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Alexandre Meneghini / AP
Mexico's President Felipe Calderon delivers a speech during a ceremony in Mexico City, urging the country to change its name from "Estados Unidos Mexicanos" to just Mexico.
MEXICO CITY — Mexico's president is making one last attempt to get the "United States" out of Mexico — at least as far as the country's name is concerned.
The name "United Mexican States," or "Estados Unidos Mexicanos," was adopted in 1824 after independence from Spain in imitation of Mexico's democratic northern neighbor, but it is rarely used except on official documents, money and other government material.
Still, President Felipe Calderon called a news conference Thursday to announce that he wants to make the name simply "Mexico." His country doesn't need to copy anyone, he said.
Calderon first proposed the name change as a congressman in 2003 but the bill did not make it to a vote. The new constitutional reform he proposed would have to be approved by both houses of Congress and a majority of Mexico's 31 state legislatures.
The death toll is spiraling throughout Mexico as a war between the country's government and the drug cartels intensifies.
However, Calderon leaves office on Dec. 1, raising the question of whether his proposal is a largely symbolic gesture. His proposal was widely mocked on Twitter as a ridiculous parting shot from a lame-duck president.
Calderon said that while the name change "doesn't have the urgency of other reforms," it should be seen as a relevant issue. "Mexico doesn't need a name that emulates another country and that no one uses on a daily basis," he said.
Despite constant bloodshed, Mexico is ignored during White House race
The United States looms larger than perhaps any other country in the Mexican cultural imagination: Mexicans follow U.S. sports teams, watch U.S. television shows and buy U.S.-made products. For many, however, there is also resentment of a larger and more powerful northern neighbor that's often seen as ignoring or looking down its nose at Mexico.
Calderon has tried to keep Mexico's international image, and its vital tourism industry, from being tarred by the waves of violence set off by his six-year, militarized offensive against drug cartels. At least 47,500 people have died in cartel-related violence during his term in office, although the number is believed to be far higher, since his administration stopped releasing an official count last year.
Slain Mexican Zetas kingpin deserted army, led deadly drug gang
A poll released this week by the Vianovo consulting firm said that half of all Americans view Mexico unfavorably and more than 70 percent believe it's unsafe to travel south of the border. The poll of 1,000 adults had a margin of error of four percentage points.
"It's time for Mexicans to return to the beauty and simplicity of the name of our country, Mexico," Calderon said. "A name that we chant, that we sing, that makes us happy, that we identify with, that fills us with pride."
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Leave a Comment:
Madonna suggests, "La Isla Bonita".
Lullabies de San Pedro. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qqIIW7nxBgc&feature=related
Personally I think they need to change the name to "Mexico", then stop all their druglords dead, then stop coming to America illegally. We don't want the drugs over here and we don't want your druglords making money off of the deaths of our citizens.
A large fortified well armed wall to seperate the US and Mexico would probably help, they could be proud then and who cares what what they call their country it's still Mexico!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
They would be much better off to just follow the lead of Uruguay and decriminalize pot. Get rid of the druglords in one fell swoop.
Plus American tourism would make a rebound.
I watched the CNN Spanish interview with Uruguayan president Mujíca and the old fart made a lot of sense. The legalization/decriminalization of pot would also serve as an economic stimulus......a "green" industry, if you will.
Sounds to me like they want to overwhelm and populate the United States and adopt us. OH YEAH, I THINK THEY ALREADY HAVE.
Plotinus, really a green industry, try the large wall idea and don not let the MEXICANS into the United States ILLEGALLY. Illegal immigrant still means ILLEGAL no matter what you put in front of it. They need to stay in Mexico and be proud, and the United States should keep their nose out of it and let them solve their own problems.
We don't want the drugs over here...
That's where you're wrong Deb. The drugs are coming in precisely because there's such a demand for them amongst the Yanquis.
Just how you might go about it is the great unknown but address the demand and you've won the battle.
Debora,
"We don't want the drugs over here and we don't want your druglords making money off of the deaths of our citizens."
Unfortunately billions of US dollars say something quite different.
