tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post6808004861872258076..comments2024-03-15T05:45:01.402-05:00Comments on Grits for Breakfast: Debating Texas' travel warning on Mexico: DPS should leave travel advisories to the State DepartmentGritsforbreakfasthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10152152869466958902noreply@blogger.comBlogger16125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-77209856052053201332012-03-12T10:22:40.765-05:002012-03-12T10:22:40.765-05:00BTW, if the advisory had been aimed at Spring Brea...BTW, if the advisory had been aimed at Spring Breakers in Texas, for example, telling kids at South Padre not to go party in the border towns, I'd consider that totally justified and evidence based. It's painting the whole country with the same brush that I consider unjustified and counterproductive. Mexico is a REALLY big, and diverse, place, and the threats from drug cartels are pretty specifically over identifiable, avoidable smuggling routes, to which the State Dept and UK Foreign Office advisories are a useful short-hand guide.Gritsforbreakfasthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10152152869466958902noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-91687142717939817592012-03-11T16:40:06.926-05:002012-03-11T16:40:06.926-05:00Mexico is a Hell hole. But the U.S. State Dept is...Mexico is a Hell hole. But the U.S. State Dept is corrupt--there's nothing left in the Executive branch that's worth one damn---and this has little to do with Hussein Obamarx. <br /> The border should have our military, instead of them all dumped in the middle east.<br /> You think because you might find an almost safe-tourist place to get drunk people should still go to Mexico? <br /> WRONG. Some kids will be kidnapped, killed, raped, etc.--like every year. And Mexicans will continue to kill their own, especially across northern Mexico. What a pit. <br /> That's why so many come up here. We need an old-fashioned isolationist policy, but everyone is too brainwashed by our whole lifetime of liberal leftist propaganda, which is even in the public schools. Heck, we may teach the illegals here to be better Marxists, and they can vote for Obamarx along with the Mayans, other dead & prisoners.johnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02808884177035705472noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-46161518070531430722012-03-11T10:00:15.765-05:002012-03-11T10:00:15.765-05:00Let's put it this way: I'm a white boy who...Let's put it this way: I'm a white boy who grew up on Houston's north side inside the loop, so I know what the barrio looks like. There are places in Mexico in which I would love to retire. And, there are MANY places I wouldn't set foot in during broad daylight with an armed escort. To try and downplay the danger to young white kids on spring break is irresponsible.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-16964177117395389752012-03-11T08:28:13.016-05:002012-03-11T08:28:13.016-05:009:42, the places the air-headed college students g...9:42, the places the air-headed college students go are well-designed to contain them. (They all want to be with one another anyway). Check Quintana Roo on the US or UK list, y nada. Believe me, there will be cops aplenty where all the white kids are at Cancun, both to protect the tourists and to protect the Mexicans from them!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-86688409509678349372012-03-11T06:45:45.289-05:002012-03-11T06:45:45.289-05:00Mexfiles, I've been to Veracruz several times,...Mexfiles, I've been to Veracruz several times, not just to Ciudad Veracruz but have spent quality time in Xalapa and traipsed the state from Papantla in the north to Lake Catemaco in the South.<br /><br />I tend to agree with you, for the most part, which was the point of this post. This trip, however, as to Mexico City last year, part of the reason for going is to take my granddaughter (who is utterly Spanish-fluent, thanks to a pre-K immersion program). She's got a running, now years-long commentary on "brujas" going, so we thought we'd take her to Catemaco to meet some. :) We decided, though, given the State Department advice, etc., that maybe driving around in a rent car in southern Veracruz with a five year old wasn't the wisest course of action, or at least one I could justify to her mom. If we were only talking about the city of Veracruz or Xalapa (love that town), we'd probably have still gone. Instead, it's Chichen Itza, cenotes, and beaches, which ain't half bad either.Gritsforbreakfasthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10152152869466958902noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-80603717977493149622012-03-10T21:42:45.429-06:002012-03-10T21:42:45.429-06:00Of course, all these foreign dignitaries will have...Of course, all these foreign dignitaries will have personal security details. Will all American college students have their own personal security? Call it anecdotal, but I've spent a lot of time in Mexico throughout the years. The difference between crime in Mexico and the US is that it is more blatant, and is much more rampant in government entities. And, if you're an air-headed college student looking for a good time, you might as well just wear a sign around your neck.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-5001934188039225282012-03-10T20:51:10.143-06:002012-03-10T20:51:10.143-06:00I think it's a shame you're bypassing Vera...I think it's a shame you're bypassing Veracruz, one of the most historic and colorful cities in the Americas (think of it as a cross between New Orleans and San Francisco, with a dash of Havana)... yes, there are unreported crimes, but culturally, a lot of activities (including criminal violence) is dealt with informally and authorities are never involved. The murder rate here is much higher than it needs to be (although much lower than Brazil, Jamaica, Guatemala or parts of the United States) and almost never involves stranger on stranger violence, nor random shootings, as in Texas. <br /><br />Frankly, I'm afraid to go to places like Dallas, and Austin, much preferring even the raggedest neighborhoods in Veracruz or Mexico City, where the worst I can expect is a reluctant "buenos noches, SeƱor" from the homies if this middle-aged guy is walking alone at night.Mexfileshttp://mexfiles.netnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-32681237289432108962012-03-10T18:53:55.261-06:002012-03-10T18:53:55.261-06:00Bear in mind that these are the same people who ap...Bear in mind that these are the same people who apparently didn't think Rick Perry was safe in New Hampshire.Don Dicksonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04216181226322913663noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-4301862182867462942012-03-10T18:16:43.621-06:002012-03-10T18:16:43.621-06:00They do it typically before Spring Break because t...They do it typically before Spring Break because that is when the kids go just across the border to drink and play...unfortunately, just across the border is where most of the violence is happening. I can point to several articles saying that Mexico City is the robbery and kidnapping capital of Latin America and you can't say that about Houston.