You only have to know that Cortez is portrayed as a syphlitic criminal lunatic in the murals which decorate the Mexican Presidential Palace, while Cuauhtamoc is on their currency, like George Washington is on ours, to see that this is true. But something else is at play here: Mexicans are too proud to judge their culture. They may gripe privately, but to do so in public, especially to a foreigner, is inexcusable. This is so different than what’s popular here, where to apologize for our history and shortcomings is seen as elevating.
Right; they have to feign pride in their failed state while biting the hand that feeds (the US).