Mexico Tensions High In Oaxaca - This Could Get Ugly

With all the latest sex scandals in Washington, it’s hard to focus on other news. However, my eyes have been on Mexico ever since I spent a year living there back in the 1980’s. Our closest neighbor here in Texas lives in a state of illusion. On the face they present a democratic society with a growing economy and a tourist Mecca. In reality, Mexico is a country of contrasts. The rich are "super-rich" and the poor are dirt-poor and the middle class is struggling to keep its head above water.

Politically it’s about as corrupt as it gets. The last election as flawed by anyone’s estimate, and there is a protest shadow government-in-exile of Andrés Manuel López Obrador supporters who are an unrecconed with force in Mexico’s affairs.

In the state of Oaxaca there is a teacher’s strike that has become a full fledged social reform movement and has filled the streets with protestors day and night. The Mexican Army and Navy are standing by and at any moment things could bet very ugly. Obrador supporters have volunteered to be human shields to protect the protestors and tensions are high.

Meanwhile here in the USA, we get almost no news of this really explosive situation on our doorstep. I pray for peace in Mexico and that the two factions can settle their differences peacefully. Otherwise, we may have a full-fledged revolution just south of the border.