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09/18/2004 Entry: "Two Brothers in the pit"
Tonight, a simple but emotional movie made me realize a characteristic of Mexico that I viscerally felt for years but couldn’t name until now: here is a country whose nobility and majesty have vanished in the fog of a distant past, a society both uninspired and uninspiring.
Back to the movie, tigers are such beautiful creatures that they make me doubt whether we deserve our place at the top of the food chain. As a somewhat evolved ape, I can’t help feeling awed by the natural elegance of tigers, and wonder how my distant ancestors escaped finishing on the menu of these big cats.
Jean Jacques Annaud in Two Brothers filmed an eloquent denunciation of our relentless extermination of tigers, a mere 5000 survivors populating our planet today. The suffocating stench of fast food omnipresent in Mexican movie theaters did not detract me from enjoying the spectacle of the two tiger cubs playfully discovering the world, drawing my tears at many occasions during the film.
Hollywood movies are designed as an escape-hatch from the dull reality of daily life. Some achieve the “tour de force” of being truly inspirational. However, in present day Mexico, what role models exist for the younger generations? Vicente Fox or “El Hombre Araña”?
Everywhere I look, I see poverty standing next to shameless luxury, both built atop the ruins of a once proud civilization. My Mexican business partner likes to say that “Mexican technology” is an oxymoron. I would go as far as to write that “Mexico’s glory” is a topic belonging to a paleontology class.
First world societies are said to lack an ideal and a moral. Granted! Yet their social inertia is nothing compared to Mexico’s. In London, the proud monuments of a lost Empire not two centuries old co-exist with buildings housing modern icons of finance, publishing, etc. Britain re-invented itself in half a century. How many more years until Mexico crawls out of its dark ages?
Exceptional British personalities in sciences (e.g. Stephen Hawking), politics (e.g. Winston Churchill), sports (e.g. Sebastian Coe), etc. were the spearheads of this phenomenal re-birth. They were the produces of a vibrant society that deserves my admiration (it is worth noting that I’m not British by birth, hence I cannot be accused of blindly embracing the Union Jack).
One of my critics wrote that my failure in this country is due to my lack of humility. I would argue that the failure of Mexico is rooted in the absence of justified pride in its leaders, whom themselves are a reflection of a society unable to rise above the shoulders of its glorious forefathers. Living in Mexico is facing a daily struggle against mediocrity – there are no Bengal Tigers in the land of the tacos.
Replies: 1 Comment
I am a person of few words, sometimes too few.
The world around us is a reflection of our inner world - I live with that reality. I tend to be optimistic and usually I feel blessed with opportunities, a usually happy and loving family and a true humble heart that has take me places. I live my life simply, and I can say I am a happy person. People have loved me like I am. Perhaps I live happy ignoring my ignorance about Empires and Reigns.
I did Peace with Mexico and that chapter is absolutely closed to me. I do hope one day I will come back to do a show of my artwork, and my doors will be totally open. Not like usually are half open and there is a slam back when I leave... (usually thre is another slam in my face as a welcome sign).
Over Great Britain, I bow China, I remove my hat and salute the brilliant Chinese People in their safe patch to a New Empire.
As a person with few words I cannot come with a reply that links all my feelings together when I read this post.
Last time I felt my eyes wet was when I watched the "Magdalene Sisters", a movie about power of women over women, humiliation and absolutely loneliness.
"How many more years until Mexico crawls out of its dark ages?" The day humans ask that in First Person. Without saying that I would change Mexico for the World, but that is way too ambitious.
I am comming back from my dark ages now.
Posted by Juliana HUMBLE @ 09/19/2004 08:54 AM MEX
