Scott Casey

Book Review

Brownsville by Bus

12/21/04

Mexico: Encounters of the Rich and Poor

This book which claims to examine the issues of the border is in actuality nothing more than a compilation of lists in paragraph form of what is wrong with the border. While an explanation of what can be done to fix these problems is expected, there is not even a sentence of lip service to such an educational idea. The author’s comments are reminiscent of our conversation with the worker that we met on the road outside of Nuevo Progreso. There is no appeal for help or change, only the stating of problems, Ruiz’s repeated theme of the great divide between rich and poor in mexico could easily be simplified down to the ejido worker’s comment of “I’m poor, you are rich”. This appears to be the end all and be all of this “examination” of the border and its problems. Literature such as this, along with the problems that Ruiz brings to light, are part of the crisis in Mexico in general and the border especially. Simply saying what the problem is does not help anyone, it merely amounts to complaining, disguised as serious thought in this case. As long as people continue to simply whine about the border and its issues, the issues will at best remain stagnant and more likely worsen. A prime example of this is Ruiz’s look at the corruption of the police and politicos in general. Although he may not have stated this because it is obvious, it hurts his image that he apparently did not grasp the simple fact that if the political system is bad for the country, the system must be changed especially because the longer corrupt activities take place, the harder it is to change them because they become part of the cultural idea of what a public service job entails. In life, and example of this was the story that we were told by Yogi of a friend who was pulled over for speeding in Mexico and who had no money with him to pay a bribe to the officer who was forced to give him a ticket. The only problem in this case was that the officer was essentially illiterate and could not write the ticket forcing the driver to write himself a ticket. Events such as this illustrate that if corruption goes on for long enough, people assume that there are no requirements for the job other than to be corrupt and so, apply and through family influence are hired even though they cannot do the simplest of the required duties.

This book while truthfully telling the problems of the border region of Mexico does not serve any purpose other than to complain to the academic community at large. When an academic article, paper, book, or any other piece of literature is written it cannot simply look at the facts and draw no conclusions. The author must reveal his view of the topic besides his personal opinion on the quality of the current state of affairs. Academic literature is supposed to educate and in order to educate, conclusions must be drawn about the topic so that discussions of their validity may take place, and in the process educate all involved by expanding their world view and correcting mistaken assumptions.