Mexico City suffered 2 terrible earthquakes 20 years ago. I was already on the earth and I almost had a terrible accident in the second one.
I am pretty sure all of you have read in the news about how many people died, how many people disappeared, the number of buildings that are still in bad condition -160-, etc.
We had a hard time in those days. Our Mexican society was very sympathetic. I do not want to list the number of activities which Mexicans took part in during these events because it is endless.
However, there is something that is driving me crazy when our president, politicians, the media, the church and some government institutions are saying that Mexico has been a sympathetic society for many years.
Are we really a sympathetic country when we throw litter?
Are we really a sympathetic society when we do not respect non smoking sections?
Are we really a sympathetic city when we do not participate in politics?
Are we really a sympathetic state when drivers do not respect traffic lights and pedestrians?
Are we really sympathetic citizens when pedestrians do not obey traffic lights?
Are we really sympathetic people when we see that someone is being robbed, but we do not anything to avoid it?
Are we really a sympathetic metropolis when we do not say hello to our neighbors, the bus drivers, the people who do the cleaning at work or school and the cashiers in supermarkets, movie theaters?
I do not deny we are a sympathetic society, but this happens when we are in difficulties.
Why aren`t we always a sympathetic country? Is it because we live a dual moral?
“And if you listen very hard
The tune will come to you at last.
When all are one and one is all
To be a rock and not to roll.” Song; Stairway to heaven by Led Zeppelin
Thanks Nancy Elízabeth for your interest.
Bastante interesante, te invito a pasearte por mi blog para que leas lo que escribí yo.
aMéLiE
I think that it was a necessity to mutually help because to all need them a small or great aid. That misfortune that step frame of by life to all we as Mexican and with single a small Earth movement we put ourselves to say so that it does not happen the misfortune again who we lived in the year of 1985. One thinks that it is going to happen an earthquake of the same magnitude for year 2013. I hope that it does not happen.
Hey, this is the true, I think that is the time to weak up because, is not possible to before more to 70 years the mexicans thinks of this form, is terryble when you travel in the subway in the morning and look the faces, all the people look like zombies and the worse is that them don´t do nothing for change. Anybody smile, is happy, also like the kind of life that have. In México exist a lot of problems but., What we does for change this?
When was ocurred the earthquake in Mexico City all the people never are imagine the big damage caused for earthquake. Howebwr in was moment the people to join for rescue the other people trapped in the rubble. In was days only the people though in found of relative parents, for unfortunately more people died in was earthquake. I think that in was misfortune really the people help of heart and they showed pity at about the catastrophe.
I think our culture it´s kind of extrange you can say Why?, Well I think many mexican people included me sometimes are very unselfihs specially in our daily routine.
Some past events have demostrated mexican people can be realy sympathetic but the problem is that the main part only demostrate in dificult situations , I think that´s no good because all of us will be sympathetic all days Mexico will be more marvelous than is now.
Hi¡¡
I don't know why people need a special date or situation to feel mexicans, to feel sympathetic, to help another people.
I'm going to write again part of my last post "everyone have to do our activities in the best way."
And its include, be polite, helpful, tolerant,respectful, etc.
I don't know what's your opinion, but in my personal experience, when I do something for someone or for stranger or for my family, friends, etc., I feel good¡¡
So, I think that we have to be sympathetic all time and with everybody.
Hello!!!
In this article you express a opinion about the behavior of Mexican, and moreover the against that happened en the earthquakes 1985 as exist a terrible situation the society was together.
I believe that not just in Mexico happen this, others countries above all thirdworld that don’t have hard securities about society; Perhaps so be, because, the human always be egocentric and doesn’t mind other people while he is good.
And Probably when he doesn’t have Maslow triangle start founding the help of others people, although, in fact throw litter, not respect non smoking sections or traffic lights, started in the shape educate our home.
hello!!!!
I think that mexican people doesn´t have real conscience about terribles situations or big problems and they only thinks themselves.Mexican people only assistance when is your family or friends for it is necessary that we will begin to create a culture for help.
However a lot of people thinks that Mexico wiil not suffer a disaster and then they thinks that the security measure are boring and not important, they believes that it is a play.
