Mexico

Ruben Arjona Mejía

Mexico is the fourteenth largest country in the world, and a land of many cultures. It is a nation of young people: almost 70 per cent of Mexicans are under thirty. The chains of injustice that bind the nation also bind the young. There are also chains of injustice that affect children and teenagers exclusively.

The southern state of Chiapas has been the focus of attention since an armed group rose against the federal government on 1 January 1994. Their main demand: justice for the indigenous people. But the chains of injustice in Mexico are many, long and wide. The glory of God is diminished in the tropical, prosperous region of Tabasco State: lands that once were rich and fertile are now irresponsibly exploited by Mexico’s largest public industry, the national oil company PEMEX. The people directly affected by oil pollution have not received any help. They used to sow lots of fruit and vegetables; nowadays, they can only find oil all over the place (of course, the oil is not theirs). The glory of God is diminished in Guerrero State: campesinos (peasants) are brutally killed ‘by mistake’. The glory of God is diminished in the north of Mexico, particularly where there seems to be no law, or rather, where the law is determined by drug dealers who gain more and more power, while growing numbers of young people become drug addicts. The glory of God is diminished in Mexico City, where corruption is more frequent than trees.

Everyday life in Mexico City

Today’s paper (El Universal, Sunday 21 January 1996) tells a sad story. It is the story of Juanito Hernandez. Juanito’s father calls him ‘Destroyer’. However, a few weeks ago he stopped being the kid he was, always dynamic and cheerful: the ‘flu’ got him. He sleeps in his mother’s arms, but still, he seems sad. This is the third time that he had to be brought to La Raza Hospital early in the morning. He coughed all night long. Juanito - just a year and a half old, like most of the sick children - is suffering the consequences of living in one of the most highly polluted cities in the world.

Mr Lopez had planned to take his mother to church today. But the city government just announced that due to the high level of air pollution, cars whose license plates end with an odd number are restricted from normal circulation. He won’t be able to drive his old rounded green car (a kind of car that abounds in the city); but the church is too far away to walk, and taking a taxi is too expensive. Mom isn’t going to church.

And now, a pretty common story in Mexico City. Rosa, fifteen years old, wakes up early in the morning. She is excited about going to school because she is having a presentation in her Geography class. She eats breakfast quickly and says good-bye to her parents. As she walks to catch the micro (private small bus), two men start harassing her. Fortunately, Mr. Perez, a neighbour, passes by and shouts at them: ‘Stop it! you...’ The drug addicts flee immediately. Mr. Perez and Rosa are both taking the same micro. Suddenly, while they travel, they notice that Banamex (a Mexican bank) is being assaulted. Mr. Perez exclaims: ‘I can’t believe it, the bank just opened and those bandits are already assaulting it!’. Rosa shouts: ‘No! they injured the policeman’. All the passengers in the bus look at each other with great lamentation. They know that violence is frequent in the city. After this horrible sight, Rosa finally arrives at her school. She has a pretty nice day. She just complained about one thing: due to the high level of air pollution, students weren’t allowed to have their recess on the patio (playground). Staying in the classroom the whole day was annoying. When she arrives home she has to cook for the family. Her mom is a cashier at the supermarket, she works all day. His brother is always out, trying to find a job. Her father is in a political demonstration; he used to drive a bus of the public transportation system Ruta-100, but the city government declared the company bankrupt and 12,000 workers were left without a job. The family is pretty lucky, they have meat today (they can only afford meat one day a week). After cooking a delicious Mexican dish with lots of chilli, onions, and tomatoes, Rosa turns on the TV. She avoids channel two because she is not interested in listening to news about Raul Salinas (the ex-president’s brother, now in jail); likewise, she hates listening to the news about Mr Abrego (a famous drug dealer). Failing to find a good TV programme, Rosa decides to eat alone (since no one else has arrived) and then do homework. Rosa’s teacher asked them to write an essay on ‘the right of natives’, specially concerning the situation in Chiapas. Rosa comes to a conclusion pretty quickly: natives in Chiapas State are Mexicans, they should have the same rights that all Mexicans have. Rosa deserves some fun. She decides to go out and meet her friends. She spends a couple of hours chatting with them about the handsome neighbour, the physical changes they are undergoing and, of course, their favourite TV show. It is seven o’clock when Rosa’s mother arrives home. They exchange experiences, they hug each other and, finally, they thank the Virgin Mary for protecting them during the day (most Mexicans are Roman Catholic, many non-practising). While they pray, Rosa’s father and brother arrive. They smile at each other, but with mixed feelings. Yes, they are certainly happy to see each other, but the men feel sad and frustrated: no job opportunities. Smiles and tears, that’s all for today.