Mexico has a lot of problems but I have been reading comments that "all Mexicans want to come to the U.S" That is just untrue. There are 21.3 million people that live in Mexico City compared with only 8.5 million that live in New York city. Mexico City ( along with other large cities) have lawyers, fashion designers,financial markets, social workers, business owners ---just like here and none of the ones I have talked to want to live in the U.S.
People that live in Yucatan Peninsula ( its about the size of Texas) literally live in paradise. The crime around the resort areas can periodically be violent but outside of that people live in peace. I don't like illegal immigration anymore than the next American but people that don't have facts and only listen to American media annoy me even more.
Parts of Mexico are very safe and beautiful to visit. The people are lovely...then again I am not taking my blond hair blue eyed self anywhere near the bad parts of Mexico City ( there are literally hundreds of express kidnappings each day---where a taxi cab driver stops at a corner you are pulled out by locals and forced to go to an ATM to withdrawl money) There are 6 long term kidnappings each day along the northern border especially if you look like a rich tourist you will be kidnapped.
Educate yourself on where to go and how to visit, it really is inexpensive and lovely. Most of the people are kind and well educated.
Rags,
Methinks the folk in California were probably thinking in similar terms during the "Grapes of Wrath" time period. Gotta figure out some way to keep all these dumb hicks from invading our beautiful California. It's not our fault they're having dust storms. There's so many of them they're taking over.
Same mechanics at work there too. Escaping poverty in hopes of taking care of your family in the "promised land".
Plotinus,
Unfortunately the cartelsget about 1/2 of their cash from pot; the rest is cocaine, heroin and meth.
Btw, an awful lot of Mexicans consider travel in Mexico as dangerous.
Most put the figure at 60%. OK, take 60% of the profits out of any business and see if it wouldn't have a crippling effect. One could also entertain the idea of legalizing all drugs and let the weak fall out and sleep under the bridges. We already do that with alcohol, and yes, many end up sleeping under bridges. We see them everyday.
Sad isn't it Bill.
its simple Mexico could fix this problem over night you, understand they have the worlds 3 largest standing army right? oh and they are not broke by any means second in oil imports to the US, they have taken a great deal of our manufacturing jobs, so I say let them deal with it! or we will cut trade! and if they did we could cut half our feds out of the picture!
As Shakespear would say, "Manure by any other name would smell as sweet."
Kallie... I think that you are wrong on most of your talking points. First of all your statement about you seeing everyone saying that all the Mexicans want to come to the U.S. is just not true. Your post is #1.10 and no where before that did I see that statement. Also the Yucatan does have some nice areas that are closed resorts that tell you themselves that is not safe to venture beyond the resort grounds or the main shopping strips in the near-by Villages , and only then in groups. I must agree with you that the Peninsula is a very beautiful area. And the resorts around Cancun are excellent vacation spots as long as you use common sense. One thing you have to remember about Mexico period is that the Police can be just as bad an experience then any mugger. Most of all, The Yucatan is maybe one fifth the size of Texas. Back to the storyline on this article, Calderone, you're an idiot. Don't let the door hit you in the ass on the way out. Even we here in the U.S. have grown tired of your ignorance and incompetence.
With all that is wrong with that third world disaster, changing its name is a top priority? Go ahead...rearrange some more deck chairs on that sinking ship. A sh*t hole by any other name smells just as bad.
MEXICO = The Toilet Of The United States Of America....a much better description and it kinda has a ring to it.
Your prejudice and ignorance would certainly fill a toilet! The cartels would be finished if the US stopped buying. Dry up the market and the druglords will disappear. Also, if the US stopped supplying the drug cartels with better weapons than the Mexican Army it would help.
If there were a demand for flowers here in the US and not drugs would we just get the wonderful and nonviolent Mexicans wanting to come here? Don't think so,Mexico's cities hold some of the most impoverished places on the planet which genders gangs and drugs and that is what we get.
The Democratic convention is being held in Mexico city in 2016
Let's just call it what it is: The Place Where Cheap Labor Comes From. Oh wait, "AFRICA" is already taken.
Let's see: 3rd world country, low literacy, corrupt government, GDP is based on drug sales
PACOSTAN sounds good to me.
Mexico: The OTHER America.