Hi, Jorge:
First of all, I agree with your opinions about sympathy in mexican society, but in my opinion the problem has been the difference level of cultural developmet and richness in every segment of our society. If you remembered, in 1985 after the first earthquake, many people spontaneously, helped to rescue people trapped in the buildings damage, while the government slowly began to organize. Although of many mistake of government in the past, the people it found one way to begin again, only one sample: in 1938, thousand persons, donated their money and their poor belongings, -inside of palace of fine arts- for to pay part of cost of the nationalization of the oil industry, this day was named "la jornada de las gallinas".
I'm relly worried, because I think Mexico is a beautiful country but We don't value all that We have, because Mexico have a lot of society problems like corruption, people how aren't education and some ocations We are share. We can't continue live of this form We need to change Us behavior, this is the only way to improve Mexico and Us selfs.
HI!!
THIS ARTICLE MAKE ME FEEL SAT, I THINK THAT WE DONT HAVE TO WEIT FOR HAPENING A DISASTER FOR HELPING PEOPLE WE HAVE TO BE TOGETHER ALWAYS ONLY OF THIS FORM WE´LL HAVE A BETTER LIFE......
I TELL PEOPLE THAT THE LIFE IS NOT BUYING....
WE HAVE TO LIVE LIKE A FINALLY DAY.....
I FEEL IT ALOT....
I AM WITH YOU....................
The earthquake of 8.1 degrees in the scale of Richter that shook to Mexico the 19 of September of 1985 took to all by surprise, causing the death of thousands of people and making outside fall houses and buildings of offices in a city constructed on which a lake
at the pre-Hispanic time.
Was a panic horrible. People running in the streets, some running over by cars. There were gas flights, water flights. The people did not know what happening, all people remembered Rocks, who it rescued to people catched under the rubbish in the historical center of the city before the absence of rescue teams.
It is estimated that some 12.000 people died in the earthquake of 1985, although some reports say that the figure to have been the double one. Near 40.000 they got injured and after that, thousands of buildings were reconstructed to bear the earthquakes. In some cases, civic groups supervised the works to be assured.
In my opinion, The Mexicans are very shared in common when happen phenomenon nature like earthquakes but the sad thing is that they are not this all along. Because if we have greater interest by our country this would be different, but I believe that everybody are corrupted by much or little of the resignation, but oneself we can change this attitude.
It´s hard to know that our sympathetic feeling is only demostrated when people are in trouble.
For example in The United States, our president
shows us we can give some part of our military force to help in a terrible situation but, what´s hapening with our political and comercial relation without this kind of situations. I mean, if we are not in a problematic situation, can we demostrate our solidarity with our neighbors or the others adjacent territories.
Mexican people should demostrate a good attitude in every single situation.
Adriana 815 ESCA
George,
We know Mexicans are not the most polite and educated people, to correct bad things, I think restrictions and rules must be obeyed, if people do not want it, they must be punished by authorities because it causes problems, of course the authorities would have to act correctly. Also, we have to work very hard in our education because the culture in this country is really poor and of course it influences the behaviour of the people.
We are a sympatetic country, that's true, but unfortunately only in desasters.
the other things must be punished but that not means that our country is trash.
Sorry but sometimes I think that you hate México, please try to think better about YOUR COUNTRY, it´s ok, in our country exist kidnapping, robs, insecurity, etc. But also exist good people.Please, we kmow about our situation believe me, I don't want to read more bad things
Hi! everybody I think that if we can change Mexico, we need to change ourselves, because we think that the country and the people are differents things, but that´s not correct because each country really depends of his society. I love Mexico, so I tried to be the best in all the things which I do.
We need to change nor only for a day, we need to change our ideology and everything will change.
Try it! think positive you can do it.
Hello George!
First, I want to tell I´am sorry, but I can´t visited the page before.
About your articule I think you are in the correct, because the mexican people is very selective whit something ocure,for example when was the earthbreak people was very conmosionada (I don´t say in English), but when ocure other things they don´t anything. I think is very important to make something when people is in dangerous
I´m agree with the article, many politicians say Mexico is OK, but we know that phrases are false.
