Safety in Mexico, by Carlos Rivero, March 2009
Safety issue is always an important concern when somebody or group of friends decide to visit a place abroad because business or pleasure. Then, the present article will try to describe in short which are the myths and realities about safety in Mexico. Specially when you go for a visit on the first time ever to the beautiful Mexican city of Puebla and do not know too much about it.
First, I’m going to describe which are the myths created around Mexico and provide at the same time a simple example to clarify them. Finally, I will give you the realities and what to do about it.
Myths
First myth, Mexico is a dangerous place: Totally wrong! Why do people sometimes believe that? In my point of view, because when we see a Hollywood movie where the Mexicans are presented as drug dealers or gang people or just as fool people creates a stereotype on the Mexican culture that is totally wrong. Mexico is not really represented by the border cities or Mexico City slums at all. It would be accepting that American movies as “Man in Fire” describe what the whole Mexican nation is. I wonder how many times the movie director went out the big metropolis slums and decided to enjoy a trip to the inner Mexican cities and meet the local people. He would be very surprised.
On other cases, we hear from a friend of a friend who crossed the Mexican borderlines (to some not suggested areas in border towns) and suffer a crime as being robbed or kidnapped. I wonder my friend reader: “Which place in the world doesn’t have crimes?” Even in the self called “rich and advanced countries” suffer crimes and sometimes very bad ones such as bomb attack or gunfire in schools performed by a criminal minority or sick student. But that doesn’t mean that rest of the people is involved in such terrible acts. Then nobody in the world would try to go out home and will lock doors and windows and becoming a couch potato.
Second Myth: Mexico is what “breaking TV news say” Here, I see that bad news arrive first without being totally accurate to reality. TV programs, magazines or network news systems in order to have high audience ratings and sales like to show what is not positive from anyone in the world: such as sex, scandals and tragedies. Therefore people who are willing to welcome visitors to their countries suffer economical consequences even in they have a peaceful and beautiful places to show up.
Finally, I’m able to say what happens in an isolated place would not happened in every square inch of Mexico.
Third Myth: Mexico is just resorts and beaches for “spring breakers”. That is totally wrong as well. Besides Mexico having an incredible beach coast line along 10,000 Km (6,500 mi) you can find inner colonial cities as Puebla with nice museums, lovely people, markets, artisans, handcrafts, history, architecture, regional gastronomy, folk art, painters, writers, smiles, music; as well archeological sites as Cholula, mountains and volcanoes, desserts, woods, and so on.
Realities
First Reality: Mexico is country with wonderful and lovely people. People, who are hardworking, love peace, like to smile to everyone and welcome anyone. Mexico is a country where hospitality is an important virtue by sharing our experiences and history.
Second Reality: Mexico is a country looking for a better future. Despite of economical and social problems Mexico is improving little by little many of its “inconveniences” There are good people working hard to change the social problems but the way to achieve them is long and sometimes complex. The hope of change still being around and it is based in the Mexican family. Any nation would have a better future is takes care of the family.
Third Reality: Mexico is Mexico. Sometimes foreigner travelers expect too much from local people and frequently use to compare what is wrong or not positive in the Mexican society to their nation’s achievements. I think that is a big mistake: Nobody is perfect and shouldn’t be. Even foreign visitors really are not perfect but local people do not expect perfection from them. But visitors having friendly attitude and arriving with a good will. Mexico is a friendly country.
Conclusion: Mexico is waiting to meet people from any part of the world. And Puebla is one of the best places to visit the inner part of Mexico. Remember: “Life is the experience to meet people”.