That goof is for all dumb Redneks who insist on thinking the USA is all there is to America.
Or, maybe the following name is more true to its present function:
The illicit drug USA-independent cartels of Mexico. IDUSAICOM.
I think they ought to change it to "Cartelia" or maybe "Ganglandia".
A name change is indeed a good thing, it should represent them, and the "united mexico states" is a bit lame, and it is known as Mexico anyway, wo why not! However stopping their drug lords would mean taking down the CIA! As for "we dont want the rugs over here"...the demand says differently...if there was no demand, then there would be no black market! The only way really to end the drug war is to, well...end the drug war! Second...recognize it as a health issue and not a criminal issue...thridly, legalize it. That will end the black market...which will get rid of the drug lords (however the CIA will not allow this...and will assasinate any president who tries this). Recognizing drus use as a health issue and not a criminal issue is the first step.....why is possession a crime? Its not! Why is use a crime? Its not! Its a manufactured way of thinking...the law is the problem. However when someon robs a store, or kills someone that is a crime...use and possession is NOT a crime.
As for Mexico...they best be prepared...if they were to change their ways, legalize drugs, and not partake in the USA's corrupt policies....they might need to erect a border to prevent Americans from trying to enter Mexico. America is becioming very similar to Nazi - era Germany!
ArgenBEANia
Rxico
Crapcanistan
HandoutSylvania
Parasitia
New Detroit or New Philly
It doesn't matter what they call it - it is still a P.O.S country - third world at best
Beavis and Butthead vote for
Bungholia!
La Cockaroacha, La Cockaroacha, gotta taco in each handa!
Wetbackistan
Spiclandia
BEAndia
lol The name United Mexican States is what the U.S. should change to.
So for 188 years they used that name. Now one jerk who be out of office in a few days wants to change it.
Mexico is nothing but a US Ghetto. I agree with an above post in that we should start calling the US the United States of Mexico as we are being over-run by our ghetto neighbors to the south. Maybe we should change the title of Latin America to Little America. LOL
Question; Does anyone REALLY give a rats a$$ what they call their country??? Please give us better stories than this.
It might be time for the Mexican Government to adopt death squads and forget about prison for the drug lords, just put a hefty bounty on their heads and let international bounty hunters loose of them.
Any government people working for the drug lords should face execution. That would include their president.
Also, do like Isreal. Every Israeli citizen has an UZI.
Do I sound too radical? Maybe, but the world cannot let itself be ruled by gangsters. We have sattelite pictures of where many of the drug lords live, how about using some missiles on them. Sure, it may kill their wives and kids but that would be an eye for an eye they bring upon themselves.
When Germany would not quit, we turned their cities into rubble. When Japan wouldn't quit we nuked them. When bin Laden was alive, we made him dead.
I hate violence but enough is enough.
Why in the hell did they take a story about Mexico changing it's name and insert a drug related photo????
And for those thinking that legalizing pot will do the trick ... think again .... METHAMPHETAMINE, Mexican Heroin, COCAINE, and Crack Cocaine are all part of the deal ...
AND .... if you think it's safer in major U.S. cities vs Mexican Resorts ... you're dumb as hell!!!!!!!!!!!
Mexico is a beautiful country. People, please do not sit at your computer at try to best each other with punny names for Mexico. What are you gaining from being racist? You enjoy the feeling of your rolls of fat jiggle as you chuckle at other people's misfortunes? Get off your ass and see the world. Let it teach you and humble you. You need to realize that your advantage is simply being born north of the border and nothing more. Mexicans have an amazing spirit and much of the country is more advanced than the backwater that you're probably sitting in...
Another note, La Isla Bonita is actually in Belize. Ambergris Caye. Get your facts straight FOOLS
I always thought "Mexicanos" was a Spanish word meaning the people of Mexico? When I look up the word using Microsoft Word it also says it means Mexicans. So if this is true then the countries name isn't United Mexico States! This reporter has the words also out of order. When you cross our southern border the sign reads Estados Unidos Mexicanos, that is States United Mexicans. Some one complained on here once because we call Mexico people Mexicans the person said they are Hispanics. To me Hispanics is a broader term meaning people that speak Spanish, look it up. This reporter should know that Mexico is not the name of the country and never has been. It's just a term we have been using because States United Mexicans is stupid.