Most of the people aren´t polite, I think the reason is because our parents don´t teach us good modals. Everything begin in our family circle.
For example I dont have father, my mother care us since we were bables, so I don´t have the strong figure, someone who taught me important things like politics, etc. My mother had a hard work: to be mother and father
I´m happy with her, and I learn good and bad things but the most important I had a good teacher, and I try to develop the good things.
I mean if we have good teachers , we learn good things, so we will do good actions
Everything begin in the family circle.
I´M NOT AGREE WITH YOU BECAUSE MEXICAN PEOPLE(LIKE ME),ARE VERY KIND AND IF SOMEONE NEED HELP, EVEN WHEN THE PERSON IS YOUR ENEMY, WE ALWAYS HELP. I THINK WE ARE AN UNATED SOCIETY. I`LL GIVE YOU AN EXAMPLE.. THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE IN POOR SITUATION SHARE THEIR FOOD WITH OTHER PEOPLE, EVEN WHEN THEY DON`T HAVE ENOUGH THINGS FOR SURVIVING. I`M VERY HAPPY IN MY COUNTRY AND WHEN YOU SAID THAT WE HAD TWO MORALS, I THINK YOU GET CONFUSED BECAUSE USA IS THE COUNTRY WITH THAT CHARACTERISTICS
I think that many of your commentarys are true, however we most to reflect about, why we are so?, we should remember that the mexican people has been invaded by Spain, France, USA , brught to mexican people sadness, illness, corruption and extreme poverty.
Nowadays the majority of politicians to come from parents that was born overseas, and they not really interested to improve the culture and attitude of mexican people.
It´s difficult that our country or the goverment could change because the most people who have more possibilities or power for changing our country,It is an stingy and egocentric people. I think, we´ll change our life if one by one gives something for help other people. I can invite to my friends, my family and people that know them for helping and starting to respect each other. I believe that could be a good idea
I THINK, IS IMPORTANT THAT WE ALWAYS BE PREPARED FOR ALL, EVERYBODY NEDS US TO OTHERS IN SOME TUMIE OF OUR LIFE BUT IF POLITICIANS DON`T DO ANYTHING SOMEONE NEEDS TO DO IT IN THAT CASE SOCIETY DID THE BEST THAT THEY COULD.
NOT ALL IS GOVERMENT RESPONSABILITY
I think that the main problem with us mexican people is that there isn't the culture necesary about help people, until that saw mess in the media. Well I think that a good start could be the sensibilitation about the catastrofic cases, and in general with paim the people.
I believe that the mexican people know be generous when exist a catastrophe and the people really stay together.
Althoug some times ourselfs divede us.
The 19th september 1985 was the worst day for Mexico because it was the terrible earthquake and this caused the lost of alot of people but all mexican people and even people from other countries helped to rescued them and coperated with food and suport. (.")
Hi teacher
I think that you have reason in the most of your comentaries, bout i thin tah sometimes is a little dificult to say hello to everybody because in my case my neigborhood is a little rude and she naver say us hello. And I have trated to tell her hello, but somentimes she answer my, but most of the times not, and when she need something and i can herp her I have ofered my help, and she has acepted but only when she need and when not she just pass rigth and nos say nathing. So it make me feel engre because I think that people should be congruent, and not to bo interested. About than people don´t respect the advises I´m complety agree with you because when they don´t respect the advices also they aren´t respect us.
In my opinion all the rest of the countries say a lot of things Mexico about. They say we're lazy, we're unpunctual, we're drunk, yes we can be all of these but when the case is help someone else we're the first in offer our help also we have another qualities.
And not everybody has bad behavior there were a lot of people that want to do something for the development of our country.
