The Great Border Crossing

I've really developed a liking for bus travel lately. Inter-city buses in Mexico are so excellent and comfortable, I'd liken it to flying business class. The only gripe is the irritatingly regular drug raids along the highway where stern looking guards leer at the passengers looking for signs of pupil dilation.

I boarded a bus in Monterrey (MEXICO) headed for Houston (TEXAS) in the crisp morning of Tuesday. It was uneventful enough until we stopped rather abrupty roadside and an announcement was made over the speaker system. (I didn't understand it much ... think Queensland Rail announcements, but in Spanish).

A guy had a video camera and proceeded to walk up the aisle poking the lens between every seat. Initially, I thought he was just a really eager, particularily thorough tourist. As he got nearer however, I realised he was documenting the passengers and items on the bus to ensure there were no drugs.

It's strange, this whole border-crossing notion. Having experienced a little of both Mexico and the US, it's clear that these vast tracts of land where the two countries meet is pretty much the same either side. The bleeding of cultures, cuisine, industry and people occurs in both directions. And one is struck with the thought of why exactly the separation exists, because it seems the only distinction is on paper. At least the only distinction that matters.


I can't help but feel a little angry and sorry for Mexico.

Having for many years practiced a pretty transparent policy of expansionism and divine sanction, acting as self-appointed regional sheriff - especially in the affairs of Latin America - the USA wants to build a concrete wall to stop illegal immigrants. It's unfair to use Mexico as a political playground, keeping the country in a needy, dependant, puppy-like state where when the US says jump, Mexico says how high. (For instance, ex-President Vincente Fox and parliment had agreed to legalise drugs in small quantities, but a phone call from Prez Bush resulted in immediate veto. Do some googling if you interested, in the US-led interventions in Latin America over the past 100 years ...)

So while the US wants to wield so much power in the region, and have a hand in the affairs of every other country, it feels the need to physically isolate itself.

What sort of sad, depressing world are we living in when a 10m high concrete barrier is segmenting and tainting some of the most beautiful landscape in the world to keep out a few desperados ... desperados it helped create thanks to the exploitation of Mexico's natural resources only to sell it back @ 500% markup.