They should name it Sweden. Nobody minds Swedish immigrants coming to this country.
It's amazing that some of the third world countries are developing very fast, and when they come in with new public projects they are usually state of the art, not the repairing and maintaining of crumbling 50's and 60's infrastructure like we have. Some of the highway projects in Mexico and mass transit systems in most of latin America would be good examples.
But yeah, most of the land south of our border is still underdeveloped. For the time being.
If you're Constantipated you might try X-Lax.
No.
If you are constipated, you might try eating at any one of the El Mexicano restaurants in the San Fernando Valley, CA. You'll loosen up. Garranteed.
Then you will also find yourself wiping your butt using paper towels , and you also will place your used paper towels in the waste paper basket ( sometimes missing the mark and littering the restroom floor with your soiled paper towels haha )
Pardon ME... but... would you have any Grey Poop-on??
I'm o.k. with that. My big question is if he has such strong National pride why didn't he try to encourage his citizens to stay on their side of the border?????
Because the US border is illegimate border.
A porous border means a over burdoned health care system in the United States. And also a great source of socialist voters for the democrats!
Calderon and Obama are partners in the flow of undocumented foreigners to the USA! Their words are merely political meant to confuse each other's citizens!
Rest In Peace, Borders bookstore chain. I miss you dearly, nearly every day. ;(
Hey Paco, eet eez tourista zeezon, weez can shootz'em leegally!
Arriba! Arriba!
The name that they sing? Mexico will now be called La Bamba?
memphis kelly-
I understand the over-burdening the health care system, but illegal immigrants can't vote...
doyourhomework you must be naive....In my state all you need is a DL...And illegal immigrants can get those since a law says they can...
So yes illegal immigrants can vote...
Got news for you buddy, you always have been just Mexico to most of the world already. Oh and really this is WHAT you came to talk about in a speech???? Thought he would be addressing the drug gangs and killings. Maybe dropping the united is a good thing because you are not united and people are leaving in droves to the United States of America.
How can he adress the drug gangs? If he talks bad against the CIA...they might target his family and assasinate them all
If Mexico is so great and they sing how good it is, then all of the Mexicans need to stop coming to the United States. Just because they sneak in does not make them a citizens of the United States, They are illegally here, send them back to Mexico to keep their pride.
Mexicans are home. It is their land. I think Europeans should head back to Europe. Mexicans are Indians at least 70%. How does a native people become illegal in their own homeland.
Tom,
I've been pointing that out for years. It is quite possible, if one choses to believe in a God and his justice, that the American whites will one day wake up and feel like Custer. Little brown skinned people all around them, on all sides, and they don't seem to be liking the way the white folk have been treating them.
I mentioned justice because the American whites do not have a clean record in terms of racism.
And the part about being surrounded, just look at any study of US demographics. In less than 20 years the whites will be a minority, the latins a majority. Just stating facts, folks. Like it or not, facts be facts.
Quizas mejor si ustedes aprenden español. Tacos taste great, by the way.
Racism is a two-way street and your post spells hatred and resentment against the Whites.
Caroline,
I have no hatred towards the whites. I am white. I do happen to believe in a God, though probably differently than most because I look at it more in terms of quantum physics, and I do believe in what is called spiritual laws and the justice involved. Having said that and knowing American history well, it is obvious that America has either repentance or payback looming on their horizon. We actually discussed in the halls of congress the using of smallpox infected blankets to wipe out entire indian tribes just to get their land. History. Fact. That would get someone in the Hague today. And it does say in the good book that sins are sometimes carried to the tenth generation. In other words, there is no escaping spiritual laws by saying "it ain't my fault what grandpa did".
So when I speak of waking up feeling like Custer I am only trying to put a humorous light on a serious situation. Sorry if you feel a need to call me hateful.
Vindicator,
Just where to begin? Your story about WW2 is too vague to respond to. Sorry.
As for cherry picking facts to support the indian side, not necessarily so. Whether or no they were already dying from smallpox does not change the fact that in our congress we debated the use of the blankets to grab more territory. Does not change the fact that that would get one in the Hague for usage of weapons of mass destruction. Or genocide. We are guilty on that one.
