Las Mujeres de Juarez: The Womyn of Juarez
For many years now unidentified serial-killers have roamed in the shadows of a forgotten border town prying on innocent womyn. For over 10 years these faceless and nameless victims have fallen to vicious attacks.
Femicide is the deliberate act of killing a group of people based on their female gender. It is evident that femicide is currently and continually occurring in Cuidad, Juarez. These people are not just any type of womyn. They are hard-working womyn: they are mothers, daughters, sisters, aunts, cousins, neighbors, teachers, students and the list continues. Many times they are US citizens.
Cd. Juarez in Mexico is the the border and hermana (sister) town of El Paso in Texas. The City of Juarez has been a violent arena of rape, massacre, and injustice for thousands of muxeres, please read fellow blogger 'so X amor' accurate description in her entry 'Who's Killing the Women of Juarez' (http://progressiveu.org/013010-who-killing-women-juarez).
People are constantly arguing what role the US should play towards this situation of mass assassination. A few argue that this femicide has nothing to do with US, others mention the poor social status this country is currently in and how priority to national issues should be given over international ones.
It is simple to see that the blood of the womyn in Cd. Juarez pour across the border into the US. This femicide is a direct consequence of US foreign policy and actions. The products US citizens unknowingly use are products of these assassinations.
Please do not be offended. Most every US citizens' hands are spared of the blood of these innocent womyn.
Let's make this as simple as possible.
It is the disgustingly wealthy business corporations and their greed.
The following occurred:
Step 1
"Disgustingly wealthy business corporations" in the US and Mexico, that account for less than 1% of our entire population, decided to come together and devise a plan to make even more money.
Step 2
With their global-super-economical power they decide to influence legislation and undetectably compose, vote, and pass a horrible foreign policy called the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA).
Step 3
Subsidized US product and businesses infiltrates Mexico which leaves the elite richer and the citizens in poorer social conditions.
Wait a minute...
How does this have to do with the killing of thousands of womyn?
Like this:
Example 1: Tommy Hilifiger
With NAFTA, Mr. Hilifiger can take his polo producing shops called maquiladoras to Mexico. When taking his business across the border he is not charged any tariffs, thanks NAFTA! Once in Mexico, he can pay his workers, mind you - mostly muxeres, less than he would have to here in the US but still significantly higher than the normal Mexican salary. With his maquiladora in Mexico he can also work these womyn for 12+ hour days and not have to pay over time. Production is key, thanks once again NAFTA.
Here is where it ties in:
Many times these womyn are bussed from rural areas to Cd. Juarez into these maquiladoras. Some womyn have to walk miles to get to that bus stop. These womyn's shifts start very early in the day or end late at night, both of which a small amount of people are awake.
This is the perfect time for malicious intents to arise, a perfect time to take advantage of Mexico's unstable enforcement system. A few suspect that the actual enforcement system, which at times has proven to be corrupt, has a role in the femicide.
Others argue that it is the high demand for a job at the maquiladoras that are causing these deaths.
The undeniable truth is that this femicide, this holocaust, is being created by power hungry assassins. The ones lurking on the deserted streets of Cd. Juarez and the ones in expensive suits strolling safely around their mega-million residences in the US.
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Mad_Mimi,
I thank you for the comment you posted about my blog regarding the women of Juarez.
I enjoyed reading your blog, and think that you made some really important and valid points.
I find it horrific when people think that the U.S. should not be involved in affairs such as this one. Especially because this is happening right next door. I live in Arizona, and I could drive to Juarez in a day. We all have a responsibility to take care and protect eachother.
Thank you for helping to get the word out there. I am always surprised at the low number of people who are actually aware of this issue. I believe that the more people who know about it, the more people who will take action towards protecting these women.
I look forward to your future blogs as well.
Peace and Blessings,
Casey
I have no blood on my hands!
I did not vote for NAFTA and have never supported it. But ultimately, NAFTA has done more good for the people of Mexico than it has done harm. My problem with NAFTA is the harm it has done to Americans.
I feel for the people of Mexico but I also blame them. People get the government they deserve. It is ultimately the responsibility of the Mexican people to demand and fight for decent government.
I am not responsible for the fact that the people living in a richly endowed country live in poverty.
