|
|
| www.1001TopWords.com |
|
|
Mexican Living: Myth Busting
Myth One: Mexicans are lazy, good-for-nothings. I mention this one first because it is one of the vilest myths and an excellent example of Americans' xenophobic stereotyping. The idea that Mexicans spend their lives under a big tree trying to sleep off a 10-day drunk is a massively common, American-perpetuated misconception. Modern Mexico is a wonderful mix of professionals and agrarian people who are some of the most industrious people I have ever seen. Where America, and especially Hollywood, gets off portraying hardworking Mexicans as lazy bums is beyond me. Myth Two: Authorities look the other way regarding drugs. Ha! Ha! Ha! Watch me roll on the floor laughing! Just try bringing your party-hardy illicit-drug-taking-butt down here and test that theory. Ha! Ha! Ha! Myth Three: Try bribing a policeman. This won't work anymore. If you get yourself into trouble, do not think money is going to get you out of it. Times have changed-drastically! The new generation police officers do not accept bribes. There are, of course, exceptions, just as in the United States. Graft is everywhere and not just in Mexico. Nowadays Mexican police are tested for their honesty and, if caught accepting bribes, suffer severe consequences. There are also severe penalties for the one doing the bribing! Myth Four: Mexican food is a belly burner. There certain dishes which are traditionally prepared with hot, spicy ingredients. Some are not. In a family meal, the wife cooks the meal according to the tastes of her family members, which may or may not be spicy. In restaurants, the spicy sauces are served on the side. But, not all Mexican food is spicy. Myth Five: Mexico has a hot and arid climate. Mexico has a little bit of every climate. There are deserts as well as wonderfully chilly mountain climates that can become rather cool at night. There are jungles as well as moderately temperate climates. At the higher elevations, we even have snow. Myth Six: English is widely spoken in Mexico. This is simply not true. American tourists are used to being catered to by resort-town Mexican populations who were forced to become bilingual due to lazy Americans who would not learn Spanish. Three cheers for the Mexicans! While it is true that you can go to Puerto Vallarta and other beach resorts and not have to speak Spanish, it is NOT true in the rest of Mexico. This is something that is very hard for many Americans to accept. Myth Seven: Drugs come from Mexico. Drugs come through Mexico from other countries south of it. Remember the drug trade is highly successful only because of the Americans who buy the crap! America creates the market. Myth Eight: All migrant workers are illegals from Mexico. "Under 10% of migrant workers are undocumented immigrants. The vast majority are U.S. citizens from Texas. Report on Migrant and Seasonal Farmworkers in MN, October 1995, University of MN Migrant Program."[1] Myth Nine: In Minnesota, migrant workers abuse the welfare system. "If that were the case, they'd stay for the whole year and the hell with the sugar beets. Armando Cuellar, Migrant Worker Counselor in Crookston, MN. Migrant workers have come to Minnesota to work since the early 1900's before the welfare system even existed. "[2] Myth Ten: Migrant workers are destroying the economy. "Minnesota's agricultural economy actually depends on the labor of migrant workers. Migrant workers pay taxes. Migrant workers stimulate local ecomonies by buying services and products (e.g. gas, housing, clothing, food, utilities, etc.)."[3] Myth Eleven: Migrant workers are taking American jobs. "Eighty to 90% of migrant workers in Minnesota are U.S. citizens. Reported on Migrant and Seasonal Farm workers in Minnesota, October 1995. University of Minnesota Migrant Program. Migrant workers do the labor that 90-97% of surveyed U.S. residents say they will not do. "The Ties That Bind". Maryknoll Products, 1996. "[4] [1] http://www.diversitycouncil.org/immigrants.shtml [2] Ibid [3] Ibid [4] Ibid Doug Bower is a freelance writer and book author. His most recent writing credits include The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, The Houston Chronicle, and The Philadelphia Inquirer, and Transitions Abroad. He lives with his wife in Guanajuato, Mexico. His new book, Mexican Living: Blogging it from a Third World Country, can be seen at http://www.lulu.com/content/126241
|
|
|
|
RELATED ARTICLES
Can You Hear My Secret Calling A true love story Sixties: The Decade of Rebellion It is safe to say that in the sixties everything changed: society, fashion, music, art, media, everything was impacted. It was a time when everyone truly believed they could make a difference, when it seemed as if the world had limitless possibilities and a few people trying really hard, willing to sacrifice everything, could change the direction of everything.And it proved the power of believing in yourself. Ordinary people did change things, extraordinary things like the attitude of society at large, like the way people viewed war and music and art. Student protests, often led by folk musicians, helped lead to the demise of the Vietnamese War, helped make social consciousness and equality for all a living fact, helped people really achieve the freedom that America and the West have always striven for. It was a remarkable time, and no wonder that many people look back to it as a time of dreams and passion.Social Activism, Celebrities, and MusicRock music became its own genre in the mid-1950s. Less than ten years later, the Beatles burst onto the music scene, the vanguard of a revolution in music. Parents hated them, sometimes even worse than they hated Elvis. But the kids loved them, and would buy anything with a picture of John, Paul, Ringo, or George. Their innovations paved the way for later artists, both British and