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We're Not Clean
SDDreaming, you make no sense about one thing: the Mexican "drug wars" are right next door while Iraq and Sudan are halfway around the globe. That said, I concur that it is a Federal matter. Next, I would say to all those CommunitesTakingAction people, you are falling prey to what sociologist Barry Glassner aptly described as "The Culture of Fear" which is also the title of his book published in 2000. Remember Y2K? Nothing happened. Remember SARS? Well when's the last time you heard about that on the news? Yeah, there's a mugger lurking around every street corner. Whether it is terrorism, illegal immigration, or the latest child molestor released after his prison term, so-called "concerned" groups capitalize off this fear factor to push their masked agendas. It is not an exaggeration. Afterall, didn't an entire generation grow in with the fear of a (Heaven help us!) Communist takeover??? The other recommended book on the subject is FALSE ALARM by Dr. Marc Siegel. The only real thing we have to fear is our own paranoia. The fear of drug-related violence engulfing what is Chula Vista and San Diego falls squarely in the same model. PS: Remember what they say about self-fullfilling prophecies!— April 11, 2009 9:24 p.m.
Life in Tijuana under drug cartel violence
As a frequent visitor to Tijuana, I have to say that Mr Iverson's article is actually good, though very incomplete. It would be much better to tackle such a complex and relevant topic in a four or five part series, because as it stands, it does not do it justice. How much better the article might have been if it included an interview with a city official, a casual American tourist, a journalist, and at least one police officer. (Remember, in Mexico, law enforcement is divided into municipal, state, and federal police.) Diverse points of view from its citizens would have demonstrated the complexity of the situation. I take strong issue with the comments that seem to shrugg off the fear simply because no turist has (fortunately) been a victim thus far. That said, I also take issue with Mr Iverson's interpretation that everyone is walking around paranoid like living in a state of seige. Truth is, there is a little of everything and the devil-may-care attitude of many Mexicans is not going to change anytime soon. In fact, my periodontist, who happens to be Governor Osuna Millan's younger brother, personally said to me referring to the violence, "Le hacemos fiesta." Translated: we make a big hoopla out of it. What I neglected to ask, was if he was referring to the populace, the media, or both. Now this remark, coming from the Governor's brother, who is now a candidate for the Federal Chamber of Deputies, is outrageous negation or at the very least, highly irresponsible. Duh or Doh, I'd look for better sources than FAUX NEWS, if I were you.— April 5, 2009 2:59 p.m.