It's 11.26pm October 11th 2005
I THINK THAT MEXICAN PEOPLE ONLY STAY TOGETHER WHEN THERE ARE EVENTS OF THIS KIND AND THIS IS VERY SAT BECAUSE, MEXICAN PEOPLE NEED TO REALIZED THAT THE SITUATION THAT MEXICO STAY IS VERY WORRY. IF EVERYONE OF US WILL HAVE IN MIND THE PROGRESS AS A COUNTRY WAS ANOTHER THING.
hi everybody!!!!!!!!!!!
i think that the mexican society is really simpathetic. you just need to see around you. look the people who ask for money down the streets, they are asking for because they get it. if nobody give, nobody ask for. have you ever been on zaragoza ave during a peregrinacion to la basilica? there are hundreds of people walking, on truks, on bicicles, etc and are people that gives them watter, juice or food to the peregrinos. its jus a matter of education, i mean, familie education and social education and im not talking about school.
So difficult is it to see what our country has become and even more, see that we are part of that life.
I'm so amazed that even when we live here, we do nothing for us to live better and have our mines at ease.
It's a shame to know that we're used to living in this place where everyone do whatever they want.
Hello George:
Je pense que il'y a beaucoup des choses que je ne peux pas comprendre.
In a few words I always Know this situation, and I think that it depends on the person want take the good things.
Dany.
Hi George:
I guess that it's important to take some measures for that mexican people help to people not only in desaster.
It's necesary to create conscience about that.
I think that mexican people is very nice and if we put more attention in this facts, maybe, we can improve our life.
hi::::
I think that people of Mexico are in troubles because nowadays people doesnt care about nothing and childrens are being educated by people who really doesnt care about them.
We have to do something from the inside of the society, that´s family I think .
Hi! George
I feel very sad because the article said the truth. I was thought that my country have more good point than bad points but, it is really the people in our country don't do nothing for improving Mexico but I think that is necessary start for ourself for changing my beautifull Mexico and your people.
...and she´s buying a stairway to heaven .
I have always thought Mexico is a contrasting city, we are sympathetic with other people in special situations, but why we aren't sympathetic with ourselves? I think the first step in order to change the situatons described above, is to get realized that there is a problem we need to solve, and second, we have to change our minds and try to improve our behavior: if we throw litter, try not to do it, if we are corrupt stop being like that. Maybe in this way we can teach children and they could teach other children and in ths way Mexico may be a complete and a better country. Let's think in the future.
Sympathy for Mexico The things that you said are true, we are not
sympathetic at all, maybe our grandparents we're, but nowadays,
young people is not interesting in being sympathetic, or show good
manners, this is not cold, is not "in", so ¿why to be worried about
it? And I know it sounds sad, but unfortunately is how the things
are now, at least in Mexico city, I don't know the reasons, maybe
is because we're rush all the time, or because we don't have
security and we have to be rude at people… there's a lot of reasons
(or excuses) that try to explain our behavior, but certainly we
don't we have any excuse to don't be polite, or don't follow rules.
And you know what is the worst thing about this?, we're getting
use, I mean, for me is not wear to see old people stand up in a bus
while a young healthy man is sleeping, or to see how a child yells
at his or her grandmother without any respect… this kind of things
are getting normal in our city. It's something really worrying,
because we're losing our values, and without that, we're just
robots, trying to survive but not to live… we should be more
concern about it, watch less television, being in touch with the
human being that we have inside and listen, and don't forget that
have to be together if we want to have a good life (and I'm not
talking about money). We don't need a natural disaster to show how
sympathetic we are, we just need to remember…
Well, there are a lot of thing that we can feel too bad like the
drugs, the traffic jam, the homeless, the violence, and it can
cause a bad image in the world I know, but I would like that you
can feel really proud of our Mexico, because we have tradicions,
mexican dishes, archaelogical zones, museums, forest and those are
points that another countries would like to have!.
As say the article, we have been sympathetic when we are in difficultis but this sympathetic only has been showed by a little part of the population not by everybody in the contry. We are more interested in ourselves, we only see our necessities and we don't matter if it affects someone. With the great changes in our culture and idelogy we are only worried for have more things and have more power to be respected and admired, but that's not true the respect is won because your actions and how you treat to people.
If we were joined to do good things and achieve improvements for everybody, not only in disasters we'd have a better country and a better life.
I hope you take it into account and do not something only for yourself without think if it affectes other people. And of course, try to be sympathetic every time you can.
