Love America? Buy Mexican.
Violence has put a strain on the Mexican economy and it has affected immigration in the U.S. How? Commentator Gustavo Arellano explains.
Gustavo Arellano (ocblog.net)
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TEXT OF COMMENTARY
Kai Ryssdal: When she was in Latin America last week, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton promised that the Obama administration is going to do more to fight drug violence. That violence has been a particular problem in Mexico. It has disrupted everyday life in some parts of the country. It's adding to the strain on the Mexican economy. And it's affecting immigration here.
Commentator Gustavo Arrellano explains how.
GUSTAVO ARRELLANO: A friend gave me a belt a couple of months ago but not just any length of leather. It's a "cinto pitiado" -- an arabesque piece of art traditional to the Mexican home state of our parents, Zacatecas. Each is crafted over weeks, woven with threads derived from the agave plant. Mine is mid-level nice, and it's still worth hundreds of dollars. And great to hide the biggest guts, too!
My amigo gave it to me for free under one condition. He asked -- pleaded, really -- that I tell everyone I could about the cinto pitiado, and urge them to buy one.
Zacatecas is suffering a Gran Recession like us. But there, it's exacerbated by something far more sinister -- the narco wars. Gone are the days when caravans of folks from my family's ancestral villages drove from Southern California to their Mexican homes and return with their trucks crammed with local goodies. We were just some of the hundreds of thousands of Zacatecan expats who annually injected their home state's economy with millions.
We can tolerate police bribes, but kidnappings and ransom notes? No.
Even worse, the narco wars have put a chokehold on Mexico's longtime lifeline to First World status: the money immigrants send back home. It ranks second only to oil as a source of revenue to the country's economy. Mexicans now have to think twice before wiring cash to their loved ones south of the border. The wrong people may notice and shake them down.
But still, Mexico needs money from its emigrants. Mexicans already have informal economic networks, but perhaps the American government can lessen tariffs on artisan goods from Mexico. It'll motivate more Mexicans on both sides to create import businesses and lessen Mexico's current dependence on emigrant money.
Oh, and for the anti-immigrant loons in the audience? What are you doing listening to Marketplace? But seriously: Buying Mexican will keep more Mexicans in Mexico and fend off the invasion. Love America: buy Mexican.
RYSSDAL: Gustavo Arellano writes the "Ask A Mexican" column for the Orange County Weekly.
Comments
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From GA, 03/14/2010
google search of "cinto piteado" shows pictures and websites....even a youtube video (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QKyatQw4Reo)
From Rye, CO, 03/13/2010
Gustavo makes circuitous humor with this issue, "Love American? Buy Mexican." The immigration issue isn't something new. The population explosion - worldwide - isn't new. Trying to suddenly stop both on accounts of finally being a target of terrorism is silly at best, and "loony" at worst, (especially when you see how we practically ignored the latter in Northern Ireland for 30 years).
My grandfather came here at the age of 14 when Pancho Villa stole some of his father's horses. He didn't want to leave the country of his birth, but he had to. He joked about it later though, when describing the situation in his father's flippant attitude by saying "That United States, I hear she's a pretty nice country. Maybe you ought to go see what it's like before that Villa puts you in his lousy army, that stinking horse thief!" Grampa never would have left Mexico if he didn't have to. By all accounts he would miss it for the rest of his life. He did well if you call slaving away in a steel mill for 47 year well. He raised seven kids by himself after his wife ran off! He sent money home even during the Great Depression. He only got his citizenship on the Bi-centennial year, and never attempted to sneak back across the border to visit. We went to El Paso once to visit a sister who lived there, but that's as close as he ever got.
For me, Mexico and the United States have a special relationship. Both started out as rivals in the old world's conquest of the new. They should act like family members having grown so close alongside one another, and yes, they should in that have some boundaries. We can overcome these problems.
Mexico needs something to compete against the industry of drug supply that the USA's astronomical demand has created. It all goes back to economics and opportunity. If you have good opportunities you wouldn't mess with drugs! The way the Feudal system in England died out was in steady diversification of trade. So yeah, Love America? Buy Mexican.
From Dallas, TX, 03/13/2010
I agree with Mr. Arrellano. The dislocations created for the people of Mexico and their relatives and friends in the USA by the narco traffickers are our problems, too. Mexicans are our neighbors, for goodness' sake. Let's treat them as such a be good neighbors to them.
From Anaheim, CA, 03/12/2010
Anti-immigrant loons: gracias for taking my bait and showing your true colors!
For those who enjoyed it: gracias!
For those who want to see a picture of the cinto pitiado—not until I control my gut!
From SC, 03/11/2010
I find it amusing that the anti-immigration loons cannot tell the difference between a NPR program and an APM program. Besides are these not the same people who complain about people using "Politically Correct" speech. They really need to look in the mirror, before claiming the moral high ground.
03/11/2010
I, too, would love to see a picture of your 'cinto pitiado'. Can you post some links or images?
From Milan, MI, 03/10/2010
I don't think the American government *can* lower tariffs on Mexican artisan goods, since it's my understanding that NAFTA prohibits any such tariffs.
