I am once again peeved at the U.S State Department for listing Mexico under the heading of “Current Travel Alerts” right alongside nations such as “Saudi Arabia”…
When the novice vacationer goes to the Gov site this is what they first read: “Travel Alerts are issued to disseminate information about short-term conditions, generally within a particular country, that pose imminent risks to the security of U.S. citizens. Natural disasters, terrorist attacks, coups, anniversaries of terrorist events, election-related demonstrations or violence…”
That special little message, in just the first 25 words, instills fear by telling would-be travelers to this wonderful country, which includes PP, that Mexico poses “imminent risks to the security of U.S. Citizens” including “terrorist attacks”, “anniversaries of terrorist events” followed by “demonstrations or violence…”
Now I bring this up because if a would-be first time visitor to our fair community first googled “Mexico” for some more info they’d get back nearly 89 million links with the 3rd one (top, page one) being the US. State Department link to the “Mexico” page and right at the top of that page, it has a “Mexico - Security” alert!
Even if the reader bypasses that link and stays on the U.S. Gov's Mexico landing page the reader is told about such interesting topics as “Harassment/Extortion” or “Street Crime” as well as “Crime in Cancun, Acapulco, and Other Resort Areas” and that in those “resort areas” things like “acquaintance rape is a serious problem”.
It goes on with more fun and cozy information about “Drug-related violence, including shootings and kidnappings…” and “Crime in Border Cities” as well as warnings about buying real estate.
Now that I think about it maybe what the government bureaucrat, I mean ‘author’, did was just cut and paste newspaper headlines and stories from around the United States and substituted “Mexico” for the “USA” and “resort areas in Mexico” in place of “resort areas in the USA”…
¡Viva México y Puerto Peñasco!
Email me: El Gitano Penasco
