Replies: 9 comments

Victor:

You are evidently a very intelligent and learned person. I commend your knowledge and effort to be objactive. Mexico needs that from its people and from those with a relationship to the country.

I do think, however that you are getting a bit over the top. I don't think anyone on this blog is trying to discern levels of entropy or get past "the logical factual reasons of doing things". As far as I have seen, this is mostly a discussion about whether Serge has the right to freedom of expression or not!

You make a good point when you say that it is bad to make generalizations. You are also right that pride can cloud one's vision. However, I think that you fail to see that no one is "trying to put Mexico down". If you re-read posts, it is just facts that are being stated. If anything, it is Mexico that is putting itself down. I agree that those who defend Mexico with no hard data and without a cool head are driven by false pride, but that isn't the case with the "factual" and plain statements of Mexico's shortcomings which have been posted.

It is good that you side with those who defend Mexico. And it is true that there is good and bad everywhere. Incidentally, that is a favorite of Mexicans; to brush aside criticism made to the country by stating that "there is good and bad everywhere". I have yet to meet a Mexican who will accept negative facts coolly from a foreigner, (which Serge happens to be). So, in that vein, and if you side with those who defend Mexico, I invite you to come with hard facts and a cool open mind and share them.

It is needless to say that we all agree that Mexico has positives, yet, we are all stating only our personal opinions, and in my own very personal opinion the good stuff that Mexico has can never make up for the fact that the country cannot defend its own citizens, that it promotes brain drains, that every single government has been corrupt and that it's the least welcome place to raise children you could think of, let alone that the middle class has so far survived purely by miracle. So, yes, there is good and bad everywhere, but if you are going to claim that the good outweighs the bad in Mexico then be ready to defend that statement. (Hint: the second law of thermodynamics won't explain it)

If I may be objective, you sound like a cultural snob who thinks he can explain things better just because you can throw in 1000 dollar words here and there. Your first post had impressed me, yet in the end, you joined the crowd of the bubble-dwellers who are using their false pride to claim that Serge has no freedom ef expression. Again, it is not a mattrer whether you like the guy or not, it's a matter of freedom to speak one's mind (which is almost unheard of in Mexico), and by the way, what tells you that Serge "is failing" or "doing nothing"...is it the fact that he has his own tech start-up in Mexico (a rarity) or is it the coveted prize that Intel gave him for excellence...Intel...ever heard of them?

Go read your physics books, and Merry Christmas.

Posted by L'ombre d'une vague @ 12/13/2004 09:42 PM MEX

I wrote a comment about Why moving everywhere in the last entry.

As I tried to explain, there is more than just the logical factual reasons of doing things.

Although the human nature is unpredictable there are certain constants in everything. As it has been found in statistics, there is not such a thing as complete randomness (although the need of expressing the inability of accurately predict something forces us to adopt the mathematical term of random)

To make generalizations, or even worse stupid sarcastic comments about a culture is in itself short-sighted, and an oxymoron for those that claim directly or indirectly to be open minded. It is kind of funny that the term of being open minded is usually applied by those that believe they are correct attack the ones that differ in their opinions.
To deny the existence of a positive and negative(In some cases the lack of positive) in a system, it is idiotic since the laws of every science prove it otherwise.

Some of those that try to defend or attack Serge fail to realize that there is so much more than what their pride is letting them see. Pride by the Mexicans that feel that an unjust statement has been made, and pride by those that criticize Mexico and try to put it down. I think they fail to realize that every culture, civilization, organization, family or individual will always tend to a greater amount of entropy whether it is physical or spiritually. Whether it is Mexico, Italy, USA, or Europe, there is good and bad. The second law of thermodynamics explains the physical aspect, but history relates the spiritual degeneration that has been taking place since the beginning of time. Situations can determine our mood, but at the end it is a choice. It is a choice to be happy with what you have or were you are. Things are bad everywhere, persons can be nasty anywhere.

In my humble perspective, I tend to lean more with those defending the country.

Yes, there is a great amount of entropy, disorder, chaos, or whoever you can to call it in Mexico, but in my perspective (Already clarifying that there is good and bad everywhere) the good still imposes over the bad.

I had very few opportunities to try the famous "tacos de la calle" in Mexico, and every time I tried to famous tacos I had to visit a doctor or a "Farmacia del ahorro". The only reason I tried them again was because the persons eating them seemed to enjoy them so much that I wanted to try. But to limit the richness of the culinary art of Mexico to tacos is stupid and a proof of ignorance about the culture. Tacos is the popular food (because people love them!) but definitively not the only one. There are great dishes for every taste and style of eating.

