FORUMS & LETTERS

Opinion

Mexico’s press in the crossfire: World Press Freedom Day
By Ambassador Antonio O. Garza May 16, 2008 San Miguel de Allende

Op-Ed published in Spanish by Mexican newsgroup Reforma, May 3, 2008.

In the words of one of our founding fathers, Thomas Jefferson, “Our liberty depends on the freedom of the press, and that cannot be limited without being lost.”

Some newspapers, and radio and television stations in Mexico admit that they have begun to censor themselves in the face of violence and intimidation from the narco-traffickers who seek to undermine every pillar of Mexican society. Others bravely carry on reporting the news, working out of offices under 24-hour police protection, hiding the identity of reporters for fear of reprisals, willing to pay the ultimate price to defend not their own freedom, but the right of their countrymen to be informed, to know the truth.

I am inspired by the courage and persistence of the Mexican press corps. In what some independent observers have called the most deadly country in the Americas for journalists, reporters here continue to ply their trade, to inform the people in defense of democracy. On World Press Freedom Day we must recognize that the human toll on reporters in Mexico threatens the fundamental political right of people in a free society to be informed.

So far in 2008 five journalists have been murdered, at least one has disappeared and many others have suffered attempts on their lives or been subjected to threats and harassment. Last year’s grim toll was two reporters killed and three newspaper distributors slain. The violence is multifaceted, from narco-violence to attempts at political intimidation, from the north to the south of the country. 

President Calderón has repeatedly recognized the importance of protecting the press, stating in February that, “The authorities are duty-bound to punish with the full force of the law those who attempt to silence the media through violence and intimidation. Every attack against the press is an attack against free expression and an attack against Mexico.” Beyond the federal level, more can and should be done at the state and local level to protect journalists, publishers, newspapers and broadcasters.

Brad Will’s family and the American people are still waiting for results of the investigation into his death. The Committee to Protect Journalists and the Inter American Press Association have both demanded a full investigation. Brad was in Oaxaca City in 2006 to tell the world an important story about political unrest there, when he was shot and killed while covering a protest. The Mexican authorities have now agreed to allow independent experts to examine evidence in the case and I sincerely hope the investigation will move forward to identify and prosecute those responsible for Will’s death.

Another crime in Oaxaca has recently shocked the world. On April 7, two young women working for an indigenous community radio station were gunned down as their car drove through an apparent ambush—three other people including a three-year-old child were wounded in the attack. In response to the apparent political intimidation, another reporter at the station has bravely declared, “No one will silence us—they cannot shut us up or scare us off.” Authorities have yet to name suspects in this attack. 

In the face of this brave spirit, this defiance of those who wield the sword, who would not be moved to support those who defend our right to know carrying nothing but a pen or a camera? Not only on World Press Freedom Day, but throughout the year, we must insist on the right of journalists to be our eyes and ears, to pursue a story and follow the facts wherever they lead, whether to the lair of a drug dealer or to the halls of power. We must call on the police to shield the press from violence, on government officials to open their doors and their files, and on the courts to bring to justice those who commit crimes against journalists. 

As Mexico moves forward to end the impunity of the narco-criminals, let us call as well for an end to the impunity of violence against journalists, for full investigations of the cases of Brad Will and the others who have lost their lives protecting our freedoms, and a better day for journalists in Mexico.

Readers’ Forum
By Jim Blakley 

Decoding street names in San Miguel, Part 2

Last issue, Jim “Moose” Blakley dealt with street names in his “Religious” category. This issue he finishes up with the other four categories and renews his plea for information, since the town now has over 1,000 streets, many of colorful lineage.

Famous People

Hidalgo: Father Miguel Hidalgo, an important figure of the war for independence of 1810, was killed in 1811. The heads of Hidalgo, Allende, Juan Aldama, along with Jiménez (from San Luis Potosi) were placed on the four corners of the Alhóndiga de Granaditas in Guanajuato for 10 years.

Juarez: Benito Juárez, one of the true founding fathers of Mexico.