I am not responsible for the fact that after repeated revolutions that the Mexican people keep handing their country over to the same rich elites who loot their treasury.
I am not responsible for the fact that Mexicans refuse to tax themselves to educate their children or build the infrastructure necessary for a prosperpous economy.
I am not responsible for the fact that Mexico is a socialist state that has nationalized its mineral industry with the result that their wealth is confiscated for the benefit of their rich elite.
I am not responsible for the fact that Mexican families choose to have children that they can't afford to feed, cloth or educate.
I am not responsible for the fact that Mexicans listen to the insane teachings of the Catholic Church with respect to birth control.
You can take your guilt trip elsewhere. Mexico's problems, including the fact that they tolerate serial killers, are caused by Mexicans.
So, I guess it was the jews faults for the holocaust then....
Take your racist comments elsewhere.
Those weren't racist comments. He said stop blaming us for the killings in Juarez just because the Mexican government is either unable or as it seems to me completely incapable of tracking down a serial killer. It isn't the United States fault but Mexico's fault that they police force is corrupt and seemings incompetent to handle any matter whatsoever. It shines as a failure of the Mexican government, not the United States government.
Son_of_Disaster:
Thank you for taking the time to comment.
I would like to stress that the last two statements made by Jackbenimble gave a hint of racism.
Maybe you should read my response to his comment.
I will attempt to summarize.
We- as in you and I and the rest of the US citizens are not at fault for the femicide in Juarez. The US government foreign policies, and a the wealthy greedy corporations are at fault.
I'd also like to point out that it is not a single serial killer. Yes we can blame their government too but it's not the people's fault. That is what I am trying to reiterate. It is not the gente, the people - it is the rich, the politicians, NAFTA. Ultimately it is both the US and Mexico governments' fault. Both.
Do you believe the US government is not corrupt? Do you believe that it does not fulfill private greedy agendas?
Both.
Thank you for your opinion, it is truly appreciated.
En Comunidad y Justica,
Muxerista Madrid
As well as your last few statement and this blog have given hints of ignorance on the fact of who is to blame for this, so I see it balanced out.
I don't see how "greedy capitalist corruption" is at fault. Please spare me the socialist rant that I have heard before. If you would kindly point to specific foreign policy by the US that has casued these killings then please do so. Yet you still leave out that most of these killings are done by drug dealers and the Mexican and American underworld, which is typical of a socialist belief. Blame everything on the government, not on the people who control the government.
Please site sources connecting politicians and the rich to the killings in Juarez. Blaming the rich is stupid, everyone does it especially socialists so stop.
I believe the government on both sides is corrupt. So why don't you implicate both of them and not just one. Implicate the rich in Mexico and not just the rich in the United States. Until you blame everyone who is at fault, then don't waste my time with petty arguments that only blast the US when you know goddamn well that it is both countries...that is unless your nose is really that long.
I would like to stress that the last two statements made by Jackbenimble gave a hint of racism.
First, I am half Hispanic. My mother was born in Cuba. I have no ill will towards Mexicans and I generally like the Mexican people. I travel to Mexico frequently and am giving consideration to relocating there for retirement. Usually the more I think about it the more I am turned off by the corruption and the lawlessness.
My statements are in no way racist. One of the most common statements justifying illegal immigration is that they just come here to work to feed their families. Personally I would not dream of bringing a child into this world that I could not afford to provide a college education for, let alone be able to provide the basic necessities of life like food and shelter. In my opinion, it is highly irresponsible for persons to have children they cannot afford to feed. This has nothing to do with race. This behavior is equally irresponsible whether the person having these children is white, black, brown, red or yellow. I frequently make the same point with respect to welfare recipients. In this particular blog we were talking about Mexicans and given the appalling amount of economic refugees who are fleeing Mexico and by their own admission are doing so because they have children they cannot afford to feed, my statement was just a statement of fact. They should think about how they are going to feed their children BEFORE they start having them. Anything less is irresponsible.