Corruption is the cancer of Mexico, but out of this cancer, there are still many that rise with courage against this gangrene of this society. There are those that believe, fight and hope for a change. The battle against corruption is uneven, but not lost.

To try to give you my explanations of the social situation of Mexico would be pointless or out of the topic of conversation. To try to defend the other points will be redundant.

I feel kind of sorry for Serge. If he is truly miserable I really do not know what he is doing where he is. In my perspective, he is talking but doing little or nothing to change. For every one that fails, there is another one that makes it. If he is not taking opportunity of the lack of technology in Mexico, somebody else will. For every Serge, there is another foreigner happy where he is. For every Yin there is a Yang.

Posted by Victor @ 12/13/2004 08:53 PM MEX

First of all, hi Juliana! You are right, I too would like to see a Mexican who comes and defends the country with hard data. I enjoy reading your postings very much!

Second, a response to Alejandra:

Alejandra, thanks for your thoughful post. A lot of what you say makes sense, and I repeat what I said earlier, you are probably a nice and good person. You also seem to be extremely smart and well-travelled. At the same time, you are hot-headed like most Mexicans (and I know when you read that I call you hot-headed you will probably feel like snapping back, but please know "te lo digo con amistad"). By hot-headed I mean that Mexicans will jump and enter a heated argument when they hear foreigners dare critizise Mexico. Also, please know that this is nothing personal against you. A mistake that we Mexicans make, and which is one of the many reasons that keeps us out of the "first world" is that we take everything personally. We need to cool down and be objective. So, let's be objective.

Do you truly believe that the solution is to "pack your bags and leave"? That is also very Mexican, we don't like something and we leave things, abandon projects, daddies abandon their wives and kids. Shouldn't we instead stick with our goal, negotiate the hardships and work till we achieve what we wanted? You didn't like Italy and you left. Were you in Italy working on your own start-up creating new Italian technology? If you were, and you abandoned everything just because you couldn't afford a maid, or because in Italy they don't give you "mesa de pista con botella", then what a shame! You are a loser! If, on the other hand (and as I suspect) you were in Europe travelling, taking Italian, French and cooking or art classes, and you just got fed-up, then fine, it's good you left, and welcome back to Mexico! Do you pretend that Serge should leave everything he has worked so hard for (and benefitted Mexico with) and which he is still working hard on developing, just becaus eyou are hot-headed and want him out of the country...and just because he dared say what we Mexicans say all the time? Serge's only sin it seems is that he's a non-Mexican. "A non-Mexican who dared say the same things that Mexicans say in private". Maybe that's why you didn't like Europe, because you found it too free. Maybe you didn't like the fact that in Europe people could speak their minds, or that an Italian could freely criticize a Frenchman. Is that it? Or maybe you didn't like the fact that at Bains Douches they wouldn't bring you a bottle of Bacardi to your "mesa de pista"?

Alejandra, again, remember I told you I respect you and your comments, so don't take my sarcasm too seriously. Just try to think about the content.

You also said something that people in the Mexican upper class LOVE to say and say again "Quality of life in Mexico is much better than elsewhere". And I say upper class even though you said "middle" class because you are clearly upper class (economically at least. I can't know if othewrsie, because I don't know you personally). Well, let me ask you, who are they kidding? OK, Mexico is great for any super rich crook or old money person (far few than ever before I'm afraid), because they can pay for everything upfront, and then again they have to live a lifestyle of body-guards and fear of being kidnapped. As for the middle class that you mention, what is so good for them??? A middle class family cannot afford to buy a house upfront like the rich can, so they have to pay for a 14% mortgage!!! (Italian mortages are at around 3-4%) And that is recent Alejandra. remember that 2 years ago no one could get an "hipoteca" (mortgage). Same goes for buying a car, paying for child birth at a hospital, etc etc. The middle class in Mexico is so small that it almost does not exist, and they all want to get the hell out of Mexico.

I admire the fact that you are doing your share of helping the country move forward (not littering, not double-parking, etc) but you should remember that you will do the country a better good if you change your mentality of repressing freedom of expression and kicking out foreign scientists and entrepreneurs who came here to help. Leave that for the government, they are masters at engineering massive "brain drains". And please note that I never mentioned Fox or the PRI or anyone by name, why did YOU mention them? I am totally turned off by Mexican politics and I don't like any one of the politicians, not ONE. And not ONe party! OK, so you don't like the way Serge says things. I may not like it either. I never said I liked his style, and haven't said that I dislike it. What I am saying is that he has the right to express himself and do the hard honest work that he came to Mexico to do. Just like you said "If you don't like a country, just leave" No one is forcing you to come into this blog and read it, Alejandra. Go do something more constructive for Mexico, like convincing your husband not to evade his Federal taxes this year.

