Mexicans Uniquely Alarmed by Arizona Shooting Attack (You'll love this!)

The inflammatory language in U.S. politics has surpassed acceptable limits. The warning lights lit up this weekend with the shooting of Arizona Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords, at a community event at a supermarket in Tucson where an individual arrived, drew a gun, and opened fire.

He killed five people including a little girl, a federal judge and at the time of this writing, Giffords is in critical condition, struggling between life and death.

Giffords has been a lawmaker in the liberal-wing of the Democratic Party who has repudiated her state's controversial law SB 1070. She is an advocate of realistic immigration rules that would allow a path to legalization, with the goal of bringing some order to a broken immigration system.

And so the politicians of the Tea Party, led by Sarah Palin, have focused their attention on her and any politician that doesn't cling to their ideas and discourse of anger and violence.

As recently as last November’s elections, Palin posted a map of the United States showing states with congressmen who were targets of her attacks in the crosshairs of a rifle. Twenty lawmakers were on this list. Giffords was one of them.

What was a metaphor for Palin, was a reality for the individual who showed up Saturday at a Safeway supermarket. He arrived with his gun in hand and opened fire on Giffords and those around her.

The rhetoric of intolerance in the U.S. is worrying. That was the message we heard from Obama, Palin, as well as politicians on the left and right, all alarmed by what happened in Tucson.

In Mexico, this intolerance affects us directly, because unfortunately, the brunt of it is aimed at immigrants - and not only illegal ones. Even if the primary suspect in the Giffords shooting isn't of Hispanic origin.

Besides repudiating politicians who disagree with laws like SB 1070, almost anything having to do with Hispanics, Latinos or Mexico is rejected in Arizona.

The New York Times published an article this weekend that recounted the unhappy fate of Mexican-American studies programs in Arizona schools. They have been declared illegal.

Branded as a propagandistic subject that brainwashes students into believing that Latinos are an oppressed class in the U.S., prohibition of the subject has now been passed into law, and as a result, current school curricula must now be dismantled.

As a friend to many Mexican heritaged persons in Tucson, I have asked about the La Raza classes that are taught in a few Tucson public schools. I don’t think they are taught in all of the high schools. Just select ones. These schools have some great classes that can really help students to prepare for the future as productive citizens of the United States or even Mexico if they choose to live there. But the La Raza classes are not about teaching students what it takes to make a free country nor what it takes to keep a free country nor what it takes to build a bridge or a car or a computer or anything else. The classes are a distraction from what matters. The teachers of the classes are all about promoting their agendas. If the classes and the teachers of the classes were removed from the schools in question, maybe some of the students who populate those classes would take a class that adds value to their education. If any FReepers took a look at the lists of classes offered at the schools that teach La Raza studies, they would wonder why in the heck a parent would want their child to take those classes when there are a zillion other classes that teach valuable skills that not only give high school credit but also college credit AND opportunities for internships and JOBS. La Raza studies are a dead end similar to the dead end for historians and women’s studies majors in colleges. Worthless. (And I say the thing about historians because the greatest American historian living today told me not to pursue advanced degrees in history because there is no money to be made there. “Do something that will feed your family.”)

I think we should have more Mexican-American studies, and they should translate to American policies that mirror those in Mexico. Here's some good ones we can start with:

"The Mexican Constitution prohibits political activities by foreigners; such actions may result in detention and/or deportation. Travelers should avoid political demonstrations and other activities that might be deemed political by the Mexican authorities. Even demonstrations intended to be peaceful can turn confrontational and escalate into violence. U.S. citizens are urged to avoid areas of demonstrations, and to exercise caution if in the vicinity of any protests."

" The Mexican Constitution prohibits direct ownership by foreigners of real estate within 100 kilometers (about 62 miles) of any border, and within 50 kilometers (about 31 miles) of any coastline. In order to permit foreign investment in these areas, the Mexican government has created a trust mechanism in which a bank has title to the property but a trust beneficiary enjoys the benefits of ownership. However, U.S. citizens are vulnerable to title challenges that may result in years of litigation and possible eviction and even incarceration."

"Travelers possessing both U.S. and Mexican nationalities must carry with them proof of citizenship of both countries. Under Mexican law, dual nationals entering or departing Mexico must identify themselves as Mexican."

"Checkpoints have increased in border areas. U.S. citizens are advised to cooperate with official checkpoints when traveling on Mexican highways."

"Tourists wishing to travel beyond the border zone with their vehicle must obtain a temporary import permit or risk having their vehicle confiscated by Mexican customs officials. At present the only exceptions to the requirement are for vehicles entering through the Nogales port of entry and traveling in the Baja Peninsula and in most of the state of Sonora. To acquire a permit, one must submit evidence of citizenship, title for the vehicle, a vehicle registration certificate, a driver's license, and a processing fee to either a Banjercito (Mexican Army Bank) branch located at a Mexican Customs (Aduanas) office at the port of entry, or at one of the Mexican consulates located in the U.S. Mexican law also requires the posting of a bond at a Banjercito office to guarantee the export of the car from Mexico within a time period determined at the time of the application. For this purpose, American Express, Visa or MasterCard credit card holders will be asked to provide credit card information; others will need to make a cash deposit of between $200 and $400, depending on the make/model/year of the vehicle."

"In recent years, some U.S. citizens have complained that certain health-care facilities in beach resorts have taken advantage of them by overcharging or providing unnecessary medical care. A significant number of complaints have been lodged against some of the private hospitals in the Cabo San Lucas area, including complaints about price gouging and various unlawful and/or unethical pricing schemes and collection measures. Additionally, U.S. citizens should be aware that many Mexican facilities require payment ‘up front’ prior to performing a procedure."

"Mexican insurance is required for all vehicles, including rental vehicles. Mexican auto insurance is sold in most cities and towns on both sides of the border. U.S. automobile liability insurance is not valid in Mexico, nor is most collision and comprehensive coverage issued by U.S. companies. Motor vehicle insurance is considered invalid in Mexico if the driver is found to be under the influence of alcohol or drugs."

"If you are involved in an automobile accident, you will be taken into police custody until it can be determined who is liable and whether you have the ability to pay any penalty. If you do not have Mexican liability insurance, you may be prevented from departing the country even if you require life-saving medical care, and you are almost certain to spend some time in jail until all parties are satisfied that responsibility has been assigned and adequate financial satisfaction received. Drivers may face criminal charges if injuries or damages are serious."

"Mexican law requires that any non-Mexican citizen under the age of 18 departing Mexico must carry notarized written permission from any parent or guardian not traveling with the child to or from Mexico. This permission must include the name of the parent, the name of the child, the name of anyone traveling with the child, and the notarized signature(s) of the absent parent(s)."

"Tourists are allowed to bring in their personal effects duty-free. According to customs regulations, in addition to clothing, personal effects may include one camera, one video cassette player, one personal computer, one CD player, 5 DVDs, 20 music CDs or audiocassettes, 12 rolls of unused film, and one cellular phone. Any tourist carrying such items, even if duty-free, should enter the "Merchandise to Declare" lane at the first customs checkpoint and should be prepared to pay any assessed duty. Failure to declare personal effects routinely results in the seizure of the goods as contraband, plus the seizure of the vehicle in which the goods are traveling for attempted smuggling. Recovery of the seized vehicle may involve payment of substantial fines and attorney's fees."

"Individuals or groups wishing to make charitable donations should check with Mexican Customs for the list of prohibited items, and should hire an experienced customs broker in the U.S. to ensure compliance with Mexican law. The charitable individual or group, not the customs broker, will be held responsible for large fines or confiscation of goods if the documentation is incorrect."

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