Corruption and other chains

Corruption in Mexico is like a cancer that has affected almost all the body. It can be detected at every level, both public and private. Raul Salinas, the brother of Mexico’s ex-president, is in jail, facing charges of murder and other probable felonies. Many public employees of every level are in jail due to corruption. And that’s not the worst! Many people who have openly violated the law are free due to their political alliances and their economic fortunes (most of the money comes from the people’s taxes).

Mexico City is a monster. According to the 1990 census almost nine million people live in the Federal District of Mexico City. But the city has become a metropolis, extending its limits to the whole of Mexico State: millions more live there. Now, the city is mainly governed by people appointed by the president. These people are alienated from the millions who live in the city (they don’t need the people’s vote to govern). This is a great source of corruption. From many quarters, there is a push for democratization in the city. There has been some progress, such as the election of a legislative body for the city, but the powers of that assembly are quite limited. A lot could be said about this matter, but the reader might be bored with too much politics.

Other chains of injustice are in one way or another related to corruption. The main demand of citizens is public security. People can manage to live despite the economic crisis, but not with such tremendous insecurity. We, young people, constantly witness the anxiety of parents when their sons and daughters are out in the streets. Most of those young people come back to their homes; some, however, end up in a hospital, in jail, in the hands of kidnappers, or much farther away from home. During 1995, 1,102 people were murdered in Mexico City; 3,412 people were sexually abused (mostly boys below the age of 13, and young women from 13 to 24). Although it might be safer, having a car is not the solution (besides, several millions of people cannot afford a car). In one month (January 1996), 5,503 cars were stolen in Mexico City. At least forty car accidents occur every day. Moreover, all these statistics are conservative. Often, people do not report the facts to the police, mainly because of the inefficiency and corruption of the police, many of whom are involved in the felonies.

Air pollution is a major problem, and children are its main victims. It cannot be solved easily, the city is the home of too many cars, buses and factories. But corruption makes it worse. Some factories prefer to bribe the government inspectors rather than fix their machinery to reduce the production of air-polluting chemicals. Likewise, many drivers prefer to pay bribes than have their cars fixed to reduce the emission of carbon monoxide.

Many thousands of children live in the streets, the products of dreams that never came true. Thousands of people immigrate to Mexico City from other states, hoping to reach a higher standard of living. Most end up failing, and also fail to provide for their babies and children. Some of those children are helped by private agencies, others become drug addicts and criminals, others fall into the hands of child exploiters.

The economic differences in Mexico, and particularly in Mexico City, are great. A few own almost everything, millions of people own almost nothing. The neoliberal economic policy of the government has shown its inhuman face. The results of ex-President Salinas’ regime are evident. Millions live in poverty. People demand justice, but there is no real justice, because justice is in the hands of the few. Unemployment has grown. In Mexico City, it recently reached 8.4 per cent; about 245,000 people do not have a job. Those thousands have families to provide for. How do they eat? Some have become ‘informal merchants’: people who sell gum, pens, and all sorts of things in the streets. Others sing in the buses of the metro (subway system); many people share with them a few coins. Others prefer stealing to singing (more profitable).

I’d like to tell the story of about 12,000 unemployed men. They have been unemployed for about ten months. They used to work for the Ruta-100 city public transportation system. Those buses were one of the few things that people were able to afford (a trip for 40 Mexican centavos, or 5 US cents). Of course, the company used to received a subsidy from the city’s government. The fact is that the company was declared bankrupt. The result: 12,000 men without a job. The problem is mainly political. The government says there was a lot of corruption within the workers’ union. The workers charge the government with violating the Constitution. After ten months, the workers have not given in, they keep on defending their jobs enthusiastically. They have survived by selling sodas and candies in the streets. They have even received economic help from international work forces.

