STUDENT WRITING: Reflection by DAVID SAUCEDO

The Avenue of Broken Dreams

At the end of the 20th century, Monterrey, Nuevo Leon, was considered the industrial capital of Mexico and a major city in Latin America. It was a place where prime ministers and other international celebrities visited to discuss the world political agenda as well as regional issues. Moreover, it was considered the safest and most prosperous business and industrial hub of Central America. Monterrey was a city where you could find many kinds of industries ranging from automotive, industrial products, energy and mining, technology, food, financial services, and restaurants to entertainment and media. According to many recognized academia members, local and foreign political leaders, and policy makers, this city was considered an admirable example of efficient social programs for other cities in Mexico in terms of increasing the economic and human development in the long run. While the characteristics mentioned above were corroborated by foreign prestigious universities and some international organizations, both its society and its most important public institutions (government, security and universities) were totally breaking down at the same time.

According to the Mexican Federal Government, there were 1,000 murders in 2011 due to the drug cartel violence that began in 2010. In other words, Monterrey became suddenly one of the most violent and dangerous cities in Mexico where opportunities to get a better life and freedom to move around as one pleased have been seriously compromised in the last years. Nowadays, the discussion and the public agenda are focused on the kinds of strategies necessary to combat this difficult situation. However, the causes and origins of this state of affairs characterized by increasing insecurity, absence of freedom, and the continuous loss of social welfare have rarely been discussed. As a consequence, this industrial city is facing an unclear future not only because of a high uncertainty in terms of economic performance, but also in terms of a growing lack of public safety. How can the government, society, academia, media, and other members modify this picture? Is there a possible solution in the short run? Is Monterrey a reflection of what is going on in Mexico?

As a college student, I used to take the bus to go to school. I still remember the name of the street: Eugenio Garza Sada Avenue, one of the most important streets in Monterrey. It was a long street that I enjoyed a lot because there were a lot of restaurants, businesses, and different kinds of stores. However, little by little, I realized that many bars or cantinas had begun to open and usually they were completely crowded at night. Also, there was a sudden increase of liquor stores, usually open 24/7 just like an emergency room at a hospital. Before finishing my undergraduate studies, I noticed that more and more topless strip clubs and casinos had appeared on the same avenue. The ITESM, considered one of the most important universities in Mexico and Latin America, had become totally surrounded by a lot of pubs or antros that opened early at night and closed until the morning. Walking around the ITESM Campus, it was much easier to drink a beer, play black jack, or get a dance than to find a relaxing place where one could read a book or finish homework comfortably. Driving during the night on Eugenio Garza Sada Avenue, I realized that Monterrey had gradually changed in the last years. In other words, night life had become more and more vivid and intense than in previous years and the city did not sleep after office hours. Those characteristics confused me as I could not understand the reasons. In my view, this was a strange and improper environment not only for that important avenue, but also for the university campus. Even though it was something difficult to understand, I never asked anyone else what their perceptions were. I felt like a stranger in my own city and I did not want to ask myself about the causes behind that unknown picture.

After finishing my undergraduate studies, I started to work and I did not go back to the university campus. After a couple of years, I began to frequent some restaurants and bars around the ITESM campus during the weekends. It was common to arrive for lunch and continue celebrating the weekend at night. Once more there was something that surprised me and I did not understand. As usual, one day after a couple of drinks, I decided to go to the men’s restrooms. I still remember that image: some students, two guys much older than me, and a message in front of me warning that selling or consuming drugs in that place was prohibited. Walking to the sink, I realized that everyone was consuming cocaine in that semi public space. After washing my hands and waiting to dry them, I received an offer that I quickly refused. While I was sitting at the table, I started to reflect a little about that moment. There were no answers or explanations for me. I was very sure that that picture had become common everywhere. In other words, that kind of moment had reflected quickly our current, volatile society. I did not know if that specific moment had been a coincidence or sad truth. But it was just the truth. A couple of minutes later, I realized that some people around the table where I was sitting had chosen that place for the same purpose as the guys in the restrooms. This time I had decided to be part of the scene and observe discretely, but not participate. Trying to understand what had happened a day before, I imagined that I was not an ordinary person. On the other hand, I tried to understand that everybody had been changing and I had not. I had a very difficult time assimilating and confronting that reality from which I had been totally left out.

