Chicago Religious Leadership Network on Latin America

Reflections on Mexico

Group Journal from the Tortillas and Trade delegation to Mexico

January 2009

  

Saturday, January 17, 2009

     by Lois

11 degrees Fahrenheit this morning in Chicago, with snow in the air.  A good day to head to Mexico City where it is, perhaps, 70 degrees!  Ten of us met at O'Hare, but a passport glitch will keep one of our members behind until at least Tuesday - 3 days off.  Long lines of plows are clearing runways for the planes, as our plane awaits de-icing. 

Kim and Luke from the Lutheran Center met us at the airport for the van ride south through Mexico City.  We've heard the health, safety, and security guidelines, as well as an overview of the week's experiences.  Our week begins tomorrow with visits to the National Palace, Templo Mayor, and Cathedral.  From that look backward into history, our week expands to globalization, human rights, and immigration.  Many people and places to encounter in our journey to widen our understanding of the impact of trade issues on God's people in Mexico.

 

 

Sunday, January 18, 2009

     by Cindy

We woke up to the smell of coffee on the stove and Spanish omelet cooking for breakfast.  A trip to the central square, "Zocalo," of Mexico City showed us the National Palace with Diego Rivera's murals, the ruins of the Aztec empire in the Templo Mayor, and the National Cathedral.

Abril and Ariadne (from The Lutheran Center) were gracious and knowledgeable tour guides, and after a sumptuous meal at a nearby restaurant, we returned to the Lutheran Center for rest and free time.

Dr. Ross Gandy spoke this evening about Mexican history since the revolution in 1910.  Though prospects look bleak for 70% of Mexican people, we engaged in spirited and lively conversation.  Some were angry, some hopeful, some reflective and all were willing to share their thoughts.

I felt we were beginning to become a group, eating, traveling, learning together with a growing sense of mission.  May God lead us.

 

 

Monday, January 19, 2009

     by Don

This morning began with cool, almost cold, weather.  At desayuno we met Jenna and Erin who will be with us during our upcoming time in Cuernavaca.  Since the 9 am meeting changed to 9:30, there was time for a walk to Sanborns for exercise and an English-language newspaper.  Kim started the morning session with a talk "Intro. to Globalization: Roles and Players."  He gave an overview of economic theories from Adam Smith to the present neo-liberalism of today.  During the second session he presented a documentary video about the protest at the WTO meeting in Cancun in 2003.

By afternoon the weather had warmed and it was good to sit in the sun until time for the afternoon session.  This was a first-hand experience presentation of "The History and Struggle of San Salvador Atenco."  This was a story of the successful resistance to expropriation of its farmlands for the building of a new international airport in 2001.  This was followed in 2006 by the Atenco residents supporting the flower vendors in a neighboring town.  Because of this the police invaded Atenco with violence: repeatedly raping women, killing 2 young men and taking 200 prisoners.  A powerful story of government oppression with an outstanding demonstration of courage on the part of the people.

A period of reflection ended the day.  As always, the day included three grand meals, always a highlight of a trip to Mexico.

 

 

Tuesday, January 20, 2009

     by Krystal

This is the day the Lord has made, let us rejoice and be glad in it.  We began this morning with prayer.  With emotion, we prayed for the people of Mexico and other South and North Americans.  We prayed that God would give us grace to continue in our learning of the Mexican fight for justice, and for wisdom to effectively be a voice for those voices that are not heard.

Everyone was excited about the inauguration of our new President of the United States, Barack Obama.  Excitement was in the air.  Hope was in our hearts, minds and upon our lips.  Some team members even wore Obama t-shirts.  We collectively, without any rehearsal, returned to our own homeland for one moment in time: as we were walking to our next destination, we spotted a television airing Obama giving his speech on Washington's Mall.  With great excitement we paused and began to listen.  Desiring to be a part of history, our history, we took pictures of the television screen.  We were looking at hope for our future in the United States of America.

We arrived at our second stop, a campesino organization, and met with Mr. Francisco Meneses.  The mission of the group (UNORCA) is to help producers locate buyers for their crops.  Offering all kinds of support to farmers, it became obvious that this organization is making progress in the midst of many NAFTA barriers.  They are providing hope to the farmers and families of Mexico.