Unemployment is getting worse. Thousands of young men and women graduate from universities and find no jobs. A few of them have enough money to run their own businesses; others manage to get into a company or public department because of their political influence. Many, however, end up doing what they never expected to do while they were in college. It is not uncommon to find a doctor driving a taxi, or a lawyer selling tacos (Mexican food).

The chains of injustice in Mexico City are long. This article can’t describe all of them (besides, the reader might already be depressed). One last note. Mexico City is famous for its ‘protestantism’ (political, not religious!). During 1995 there were more than four hundred street demonstrations or meetings, most of them with a political character. People come from all over the nation to demand justice. One day the city received a group of janitors that were suddenly fired by the government of Tabasco State simply because there was no more work to be done. Another day, the city received people from Guerrero State, people who protested against the brutal killing of campesinos. But not even the right of public demonstration has been respected. Often, the city government has artificially created street fights between the protesting groups and the police. Once, while supporting a group of workers, I had to flee from the police by hiding in a truck that was transporting trash (what an adventure!).

Young people and hope

It seems to me that many young people have lost hope. They have concluded that breaking the chains of injustice is an impossible task. Many prefer to adapt themselves to an environment of injustice and corruption. Furthermore, the individualistic philosophy of a free market economy is seriously affecting young people’s ethics. Many young men and women care only about themselves: let him/her who can manage to survive, survive; the rest matters not.

But not everyone has lost hope. People who protest against injustice and strive to defend human rights (whatever their motivations may be) are actually proclaiming hope. For instance, many young students have seen in political life a resource for fighting against injustice. While many young men and women call themselves ‘apolitical’, thousands have joined political movements. It is frequent to find young men and women who agree with the demands of the natives of Chiapas State. Some of them have actively joined political organizations. I can still remember how enthusiastic young people were about the campaigns of the three main candidates to the Presidency in 1994. On those days the zocalo (downtown area in Mexico City) was the scene of hopes and good wishes. However, much of that hope has withered away. The Mexican political system is undergoing a serious crisis. The Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI) has retained power for more than sixty years. Corruption and great vices have developed within that organization; as a matter of fact, the nation has witnessed disagreement and open violence between members of that party (the battle for power). A movement of reform is urgently needed.

Others believe that the ‘winds of change’ must come directly from citizens, rather than from political organizations. The truth is that whenever people gather themselves around a common cause, they do politics. Nevertheless, nothing will be achieved without the participation of many citizens who are daily striving to prevent the nation from collapsing.

The Presbyterian Church

Presbyterians in Mexico are a minority within the Protestant minority. Optimistic figures estimate that about a million Mexicans are Presbyterian. Although the National Presbyterian Church is independent, it is still very influenced by foreign religious traditions (mainly from the United States). One shouldn’t be ungrateful for the work of many foreign missionaries; after all, they brought the historical denominations to Mexico. However, they brought with them, not only the Bible and Reformed confessions, but their own theology and liturgy. As a result, the Mexican Presbyterian Church has failed to respond to the particular features of Mexican cultures. The churches in Mexico, particularly the urban ones, haven’t produced their own liturgy and theology. Furthermore, much of the theological foundations of Presbyterian congregations is not Calvinistic but Arminian. It seems to me that many Presbyterians seem to be more platonic than biblical: the soul is immortal and of much greater importance than the ‘sinful’ body. The church is, therefore, mainly dedicated to the salvation of souls. As a result, there is no dialogue between the culture and the church. Many adults and young people have come to believe that the only and exclusive solution to break the chains of injustice is prayer; any social or political participation is against God’s will.

Moreover, there are clear signs of injustice within the church. As an example, I will mention the case of women’s ministry. In the Presbyterian Church of Mexico women cannot be ordained; ministry is considered to be an exclusive task for men. Nevertheless women are actively participating in the mission of the church, even without official recognition. It is frequent to find congregations integrated only by women.

