Can you imagine, children, ages 6-12 training to eventually protect their community against criminal groups, in a lawless terrain where residents say no one is safe? And I am not referring to the child soldiers that we have been introduced to over the years in Sierra Leone, the Congo, and Uganda. I am referring to some small towns in Mexico where children are being trained as a part of the local militia of volunteers that are arming themselves to defend against roaming gangs, bandits, and cartels. The contradiction of this reality and our vacationing for two months in Mexico seems quite surreal.
During our two month holiday in Mazatlan, we enjoy an almost perfect oasis of good weather, fine food, and friendly people. We have rented a newly built apartment, have access to modern supermarkets and can travel about freely and inexpensively on buses, taxis, and pulmonias. Each day we are greeted with sunny skies, rolling blue ocean waves and time to relax on the beach. It is fairly close to home, the cost of living is cheaper than many vacation destinations and we see no signs of the violence or murderous activities that are recorded in Mexico. Are we just lucky or are we just stupid?
2019 was the deadliest year for Mexico since records began, with a staggering 35,588 murders, according to the National Public Safety Secretariat. The number of murders in Mexico is more than double the number in the USA where over 15,000 murders were recorded. While these death totals are staggering, Mexico ranks only number 19 in the world with 25 murders per 100,000 people. By comparison, El Salvador is number one, with 61/100,00, the USA number 89 with 5.2/100,000 and Canada ranks number 158 with 1.8/100,000. If you chose your holiday destinations by murder rate, the lowest countries are Japan, Singapore, and Luxembourg with one murder per 500,000 people.
The government of Mexico is faced with an overwhelming task of trying to break up the cycle of poverty, gangs and drugs, and murder. It is no small task. The majority of the population are relatively poor trying to eek a subsistence from small family farms, small business, and labouring jobs. The prospects for the future for many young Mexicans are very dim, as is the case of many black youth in American cities. Limited educational opportunities and hopeless-looking futures only breed gangs, which are quickly incorporated into the drug networks of the cartels. The same formula exists in many countries ie, poverty plus lack of educational opportunity plus gang membership plus easy drug money plus weapons equals violence and murder. If the first two elements of the equation - poverty and education - cannot be successfully addressed by governments, the ultimate result will always be the same.
As a foreign tourist, I am often concerned about whether we were helping the situation in any fashion. When we come to Mexico we spend our money in local stores, restaurants, malls and assorted local companies. Does the tourist dollar make any real impact on the situation? Does buying chiclets from little kids, or straw hats in the market or a silver bracelet on the beach do anything for the average Mexican? I don’t know. I hope it helps a little, but I don’t think it really does much to compete against the other stronger forces that impact most Mexicans.
Just the thought of a little twelve-year-old boy carrying a loaded rifle to protect his family and village from some thugs and gangsters saddens my heart. Will any Mexican government be able to save its own citizens from the evil power of the cartels and associates? My answer is …?
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