Insurgentes: The insurgents, the revolutionaries who started La Independencia of 1810.

Canal: The Canal family was very important in the history and development of San Miguel de Grande (the town’s original name). The insurgents came up this street on September 16, 1810. Their “country estate” became Instituto Allende.

Pedro Vargas: Was born in San Miguel on April 29, 1906, at Mesones 16 (presently the site of a bakery). He was one of the most famous Mexican singers of the twentieth century. Vargas started with opera but became famous singing popular songs. Starting in 1936 he was involved with 70 films, including several with large acting roles. He died at age 85 in Mexico City.

Diez de Sollano y Davilos: Jose Marie Diez de Sollano y Davilos (you can see why they shortened the street name) was a very important theologian in Mexico. He was the head of three different seminaries and held important church posts across the country.

Umarán: Don Juan de Umarán, a hero of La Independencia.

Hermanos Aldama: Calle Aldama honors both Captain Juan and Ignacio Aldama, brothers who were involved with La Independencia.of 1810. Both were killed in 1811.

Dr. Hernández Macías: The exact details of the good doctor are well-known to many sanmiguelenses, just none to whom I talked. I believe that he was a physician in San Miguel. The doctor wanted residents to have a recreational area and an environmental escape, so from 1895 to 1904 he bought orchards and fields and created Parque Juárez

Cuna de Allende: The cradle or birthplace of Allende. In fact, this gorgeous one-block street from the Jardín to calle Cuadrante has the house of Allende, now a museum. 

It is amazing that a small town with just 3,000 residents in 1810 had several big names in Mexican history among its citizens.

Physical Characteristics

Quebrada: This street (“Ravine” in English) spans lower Canal over a shiny new bridge from the fifties.

Pila Seca: My understanding is that this phrase means “dry battery” today, but historically a pila was a spring or the pool created by a spring. So, the street name meant dry spring. It is located near a creek or arroyo.

Calle de Organos: This name likely refers to the organo cactus, rather than to the musical instrument.

Zacateros: I am told that this refers to people who cut with scythes, so I imagine that this was an area of thick grass or crops at one time.

Ojo de Agua: Eye of water and probably near a spring.

Barranca: Precipice or gully.

Codo: This one-block street looks like an elbow on the map.

Paseo del Parque: Walkway to the park.

Chiquitos: Tiny, a perfect word to describe this beautiful street designed for painters and photographers.

Terraplén: An embankment.

Reloj: The clock, named after the clock tower gracing the old church visible down most of this street.

Bajada de la Garita: Slope of the sentry box.

Cuadrante: Quadrant.

Árboles: Trees.

Pueblito: Little village. Actually this tiny street does look like a little village.

Location of buildings

Colegio: School. This location previously housed the San Francisco de Sales School (which Allende attended) and is now a branch campus of the Universidad de León.

Mesones: The street of inns in the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries. I read a story about one of these inns having one toothbrush and one hairbrush, each on a chain, for all the residents to share. It makes you appreciate having your own toothbrush.

Hospicio: There was a hospital located in the present Casa Rosada Hotel (1729) that gave the name to this short and extremely steep street. The hospital was directly behind the church. After walking up this street, you might feel as though you need a hospital.

Plaza Principal: Principal or main plaza.

Atascadero: Place where one gets stuck, because water flows from natural springs here. Hotel Atascadero has a fascinating history. Previously, it was a hacienda, the home of a silkworm farm and an artists’ colony with leading artists, poets and philosophers. Artists spending time there included Diego Rivera. It was also a GI Bill hotel for ex-soldiers studying art in San Miguel, before it became today’s hotel. This thumbnail sketch barely gives five percent of the site’s history; check it out at www.hotelatascadero.com.

Correo: The name of the post office still located on this street. Euphemistically the post office in Mexico has a name based on the verb “running,” but others have suggested other verbs.

Huertas: Vegetable gardens. It is hard to imagine now, but in the past this must have been home to beautiful gardens. I am sure that the people tending those gardens years ago would have been surprised that in the future just a small patch of the garden would be worth a bag of gold.