The Holy Spirit and the breaking of the chains

Despite its limitations, I firmly believe that the Presbyterian Church has an important role to fulfil in breaking the chains of injustice. It must assume its God-given role, incorporating in its battle against injustice all the weapons that have been provided by God the Father. The source of inspiration and guidance is the Spirit of God. There is no doubt that prayer is absolutely necessary in the fight against injustice. However, the Spirit of God cannot be confined within the walls of the churches. The church must recognize and acknowledge the presence and work of the Spirit of God wherever it may be found. We, young people, have to break with the myth that has sometimes made us believe that the Spirit is exclusively manifested either in the churches or in the heart of believers. I found a great explanation of this in the exposition of the Reformer:

If we reflect that the Spirit of God is the only fountain of truth, we will be careful, as we would avoid offering insult to him, not to reject or contemn truth wherever it appears. In despising the gifts, we insult the Giver... Moreover, let us not forget that there are most excellent blessings which the Divine Spirit dispenses to whom he will for the common benefit of mankind.¹

In this respect, Geneva has a great lesson to share with Mexico City, and particularly with Christians. The triumph of the Reformation in Geneva wasn’t the product of a great two-hour evangelistic event in St. Peter’s Cathedral (with Farel preaching). I do not mean to say that the Scriptures are not efficacious by the work of the Spirit; but I do say that the word of God is not a product in the market that could be restrained, neither is the Spirit an employee of the church. Back in the sixteenth century the Reformers saw God’s hand in the progression of history; by doing so, they were able to incorporate into their battle all the resources available. Likewise, the Reformation in Mexico City cannot occur only by organizing a great evangelistic campaign in the Azteca soccer stadium. It takes more than that. While the church should continue proclaiming the kingdom of God in worship, it should also proclaim it in every sphere of life. In doing so, strategic alliances must be developed.

Where there is hope, there the Spirit of God is present. There is hope in the activity of a woman who honestly sells oranges at twenty-three centavos each (3 US cents). There is hope in the activity of a driver who makes his best effort to prevent his car from polluting. There is hope in the activity of a legislator who is working to pass laws that will protect those who have nothing.

And yes, there is hope within the church. Whenever Christians gather to adore God, there the kingdom of God is proclaimed, and where the kingdom of God is proclaimed, all other kingdoms are shown their temporal existence. Furthermore, there is a strong will among some ministers and church men and women, a will that seeks to reestablish many of the Reformed principles that have been lost. Within the seminaries, the government of the church, and the congregations, many Christians have acknowledged the imperious necessity of establishing a serious dialogue between Mexican culture(s) and the church. The aim is to respond adequately to the characteristics of a definite historical moment. The aim is to incorporate into the mission of the church all that God has provided. The aim is to stop the lessening of the glory of God by breaking the growth of the chains of injustice. The aim is to proclaim fully the kingdom of God and its justice.

Much of the church’s present and future life depends on young people. Young people are vehicles of change. Often, older people are not willing to change and modify their ideas. Here is Calvin contrasting the old with the young:

We indeed know that the aged are less tractable than the young; nay, whether we refer to the arts or to the liberal sciences, the youthful age is the most flexible. The aged are also much slower; and added to this is another evil, they are very obstinate, and will hardly bear to be taught the first rudiments, being imbued with a false notion, as though they must have lived long in vain.²

And therefore says Jeremiah: It is good for one to bear the yoke in youth (3.27). But a good question follows: What does it mean to bear the yoke?

Hence then, it is, that we are said to bear the yoke of God, when we relinquish our own judgment, and become wise through God’s word, when, with our affections surrendered and subdued, we hear what God commands us, and receive what he commands.³

It is my sincere hope and prayer that young people will bear the yoke of God in fighting against the chains of injustice. May the Spirit Divine guide us in fulfilling this great task.

Ruben Javier Arjona Mejía of the National Presbyterian Church of Mexico is a student at the Seminario Teológico Presbiteriano de México.

Notes