Mexican Ambassador gives lecture, says Latin America ‘strong and stable’

Mexican Ambassador Alejandro Garcia-Moreno explained the progress Latin American countries have made toward democracy at 4 p.m. Thursday in the Coronation Room in the Indiana Memorial Union.\nThe lecture started off with David Hertz, IU professor of comparative literature, introducing the ambassador, who happens to be Hertz’s brother-in-law. \nGarcia-Moreno recently left his position as a representative of the Organization of American States and is now serving as a Mexican ambassador.\nHertz said he invited his brother-in-law to give a talk because he felt it would benefit students to hear an ambassador speak. \n“I was thinking, we have international studies – let’s hear someone who is doing it,” Hertz said. \nGarcia-Moreno’s lecture began with the ambassador explaining to students that before they could further learn about Latin America, they have to understand that while citizens of the United States consider themselves Americans, so do citizens who live in other Latin American countries. \nThrough a presentation, Garcia-Moreno explained several Latin American countries’ populations, land sizes, growths, domestic growths and the incomes per capita.\nSenior Olivia Morales said she enjoyed this part of the lecture the most because it gave her a better understanding of how to measure the quality of living in Latin American countries. \nGarcia-Moreno explained that Latin America is in a good place because most countries are making a transition toward a democratic form of government. \nThe ambassador said it has not been easy for most countries to transition toward a democratic form of government and gave examples like Guatemala, which has tried to have a democratic government but has failed. \n“We were born without a plan of what we wanted to be,” Garcia-Moreno said. \nOne of the ways Latin American countries have progressed toward democracy is by allowing communication with each other to open up trade, Garcia-Moreno said. \nThe Summit of the Americas, a conference where Latin American countries come together to talk about problems, is one example of how free trade has occurred, Garcia-Moreno said. \nDespite signing peace treaties and compromises, Garcia-Moreno said there are other problems Latin America has to deal with in order to progress. \nPoverty, inequality and organized crime are the three things Garcia-Moreno said these countries must overcome to reach democracy. \nA question and answer session followed the lecture. \nOne audience member asked the ambassador about the growing trend of leftist leaders in Latin America. \nGarcia-Moreno said part of democracy includes accepting who is elected, even if others may not agree with the leader’s view. He also said people should not worry about Latin American countries’ militaries because in comparison with other countries they have not been involved in many wars. \nAfter the lecture Garcia-Moreno said he hopes students recognize the progression Latin American countries have made toward democracy. \n“Democracy has arrived to Latin America,” Garcia-Moreno said. “That is the most profound change in recent history. Because of this we are going to be able to have a strong and stable Latin America.”\nAlthough many of its countries still have problems, Garcia-Moreno said he is hopeful about the future of Latin America. \n“Today Latin America is living in the best time in its history,” Garcia-Moreno said.