Recreo: Recreation. The former soldiers’ garrison was turned into a recreation center.

Tenerias: I am told that this means “tanneries.” This street was home to a thriving tannery industry.

Other

Some other place names don’t seem to fit neat categories.

Orizaba: The name of a pre-Hispanic Mexican people and also used as a surname.

Bayoneta: Bayonet.

Indio Triste: Sad Indian.

Guadiana: A river rising in south-central Spain and flowing along the Spanish-Portuguese border to the Gulf of Cádiz.

Potranca: A female horse under three years old.

Cardo: Thistle; it can also mean carding wool. 

Suspiros: Sigh.

So many interesting little tidbits are here and this is just a fraction of the street names in San Miguel. It is time to pass the baton on to others living in San Miguel who want to know more about the remaining 95 percent of our street names. I hope that this article stimulates your thinking about the street where you live and the streets in your neighborhood that you walk daily. I would like to hear from people who know far more about the meanings of the names, the history and the nuances.

Jim Blakley is a snowbird, although he finds the term a bit perjorative. He likes to think of himself more as a migrating moose.

Letters



Editor,

The recent article under Health and Safety in Mexico, from a health and travel guide about Mexico, interested me very much. I am one of those retired residents , who have been here over fifteen years and who want to live here ‘til I die!

I found the article incomplete, however. I decided to share my experience with another air evacuation service to the states.

Last December I had a health emergency that required airlift. Fortunately, I had become a member of an airlift insurance company, SKYMED, in August. I heard about it from a fellow Rotarian who was visiting the Rotary Mid-Day Club from western Mexico. Linda Scholey and her husband Guy are planning to retire in SMA and she related an experience with a health emergency of Guy’s and how impressed she was with the management and dependability of SKYMED. She was so impressed that she signed on to be a rep for them.

I immediately made an appointment with her because I am aging and, like some other people in SMA, worried about emergency care in Mexico—getting it and paying for it. The cost of the insurance was reasonable and I signed on. The applicationn asked for the hospital in the states to which I wanted to be airlifted. I listed Mayo Ciinic because they have all my records. Not very convenient for my children who live on the east and west coasts, however! Still...

I needed the airlift in December. After an MRI done in Querétaro, my doctor told me I needed a serious operation. Then a consultant said it was too serious to be done on someone my age. We contacted SKYMED. After much conversation among my doctor, the hospitals and my Spanish-speaking granddaughter, the SKYMED airlift to Mayo Clinic was arranged.

I was picked up at Hospital de la Fe in a Cruz Roja ambulance and taken to León airport where the SKYMED plane was waiting to land. On time and with two pilots and two nurses on board, the nurses medicated me en route, the pilots took care of the necessary documents when they landed in the states and then flew directly to Rochester, Minnesota where an ambulance was waiting to take me to Mayo’s St. Mary’s Hospital Emergency Room. We left León airport at 11am, and I woke up in a hospital bed before 5pm. Talk about service!!! I want sanmiguelenses to know that there is another airvac service for those emergencies you fear.

Listen up Drs. Page and Page! Where was SKYMED in your article?

Peggy Purcell Dowling



Editor,

I wish to take the opportunity to publicly thank Sr. Genaro Gomez Mata and Clinica Automotriz San Miguel at Laureles 5 in Colonia Allende.

Last week as I went to park my van I discovered the gear shift would not move and was stuck in "Drive." Realizing I could save myself the cost of a tow, I drove straight to the garage I have used on occasion. Imagine my distress when I also discovered the transmission was not only suck but that I could not turn off the engine either. So there I sat until garage opened after lunch, trapped in the driver's seat of a vehicle that could not be turned off or put into "Park."

When I returned the next day I was told the vehicle was fixed, and there was no charge. The mechanic who did the work said the problem would reoccur in "un rato" and recommended I have a qualified locksmith fix the problem permanently. Only those who have paid hundreds of dollars to fix problems that soon reoccurred in "un rato" can appreciate my gratitude.

Charles Baxter Miller