With respect to the Catholic Church, it could not be racist because Catholics come in many different races and ethnicity. It could possibly be described as xenophobic if you wish but I stand by the observation that their teachings with respect to birth control are insane. They have done tremendous harm to people in Mexico and else where in Latin America and the third world. They have unleashed population growth that has practically assured that these peoples will suffer from permanent, endemic poverty and misery. Mexico's inability to create jobs fast enough to provide employment for its rapidly expanding population is symptomatic of a problem that the Catholic Church has inflicted on the entire Latin American continent and which has now spilled into the USA in the form of illegal immigration. It is my opinion that this Church policy has more to do with expanding the power of the Church by creating more Catholics then it has to do with anything spiritual. Certainly God would not approve of the vast overpopulation of his creation.
Generally when somebody throws around the racist label it reflects on their inability to make a rational argument. Feel free to refute my points if you can but try some logic rather than name calling.
Jackbenimble:
Before anything else I'd like to thank you for your comment and for expressing your opinions on such a controversial topic.
To begin with:
I am sorry that you misunderstood my statements and probably read over the sentence stating, "Please do not be offended. Most every US citizens' hands are spared of the blood of these innocent womyn."
Never within my piece did I imply that you were consciously or directly responsible for these deaths or Mexico's current state. I reiterate, most all US citizens are not.
Neither you, nor the fellow citizens of this country were at the table or during the voting process when NAFTA was being considered. This addresses one of the points I made, the population - the people did not have a say in this, it was forced into our policies by "disgustingly wealthy business corporations" on both sides of the border.
You state that NAFTA has done more good to the people of Mexico than it has done harm. I reject your statement. A larger bulge in the wallets of greedy corporate 'elitist' is not good or progress for the rest of the people in Mexico. Femicide, economic recession, stock market crash, starvation, environmental destruction, exploitation, job loss, and loss of sovereignty is not progress for any type of people. Listed above are all direct negative consequences of NAFTA.
Your following statement: 'My problem with NAFTA is the harm it has done to Americans.' Yes, it is true that NAFTA had negative effects within it's first years towards US citizens, specifically in employment loss. As a country though, the US has benefitted exponentially economically-wise. Can you please address what other, if any, major issues it has caused the US?
You also state, "I am not responsible for the fact that the people living in a richly endowed country live in poverty."
You are correct. The people of Mexico are also not responsible for the corruption of politicians that make themselves individually and other countries, like the US, richer while many of the rural population live in mud houses, and displaced people in the urban areas live in houses made of cardboard boxes.
You stated: "I am not responsible for the fact that after repeated revolutions that the Mexican people keep handing their country over to the same rich elites who loot their treasury."
You are correct, but your statement is extremely offensive. The rich elites pay the army, paramilitary forces and their training - coincidently obtained from military bases in the US - to torture, rape, and kill their own people and tear away their basic rights. The revolutionaries of Mexico, ordinary and extraordinary people, womyn and children who courageously take to the streets to demand and regain their human rights have never 'handed' their struggle, their progress, their justice away - they have been beaten, tortured, and torn away.
You state that: "I am not responsible for the fact that Mexicans refuse to... build the infrastructure necessary for a prosperpous economy."
You are of course not responsible. Investors pulled billion of dollars out of Mexico consequently and after the justly Zapatisa rebellion against NAFTA. In direct affect the peso was devalued by 50% which ultimately caused the collapse of Mexico's stock market. The International Monetary Fund and the US quick to make long time profit, ehem excuse me, I mean long time positive foreign relationships decide to 'give' Mexico $20Mil to aid the market back up. There was a catch though, in order for Mexico to receive payment they were required to cutback on economic support for the nation's social, education and infrastructure. Interesting! So, repaying the gift has now become a priority and obligation to the government of Mexico over the health, well-being, education, and progress of the people and their nation.
You say: "I am not responsible for the fact that Mexico is a socialist state that has nationalized its mineral industry with the result that their wealth is confiscated for the benefit of their rich elite."
If indeed Mexico was in a true perfect socialist state all these negative effects would have not occurred. That's besides the point.
Can you take a moment and think about the mineworkers and the dangers that they face? Short term physical dangers - cave-ins, explosions, occupational deadly accidents. Long term health issues - cancers, disabilities, lose of sight, exploitation. The last thing they are thinking about is to the benefit of the rich elite, they are think of their families and how are they going to afford to eat this week. It's not their fault, and you are not responsible for this either.
I believe your final statements were insignificant to the topic of which I had posted but I will attempt to respond to them anyways.
"I am not responsible for the fact that Mexican families choose to have children that they can't afford to feed, cloth or educate."
