Dave,
Good gosh Dave, you live on- or- for this board?
You are one who regularly posts on this board whom I greatly admire . You have your convictions which you stand by and you are dedicated via an organization to helping raise the quality of life for those less fortunate than we. It is certainly recognized that the average working class Mexican lives on a standard that we Americans would consider camping. I appreciate you and salute you for your and your church for their efforts and many contributions to the betterment of not only the Mexican citizen but making the world a better place. You are indeed the embodiment of the "Ugly American." which is not a criticism but rather a complement of the highest order.
For those no aware of the origin of the term "Ugly American" it first appeared in print in 1958 in the very popular best selling book tilled "The Ugly American," by Lednerer and Burdick.
There are two main characters in the book, the Ambassador and Homer Akins.
American Ambassador to the country is the villain. He is rich, good looking, charming he is also loud, arrogant , boastful and ignorant of the wants and needs of the small fictional SE Asian nation. He has an air of superiority and only considers the top social and economic strata of the nation as his equals. His policy and the American policy of that era was to supply rice to a nation that was exporting rice, to build bridges where none was needed and super highways for ox carts
Surprising the "Ugly American," Homer Akins, is not the villain but rather the hero of the story. He is very crude short of stature, and not in any way attractive, but he listens and befriends the locals--he is known by them as the "Ugly American." He is aware that the nation does not need more rice, bridges over depressions and super highways for ox carts. What is universally needed is a very low tech way to raise water from one rice paddy to another for irrigation. Homer and his native friend modify some discarded bicycles wheels and other items to create a pedal powered water lift.
This irritates the Ambassador so Homer is forced to leave the US foreign service and establishes a company with his native friend manufacturing water lifts--He becomes the national hero and is known as the "Ugly American."
There are so few Homers in this world and they do so much good for so many as contrasted to the Ambassadors who do so much harm as has been aptly demonstrated by another in a previous post.
I do however contend your jaundiced view of the problems facing Mexico and Baja are greater than you are aware and have experienced in your short Pollyanna do-good trips across the border a few miles into the country of Mexico and Baja del Norte. Reading your many posts I some how suspect that your travel experience in Baja del Norte and del Sur, Mexico is very limited, possibly only as far south as the "blow hole".
Baja is a diverse 800 miles long peninsular with a northern population that migrated from other parts of Mexico for a better life and a chance to scoot across the US border to El Norte. Along with these fine hard working people has sprung up crime/drug cartels that are thriving unchecked in this modern world.
Between San Quintin on the north and LA Paz on the south lies the Baja of old which has escaped the influx of immigrants and to a lessor degree the crime cartels. However, the Baja of old is rapidly disappearing like the call of the running tide that area is also being pulled slowly into the 21 century.
Some day, hopefully before the tide runs out, you will take the opportunity to visit the real Baja to become acquainted with their every day wants and needs which are extremely basic.
As you must be aware Mrs Miller, my little dog Max and I just returned from a two week jaunt about 700 miles into Baja. Our third visit deep into Mexico this year. You and yours are invited with Mrs Miller and I on any future excursions deep into the "Injun Country" known by some as Baja.
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