At last we reached our final place, the CCIDD (Cuernavaca Center for Intercultural Dialogue on Development) Retreat Center.  Once settled in, we were given a collaborative project to conduct a critical social analysis of our encounters with the people we would meet in Cuernavaca and elsewhere in Mexico.  Our goal is to gather what we have learned about the culture and ways of life and become advocates of public policy change in our own homeland.  We will, in essence, tell our story, their story, and bring hope.

In summary, we place our hope in God, our Heavenly Father.  We recognize change will not happen in our laws, policies, leaders, or nations without the power of God.  Our Father is able to change the hearts and minds of humans to that of God's divine will - even President Obama and Mexico.  We hope for a world without neo-liberalism.  We hope for all indigenous peoples in Latin America to be allowed to grow and sell their own crops with justice and equality.  We hope for the kind of fairness where the majority will not be sacrificed or marginalized for the minority.  We pray and hope for justice in all market activity.  We hope for change in all governments for the better.  We hope for change, as we become agents of change.  Our hope is in the Lord!

 

 

Miercoles/Wednesday, January 21, 2009

     by Carol

Our group: Dorothy, Becky, Don, Lois, Rick, Krystal, Erica, Cindy, Carol

Our activity today:

• Contemplative prayer with Sister Kathy at CCIDD
• Sharing good food - pancakes, tortillas, soup, Victoria beer, ice cream
• Riding in a van on narrow, busy streets - talking, watching, resting
• Encountering indigenous spirituality through stories and ceremony and hike with Nacho Torrez
• Enlarging our world vision with our experiences and conversations

 A recap of our Wednesday, day 5:

This is Barack Obama's first full day as President of the United States.  People here are aware, interested, hopeful.

We are sharing a house just a block north (?) of the CCIDD center.  We started out locked in - and our collective efforts to use the keys took our morning energy.  What a way to build community!

Quiet time in sacred space was grounding - a bell, a candle, a gentle breeze, a rising sun, and a lawn mower.  Sister Kathy invited us to pause, to center, to focus, and to quiet.

Who ate the most pancakes??

An hour's drive to the mountain and Amatlan.  Patti, Erin, and Luis gave us good care.

Nacho's story is compelling - his family has been on this land for 2000 years - Nahautl people.  These indigenous people number about 1000 in Amatlan.  Life is so deeply connected to the land.  The social movements come from this.  Nacho gave us a historical view of Mesoamerica, which blossomed from 650-950 A.D.  He explained the Aztec calendar and the rhythms of life - not good and bad, but balanced.  Life is about harmony, and that was a time of light.  But time changed with coca seed began to be used for money.  While these people understood their responsibility to keep that seed alive, the shift to gold coins was dehumanizing.

The Aztecs (or was it the Nauhautls?) ranged from Nicaragua to Michigan - the eagle stretched across this land as their symbol.  Internal conflict left them vulnerable when the Spaniards arrived - leaders and spiritual guides were killed and life changed.  People lost hope when their land was taken.

Nacho was able to masterfully tell this story through the centuries - shedding new light for us on the consequences of the Inquisition.  He says that NAFTA reflects how people think with their wallet, not with their heart.  Mexico has lost so much.  But people continue to fight to protect the land.

Our ceremony in the mountains.  Petro glyphs on the mountainside showing activity and conflict of indigenous people 7,000 years ago.  Acknowledging the cardinal points: East, West, South, North.  The Sky and the Earth. 

We don't need to fight, let's just make circles!

All ways can get us to the same place - to look for God.

We left in harmony and peace.

 

 

Jueves / Thursday, January 22, 2009

     by Becky

We started our day with silent reflection, guided by Sister Kathy.  This opportunity for contemplative prayer amidst the calling of the birds in trees around the CCIDD complex is a blessing.

After breakfast (as always, delicious fresh fruit).  Jenna led us in morning reflection, centered on the words of the prophet Micah: "He has told you, O Mortal, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?" (Micah 6:8).  We ended our time with each of us pantomiming some action which reflected living out kindness, justice, or humility...a bit of exercise to start the day!

