All over the US, particularly upon building sites and even government buildings, the national flag of Mexico is being flown (either on its own or next to the US flag) in defiance to the far-right (fascist) policies enacted by Trump and his Junta. Much of West US was Mexico before the US invaded it in 1846 – with Mexico gaining Independence from Spain in 1821 (the area was Spanish a long time before that – dating from 1521). Spanish male settlers “mixed” (part rape, part pillage, and part marriage) with Native American women and created a new type of non-White person – the “Mexican”. There is a blend of Aztec and Catholic spirituality – as well as African beliefs deriving from Slavery. Of course, between 1910-1920 the Mexican Revolution unfolded which saw a centre-left government over-throw the dominance of the Catholic Church. Although far from a proletariat country, Mexico has pursued various leftist policies whilst still developing bourgeois capitalism. It was the US invasion of 1846-1848 that saw over half of Mexican land stolen and its population plunged into poverty. The “White” US settlers who had invaded Mexican-Texas 1836 resorted to an armed (terrorist) uprising at the Alamo (a fortified Post Office) – protesting about Mexico’s abolition of Slavery. The White American stated that this Mexican “ban” on African Slavery was an unfair infringement on their “rights” and “freedoms” (this peculiarly “American” notion of “freedom” invariably involves the unbridled freedom to exploit others). Although the Mexican Army successfully destroyed this White terrorist uprising – on the strength of this White US settlement in Mexican-Texas – the US invaded in 1846.
Incidentally, at that time, the State of New England “protested” about this US invasion of Mexico – referring to it as “un-American” on the grounds that the war with England was supposed to have put an end to this type of blatant imperialist activity. The people of New England threatened to “Secede” from the Union (as was their right) if the US moved forward with this plan. The situation was defused by President Polk – who guaranteed NOT to use any military force (amateur or professional) originating within New England – or comprised of New England men (if recruited outside of New England). This agreement prevented New England from “Seceding” – and effectively rendered that State “neutral” for the duration of hostilities. Of course, Mexico did blot its copy-book by granting political asylum to Leon Trotsky during the 1930s (until his death in 1940) – but we can’t have everything. Even today, whilst drug cartels (funded and armed by the US to de-stabilise vast rural areas of the country to prevent the development of effective Socialist Movements) chop-off limbs and behead men, women, and children – a steady stream of tourists flock to see Trotsky’s former house – with souvenir ice-picks being on sale. On the other hand, when the Catholic Church funded and armed the fascist Franco to overthrow the democratically elected (and Soviet-supported) “Socialist” government of Spain (during the Spanish Civil War 1936-1939) – Mexico granted the fleeing government of the Republic of Mexico political asylum. What we are seeing in the US today is evil incarnate.
SANGHA KOMMUNE (SSR) 