of immigration to the Great Migration at the beginning of the 20th century.[1] Certainly the promise of America is the same—a land of opportunity and freedom. The number of immigrants today is also similar to […]
Continue ReadingDavid Aguilar, chief of the U.S. Border Patrol, said the United States is experiencing a large increase in the number of illegal entries, according to the US State Department. New to MexConnect, Jorge Tirado shares his thoughts on borders as he looks at an aerial photograph of Guaymas, his hometown. At first glance, I saw a […]
Continue ReadingA simple vista vi un fragmento de tierra en alguna costa, frente a un océano. El vistazo se transformó en mirada. Me sumergí momentáneamente en la contemplación. Varias ideas surcaron mi mente, conforme iba descubriendo que ese pedazo de tierra tenía algo que ver conmigo. A la vez pensé: si cada quien tuviese la oportunidad […]
Continue ReadingWhen I moved to La Ribera, a small pueblo just north of Cabo San Lucas in Baja California, Martín was already a fixture on my little dirt street. At first, I felt uneasy when I saw this strange Mexican near my gate; but over time I feared him less, then began to expect him, walking […]
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Continue ReadingMexicans are world-class protesters. They bring it on with enthusiasm, deep determination, raw emotion. Sometimes they just march and chant and wave signs. Sometimes they strip naked to attract attention. Sometimes they block streets and build bonfires to emphasize a point of view. Sometimes they throw bottles and rocks and storm the front door of […]
Continue ReadingNovember first is children’s day in the series of remembrances and festivities that are known as Dias de los Muertos (days of the dead). On this day, the souls of departed children migrate to the homes of their still living relatives to take a sip of chocolate off the altar which has been constructed to […]
Continue ReadingMexico’s pioneering “telesecundaria” or “television secondary school” system began back in 1968. It now provides junior high school classes in remote areas, serving about one million students in grades 7 to 9, 17% of the total nationwide enrolment in these grades. Many of the telesecundaria lessons are now available on the Internet, and before long, […]
Continue ReadingGringos call them “speed bumps”. Mexicans nickname them ” policia durmiendo” (sleeping policemen). The tópe (TOE-pay), a bump in the otherwise potholed road of Mexican life, is an endless source of fascination for anyone, like myself, who loves to categorize the phenomena of everyday existence. However and wherever constructed, speed bumps are self-regulation at its most basic. The […]
Continue ReadingWe are tall, white, middle aged and well fed. They are short, dark and thin. We are foreigners and they are native born, “Indio”, indigenous. We are retired academicians and professionals and they are farmers, ” campesinos“, “peasants”. We are donors to a relief effort that was mounted in response to the devastating earthquake and monsoon rains […]
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