By Martha Ramos
MEXICO CITY: For some strange reason, I happened to hear a David Foster CD and heard a song that touched me so deeply that I couldn’t help but cry: Bridge over troubled waters, sung by Josh Groban.
For no reason at all, I felt myself in a vulnerable position when thinking of my country, my family — who lives in Chihuahua — my friends, and how we all live under this constant fear of being a living target.
Innocent lives routinely get caught in the crossfire between the drug cartels and law enforcement.
In the last weeks of 2009, a big fat narco dealer was killed during a very impressive bullet-storm between navy soldiers and narco cartels. It happend in Cuernavaca, where my family and I go for relaxing weekends — the land of eternal spring, flowers wherever the eye turns, people partying and laughing. And the next weekend nobody was there.
Neighbors were afraid to go out. People who have vacation homes there simply decided not to travel — and it’s only 30 minutes away from Mexico City.
In ten years, the drug cartels have climbed into the fifth position in world rankings of criminal groups. They have expanded their power to 47 countries involved with committing felonies in 22 different criminal activities.
They pose the worse threat on the continent. They infiltrate political circles and buy policemen at all levels.
Last March, almost a year ago, authorities announced 10,475 people died because of the war against the drug cartels.
So now, I’m not sure who’s winning, but I am certain who is losing this war — us.
Mexicans, regular people, who walk everyday in the streets of Mexican cities. Yet, “cause now we walk in fear,” we party at home, we don’t travel as much, and we see, with tears in our soul, the downward direction our country is spiraling towards.
There is a sense that we really are walking on a bridge over troubled waters — and the bridge is strong enough to keep us all safe.
Learn more about Martha:
I’m Martha Ramos, born 43 years ago, a journalist during the last 24 years and a mother since 1998.
I believe in the power of friendship, and the wisdom of children. I defend women as a basic element in every society, every group, every family.
I recognize journalism as the most important tool of a democratic country and the imperfect way of getting to the truth. Now, in the era of journalism 2.0 and 3.0 I really thank you for the possibility of talking to you and hearing from you.
Aside from Latina Lista, I also blog at my blog, and another one at Ejecentral.
LET’S TALK.
Comment(1)
martin
I hear you Martha. I used to travel to Mexico all the time. Was down in el DF for the 2006 election. Usually go to Kino Bay every year for semana santa but it probably wont happen this year, not with my daughter at least. Scary and sad especially as a first generation Mexican American. But you know what i think we both saw this coming with the poverty and ignorance in this country.