American: the Rolling Stones, Jimi Hendrix, Bob Dylan, The Doors, The Mamas and the Papas ? dozens of legendary bands have the Beatles to thank.By the middle of the decade, the Beatles were writing songs about social issues, like war and loneliness. And other bands followed suit. There was a lot to write about; in the United States, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was leading American Blacks to unheard-of levels of social equality, and soon the British would put special military troops in Northern Ireland to quell the unrest there, leading to nearly-open guerilla warfare with the IRA. Women all over the world were following a movement to equal rights. And anti-war activists like Jane Fonda were making a name for themselves, both famous and infamous. Food: Trends Good And BadThough founded much longer ago, McDonalds and other fast food restaurants grew into a major power in the food industry during the 60s, probably driven by the high energy of the time coupled with an increasing dependence on automobiles as a means of transportation. At the same time the stuff that's bad for you became popular, other people began to realize that you really are what you eat. Because of new age conservationist movements, those people began to eat healthier: whole grains, organic foods they grew themselves, and semi-vegetarianism, vegetarianism, and vegan lifestyles.War: What Is It Good For?You can't talk about the sixties, the decade of peace, without talking about war. Particularly, you have to look at the Vietnamese war. The US entered the country in Southeast Asia in the early 1960s at the request of the French ? who subsequently abandoned the war. And America's presence in Vietnam grew, gradually forcing a draft of the very young men who were just discovering the dizzying freedom the sixties ushered in. The result? An impressive increase in the numbers of young people going to college, and an equally impressive increase in the number of young men moving to Canada.Ref: http://www.sixties.gb.comBut why was this war so different from Korea, only about ten years earlier? The simple answer: television. Reporters with cameras covered the bloodiest parts of the war, capturing the pain on both sides in film. And those films made their way to broadcast television, which for the first time could be found in half or more American homes. It was difficult to watch the images of war without being moved, and it was a real shock to teenagers and young adults who had never known the touch of violence before.But there was another kind of war going on, a social war. Blacks in America were discovering their power, partly spurred by the thought of the draft and partly by the energy of the decade carrying them forward. Women throughout the world were discovering not only their political power, but the social freedom brought about by a little pill ? the birth control pill. For better or worse, relations between the sexes would never be the same.Sixties Fun, Games, and FashionToys were undergoing change, too. Physical games, like Frisbees and Twister, became very popular indeed. Boys began collecting Matchbox cars, the latest rage; and the self-image of little girls everywhere was changed as Barbie dolls, Sindy dolls, and other anatomically correct dolls that weren't baby dolls entered their pink frilly rooms. Older boys were finding they had much more to look at than ever before. Girls' skirts moved from the near-ankle-length full skirts of the fifties to the short ? shorter ? shortest skirts of the sixties. Short skirts and midriff-revealing hipster jeans also made it important that as little cellulite as possible showed ? girls could no longer wear industrial-strength girdles. The most effective way of getting rid of cellulite? Be as thin as possible. The other problem with changing clothes was that if you used garters (or suspenders, if you're in Britain) they showed under the short tight skirts. The answer? Pantyhose, an invention of the devil.Inventions and InnovationsComputers also moved from being a scientific curiosity to a genuine industrial innovation; punch cards and tape were the programming tools of the time ? until the integrated circuit, the precursor to today's microchips. This innovation led to the development of the hand-held pocket calculator by Texas Instruments, though calculators did not come into general use until the early seventies. But the world didn't understand how much science and technology was really going to change their lives ? until Neil Armstrong spoke to the world from the surface of the Moon in 1969. It was a fitting end to a remarkable decade. The Masked Fool The Fool A Short Biography on Some of Europes Most Loved and Hated Monarchs - Pt 1 Vlad Tepes (Dracula) Vlad Tepes or Dracula was born in 1431, in the fortress of Sighisoara, Romania. His father was the military governor of Transylvania and a member of the Order of the Dragon. The order was created in 1387 by the Holy Roman Emperor and his second wife, Barbara Cilli. Art, Artists, and the Web: Part 1--Why Every Artist Should Have Their Own Website First rate art is in danger of being left behind in this new age of the global Internet highway. The World Wide Web is like Walmart or Home Depot coming to town. Art galleries as they now exist, are going to become the Mom and Pop version of selling art. Fictions Galore FABULOUS: - Many 'fabulous' personages and concepts are created by man. Some are attempts to make sense of a confusing array of real things he doesn't understand, others are created by those who would have us 'believe'. The art of making others 'believe' what you want them to, is an art that developed over millions of years even if man is only modern for the last hundred thousand years. 