A pedestrian passes by a colonial area building in Morelia, the capital and major metropolis of Michoacan, Mexico. Volcanic rock of varying colors are chinked with small flat stones which must of been quite the laborious process. Morelia is in a tectonically active area and this building has indeed withstood a test of time.
Morelia and many other parts of Mexico are currently being subjected to another type of test, a ruthless and bloody war. This is probably not news to anyone at this point as the tragedies there have not escaped the public eye of the media. The challenges and risks for journalists attempting to tell the story are great. Social media has in some ways taken up the slack where traditional journalism has reached its limits. Journalists stick their noses in peoples business which is in the greater interest of the public. When that business is the gruesome turf war of drug running mafia in a nearly lawless land who don't want international attention, wandering around asking questions with a camera and notepad may be frowned upon. However, civilians on the street who witness atrocities are able to publicize them anonymously via the internet.
Approaching Morelia by car one will witness giant billboards that have wanted printed in giant letters above mugshots of drug gang leaders. In Mexico, criminals are very direct about getting their point across. As soon as the billboards go up they hire guys to climb up there and spray paint their faces black. I doubt if they believe this will solve their problems but that it is more of a symbolic gesture. They are not necessarily saying "you don't know who I am," but more likely, "you don't want to know who I am."
It's a sad situation for Mexico and the U.S. is without a doubt to blame. The drugs being smuggled are en route to the U.S. where all of the demand can be found. People in Mexico and Central American simply don't have the money to spend on expensive designer drugs. There are strong arguments out there for the decriminalization or legalization of drugs as a way to legitimize supply and transport, therefore negating the need for such a huge and successful black market. If you follow the news, you've probably heard discussions about this and the admittance that the war on drugs has been a complete and utter forty-year failure.
What's next? Big important decisions are going to be made in the not-so-distant future which will have a profound impact on people's lives, especially those in Mexico. Will the DEA win the fight and keep the money pipeline flowing from the taxpayers pockets or will the government admit its failure and take a new approach?
