Saving us from ourselves January 19, 2009

I’ve had lots of time to think here in Mex, and I’ve been able to do a despicable amount of reading- so between my rich inner life and the riot of influences constantly playing out around me- here goes my most recent rant.

I do want to start with the qualifier that while I have never been accused of being a flag-waving American, it is impossible to travel this world and not see the incredible advantage America presents. Just by winning the crapshoot of being born in the USA we are granted the right to earn an hard currency. Didn’t do a damn thing to ear that right, correct? Unless you are a Buddhist and believe in the cycle, but that’s another entire discourse. I won’t bore you with the list of American greatness, but I will add you can open your damn mouth in the shower. The shower! Just open you mouth and drink that water.  It’s that clean, that purified! Seems like a luxury to me. In a few short centuries The USA has made some impressive leaps.

Conversely, I won’t ramble about the last of global awareness, the war against the educated  and refined masquerading as “anti-elitism” , shock-jocks, Bush, etc etc etc….

But we certainly don’t have shit on lock in the states.  We have forgotten what is important, we willingly work ourselves to death in an attempt to win a rat race that alas, as the old saying goes, even if you win, you are still a rat. And we have legislated ourselves into a corner. Laos has something like 49 laws. Total. I’m not suggesting we model ourselves after Laos, after all, we can drink our shower water…but think about that. 49 laws.

Here in Mexico, I see at least 47 kids a day doing things that  Social Services would be called in for in a heartbeat. Kids on roofs. Kids on balconies with no railings. Four kids on a quad with mom driving. Kids riding on Dad’s lap in the front seat. Filthy kids eating sugar, playing in the street, barefoot sometimes, and loving every second of it.  I’m not advocating lack of supervision and/or poverty as a prescription for a healthy childhood, jus’ sayin…these kids are having fun. And they are not flying out of the car, falling off the roof, or perishing from eating dirt.  I know I’m not even really allowed to have these opinions as someone who has opted out of the entire “having children” thing,  but I offer this facet of Mexican culture as a portion of the whole.

The first time I saw American Ski Resort culture through the eyes of some visiting European friends, I finally got “it.” I accept, part and parcel, that when I am using the ski area, I am to remain in bounds. To access unmaintained slopes puts not only me, but all the people who may have to come in after to me to lend me help, in danger. And not doing that, not putting people in danger, that is part of the social contract we have entered into in American ski resorts. “But Why?” said my Euro friends. Why cannot I kill myself on this hill if I want?  And it works elsewhere. We have established this as our way in the US and I will respect that. But it’s not the only way, and I think that is a discussion worth having. Or at least an awareness worth boosting.

I have lots more to say, but the clock is ticking and Josh is waiting for me to bring him an icy cold coca-cola. Hasta Luego!