No, you are not responsible for the amount of children that a Mexican family or any other family decides to have, nor are you entitled to that right unless you are deciding for your own. Many people cannot afford to have children but some how they manage; many times these people create the most loving environments for their children, even through low-economic statuses. And of course this is on a case by case situation.
Agriculture is the primary and leading occupation of the people of Mexico. To have a larger family provides more benefits and at times is the deciding factor in the family's survival. To conclude it is not for you to decide or for you to press against another's decision to have children. Womyn have the right to decide to either have children, not have children, when to have children, and parent those children. You do not have the right to decide for them nor stigmatize them or an entire nation for their reproductive decisions.
"I am not responsible for the fact that Mexicans listen to the insane teachings of the Catholic Church with respect to birth control."
Like I said many families chose to have children. And again you are not responsible for them, or what they believe in.
In conclusion, Jackbenimble you have nothing to worry about - you are not responsible. The issues, the deaths, the poverty, the injustices of Mexico are NOT dripping from your hands.
You are as innocent as your neighbor, your teachers, your mother, your children, as myself, and as most US citizens.
This country is not spared of fault though. The blood drips from the international impression of our stars and stripes. The government. The policies. The deceit. The US is at fault, not the citizens. Many times we weren't even given the option to decide. Could this be possibly what we deserve? -As you said the Mexicans did for their corrupt and unstable government. Do we deserve this imposing government that wages spiritual, physical, economical wars against other humans many times without our consent?
Your eyes, your mind, your heart conversely have witness, heard, felt the injustices of the people. It is up to you, it's up to us whether to point back in accusation, look away in ignorance, or to understand and sympathize as humans their injustices, their pain, their struggle in solidarity.
Thank you for your time and appreciate your interest in discussion of this controversial yet vitally important topic.
In Community and Justice,
Muxerista Madrid
and probably read over the sentence stating, "Please do not be offended. Most every US citizens' hands are spared of the blood of these innocent womyn."
I did not miss this statement. I chose to ignore it because I believe that the American people are responsible for the actions of our government. When you accuse our government of having blood on our hands then, regardless of your disclaimer, then all Americans have blood on our hands. I did not support or vote for NAFTA but I am a Republican and it was passed mostly with Republican votes in Congress. It was pushed through by a Democrat President with support of some Democrats in Congress (and also Hillary) so those Americans also bear some blame.
I still reject the assertion that America has blood on its hands for the tragic stuff that is happening in Mexico. There were three major parties in the NAFTA negotiations. I hold the United States government ONLY responsible for looking out for the best interests of the people of the USA. The people of Mexico where represented by the MEXICAN government. If the MEXICAN Government failed in their responsibility to the people of Mexico then that is not the fault of the United States government or of the American people. Unlike the assertion of your blog, the that failure falls squarely on the Mexican Government.
Moving on, you state:
Femicide, economic recession, stock market crash, starvation, environmental destruction, exploitation, job loss, and loss of sovereignty is not progress for any type of people. Listed above are all direct negative consequences of NAFTA.
But then you also state:
Investors pulled billion of dollars out of Mexico consequently and after the justly Zapatisa rebellion against NAFTA. In direct affect the peso was devalued by 50% which ultimately caused the collapse of Mexico's stock market. The International Monetary Fund and the US quick to make long time profit, ehem excuse me, I mean long time positive foreign relationships decide to 'give' Mexico $20Mil to aid the market back up. There was a catch though, in order for Mexico to receive payment they were required to cutback on economic support for the nation's social, education and infrastructure.
It seems that NAFTA was having its desired effect which was to attract foreign investment to Mexico. That would have created jobs and the income from jobs would have allowed greater tax revenues and greater investment in social, education and infrastructure. It seems though that the calmity in Mexico in Mexico was caused by the withdrawal of that foreign investment. That calamity, by your own assertion was precipitated by the Zapista Revolution, not NAFTA. So your assertions above about the direct negative effects of NAFTA were false. Most of those problems were caused by revolution. Here is a hint: most investors don't want their capital anywhere close to a war zone! And then you have the nerve to complain that the hard earned money of American taxpayers was stolen from us and given to people in another country. Its not like America does not have its own financial problems like the imminent collapse of Medicare and Social Security.