Our morning's agenda was filled with spirited discussion led by Kim on the topic of immigration in the U.S., especially as it has been influenced by NAFTA.  Put succinctly, NAFTA has forced millions of Mexican farmers off their land and into poverty, leaving people little choice but to go north to seek jobs and money to support their families.  Since NAFTA began in 1994, the annual number of migrants crossing into the United States has doubled from 250,000 to 500,000.  Operation Gatekeeper (started also in 1994) has not been successful in stopping immigration, but it has made it infinitely more dangerous for those seeking to cross the border into the U.S., primarily because crossways must now be made through the desert.  A documentary The Wall in the Desert, shown by Kim, graphically demonstrated the barriers migrants face.  Their courage in the face of these obstacles is truly awesome.  The decline in the U.S. economy is forcing many migrants to return to Mexico (as well as reducing the number of new immigrants).  What this will do to the Mexican economy and level of social unrest in Mexico remains to be seen.  Immigration to the north and remittances of money back home have been an important safety valve for Mexico's political leaders who ignore the plight of the 70% of the population who live in poverty.

After a tasty and nourishing lunch and some free time to explore the Palace of Cortez museum, walk around the Zocalo of Cuernavaca, we finished our day with a focus on the history and current struggle of the Zapatistas in Chiapas.  Their uprising which began on January 1, 1994, initially was one of violent protest, but soon evolved into a "long march" of determined, but non-violent, resistance to the government's exploitation of the lands of indigenous people and failure to provide basic services.  The resisters took the name Zapatistas in honor of Emiliano Zapata, the hero of the 1910 revolution.  A quotation from Zapata provides an inspiration for the people's determination and courage and a summary of their continuing struggle: "Better to die standing than to live kneeling."

Florentino Aguilar, a local artist and social activist shared with us his experiences working to build support for the Zapatista's struggle and the evolution of the national grassroots movement, La Otra Campana.

All in all, we had another interesting, challenging, and rewarding day.  Thanks be to God!

 

 

Friday, January 23, 2009

     by Dorothy

We woke up to the sound of moving vehicles and natural creeks of birds and other creatures.  The group had a contemplative moment with Sister Kathy.  Scrambled eggs with bread, cornflakes and other beverages were served for breakfast.  Pineapple, watermelon and papaya were served as dessert.

Following breakfast the group, along with Sister Kathy, Maria Luisa, Erin and Luis rode the van to Cuentepec to hear about and observe the crafts of the women trained by Maria Luisa.  It was amazing to hear their stories and see their industry in pottery work, sewing and embroidery and other beautiful pieces of artwork done by hand and with local material.  Their work showed how talented these indigenous people of Cuentepec/Sijuane Keuntepec Cooperative were.  Felipa, Gabriela and Leticia (daughter of Felipa) shared their stories of how they lifted themselves up by their own bootstraps through the help of Maria Luisa and government aid.  In addition to learning their crafts, they've learned to build water cisterns an also cook nutritional food with soybeans. 

The group members were allowed to take some pictures.  They also purchased some things from the women's beautiful art work.  The group returned to Cuernavaca for lunch: chiles rellenos with salad and banana cake for dessert.  After lunch, the group went on a Cuernavaca Quest to shop and compare prices and conditions in the supermarket and people's market, respectively.  Our observations of people and prices showed the vast gap between the economic classes.  The clean and sophisticated atmosphere in the supermarket sharply contrasted with the crowded, less sophisticated, one in the people's market.  The Quest revealed how much and how far one could go on the daily 50 pesos wage.  Patti's comparison of Mexico, Canada and the U.S. revealed the far better conditions of the U.S. and Canada over Mexico through the cost of living is almost the same.

Dinner was served at 6:30 p.m.  A delicious mixed vegetable dish with bread and assorted fruit juices.  The group was joined by a group from Toronto, Canada.

The group met with Erin for an introduction to our Action Plan together or individually after here.  Various plans were presented, including awareness creation on all levels: church, community, schools, government, etc.  The group broke up into the pre-created groups to work on our social analysis work for tomorrow.  All members worked very hard on all assignments of the day.