Posted by L'ombre d'une vague @ 12/09/2004 02:40 PM MEX

L ombre de vague:

I suggest you read my post in "Why go to Mexico?".

Althoug many of the things you say are true, what's the point? Reality IS. Is your perception about it what counts. I am not saying Mexico is the best country in the world. It's far from being it. What I am trying to say is I can't change a whole nation by myself. I can't control financial crisis, or "crooks" like you call them. But what I DO know is I am a good mexican. I do not cheat, I do not litter, I am not part of the corruption (even if it results much more complicated) and I try to contribute, no to destroy. I CHOOSE to see the good things about everything. It’s twice as hard, but I rather do this instead of perceiving myself surrounded by crap.
I do everything that is on my side to make my country, or (wherever I am) a better place to live.

What annoys me is the "ilusion" that people have that everything OUTSIDE Mexico is better. And I say that with experience & knowledge. I have lived in Italy, France & England, and although lots of things are better, many others are far behind Mexico.

Italy for travelling is the golden dream. For living is the nightmare of hell. Many things about italian culture got on my nerves. Instead of cursing the italians, blaming the system and complaining endlessly, I grabbed my suitcase and left the country. You don't like it? Just go! Italy doesn't need somebody that doesn't appreciate it and must of all, just criticize destructevely. Do the country and yourself a favor: Find a place when you are happy, so you will contribute and look after it all the way long.

Mexican middle class lives much much better BY FAR that european one.
In my experience, (at least in Italy & France) having a car, computer, landline phone, etc. and things we take for granted are not the common factor in middle class population.
In Mexico we do not share a house because you can’t afford to pay it all.

But comparisons are useless and a waste of time.

I regret what happened to your family. And it has happened to mine as well. We are good people and get quite upset about those kind of things. But we keep appreciating Mexico DESPITE the bad things. Why? Because it is where all that we love lies. Our customs, our family, our favorite places…
We are not giving up all the things we enjoy and love because of a blody kidnapper, or a system that doesn’t work. That would be to give the power of our choices, and our reality to the “crooks”.
Do I choose the car I buy thinking on the robbers? I don’t think so. Do I apply to be a waitress because lack of opportunities? I don’t think so either.
I refuse to give the power of my choices to the “bad things” going in Mexico.

I can’t control if I am robbed or not. I can’t avoid being part of the system. But what I CAN do is make sure everything I make, I get involved with and participate leaves something positive, to me and to others. It’s not poetry. It’s not a Miguel Angel Cornejo tail. To make the difference is very simple. Not parking in double line, not littering around, not trying to get in the queue, not turning left/rigth from the third line…
I get millions of that everyday. Thanks God I am not one of them.
Change starts in the house. With education and respect. It goes from the particular to the general. So stop blaming the government, Fox, PRI, or the robbers. Mexico is what it is because of it’s 120 million habitants.

I am not a "patriotic". I am not saying most of the thing he says are not true. What I am saying is that if you are "so unhappy" and so blody miserable in one place, specially if it is not your country, just go!

Mexico is not the only place to invest. You have all sort of countries.
He is not a hero, because he has faced all kind of troubles and “survived”. He CHOSE Mexico (whatever his reasons were) to invest his money, his time and his energy.
And even if he didn’t choose it voluntarely, he can always change his mind.

You are right when you say more action and less words.
So, if you don’t like a country, or suffer it so badly, just go. As I did.

Posted by Alejandra @ 12/09/2004 10:26 AM MEX

As a sideline from the post of this blogs I have to confess my admiration towards L'ombre d'une vague in his intelligent and objective defense* of Serge posts (not to mention the promptness of his reply).

Do you check daily who has posted a new subjective warm-head full of patriotic instic comment on this blog, so you jump with your characteristic objectiveness in what I consider the rich part of reading the comments of this blog?

I am very curious by the nature of such a person who devotes long factual comments (to which I mostly agree with), in what I consider a blog with incredible personal experiences literature with mostly poor sensitive and patriotic comments/feedback without fundaments, except the initial frustration felt when Serge pushes the 'nationalism' button, and make subjective comments with facts for the reader to analyse and construct an informed opinion - which I have rarely seen.

