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Díaz: President, General, Dictator
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This week’s document is a record of a 1908 interview between Mexico’s former president Porfirio Díaz and American journalist James Creelman. The interview takes place two years before the start of the Mexican Revolution, an uprising led by Francisco Medero, a new political opponent to Díaz. Reading the interview gives no direct reason to predict […]
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read full post >>Week 7: On “The Export Boom as Modernity”
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This chapter deals mainly with two topics–politics and economy–during the time when the majority of Latin America was progressing in modernity. Although having very poor understanding of economics and not so much better understanding of politics, I’m highly interested in the political part of this chapter. Although I’m aware that the document is a highly romantic eulogy of […] read full post >>
"Porfirio Díaz, Hero of the Americas”
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The premise of the interview by James Creelman to President Profirio Díaz of Mexico is to explore the politics of Mexico as his presidency finalizes.
The interview is structured and written in a very unusual fashion. Creelman begins by glorifying Profirio in such a manner that its almost a praise. It's not written in casual spoken language, but in a poetic, or literary style. It's more about Creelmans experience of being in the presence of Díaz than it is a structured interview, or so it seems.
Nonetheless, the interview does cover many interesting topics within the mexican politics of today and yesterday. Díaz was the Mexican leader for 30 years, as he watched, and directed the changes and progressions. He speaks of the great development of the railway as it went from just two tracks to cross the country into thousands. With this technological advancement communication became much more facilitated. At the start of his term the trains were robbed frequently so the government implemented strict laws against theft, the death penalty. He states that a small bit of bad blood to be spilled is needed to save the majority of the good blood.
I was surprised to learn that Mexico has no middle class nor did it have in the past. Díaz explains that the middle class citizens are those of political action, those working towards progression, and those with ambition. [The upper class had no need for this because they were too concerned in their riches, and the poor were too ignorant to have power]. The country was caught up in war and politics and was unable to concern themselves with progression at the end of the Spanish Tyranny. Creelman interrupts the conversation therefore we do not learn why the Mexico of today has no middle class.
The language which Díaz uses to speak of the indigenous populations was shocking as well. He explains the worship of the "Indians" to the Virgin de Guadalupe and then explains that they rely on the government for guidance as they do not concern themselves with the politics of the country.
All public religious practices and displays were outlawed not because they are against religion but against idolatry and to show equality to everyone with respects to human rights. Creelman does ask an interesting question about how the government is able to keep itself in check when no opponents exist? His response was that if indeed an opponent does sugiere he will accept it respectively because it is not about the ideology of the democracy that is important but the advancement of Mexico as a nation.
read full post >>Latin American Studies – Krista Anderson 2014-10-14 12:25:00
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Dawson Chapter 4:
The document "Porfirio Diaz, Hero of the Americas" describes Diaz's letting go of Mexico as he finishes his last term in his legacy. Creelman introduces him as a hero through describing his physical attributes in great detail. He describes his kind but fearful eyes, highlighting the contrast in his character: strength and sensitivity. As he interviews him he delves into why Diaz is finally letting go, and what his current opinions of Mexico are. I found it interesting that he agreed with democratic sentiments even though he had been the country's sole leader for several terms. He agrees that democracy protects nations from dictators seeking personal profit and enforcing unfair policies, yet he believed that when he took control of Mexico, the country was ill prepared for the responsibilities of democracy.
He explains this economically with the emergence of a middle class. It was interesting that he described the middle class as the function of a democracy that had not been there before with the economic gap. He explains that the wealthy and the poor do not concern themselves enough with the political process, and that democracy has not been "implanted" in the people's minds. He calls an opposing party a "blessing" because it would mean that the people were actively involved in the government.