Thanks be to God the day ended well and we returned to our places of abode.

 

 

Saturday, January 24, 2009

     by Rick

Sister Kathy introduced us to Mr. Isidro Rosalines, an indigenous basket craftsman, from the state of Guerrero, and his 20-year-old son, Juan.  Isidro's family lives in severe poverty, but what struck me was the love and strength of family bonds, despite the poverty, that were evident in the photos as well as in his conversation.

Next, we were given the opportunity to meet with the United Artisans and invited to purchase their crafts.  After two trips to an ATM, we had managed to buy something from everyone (we meaning Lois and me).  After another, and final, delicious lunch we walked several blocks to the Botanical Gardens for some solitude and final reflection.  At 5:00 p.m. we met in the "round house" (Palapa) for the social analysis presentations.  I felt each group did an outstanding job.  Kim and Luke attended, and Kim was, as always, complimentary.

Following supper, we gathered for a final liturgy service that was planned by Lois, Cindy and Cathy.  The readings were moving and the candle-lighting ceremony was also very poignant.

As I looked around the group gathered on the patio, I thought about the gifts each brought to this experience - besides the gift of friendship; Don, the best ambassador to Mexico the U.S. has had because of his cultural sensitivity and friendship; Krystal, whose heart for hurting people was so evident through her powerful prayers; Cindy, whose happiness and laughter always brightened our day; Becky, whose world travels gave her a perspective that respected deeply the Mexican people; Lois, the most thoughtful and considerate person I've ever known; Carol, whose experience in travels gave her an eye and ear for the Mexican culture; Dorothy, the quiet woman of faith, whose love for the Lord inspired me; and Erica, our leader, young in comparison to our group, but wiser than all of us.  I have added Erica to my heroes list for her cultural sensitivity and generosity for hurting people.  When so many college grads are out pursuing the American dream, Erica is pursuing Christ's call to be with those who are oppressed by poverty or by government.  I was honored to spend this time with Erica, and, indeed, with everyone in this group.  I pray that God will use us individually and collectively to cause changes in the way our world works for the few. All God's people deserve a place at the table!  Amen.

 

 

Sunday, January 25, 2009

     by Erica

The morning started out peacefully.  We packed up our bags and headed over to breakfast.  As everyone was ready early, there was no frantic rushing around last-minute packing and so we were able to leisurely enjoy coffee and the rising Cuernavaca sun. 

After breakfast, we went to the bus terminal, said goodbye to Erin and Luis, and boarded the very nice bus (complete with movie and bus attendant offering drinks and snacks) and headed to the airport.  We arrived, said goodbye to Sister Kathy (who was going to another terminal at the airport to welcome her siblings who were coming for a visit), and headed to the airport, on our way back to Chicago.

During our first day in Mexico City, at the Lutheran Center, Kim told us "Globalization is not the problem; it is what we globalize."  We spent the week learning about the freer passage of products and produce across borders thanks to neoliberal policies like NAFTA, yet this freeing up of passage through borders does not include the movement of people.  In our travels to and from Mexico I experienced firsthand the tremendous privilege I have to pass through borders with ease, because I was fortunate to be born in the most powerful nation in the world.  I think we U.S. Americans take for granted how easy it is for us to travel and to experience new countries.  We forget that this privilege is not awarded to many people on earth.  Obviously the wealth and resources required to finance travel are a huge restraint, and politics and borders are another, but one that seldom restricts the privileged, and often restricts those who either as an individual or as a nation, have fewer resources.  It is so easy for us to travel legally, it is difficult for us to understand why others do not do so.  We simply make sure we have our passport, we board a plane, we present our shiny dark blue passport at the counter of the country we are entering, perhaps we pay a fee, but often not, and we get stamped in.  Automatic tourist visa.  I don't think the thought ever crosses our mind that someone would deny us the privilege of entering their country.  I understand that there are reasons why the U.S. policies are the way they are.  I know that there is not an easy answer.   But I do think this is a moment that calls us into reflection.