And sure, there were some very brutal acts performed by the Indians. But I believe if one were to put the attocities of the Indians in one column and the atrocities of the whites in another, there would be no comparison. How many of their villages did we wipe out, men, women, and children? How many "treaties" did we completely disregard? We truly treated them as "sub-human".
I resent being considered someone who "hates" the white race, and I know of no facts that I have "distorted".
I laugh at your "civilizing the savage" statement. Really? And the jury is still out on whose concept of God was the most correct. Perhaps if you could show me a Christian who truly understands the teaching of Christ I might agree that that one particular person might have the correct understanding, but that would be just one. The Christian culture as a whole is just as lost and confused as any Indian was.
Anyway, your posts are a little too irrationally emotional for serious conversation. But mark my words, sooner than later the whites will wake up in America and find themselves the minority with a spanish majority. That will happen whether you want it to or not. The question is, how will you deal with it.
Only 14.8% of Mexico's population is indigenous peoples, they are like what we in the USA call our Native Americans ( which is only 1.7% of the population of the USA). Most Mexicans came from Europe too..Spain.
Vindicator,
From the same article you cut and pasted from:
While Europeans did not originate scalping, they did encourage its spread through the establishment of bounties. J. C. B. writes that "the French and English were accustomed to pay for the scalps, to the amount of thirty francs' worth of trade goods. Their purpose was then to encourage the savages to take as many scalps as they could, and to know the number of the foe who had fallen."
I really don't need to say much more about Indian savagery.
About Mexico's participation in WW2? I have no knowledge of why they did not join in. Perhaps they felt they had no dog in the fight. Perhaps they still held resentment for American soldiers kicking their asses all the way to Vera Cruz. I really don't know.
So how have they been violating American sovierenty since 1836? I know of no Mexican invasions other than Pancho Villa's occassional raids. Most called him a bandit, and our troops went into Mexico in futile efforts to catch him.
Human trafficking? Like in coyotes? That's mostly about people paying an expert to help them slip past our border security. Illegal entry, first offense, is still a misdemeanor. The coyote, or "human trafficker" gets a felony on that one. You can call all that a serious international crime if you wish.
Indian massacres? Sure, there were some. Many more white massacres though.
Napituca Massacre, Mabila Massacre, Tiguex Massacres, Acoma Massacre, Sandia Mountains Massacre, Pamunkey Peace Talks Massacre, Mystic Massacre, Pavonia Massacre, Pound Ridge Massacre, Great Swamp Massacre, Turner Falls Massacre, Rhode Island Massacre, Zia Pueblo Massacre, Apalachee Massacre,...........................man, I could go on and on. There were obviously some perpetuated by the Indians too.
Let it be said there was plenty of blood shed from all sides, but keep in mind who the invaders were and who were defending their homeland.
I had the luck to grow up close to Ft. Parker in Texas and spent many youthful days playing in the fort. The story was well known to all of us. After winning independence from Mexico, Texas built a fort deep into Commanche hunting grounds. The Commanches resented that, burned the fort down, and returned to the hills of Oklahoma with Colonel Parker's 13 year old daughter Cynthia Ann. She grew up and married a Commanche chief and gave birth to Quanah Parker, a half-breed who hated the white man and became a chief, actually the last Indian chief to give up the war with the whites. Cynthia Ann was later captured and brought back to "civilization". She pined away, hating her life in the white man's civilization because they knew nothing about living in harmony with nature and the great spirit.
Also there were native american cultures whose civilizations were quite advanced at the time of the europeans arrival. They just hadn't learned the use of iron as weapons and never stood much of a chance, especially as they were being decimated by smallpox. It has been said that 90% of the Incas died to smallpox.
So I really don't buy your portrayal of the natives as savages.
As far as who pays for whose sins, we each are individually held accountable for what we do, but sometimes that applies to the group also. I saw no lies in what I said.
By the way, you never answered my question of just what you were trying to vindicate.
Vindicator,
All I can say is that I'm glad I'm me and not you.
