The Mexican way

I consider myself a pretty mild-mannered person. I might cuss someone out if they cut me off in traffic, but that's about the extent of my anger. But Mexico has just pissed me off. Don't get me wrong, I love Mexico, sometimes more than here, especially the drinking age. But I digress. \nThe other day I read an article about how the Wal-Mart is building a new supermarket at an important site near Mexico City. \nSo here's the story. Wal-Mart owns this chain of warehouse-style stores in Mexico called Aurrera and they're going to open their newest store in the small town of Teotihuacán. Why the big whoop, you ask? Well, Teotihuacán is one of the largest sites of Aztec ruins in Mexico, including the intimidating "Pyramid of the Sun," the third largest in the world. It's one of the most famous, if not the most famous ruins site in Mexico. So now you understand how this warehouse store would disrupt the cultural and spiritual balance. \nWhenever tourists climb one of the two large pyramids, they get this beautiful view of the city, how it is now and how is used to be (I wouldn't know -- I was too chicken to climb it). And this enormous store with a huge lighted sign would put an ugly dent in that view, among other things. That's why the townspeople are protesting; too bad their pleas are falling on rich, deaf ears. Archaeologists are upset, the indigenous people are offended, and now I'm mad. In my mind, two people are to blame: Wal-Mart and the Mexican government. \nI'll start with B-town's favorite late night shopping center. Where does Wal-Mart get the cajones to build a store in such an important, damn-near sacred, place? They have the audacity to disrupt this cultural landmark with their shopping carts and falling prices. It's like going to Egypt and marveling at the Great Pyramid for an hour then walking behind it to go to Target. To them I say, "you bastards!" Ruins like these are all Mexico and its people have to relate to their ancestral culture. I agree that it's great for business with all the tourism each year but damn, is the prospected gain that much greater than the cost? Hell no! The ancient people who built these ruins must be looking on with disgust. Wal-Mart is at the top of their game already, K-Mart went down with Martha Stewart; this one store won't affect earnings much. \nWhile Wal-Mart sickens me, the Mexican officials who approved the project just plain irk me. Yes, they irk me. But what annoys me most is what Mexico has become. They've become big business's bitch, a slave to the peso. Anyone can be bought for the right price; you can bribe your way out of a speeding ticket. I heard a story that an officer accepted makeup in exchange for a warning. It's good for the driver, but it's sad because if this is going on at that level, then worse things must be happening higher up. In a way, it's always been like this: the rich get whatever they want and everyone else gets shafted (especially the indigenous). \nWhen this store is up and running, it'll wipe out most local businesses, and in Teotihuacán that's all there is. Business owners will have to trade in their shops for bright vests that say "Bienvenidos." There won't be many other choices. Everyone in the town can't setup camp at the ruins selling Aztec mementos or beaded jewelry. The government made a choice to screw them over, but I'm sure not without a little "convincing," by Wal-Mart. \nIt's like my mom said when I told her the story, "con dinero baila el perro." Translation: the dog will dance for money.