I thought an interesting concept that was brought up was "enforced peace." I don't know if I would consider peace something that can be forced but he claims that the blood that was shed was the bad, and the blood that was saved was mostly good. As for the export boom and technological advancements he says that factory smoke is better than cannon smoke of war. Mexico is described as a place with shining electric lights and English language taught to children in schools. As Dawson describes, 50% of Latin America's capital was in foreign hands. I'm curious if Mexico was just becoming more economically stable, but losing its identity as a culture. read full post >>
The document "Porfirio Diaz, Hero of the Americas" describes Diaz's letting go of Mexico as he finishes his last term in his legacy. Creelman introduces him as a hero through describing his physical attributes in great detail. He describes his kind but fearful eyes, highlighting the contrast in his character: strength and sensitivity. As he interviews him he delves into why Diaz is finally letting go, and what his current opinions of Mexico are. I found it interesting that he agreed with democratic sentiments even though he had been the country's sole leader for several terms. He agrees that democracy protects nations from dictators seeking personal profit and enforcing unfair policies, yet he believed that when he took control of Mexico, the country was ill prepared for the responsibilities of democracy.
He explains this economically with the emergence of a middle class. It was interesting that he described the middle class as the function of a democracy that had not been there before with the economic gap. He explains that the wealthy and the poor do not concern themselves enough with the political process, and that democracy has not been "implanted" in the people's minds. He calls an opposing party a "blessing" because it would mean that the people were actively involved in the government.
I thought an interesting concept that was brought up was "enforced peace." I don't know if I would consider peace something that can be forced but he claims that the blood that was shed was the bad, and the blood that was saved was mostly good. As for the export boom and technological advancements he says that factory smoke is better than cannon smoke of war. Mexico is described as a place with shining electric lights and English language taught to children in schools. As Dawson describes, 50% of Latin America's capital was in foreign hands. I'm curious if Mexico was just becoming more economically stable, but losing its identity as a culture. read full post >>
Exports and Exploitation: Week 7 Reading
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The export industry has been the driving force of Latin American "prosperity" since the middle of the 19th century, prosperity here meaning the international sale of natural resources such that those elites involved in trade reap a windfall profit. Mod... read full post >>
The Export Boom as Modernity
Posted by: feedwordpress
This weeks reading was a fascinating account of the Mexican President Porfirio Diaz who served as President for seven terms or 34 years. It is clear that Diaz is a figure of controversy in the history of Mexico. The 'Porfiriato' (the title given to the... read full post >>
The Export Boom as Modernity
Posted by: feedwordpress
This weeks reading was a fascinating account of the Mexican President Porfirio Diaz who served as President for seven terms or 34 years. It is clear that Diaz is a figure of controversy in the history of Mexico. The 'Porfiriato' (the title given to the... read full post >>
Exports and Exploitation: Week 7 Reading
Posted by: feedwordpress
The export industry has been the driving force of Latin American "prosperity" since the middle of the 19th century, prosperity here meaning the international sale of natural resources such that those elites involved in trade reap a windfall profit. Mod... read full post >>
Chapter 4
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The most interesting part of this weeks reading for me is the idea of the ends justify the means. This quote sums up the idea prevalent in the text quite well.