It is very sad to say but we are sympatetic whe we have problems but we do not respect many rouls thar help us to be better, bu we denigrate people that we think that they are less that us and we look for our suitability
Dear Jorge as you well said in you comment. Mexican people are only sympathetic when we are into difficult situations.
We can see that right now with the disaster because of the hurricanes in Chipas and Quintana Roo specifically in Cancún all the country is collecting provisions to help our compatriots but, as a friend told me once, why we don’t help always poor people with this sort of actions? I think that if we are helping this people at the moment we can do it every time without the necessity that some damage has caused.
If we pretend to became a better country in all senses we must start changing our egoist way of think because as everyone know Mexicans when someone is sticking out everyone else try to don’t allow…
David Romero
Level 10 Student (Global program)
Everybody are conscious for the earquakes that lived our country. Many of us in that time we were very young and probably don't remember how happened this tragedy but I believe with the pass of the years we have noticed of the huge loss that left the earthquakes. Unfortunately for many of us this was reflected in the lost of family or simply not to have a home where to live.
I agree when difficulties appear is just at that time that mexicans join them. And this attitude of solidarity could be that helps us in the moment of the misfortune to be able to go ahead but it hasn't sense if later of the tragedy this attitude is not constantly use. I believe that this is one of the obstacles that doesn't allow us to advance to be better society.
Perhaps is listened very thrashed but it is very certain so that a great positive change exists in the society you should begin with yourself being more conscious and more sympathetic in the face of the misfortunes that present us daily.
Note: Hi George!!! I want to comment you that I couldn't go to your class last week but today November 3rd I will be there. One of my classmates told me that they have teams to expose in class and I would like to know if there is the possibility that you can include me with somebody that doesn't still have team. I would thank it to you a lot. See you soon in class. Bye.
Well I totally agree with you Jorge. Mexicans are sympathetic only in some situations, but they aren´t, well we aren´t sympathetic in the cases you had mentioned. As someone said Mexican people are sympathetic only when we are in serious problems, but everyday we can see that each of us are selfish and we only think in our own benefit, we don´t think in the other people that sometimes need some help from us. For example in the bus when someone is pregnant nobody stands from her or his seat, instead they do something else for not giving her the chance to sit. I would like to make people care about everybody, not always but we have to be a sympathetic country in all aspects. If we begin with this little examples Mexico would be a better country.
Irazú Callejas ESCA level 12 Tuesday
HI! TEACHER
I think that is important change about our way of think, because is very sad that other countries think that we are "sympathetic" like they say.
Hello George
Well, like the reading says we live a dual moral. First we have a Mexico as a country that want to help to everybody who need something, the so-called Tsunami, Wilma or Stan and the other hand there is the society who does not matter to violate a person's rights in order to get that they want, of course with this kind of accions we are not sympathetic.
the most importand is to behave as true citizens with respect, helping when is necessary and exercising one's rights.
Hello!
This item is very interesting for me, because I think all the reasons that you mention in your article are important and we have this consecuences in the mexican society because we have some problems with our valors, and nowadays the young people are disrespectfulls and this situation is provoked for the bad education that they have or learn in his or in her family.
I think that the main problem is the education in the new families.
I totally agree with you, we don't mind lots of things in our urban sistem, we don't respect the others and we don't respect the way we are in this society.
We are friendly and respectful just when we want to surprise someone from other country.
Symphathetic country? No, I don't think so.
I think that Mexico has very polite persons and maybe the majority is so, but a lot of us only think in ourself.
But I believe not only Mexico has this problem, the whole world has stressful persons, and we don't respect anything, we don't think in the others, we only live from hand to mouth.
Why? I don't know, maybe because we are tired of the routine in the world.
Well, in my opinion, we are mexicans when something good happens, but when is on the contrary, we complain about all the bad situations.
We have to respect all the signals in the street, the rules in the job, in the school, the laws in the society, etcetera; in order to improve our country.
If we don't do anything now, tomorrow our family will pay the consequences.
Hi George!
I think that we must be sympathetic people in all kind of circumstances, in positive and negative situations.
We have to respect to another people, their rights, decisions, actions and ideas, this in order to be a better country.
On the other hand, Mexicans are solidary and united when there is a misfortune.