Having said this, I am not only looking forward new blogs from Serge, but new comments from your part, and from whoever else who takes the time to write a comment worth of reading it, even if they disagree. Afterall, the nature of this blog, I believe, is not to convince anybody of anything. It would be incredibly interesting if someone comes in the defense of Mexico with facts and statistic, instead of expected and homogeneous comments. I will wait patiently until that moment comes. Perhaps by then some rich dialogs will come to the surface and we will be able to see the two faces of the coin, (or should I say Mexican Peso?)

*By objective defense I am not saying Serge need anybody's defense, yet since your comments are from his side I used the term which I consider was the most appropriate.

Posted by Juliana Pas Vache @ 12/09/2004 09:29 AM MEX

Alejandra:

First of all let me tell you that I am a Mexican too. That said, I want to say that you are probably a nice person, a person who is defending Mexico like a good patriot (at least in your post, because as you know, most Mexicans are patriots when there's a soccer game and then they all rush to "El Angel", but then spend the rest of the year complaining and bad mouthing Mexico).

Being a Mexican, I can understand better than others where you might be coming from. With all due respect, Mexico is indefensible. (My family and I have been kidnapped twice for example). Honest people start their businesses and the money is taken away by infamous financial crises. Crooks rise to the top and the people who used to criticize them when they were poor crooks now love them as rich crooks. People don't love the country, they litter, they destroy the phone booths. You go to a bank and try to send a wire and they tell you that the Chase Manhattan Bank in New York does not exist. etc, tc, etc. People who love the country end up fed up because the country itself kicks them out. Look at the hundreds of thousands of middle and upper middle class people getting the hell out of Mexico. You cannot live in Mexico and feel safe about your kids going to a club or to a friend's house. Etc. And don't tell me that I am exaggerating or that this only pertains to my situation, if you did that you'd be lying and/or living in a constant lie.

Finally, Serge has been objective! Why are you so offended by his comments? Is Mexico not a free country where people can voice their own opinions? people like you make Mexico not be a free place. Also, Mexico is FAR from "sheltering" Serge. Haven't you read all the hardships that he has had to go through because of the lack on efficiency that prevails in the country? It's amazing that he has made such progress with such odds against him! If anything, Mexico should thank bright entrepreneurs like Serge who have come from the comfort of their countries of origin to develop Mexican technology, a term which otherwise would be an oxymoron (i.e. would not exist).

Alejandra, did you know that some Mexican scientists from Aguascalientes developed a system to make better, more nutritious tortillas in larger quantities and for much cheaper than traditional methods? You might have read that in reforma. Well, they went to Maseca and to the Mexican government to try to patent and sell their idea, which would have generated billions in revenue, helped hungry children, etc, and guess what? they weren't interested. What did they do? They went to the USA where their idea was patented. Most everything in Mexico is the same way.

Mexico will neevr advance until we stop complaining about the country in private, without doing anything, and then attacking people who voice their opinions with a holier-than-thou attitude. If you have constructive criticism for Serge, then go and furnish that, otherwise do not volunteer useless false pride comments that are at the crux of Mexico's problems: A lot of talk, and no action.

Posted by L'ombre d'une vague @ 12/08/2004 04:56 PM MEX

I just finished reading all your entries. Like a mexican, I can only feel insulted and offended that MY country is sheltering you and your "Entreprenur ideas". Why don't you OH GREAT EUROPEAN, Mr. Perfect country, just leave mine and stop bitching it around? What CAN you do to make it better? Mmhh... all complains, and lack of positive suggestions. Thanks God, you always have the CHOICE to leave.
Do us mexicans a favour pal: Get out of my country.

Posted by Alejandra @ 12/08/2004 11:24 AM MEX

After years of hard-work things are shaping up and taking you to new horizons, congratulations!!
"me quito el sombrero"! I am absolutely amazed by the present and I hope the future will be like hot air for you. Did I already congratulate you? Well, another time won't hurt, right? Well done!!

Posted by Juliana Lemon-aid @ 11/29/2004 08:30 PM MEX

Excellent feature and this is terrific blog. Thank you for sharing your insights.

I've had poor success with trade fairs in Mexico. They have been poor for business and once I was robbed! I've always wondered who takes part and why ... it's always a mix of ernest entrepreneurs and businesses with the educanes/models that somehow need to have a presence if only to take a photo to show that they took part in x-event.

It seems to me that the future of Mexican business lies in the traditional markets AND on the Web.