'As you believe so shall you do' and fables which set early modes of relating to our environment in nursery rhymes and other equally 'fabulous' or fantastic histories. Revisionist history was definitely begun in earnest during the Babylonian and early Greek era. By the time of Alexander he was so convinced this art was achievable that he declared himself a divine creature and no longer just used the descended from divine or demi-god fiction. All knowledge was to become Hellenized or made to fit the needs of his Empire. Masking European Animism The ancient peoples of Europe were more fond of masks and religious ritual than youwould suspect if you saw Europeans today. Mask wearing and shamanism was partand parcel of everyday life in ancient Western European tradition, say researchers. A Short Biography on Some of Europes Most Loved and Hated Monarchs - Pt 4 Queen Mary I Queen Mary I of England was born in 1516 to Henry VIII and Catherine of Aragon and was the first British monarch to rule in her own right. Mary was pronounced queen in 1553 and ruled for five years after the death of Edward VI. Mary was well educated and learned to speak Latin, Spanish, French and Italian. She was also taught Greek, science and music. Tarot Cards Demystified: The Suit of Cups There are many ways to interpret the symbolism found in Tarot Cards. There are varying points of view that exist about what each card means or represents. This is just one way of interpreting them. When you understand this method you will find it to be extremely accurate. Christopher Columbus CHRISTOPHER COLUMBUS: - It seems a mystery to most academics why the governments who are based on Manifest Destiny and the 'colon'-ization of the world by Christophe Colon (this is the name he wanted to be called and may actually be the Catalan Cathar name for him. Colon means 'Dove' and it is the Dove of Jesus or Peace which the Cathars sought to provide in their Gnostic ecumenicism.) to know why these governments pay them to lie about Colon. The Library of Congress (15) is still acting like there was no real contact before him and saying the same kind of unsubstantiated and outright garbage that we were taught in school. I guess some of these academics don't check anything out for themselves. Smart Art Investments - Buy What You Love! Collecting art can be one of the most enjoyable ways to spend your money. But a painting can provide you with more than just viewing pleasure. It can be a financial investment. This weeks 'Advance' is dedicated to exploring one of principals for selecting quality art. Buy what you love! But what constitutes a painting that will be a pleasure to look at and increase in value? Tribal Tattoo Designs - Why Are They So Popular? Tribal tattoos have been practiced for thousands of years. Modern people still get them done for many reasons such as to belong to a modern 'tribe' even if they do it on a subconcious level. Ernesto Apomayta offers Explanation of Mediums, Paints, & Techniques Used by Artists Special Types of Mediums Marcus Garvey: A Symbol for Black Nationalism My first kid's father named my son Marcus after legendary Marcus Garvey. Which made me curious to know more about who Marcus Garvey actually was? Nelsons Last Words: Kiss Me, Hardy or Kismet, Hardy? "Kiss me, Hardy" or "Kismet, Hardy"? Both versions are commonly used, the former being clearly more universal . The easy answer is that, whatever variation, these were not his final words (that is a trick question!). When Does Man Become God? Some scientists argue over creation and evolution and they argue did man create god or did god create man. And without that ongoing and predictable out of debate, lets discuss our scientific advancements. When does Man cross the line and become a god? Or a creator or modifier of life to such a degree that he has changed the entire current scenario? Take this interesting development. To make ethanol better, simply modify the corn more. Call it Super Corn after this has been done. And regarding mosquitoes, modify them too, and then you have no malaria Celtic Jewelry: Ancient Symbolism in Popular Fashion The mysterious and the mystical have always had the power to hold human beings in thrall throughout the millennia. Celtic jewelry is no exception to this, since they are an extension and a reminder of the traditions and rituals of the Celts, an ancient European people. Today, men and women of all ages wear Celtic jewelry not only for their beauty, but also for their symbolism and metaphysical connotations. Welcome to the Mind Revolution: An Introduction to the Philosophy of Living Between the Points What does it mean to live "between the points?" What are the points? Are they science and religion? Are they conservative and liberal? Are they men and women? Are they childhood and old age? Are they intellectual and physical? Are they quantum physics and cosmology? Are they Freud and Jung? Are they the sacred and the profane? Are they nature and nurture? Are they light beer and stout? Bohemian Grove "Bohemian Grove is 'the greatest men's party on Earth', according to once-regular attendee Herbert Hoover. A secret little getaway for America's male upper crust, the 2-week long annual retreat in Monte Rio, California, has all the luxuries you'd expect of an elitist clique: outdoor plays, an orchestra, delicious food and beverages, public urination, streaking, and human sacrifices, to name a few. Nestled in beautiful redwood forests, every Republican president since Coolidge has partaken in the gala, as well as a host of other huge names in business and politics. {Many of the discussions in the two week festival end up becoming the tenets upon which the bureaucracy and media begin to act.} Mexican Living: The Unexplained The inexplicable bothers me. It always has. You know, the "Unsolved Mysteries" that plague mankind. I know I must have some brain damage from all the headache-inducing mysteries I have tried to figure out in my lifetime.
|
| © Athifea Distribution LLC - 2013 |