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-77198448849835060402012-03-10T17:32:47.304-06:002012-03-10T17:32:47.304-06:0010:03, first, what agenda do you think Obama is su...10:03, first, what agenda do you think Obama is supporting by the State Department giving a more rigorous, state-by-state assessment of Mexico instead of painting the whole country with a single brush? Whose water do you think they're carrying?<br /><br />The State Department does this because it's their job. Notice DPS seems to only do it right before Spring Break. Plus, DPS has a history of this sort of <a href="http://gritsforbreakfast.blogspot.com/2011/11/dps-border-violence-and-boy-who-cried.html" rel="nofollow">overstated scare tactic</a>. This isn't their first rodeo. They've got to justify all their <a href="http://gritsforbreakfast.blogspot.com/2012/02/newest-toy-in-box-part-two-dps.html" rel="nofollow">new toys</a> somehow.<br /><br />Relatedly, take a look at the UK advisory and notice the similarities to the State Department's. The difference is that the State Department, UK Foreign Office, etc., are basing their advisories on non-politicized, ground-level risk assessments. (E.g., the reality that you're more likely to be murdered in Houston than Mexico City.) Their goal is to provide accurate information, not to scare parents into switching their kids' trip from Cancun to South Padre, which is DPS' overt, stated agenda in the headline of their friggin' advisory.Gritsforbreakfasthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10152152869466958902noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-6922418855710783472012-03-10T10:03:52.312-06:002012-03-10T10:03:52.312-06:00And the Obama administration is objective and not ...And the Obama administration is objective and not politically motivated? Come on, Grits!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-70323134031534055292012-03-10T07:18:35.821-06:002012-03-10T07:18:35.821-06:00Here is the British Foreign and Commonwealth Offic...Here is the British Foreign and Commonwealth Office advice<br /><br />http://www.fco.gov.uk/en/travel-and-living-abroad/travel-advice-by-country/north-central-america/mexico1Paul-United Kingdomnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-50300257159571569072012-03-10T06:42:38.429-06:002012-03-10T06:42:38.429-06:00The State Department is issuing travel advisories....The State Department is issuing travel advisories. What DPS is doing is more promoting South Padre over Cancun as a Spring Break destination, with no legitimate basis in any safety analysis. Pretending violence in Juarez threatens Spring Breakers in Tulum is pure, unadulterated hogwash.<br /><br />Prison Doc asks, "What's wrong with painting with a broad brush?" Answer: Nothing if you don't mind basing your decisions on error, falsity and hidden agendas. Go for it. People are certainly allowed to base their beliefs and decisions on misinformation from the tourism industry, but IMO DPS shouldn't try to legitimize that spin with their law enforcement imprimatur. The State Department is providing legitimate (and historically quite reliable) traveler analyes: The DPS missive was little more than a slur.Gritsforbreakfasthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10152152869466958902noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-75249060844289323472012-03-10T01:11:35.568-06:002012-03-10T01:11:35.568-06:00It is my belief that a lot more murders, robberies...It is my belief that a lot more murders, robberies, and rapes are committed in major cities in Mexico than ever make the official count. I base this not only on my own travels but those of close friends with lots of family members still living down south. As such, any comparisons in statistics are meaningless gauges even acknowledging that our own crime reporting is proven to be flawed to a lesser degree.<br /><br />This is Spring Break time and having read all about the violence that is rampant in certain major areas of Mexico, not to mention the mass graves we hear about, and missing students, is it really so bad that DPS issues warnings? We all have access to multiple sources of data so anyone is welcome to research where they want to travel, no harm done by our state reminding people or potential dangers.James Averrillnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-79450924595046052812012-03-09T20:19:39.489-06:002012-03-09T20:19:39.489-06:00I don't believe that either the DPS or the US ...I don't believe that either the DPS or the US State Department has a monopoly on travel wisdom. What's wrong with painting with a broad brush? I don't know much about the DPS' expertise, but with known problems such as lax border security and "Operation Fast and Furious", I'll take my chances with the DPS rather than with the current powers in Washington.<br /><br />Let the traveler beware, and use whatever source with which he feels most comfortable.Prison Dochttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03651611135066437902noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-47601481413637364782012-03-09T17:10:46.163-06:002012-03-09T17:10:46.163-06:00If they can't tell the truth on the stand, wha...If they can't tell the truth on the stand, what makes you think they are going to tell the public the truth? <br /><br />Hamas, Al-Queda, DPS, what's the difference?<br /><br />Oh yea, The DPS has its own Navy now... LMAO!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com