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I found this chapter to be rather significant as it played a huge role in the creation of ‘modern’ Latin America. As portrayed in the document which is an interview between an American journalist and the President of Mexico, Porfirio Diaz, one can acknowledge the physical transformation in the country’s landscape as connections between Mexico and other […] read full post >>

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 >>

I found this chapter to be rather significant as it played a huge role in the creation of ‘modern’ Latin America. As portrayed in the document which is an interview between an American journalist and the President of Mexico, Porfirio Diaz, one can acknowledge the physical transformation in the country’s landscape as connections between Mexico and other […] read full post >>

The export boom as modernity discusses Latin America, but specifically Mexico’s journey of independence, in which the new age President Porfirio Diaz ruled for thirty-four years. It shows the connection between independence and modernization, how after become their own nation, they were able to develop and import products. The region of Latin America lacked resources […] read full post >>

James Creelman in the excerpts from “Porfirio Díaz, Hero of the Americas” speaks optimistically about the Díaz regime, his efforts and their results. Creelman mentions that Díaz is a hero that stabilized a once "divided and unprepared" country (... read full post >>

The export boom as modernity discusses Latin America, but specifically Mexico’s journey of independence, in which the new age President Porfirio Diaz ruled for thirty-four years. It shows the connection between independence and modernization, how after become their own nation, they were able to develop and import products. The region of Latin America lacked resources […] read full post >>

James Creelman in the excerpts from “Porfirio Díaz, Hero of the Americas” speaks optimistically about the Díaz regime, his efforts and their results. Creelman mentions that Díaz is a hero that stabilized a once "divided and unprepared" country (... read full post >>

This reading begins with explain that President Diaz had ruled Mexico for an extremely long time, twenty-seven years to be exact. "For twenty-seven years he has governed the Mexican Republic with such power that national elections have become mere formalities." It is pointed out by the interviewer that in the United States it is considered a concern to have a President elected for three terms, when President Diaz was elected multiple times. It is pointed out that the worry of being elected multiple times may present a sense of entitlement, and the feeling that the country belongs to you if you have been in charge of it for too many years. Diaz points out all that he had done since the beginning, and how he had managed to stay in his authoritive  position for so long. Trust is a very prominent factor when electing a president, which President Diaz makes note of this when discussing other elections.

"I have tried to leave the Presidency several times, but it has been pressed upon me and I remained in office for the sake of the nation which trusted me." Also discussed is the new presence of the middle class, which was previously non-existent, as well as the hope for people, despite their diversity, to find common grounds as the government is democratic and unity is wanted. "When men read alike and think alike they are more likely to act alike.” I found the portion about the childhood of Diaz the most interesting. As he was exposed to hardship at a very early age, he grew incredible independence and grew up with the attitude that he could solve nearly every problem himself, which stayed there.

"He asked no-one for anything that he could get for himself." This may have been an attitude that he developed very early, and stayed with him to adulthood while he was president. Which is evident in the fact that he began when Mexico bankrupt and divided, and ended  leaving Mexico an overall safe country.

read full post >>

This reading begins with explain that President Diaz had ruled Mexico for an extremely long time, twenty-seven years to be exact. "For twenty-seven years he has governed the Mexican Republic with such power that national elections have become mere formalities." It is pointed out by the interviewer that in the United States it is considered a concern to have a President elected for three terms, when President Diaz was elected multiple times. It is pointed out that the worry of being elected multiple times may present a sense of entitlement, and the feeling that the country belongs to you if you have been in charge of it for too many years. Diaz points out all that he had done since the beginning, and how he had managed to stay in his authoritive  position for so long. Trust is a very prominent factor when electing a president, which President Diaz makes note of this when discussing other elections.

"I have tried to leave the Presidency several times, but it has been pressed upon me and I remained in office for the sake of the nation which trusted me." Also discussed is the new presence of the middle class, which was previously non-existent, as well as the hope for people, despite their diversity, to find common grounds as the government is democratic and unity is wanted. "When men read alike and think alike they are more likely to act alike.” I found the portion about the childhood of Diaz the most interesting. As he was exposed to hardship at a very early age, he grew incredible independence and grew up with the attitude that he could solve nearly every problem himself, which stayed there.

"He asked no-one for anything that he could get for himself." This may have been an attitude that he developed very early, and stayed with him to adulthood while he was president. Which is evident in the fact that he began when Mexico bankrupt and divided, and ended  leaving Mexico an overall safe country.

read full post >>

The document this week is about a U.S journalist who went to Mexico to interview Porfirio Diaz. Creelman, who travelled from New York, narrates the article. The way in which Creelman writes the article reminds me of the Journal of Christopher Columbus which we read during our first week of class. There are commonalities between […] read full post >>