An epistle from San Cristóbal de las Casas Una escritura del Obispo de San Cristóbal

San Cristóbal de las Casas is the cultural capital of the southern Mexico state of Chiapas. It's among the poorest regions of the country, but also one of the richest in history and tradition, as well as one very popular with tourists and travelers.

Today the Roman Catholic bishop of San Cristóbal published some thoughts as 2011 draws to a close and Mexico prepares to select a new chief of state in just over six months. His comments appeared on the editorial page of El Diario de la Yucatán, Mérida's main daily. The article is much too long to present in its entirety, and there is no URL link since it was only in the printed edition of the paper. But here is the opening paragraph, which I think accurately reflects the way many Mexicans see things:

El país vive el azote de la violencia y de la inseguridad. Nos culpamos unos a otros y, quien más quien menos, ofrecemos soluciones, mas impactos en el discurso que en una efectividad real. Los enemigos políticos del presidente de la Republica lo juzgan único responsable de los miles de muertes ocasionadas por su inderogable y constitucional obligación de combatir a los inhumanos y abusivos narcotraficantes y llevan el caso ante instancias internacionales. Otro ofrece crear millones de empleos para los jóvenes, como si esto tan fuera sencillo. Las familias y los pueblos sufren, y ya no saben que hacer.

"This country is living through the scourge of violence and insecurity. We blame each other and we propose solutions, most of them far more impressive in debate than they would be if implemented. The political enemies of our president judge him solely responsible for the thousands of deaths caused by the discharge of his absolute constitutional obligation to resist the inhuman conduct of drug traffickers; indeed, we even haul him before an international tribunal (http://mexicogulfreporter.blogspot.com/2011/11/felipe-calderon-top-cabinet-officials.html). And another proposes to create thousands of jobs for young people, as if it were all that easy (http://mexicogulfreporter.blogspot.com/2011/11/lopez-obrador-begins-campaign-with-bold.html). Families suffer, people suffer, and still, no one knows what to do."

Bishop Felipe Arizmendi Esquivel
San Cristóbal de las Casas, Chiapas
December 2, 2011

Mexico's Continuing Agony: http://mexicogulfreporter-supplement.blogspot.com/2011/11/mexicos-continuing-agony.html

The Daily Obscenities of Mexico: http://mexicogulfreporter-supplement.blogspot.com/2011/11/daily-obscenities-of-mexico.html

Mexico, will you free yourself?: http://mexicogulfreporter-supplement.blogspot.com/2011/11/will-you-free-yourselves.html.

The beast in the cave and the soap opera actor: http://mexicogulfreporter.blogspot.com/2011/11/monster-in-dark-cave-and-soap-opera.html