The world belongs to those who can make it a better place? ha
How could the spirit of the earth love the white man? … Whatever he touches, he leaves a wound.” Chief Sitting Bull
Those words seem so true today when I think what we have done to the earth. Words spoken, as you would say, by a savage.
You need to go take a strong dose of LSD and think about things for awhile. It would probably take something that drastic to bring the human spirit back to life in you. LMAO
BTW It hasn't been proven that indians gave the whites syphillis. It is very probably, but never proven. Anyway, if we talk about trading diseases, the indians got the shaft. Syphillis never killed 90% of anyone's population. It only got those who couldn't keep it in their pants.
It would be a much better conversation than the one I'm presently having with such an obvious racist bigot. Reminds me of some of the long pointless arguments I had back in freshman college days.
You never told me what you're trying to vindicate. I assume you know what the word means.
Not "mood" altering........mind opening.
All the race-calling bigits need to chill.
Here... have a taco.
Nope, I grew up on the streets of Berkeley in the 60's and learned to spot self-righteous bigots like you from a long distance. It's people like you who are going to bring America down. If speaking truths appears to you to be a form of hate, then that is really your problem. I'm going to laugh my ass off when you finally wake up one day and find that your white supremist hate-filled assss is outnumbered by little brown skinned people who really don't like the way you think you're so superior.
And that day is coming. You might want to go ahead and learn some spanish. I'll go ahead and give you a starter, to get you going on that. Next time you meet a Mexican gang on the street, you can say to them, "Hola, me llamo Pendejo el Vindicador. Estoy aquí para decirte lo mucho que odio los mexicanos y los indios. " I'm sure they'll appreciate your honesty.
You never have told me just what you plan to vindicate. Someone call you stupid or lowlife in your childhood and you're trying to vindicate that? Not having much success there dude.
Spiderman,
Actually I enjoy shooting marbles with little peabrains, especially those who think they are somehow superior because of the color of their skin. Their little brains make a funny pinging sound when they hit another marble.
But thanks for the offer, Tacos are good.
No, but if you repeat the spanish that I recommended when you meet the next mexican gang on the street they'll probably tatoo your ass and make you their punk. You can pitch it into the google translator to find out what it means, or just go ahead and repeat it. Whatever.
You really are trying to become the Legend in Your Own Mind, aren't you.
I think Americans are great. All colors, by the way. We have been a shining light to the rest of the world ever since our foundation. We have a great spirit. Ooops, I forgot. You have no understanding of spirit.
I believe what I've been trying to say is not that Latinos are wonderful and Yankees are evil. No, it's more like "people who think they are superior and look down on others are evil" and that those who try to help their fellow man and be good guardians of the earth are wonderful.
Wonder where that leaves you?
Oh by the way, there are surgical ways to remove that tatoo off your assss if the mexicans punk you out.
Why make value judgements where none are needed, grasshopper? Each language has it's own forte, it's own beauty. Being born American I prefer English ten to one, but that is because I grew up with it. I dream in English, so to speak. But I learned Spanish also, mainly because I wanted to travel south and also because I have a keen interest in the native cultures.
As far as those two hamburger flippers go, that's only natural. When I travel an occassional movie in English on the cable TV is almost refreshing, at least relaxing. One just prefers to be in the language he grew up with.
I was hoping you popped by up. Gotta say bye. I'm having to refresh myself on calculus and found that after 45 years of non-use I gotta drop all the way back into some algebra just to get the brain to catch hold again. Having lots of fun, in other words. And just don't have time to keep playing our game here.
So hope you lighten up some. I'll leave you with this Chief Joseph (a savage, remember?) quote.
The earth is the mother of all people, and all people should have equal rights upon it.
Read more at http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/authors/c/chief_joseph.html#mxcVCWpgR1xcvmsD.99
Bring your people home.
Which is North America. European Americans I think need to head home to Europe.
What's your hold-up Tom???? You on the TSA NO-FLY list????.
I don't know about the rest of you, but I was born here, as were my parents...
go home
Alps is really nice these days.
Stay in Mexico and call it a third world steaming pile if you want. But please stay in the country that you are so proud of.
