Escapism with Style (Part 5:______): Violence Errupts on Election Day

July 1, 2012

Zacatecas, Mexico

Early this morning while the rest of the hostel was still sleeping (or had already left I can't really tell), upon hearing news of gun violence related to elections I dropped what I was doing and made my way to the TV. Today being Mexico's presidential election day and amidst controversies and prophecies attempting to guess who the next president will be the local news only confirmed my fears as I'd already heard of protesting in Mexico City. I saw a report that armed gunman had somehow been disarmed and tied to a tree despite their violent intentions. The place that this was happening: Gotham City. With a little giggle to myself and another sheepish smile for me not questioning the news report in English (my Spanish is not that good yet!) I realized that the man working the front desk was watching Dark Knight and that although cleverly disguised like a real news cast with the words “election day” written on the screen and all this had absolutely nothing to do with present day.

While I've experienced new food, new cities, and new types of writing on my trip so far, I guess now its time to try and take a shot at some political writing. However reader beware, I'm writing this from the balcony my Mexican Hostel so in no way should this be considered totally (or possibly even slightly) accurate. Yet for those who want to know a little bit about whats going on today this should suffice (because I've spent well hours trying to get my facts right after numerous edits!).

The big story here in Mexico is which party will emerge on top, surprisingly not so much the person. The three main parties here are the Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI), the Democratic Revolutionary Party (PRD), and the conservative National Action Party (PAN). From what I've heard and read so far, the PRI was in power for most of the 20^th century finally loosing office in 2000 to the PAN. While the PRI did a lot to help the economy grow Mexicans became unhappy due to the wide scale voter fraud, corruption, and the very few citizens actually benefiting from said growth. So in 2000 in stepped the PAN to try and distribute more of the wealth and tackle some of the many problems ailing most Mexican citizens living in poverty.

The biggest efforts of the PAN have been their (Americans will love this!) War on Drugs. And a war it truly became. While increasing the police, Federales, and military force across the board, an all out war against the drug cartels were started, but conversely brutal news worthy drug violence jumped almost immeasurably.

Enrique Pena Nieto (PRI)

While the idea to eliminate or at least weaken the strength of the Mexican drug cartels was a noble cause, the solitary use of force hasn't really seemed like the key as proven by the incredibly high murder and violent crime rates. And its the extremely high violence rates that so many Mexicans are now looking at and using as only one measure for the PAN's failure. Now most polls show Enrique Pena Nieto of the somewhat old school PRI ahead by at least a double digit lead over the PAN's tarnished reputation candidate: Potential first female president Josefina Vasquez Mota .

Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador (PRD)

Not all Mexicans are ready to leave behind the PAN though. It seems that many older Mexicans still remember the strict and even sometimes brutal authoritarian measures the PRI used to consolidate power and remain in control. Protests in Mexico City have sprang up in an attempts to remind citizens of the abusive tactics the old PRI used even if they now claim to have democratized the party. Yet the protests have seemed to help PRD's candidate Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador although his image is less then perfect as well. After loosing the race in 2006 he practically shut down much of the country claiming voter fraud and calling out to protesters to arms.

While to me this seems like an exciting if not somewhat dangerous predicament to be surrounded by most Mexicans seem much less interested in the election then I am. The reason: They've heard all these empty promises before guaranteeing the people of Mexico a new better way of life, as told to me by the young Dark Night watching front desk attendant. He seems interested in what the PRI has to say stating that they are promising numerous radical changes designed at redistributing the wealth including cutting back on the high salaries that elected and even appointed state officials recieve, but while he's willing to talk its easy to tell he's not very interested. When asked if he's going to vote today his reply is “of course,” but I don't think he's the type to join protests in the street if things do go his way and I'm honestly fine with that. What does seem for certain is that one way or another, except for the fact that most things are closed and there is a current ban on alcohol sale in an attempt to keep voting peaceful, today should be like any other Sunday. At around 8:00pm tonight I should hear the results so until then we'll have to wait and see.