Sunday, June 27, 2010

No Break For Mexico

But you got one, spring-breakers!

How odd.


"Violence in Mexico deters US students; Colleges cancel study programs amid warnings" by Marc Lacey, New York Times | June 27, 2010

MEXICO CITY — From perfecting their use of the subjunctive in colonial Puebla to exploring the anthropological aspects of Tijuana’s gritty underside, US college students have long used Mexico as a learning lab.

For what? Learning how to chug-a-lug?


This summer, however, far fewer will be venturing across the border, as universities and students alike fear the violence tied to drug gangs that have caught some innocents in the cross fire.

In March, two Mexican university students were killed at the prestigious Tecnologico de Monterrey when fighting broke out between Mexican soldiers and drug traffickers on the streets outside.

How could they tell the difference?

See: Mexican Oil Siphoning Story Stinks

That is not all that stinks.

Universities in the border cities of Ciudad Juarez and Reynosa have seen violence tread dangerously close to their campuses as well.

A direct result of the bloodshed has been the mass cancellation of study-abroad programs throughout the country, including those hundreds of miles from the most dangerous areas. Some educators on both sides of the border consider the reaction to be an exaggerated response....

Oh, I don't think so! Who wants their kid going down to a shooting gallery?

If they want that they can enlist in the Army.

No US students are known to be have been hurt in the violence, and Mexico is not the first country to find foreign students staying away.

Yeah, that struck me as strange.

Israel, Kenya, and Haiti have all experienced the temporary shutdown of study-abroad programs after the State Department issued warnings about traveling to those countries....

Israel?

--more--"

Also see: Slow Saturday Special: Soccer Matches

Today's Globe Goals: Mr. Calderon, Build Up This Wall!

Related: I Will Cry For You, Argentina!

I guess you get beat 1-0 by Mexico this afternoon/evening.