Everybody needs to head home and leave the country to their native peoples, which are Mexicans. Blacks, Asians, Europeans need to head home.
Well, the ruling class of Mexico is mostly of European blood. The TV Channels hugely favor blond, blue-eyed actors and actresses. Where will you send them?
Tom, everyone except the Irish;-)
Tom, while I get your frustration, your beating a dead horse. The Mexican and even pure blood Indians are no more original natives to America than are the Europeans etc. Everybody came from somewhere else at some point, it's just a matter of when. It's what humans do. Are you saying just because the Indians got here before the Euros, they have the only claim? I'm sure you know, they displaced the Clovis people who were here before them.
Rags791 @ 1.3 Please leave this country now....Building walls is something the Soviets did....The Chinese have a Great one....I'm sure both these countries will galdly take you in....
The only reason there are drug cartels at all is because of prohibition. We already know from hard experience that prohibition does nothing to reduce demand or change behavior. All it does is create huge crime organizations that go on to infect many other businesses, and politics.
If it is your choice to not use then don't use. If it is your choice to use then use. If those who use screw up and harm people thereby, double the penalty. Keep it all away from kids, tax it, use the taxes to fund treatment centers and education programs for the youth. Not like Mr. Mackey. Real education.
No govt has the right to determine which mental states or moods are acceptable for people to investigate or employ in their lives. It is immoral to regulate thoughts and moods. it doesn't matter if YOU see no purpose to drugs. Obviously, many people do see a purpose and it is not your call to tell them no. Many people don't see the purpose to religion and yet they don't go out seeking to prohibit it. Its called freedom.
You certainly justify your poster name, Philosopher. Perfectly stated with impeccable wisdom. Thanks.
Even the great Sherlock Holmes enjoyed the mental clarity induced by cocaine. Mythical person, but there was some background to the author's choice to include this in his story.
Biggest problem with drugs has been that is makes an easy football to kick around by those who need an evil to fear. America, with it's "puritanical" heritage, needs an "evil" to fear.
Being from the 60's I remember one of the arguments against the govt.'s crackdown on drugs being that governments do not want the population to become aware, and that the taking of the drugs gave one a different perspective on things allowing much to be discovered (call it the Sherlock Holmes syndrome, if you will). Governments fear an aware, free-thinking population. Even so called "democracies".
Edgar Allen Poe loved opium and died in the gutter.
And you will probably die as an ignorant bigot, so what? Poe might have found it easier to get through the gates than you will.
Thanks for the kind words. Plotinus, you are definitely on to something. I believe that 'sixties paranoia' was not paranoia, and is more of an issue now than ever.
Caroline, Poe isn't dead. He created works of art that will never die. Perhaps the opium helped with his art? Perhaps art comes from specialized people who don't and can't live a normal life. What you consider to be an inglorious demise many of us consider to be immortality.
None of the artists I know are teetotalers in any sense of the word. This includes painters, writers, sculptors etc. There's a correlation, though I would not be the one to quantify or qualify it.
As to Mexico, their states are no more united than the USA's
So we should legalize heroin to cut out the drug cartels?
Vindicator,
Just what are you wishing to "vindicate"?
Just because you cannot talk to the dead does not mean that Doyle couldn't. You really cannot say that he didn't, only that you believe that he didn't. There is a difference there, you know. Or do you? You might need a superior intellect than that which you presently possess to understand what a superior intellect is.
People use drugs for 1, recreation and 2, for escape from a @!$%#ty, stressful existence. The only solution is to get rid of the @!$%# and the stress. Not everyone is born a thick skinned shark out for blood. Some are too sensitive to cope with the ugliness most humans (think they) thrive on. Our society needs to lighten up and, G*D forbid, act on their (supposed) spiritual beliefs, rather than just give them mouth service.
BTW, happy black Friday and collecting materialistic crap in the name of the savior. wink
Vindicator,
You never told me just what it is you're vindicating.
Mr. Binkie.
Yes. For 2 reasons.
First, and most importantly, no govt has the right to make it illegal. Just because something is ill-advised in many or even most cases in no way justifies legal prohibition. There is no fundamental moral basis for allowing a govt to intrude into private activities. It is the same situation as why no govt can rightfully make homosexuality illegal. Just because it is detestable to you, or even most, is in no way a justification for the law to get involved.