After a couple of months, kidnappings, murders, narcoblockades, drug gang members or "halcones" on every street, and corrupt government members refusing to step down started to be a constant in Monterrey. At the beginning, it was difficult to assimilate that I was living in a war zone. Furthermore, it had been difficult to observe and listen to the media broadcasting such kinds of images and stories. Before I ever saw those images, I had just known about Colombia in the 1990’s and the Afghan social situation after 9/11. However, I learned to control my fear gradually which helped me to decrease my stress and continue with my ordinary activities. I also began to understand some parts of that tragic picture by asking myself some questions which I tried to answer analytically. Why this violence in Monterrey? Why were a lot of young people participating in this drug cartel war? Why were a lot of innocent people dying every day? Why the constantly increasing absence of public safety and freedom? What was behind this violent scenario? Was there a message that we had not understood?

There was just one answer in my mind. That scenario was inevitable because we needed drug traffickers and they needed us. In other words, there was a drug market in Mexico and outside which needed to be satisfied. There was a strong affinity between being a drug trafficker and the opportunity to achieve “personal success” suddenly in a place where opportunities to become a better person had historically been only for a minority, not only getting a better financial situation and prominent “success” in society, but also an opportunity to become a skilled employee or a professional and achieve more material goods. These were enough incentives to ensure a better life which in a legitimate way would be very difficult or almost impossible to reach for a large segment of the population even in the long run. I strongly believe that changing and improving this scenario is going to take many years, lives, and economic and human resources. As a consequence, I think that there are just two options regarding this issue: start your life in another place or go beyond your limits and be part of the solution.

STUDENT WRITING: Observation by CYNTHIA MADUREIRA

“Tie a Yellow Ribbon Round the Old Oak Tree” (Tony Orlando)

It is Labor Day, and it’s six days before the tenth anniversary of 9/11. The day is beautiful, sunny, and gorgeous. That is, if it weren’t the day on which people were deploying to Afghanistan for nine months, it would be a perfect day. Yes. Today is the final farewell to the first two hundred of the three thousand soldiers that are going in the next two months. People who have family, friends, studies, dogs, whatever… and have to do what their job requires: to be patriotic and fight for this country in any circumstances.

Soldiers and officers begin arriving at Fort Bliss. All of them are uniformed. Some are with friends, some with family. There is a big green parade field next to the parking lot where they are putting their duffle bags. Their luggage is spread out for the Military Police to check if it contains anything illegal – especially drugs or alcohol. Their personal belongings are neatly tucked inside the heavy duty large black cargo boxes. Every single soldier has one filled with their clothes, shoes, pictures, and memories of their beloved. The military dogs, with their keen sensing ability, inspect everything. It is part of the regulations, but it seems to me a little humiliating. Fortunately, the dogs don’t find any contraband. The soldiers appear relieved.

It is now time for the soldiers to get their weapons. The weapons they will surely use in combat. For nine months, they will have their weapon by their side, their new girlfriends. They can never leave the weapon by itself. Many have the lethal cold steel slung over their shoulder while they spend precious moments with their loved ones. It seems odd to me that they are required to carry their weapons while enjoying these final moments with their families.

Now, they are inside a kind of barn. There is a big room with tables and chairs, games for kids, and a large screen where everyone gathers to enjoy the last moments with their family, relatives and friends before the soldiers leave for Afghanistan. The children’s laughter fills the air and echoes throughout the barn as they romp around in the octopus-shaped bouncer. The children are kept busy while their parents have a good time together.

Some of the wives are really apprehensive and sad; others are trying to be strong, but one can see how worried and desperate they really are. I’m sitting with Maria, my friend, who is saying that people who stay behind have different reactions because of their varied backgrounds. For some, it is the first time that their soldier is deploying. For others, it isn’t the first time, but the wife knows the danger involved.

I can imagine what their thoughts are. After all, we never know, things happen because they have to happen, but when we think about war, only negative things come to mind.

People are starting to leave. They are saying goodbye. I see a young soldier hugging his newborn child and whispering softly in the child’s ear. The soldier’s eyes fill up with tears. He quickly wipes his eyes, kisses his wife, and walks toward the bus. I glance to my right and see another family tightly embracing one another as if it were the last time they would do so. Some are holding in their feelings, some are extremely emotional, crying a river.

My friend Jay is leaving for his second tour of duty in Afghanistan. His family is not here; they are in Louisiana. We are recording a video and on it he is saying goodbye to his family and making some jokes as usual. Last week we were drinking some beers and having fun; now I’m saying “goodbye” and “see you soon.” I feel I’m in denial; it’s a mix of feelings because I might never see him again. It is hard to know what to say when a person is going to war. What could I say? “Be safe! Kill the bad guys?” Gosh, they are going to the war! It is impossible to find words that make sense.

I’m asking myself: Why? Why do people who have followed all of the rules in the Constitution have to do this kind of thing? Leaving their loved ones in order to fight for something that is not their fault or their business?
Coincidence or not, today is Labor Day, and these “workers” are dedicating their life to getting peace worldwide even though it might cost them their lives.