Once upon a time, much of the South West territory formally belonged to Mexico. Once upon a time, the true original inhabitants of the United States, its various indigenous ethnic groups, welcomed with open arms the first immigrants who came here.
Today, the world is hurtling toward a global scenario where markets are increasingly homogeneous, national economies increasingly interdependent, while the media and entertainment industry its building a global culture in which the next generation may be able to –for example, reduce extreme poverty to less than 5 percent and travel overland at a top speed of 1,000 kilometers per hour.
The future came and yet here we are still discussing migration issues based on national identity codes from the IXX century. Although the story of America itself has great examples of how it is possible to build a powerful national identity from the sum of their separate identities of their newcomers flows, political extremism that has tainted the country’s capital puts in doubt the country’s capabilities to restore a sensible immigration system that responds to the demographic and economic needs of the nation itself.
August was hot –the weather of course, and also because in many places the voices of common sense and self-interest could be understood. Even in some strongholds of extremist legislators (especially Republicans) whom are still trying to maintain their rejection to the new immigrants, especially Latinos. That in a dumb move against the people that anyway will be soon enough one third of the country’s population. It was a month of protests and new hopes. In a time when it is important to be on the right side of history, proposals for comprehensive immigration reform (like the one that already passed in the Senate) maintains the sympathy and approval of the majority of the U.S. population.
In this context, this September nearly 34 million Mexicans living in the United States will celebrate here a new anniversary of their Independence Day (the 203th). Excellent excuse to eat delicious, listen Mexican music and appreciate their great cultural expressions and rich traditions. Thus, as a provocation in our issue this month we dare to say that as Mexico itself there are two, or, “como México sí hay 2”. Above all, recognizing the enormous richness of Mexican identity among the nearly 11 million Mexicans born there and the 33 million already fully belong to this country but do not lose the strength of their roots.
In today’s world – and especially in the next – national identity is no longer tied to a specific territory. Of course you can be Italian outside Italy, Greek outside Greece, Salvadoran outside El Salvador and of course, Mexican outside Mexico.
In these times when saying “global” or “modern” it is much like saying “American”, one of the greatest battles will be how large social groups (China, India, Brazil, Mexico, etc.) may continue their way to a world increasingly integrated while rescuing and respecting the best values of their original identity. The mexicanization of the U.S. -understood here as the growing presence of Mexican culture in the national main stream, it would be a great example in this direction.
September 2013