From Portland, OR, 03/10/2010
I had trouble finding information on cinto pitiado. Does Mr. Arrellano have any recommendations for online retailers, or contacts for weavers belts?
03/10/2010
How touching it is to see how some people respond to being labeled "loons", such sensitivity, ha!
From Medford, MA, 03/10/2010
I have always loved traditional, handcrafted Mexican work. Looking online, however, I had trouble finding information on cinto pitiado. Does Mr. Arrellano have any recommendations for fair-trade online retailers?
From TX, 03/10/2010
I'm offended by Arellano subtly accusing American citizens who appose illegal immigration as against the market. NPR, this is why you get the label left wing radio. Man up Arellano, your acting like a mouse.
From Atlanta, GA, 03/10/2010
3 problems with Mr. Arrellano's opinion.
1) Tariffs on Mexican goods are largely zero, contrary to his assertion
2) If the Mexican people are tired of being caught in the crossfire of the narco wars, they need to fight back and eliminate the drug gangs.
3) The gratuitous slap at people who see the immigration question differently than he does.
I think Marketplace can do better, but putting stories based on real data, rather than emotional nonsense.
From Plantation, FL, 03/10/2010
I don't know what tariffs is Mr. Arellano referring when he says that "perhaps the American government can lessen tariffs on artisan goods from Mexico". After 15 years of NAFTA tariffs are zero for most products and the quantity restrictions for agricultural products have been demoted (eg. Sugar). If one checks samples of artisan goods like ornamental ceramic articles tariff 6913.90.5000 it is duty free. It will be interesting to hear samples of these tariffs that Mr. Arellano refers to.
From Camp Echo, Iraq, NC, 03/10/2010
Is funny how everyone who wrote about this story only mentions the Loons comment, forgetting about the real story, by now one should be used to be called a radical by breathing the wrong way.
From Darlington, SC, 03/09/2010
Just a comment from someone you describe as an "anti-immigrant loon": American immigration policy should be set on the basis of what will be best for those people who are now Americans and their children and grandchildren. That is the way every other serious country sets its immigration policy. Our immigration policy is now set on the basis of what produces the largest short term gains for the rich. Without the explosion in immigration over the last 30 years, if we had kept immigration levels at those of the 1950s and 1960s, we would have achieved population stability today at less than 250 million. Instead we are at 300 million headed for a billion. Every problem we have is made worse by a larger population. The future of our posterity is endangered by the stupid stupid people who believe in unlimited population growth. There is a name for unlimited biological growth: we call it cancer. Just as cancer destroys its host, an America with a billion people in it will be a hellhole that has seen the destruction of everything most people value in America.
From Annandale, VA, 03/09/2010
"Oh, and for the anti-immigrant loons in the audience? What are you doing listening to Marketplace?" --- Ho, ho, ho. The superior Mr. Arellano certainly gave the "anti-immigrant loons" out there what was coming to them, the poor benighted louts. --- I do not blame Mr. Arellano for this smug remark. But I have to wonder what your producers were thinking in airing it. Are you all really so arrogant as to think that everyone who listens to your program agrees with all your political views? Does it never occur to you that there might be people who send money to stations that air Marketplace (and who make their pledges during broadcasts of Marketplace by way of support for the show) who see some things differently? --- It is completely transparent that the hosts and commentators (not just the editorialists) are not mere objective reporters on economic matters on which there may be different opinions; they are partisans in those controversies and they are not shy about dropping the pretense of objectivity every now and then. Is that not enough for you? Must you allow insults to listeners also? --- [Sorry about the false starts below.]
From los angeles, CA, 03/09/2010
I take umbrage with his comment "For the anti-immigrant Loons in the audience...." -- Don't most countries control who comes and goes across their borders? When I was on a train going into Slovenia they stopped the train in the middle of the night to check our passports. Nobody says they are loons for enforcing their border laws. It's normal! We made a law that says we get to decide who comes and goes, and the people who think those laws should be enforced are "loons"?? If you think we should change the law then let's vote on it! Until then, don't call people who think our laws should be enforced loons!
From Annadale, VA, 03/09/2010
>> Oh, and for the anti-immigrant loons in the audience? What are you doing listening to Marketplace?
From Annadale, VA, 03/09/2010
>> Oh, and for the anti-immigrant loons in the audience? What are you doing listening to Marketplace?
From Las Vegas, NV, 03/09/2010
Thanks for the laughs (as usual) and for the notion. Now where can folks easily get some of these items? I mean, I can here but what about the rest of the country? As for your parting shot, yes, loons is the right word. I just saw an immigrant attack ad last night where a guy in a suit was whining about illegal immigration. I don't recall seeing a lot of migrant workers taking jobs away from lawyers. Go figure, huh?
From Stockton, CA, 03/09/2010
"For the anti-immigrant Loons in the audience...."
Shame on your normally fair-minded show for celebrating such bigotry. Immigration is NOT A RIGHT and to assume those who believe so are "Loons" is arrogant and ignorant. To give such speech a platform is beneath the standards that should be present for public radio.
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