“It was better that a little blood should be shed that much blood should be saved. The blood that was shed was bad blood; the blood that was saved was good blood. “Peace was necessary, even an enforced peace, that the nation might have time to think and work. Education and industry have carried on the task begun by the army.” These are the words of the Mexican president Porfirio Diaz as he conducts this interview. He speaks of the times before he is made president and the actions he and many others took to restore order in the "lawless" Mexico in the early 20th century. These tyrannical actions were conducted in order to establish a properly democratic order. Or so it is stated by President Diaz. Later in the text the interviewer states the various wonders of the Mexican Republic. Her industry, mines, railways, banks, harbours, drainage systems, electricity, trolleys. All these modern innovations brought to Mexico. The end that has resulted from the means. All this growth and wonder fueled by an export based economy. These exports were used to pay for manufacturing and other products desired by the latin american nations. Well Mexico may have had an export balance in its favor this came at what cost? According to the text many parts of the country were in abject poverty and close to rebellion. Political opposition in exile, a strange contradiction to the statement in the interview where Diaz states he would welcome a political opposition happily. This text is very important because it shows a very skewed and biased view of the events of the time. Only by reading both in concert do we get a sense of what is going on behind the scenes and propaganda. read full post >>
“It was better that a little blood should be shed that much blood should be saved. The blood that was shed was bad blood; the blood that was saved was good blood. “Peace was necessary, even an enforced peace, that the nation might have time to think and work. Education and industry have carried on the task begun by the army.” These are the words of the Mexican president Porfirio Diaz as he conducts this interview. He speaks of the times before he is made president and the actions he and many others took to restore order in the "lawless" Mexico in the early 20th century. These tyrannical actions were conducted in order to establish a properly democratic order. Or so it is stated by President Diaz. Later in the text the interviewer states the various wonders of the Mexican Republic. Her industry, mines, railways, banks, harbours, drainage systems, electricity, trolleys. All these modern innovations brought to Mexico. The end that has resulted from the means. All this growth and wonder fueled by an export based economy. These exports were used to pay for manufacturing and other products desired by the latin american nations. Well Mexico may have had an export balance in its favor this came at what cost? According to the text many parts of the country were in abject poverty and close to rebellion. Political opposition in exile, a strange contradiction to the statement in the interview where Diaz states he would welcome a political opposition happily. This text is very important because it shows a very skewed and biased view of the events of the time. Only by reading both in concert do we get a sense of what is going on behind the scenes and propaganda. read full post >>
Chapter 4
Posted by: feedwordpress
The most interesting part of this weeks reading for me is the idea of the ends justify the means. This quote sums up the idea prevalent in the text quite well.
“It was better that a little blood should be shed that much blood should be saved. The blood that was shed was bad blood; the blood that was saved was good blood. “Peace was necessary, even an enforced peace, that the nation might have time to think and work. Education and industry have carried on the task begun by the army.” These are the words of the Mexican president Porfirio Diaz as he conducts this interview. He speaks of the times before he is made president and the actions he and many others took to restore order in the "lawless" Mexico in the early 20th century. These tyrannical actions were conducted in order to establish a properly democratic order. Or so it is stated by President Diaz. Later in the text the interviewer states the various wonders of the Mexican Republic. Her industry, mines, railways, banks, harbours, drainage systems, electricity, trolleys. All these modern innovations brought to Mexico. The end that has resulted from the means. All this growth and wonder fueled by an export based economy. These exports were used to pay for manufacturing and other products desired by the latin american nations. Well Mexico may have had an export balance in its favor this came at what cost? According to the text many parts of the country were in abject poverty and close to rebellion. Political opposition in exile, a strange contradiction to the statement in the interview where Diaz states he would welcome a political opposition happily. This text is very important because it shows a very skewed and biased view of the events of the time. Only by reading both in concert do we get a sense of what is going on behind the scenes and propaganda. read full post >>
“It was better that a little blood should be shed that much blood should be saved. The blood that was shed was bad blood; the blood that was saved was good blood. “Peace was necessary, even an enforced peace, that the nation might have time to think and work. Education and industry have carried on the task begun by the army.” These are the words of the Mexican president Porfirio Diaz as he conducts this interview. He speaks of the times before he is made president and the actions he and many others took to restore order in the "lawless" Mexico in the early 20th century. These tyrannical actions were conducted in order to establish a properly democratic order. Or so it is stated by President Diaz. Later in the text the interviewer states the various wonders of the Mexican Republic. Her industry, mines, railways, banks, harbours, drainage systems, electricity, trolleys. All these modern innovations brought to Mexico. The end that has resulted from the means. All this growth and wonder fueled by an export based economy. These exports were used to pay for manufacturing and other products desired by the latin american nations. Well Mexico may have had an export balance in its favor this came at what cost? According to the text many parts of the country were in abject poverty and close to rebellion. Political opposition in exile, a strange contradiction to the statement in the interview where Diaz states he would welcome a political opposition happily. This text is very important because it shows a very skewed and biased view of the events of the time. Only by reading both in concert do we get a sense of what is going on behind the scenes and propaganda. read full post >>