Despite all of this, NAFTA has created tens of thousands of jobs in Mexico and Mexico is somewhat better off as a result. Unfortunately, due to irresponsible reproductive habits, you have new workers entering your workforce faster than your economy is able to create jobs. As just one example the United States imports cars from Mexico. Prior to NAFTA, Mexico did not even have an auto industry. NAFTA has caused huge economic growth in Mexico and where as Mexico used to run a trade deficit with the USA, it now runs a surplus.
But, if the people of Mexico feel that NAFTA is a bad deal for Mexico, then it is up to them to pursuade their democratically elected government to withdraw from it. That is a decision between the Mexican people and the Mexican government and has nothing to do with the people of the USA,.
I am not going to respond to the rest of your post except to answer your question in this part of your post. You and I will probably find some common ground on our beliefs on this particular issue.
Yes, it is true that NAFTA had negative effects within it's first years towards US citizens, specifically in employment loss. As a country though, the US has benefitted exponentially economically-wise. Can you please address what other, if any, major issues it has caused the US?
Generally NAFTA has generally economically benefited both economies. Free trade is good because by definition, both parties are wealthier after a voluntary trade then they were before the voluntary trade. If that were not the case, then they would refuse to conclude the deal.
But NAFTA in combination with our disgusting agricultural subsidies has been a disaster for the United States because it has been a disaster for the agricultural sector, particularly corn, in Mexico and has triggered a massive wave of illegal immigration. I am against subsidies because my tax dollars are being transfered to some huge agri-business which is just corporate welfare. The government has no business confiscating money from me and giving it to somebody else whether it is a big business or somebody who refuses to work. The agri-business, with the subsidies is able to unfairly compete with artificially low prices and do enormous damage to farmers all over the third world including Mexico. This is no longer free trade but rather subsidized trade. The result in Mexico is that poor farmers have been displaced from their farms and have been coming to America as illegal immigrants. The result is damage to the poorest working Americans who suffer lower wages and unfair competition for unskilled jobs and damage to the middle class who get taxed to pay for schools, healthcare and prisons for this vast new influx of poverty stricken people. I get taxed once to pay for the subsidies and then I get taxed again to pay for the negative consequences of those subsidies!
In short, my problem is not so much with NAFTA as with our corporate welfare subsidies for our agricultural sector. NAFTA just allowed us to inflict our terrible market distortions on the Mexican economy which prior to NAFTA was able to isolate itself from them with tariffs. Our domestic timber industry suffers the exact same problem with subsided lumber from Canada but it is just a blip in our huge economy.
I'll conclude by saying that I think it would be wise for the American government to help Mexico develop its economy and particularly focus on helping it with things like institutions that improve the rule of law, and help it with things like infrastructure and education. I don't think we should do these things because of any guilt. Blame for Mexico's problems falls squarely on the Mexican government and the Mexican people who tolerate that government. I think we should do it because it is in the self-interest of the United States. A poverty stricken, corrupt and unstable Mexico will inevitably export its problems to the the United States and that is exactly what we are seeing with illegal immigration. If you want to convince me that the USA should behave in a certain way then you are going to have a lot better luck appealing to my self interest then my sense of guilt because I can see exactly where the guilt lies and Mexico's problems are not my or my government's fault.
I'll be against providing very much help to Mexico until Mexico starts to help itself. Just by reforming your real estate laws along your coastlines, Mexico could set off a building boom that would solve almost all of Mexico's problems. It would create millions of jobs and enormous wealth for the Mexican people. There is a reason why people in Mexico are poor and it can be summed up by the word socialism.
We should all be concerned about the corruption on both sides of the border which allow these atrocities to happen. People do get the government they deserve when they choose not to participate. The US government has become a huge joke run by the wealthy and conniving. One thing to consider in this equation, the more we turn a blind eye, the worse our country becomes as well. We are on a downward spiral and it won't be long before we are in the same boat as Mexico and attempting to turn things around when things are that far gone is much more difficult than fixing things as they are now. We should all be concerned when people of any race or gender are being needlessly hurt. We should all be concerned when our companies employ people who have no better way to get where they are going and they are being killed. I cannot imagine they could not offer a better transportation system or police system in order to deter these criminals. It is a sad day when we all turn a blind eye and it will happen in our own neighborhoods if we continue.