Glad Not To Have to Choose!
by Yours Truly
As a foreigner living in the peaceful city of Merida, surrounded by good (albeit very warm) weather and an increasing level of xenophobia among the more backward locals, it is really a pena-ajena inspiring moment to witness the upcoming elections for governor and mayor of Yucatan and Merida respectively. And, as the outsider that I am, I could probably laugh, but as a resident of Merida and the Yucatan for over 10 years now, my emotions tend to lean more towards disbelief and depression. I guess that means that have become 'used' to living here, which is how the muchacha in your house will indicate to you that she likes living in your home, with you. If you ask her if she's leaving, she'll probably answer "Nóooo - ya me acóstumbré".
So watching the election process, with multiple electoral councils, and seeing the same fossils dug up for public exhibition once again... I mean really, how many times has Orlando Si been on the ballots? Mayor, Senator, Diputado, whatever. Does he really represent anything new? Patricio, although still young, is continuing his rise as a local valor panista but does he have the experience to tackle all the rot that he will surely encounter at the state government level? These are two faces that we've been seeing for years now! Is this the best that we can hope for for a governor?
And that's only the state governor electoral race. What about the mayor of the city of Merida? What a choice!! On the one hand you have Ana Rosa, who has her supporters that affirm her winning personality and superior listening skills make her the ideal candidate to sit in the Palacio Municipal for another couple of years while something better comes along... or on the other hand, Jorge, that fossil who has been assigned to the cushy Instituto de Cultura for years and years, and is well known also for his autocratic delegational abilities, complete lack of self-importance, and, like Ana, offers excellent listening skills and is receptive to criticism. Jorge has also promised Merida's citizens that if elected, he will pave X amount of kilometers of streets per month, so many that, according to one radio commentator, he will pave the entire Progreso swamp by the time he completes his term. Of course we all believe him.
This area has many many talented, honest, hard working people. It is unbelievable that in all of Merida and all of Yucatan, there are no other possible alternatives to aspire to leadership positions than these overly-familiar
faces. A change! Something better! Not the same, tired, rhetoric year after year after year. The world moves ahead while Yucatan slumbers. Stagnant, like a rotten pool of slimy green swamp water, would describe local politics. And every 4 or 6 years, the same swamp things emerge from the fetid water, offering another period of no ripples, stability, and empty promises that none of them could ever hope to fulfill.
I can not vote. This is probably a good thing since I would have to make a choice from these delightful options. Neither can I participate, since the laws are very clear on foreigners coming in to shake up the 'system'. New ideas are frowned upon and archaic traditions are protected by a generational layer of thick insulation; only my grandchildren could hope to make a difference, and by that time, who knows what will be happening. I can only shake my head in disbelief, while still enjoying the laid back lifestyle and company of the friends who haven't yet labelled me as completely neurotic.
Ya me acostumbré.