Second, our drug problems would be improved by taking everything out of the shadows, out of the hands of criminal organizations, and put into the light of day where we can manage the overall situation honestly and openly. Also, the taxes from drug sales would self-fund a massively expanded treatment/rehab system and also education. This is actually dealing with the situation instead of saying "NO. DADDY SAYS NO." Its not as if that approach actually works. Demand will never go away because there are many people who find value in drugs. Not all of them are deluded, and even if they are deluded, they have the right to be so. We let deluded people practice their various religious activities too. Personal delusion is not and cannot be illegal.
here we go stretching the rubberband again, its not a name change people and news media its simply an abreviation. why kindle the fire
Aside from the hate filled comments from the right (the rest of Americans expect it anymore), I think it is a great idea. Actually, I didn't know about the long name, but I agree, shorten it to just Mexico, that is what I have always called it anyway.
I usually just refer to it as " Schit"
Yes Mike...No one on the left is hate filled or angry...Isn't it amazing??
I guess he doesn't have enough problems so he's worried about the name?
It seems to me that the biggest mistake ever was to outsource everything to China when we could have sent all that business and manufacturing to Mexico creating jobs there and stabilizing thier ecomony which would have benifited America too and probably would have helped the immigration problem at the same time, instead we helped arm the drug cartels and now sources report they are sending younger illegals over now that Obama has granted imunity for the young people. We should benifit our own hemisphere before going to asia or europe
"A Rose by any other name is still a Rose", Mexico by any other name is still a s--t hole.
now can we get the illegal mexicans out of the USA??
Calderon has it all wrong. The US should change its name to The United States Of Mexico.
For many, however, there is also resentment of a larger and more powerful northern neighbor that's often seen as ignoring or looking down its nose at Mexico.
God, how I love third world countries! When we send them aid and assistance we're viewed as Yankee Imperialists that interfere in a sovereign state; when we do nothing then were viewed as a rich arrogant nation that's not willing to help out. To hell with them all!
Instead of sending our soldiers over to the Mideast for the corrupt Republican OIL & FINANCIAL corporate MONARCHY, we need to first get the hell out of there and then so south of our border and help our MEXICAN neighbors get rid of their drug cartel!
The only real reason it continues is because of the wealth it brings to MEXICO. What else do they have? If we were true neighbors look how much fun we could have!!!
So easy to spot Republicans here. And they wonder why they lost. Must be the weather.
you are a complete moron,definatly responsible for electing the complete moron we have in office
only morons don't know how to spell definitely LMAO
And only a-holes spell check other people and disregard the point behind the message
LMAO
I addressed my post directly to the point behind his message, thank you. He was calling people morons, and I pointed out that he might be the moron. Very to the point, I think.
Of course you did.....
Funny, the original poster points out how the Republicans have been losing because people are tired of all the hatred and the Republicans answer with... Hate. And they don't see the irony!
Bingo!!
*GASP* A politocal party with hateful people...Say it ain't so Joe.....
The country they all want to leave that sounds better.
Mexico is Mexico is Mexico. Changing the name of the country is not going to change their image or the drug and gun traffic. I can remember when mexico was a beautiful country and full of warm caring people. Now it is just drugs money and guns. Their own CORRUPT government and police are the blame for this. They had a chance early on to put a stop to it all and chose to not enforce their own laws. It is a mess of their own making. They are the ones who need to clean it up.
Just name it "obamaland" lol
I just looked up douche and their you were under prime example.
Funny...I looked up "douche bag " and it's definition was "someone who doesn't know the proper use of THEIR, THERE, and THEY'RE"
yeah yeah yeah. I know the difference, I just made a typo. BTW I met Mick a couple of times. I don't think he'd appreciate your outlook...
I think it's a great idea to get "United States" out of Mexico! At the same time, I think it would be great to get Mexico out of the United States! All of the illegals!
funny but wrong
Or they could name it something more practical like "We export people and drugs".
Different name but same problems...maybe he should forget the name change and instead concentrate on sweeping social changes and aggressive curtailment of the drug lords.