‘Midnight in Mexico’ by Alfredo Corchado
Uploaded by CaseyP on Jan 31, 2017
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‘Midnight in Mexico’ by Alfredo Corchado
Alfredo Corchado is a leading Mexican-American reporter on issues of immigration, corruption, and matters affecting national security such as drug violence, which threaten the security of communities living along Mexico’s border.
Question 1
In Chapter 1, Corchado uses the title ‘Midnight in Mexico as a literal reference to a journalist who explains about dangerous efforts in reporting about Mexico’s drug wars. The chapter pays attention to particular person and his deep love for his homeland. In the end of the book, the author uses the title as a metaphor to represent the volatile relationship between Mexico and United States by using the title to represent general Mexico. He uses the title not to show a life a particular character, but that of the Mexicans who live in a country full of drug wars and violence.
Question 2
The book focuses on three major events in Mexico. They include NAFTA, 2000 election, cartelsrealizeand culture. Mexicans hoped that pushing of NAFTA would help the country keep from migrating to U.S. It was aimed at keeping immigrants home and employing them in Mexico. However, NAFTA led to poor competition as it brought subsidized corn from Iowa, making it impossible for Mexico’s corn farmer to compete. During the 2000 election, people were hoping that Mexico will counter the decades of cartel control. It put an opposition party in power for the first time. People hoped to remove a PRI government, which collaborated with drug cartels by sharing profits and allowing them to conduct their drug trade peacefully. The cartels had a great control in Mexico. They had killed many hundreds during their wars. According to Corchado, President Fox fight on cartels created chaos. It led to the continuation of cultural violence in Mexico, which had existed due to weakness and division of PRI party. the due to new PAN government. The cartels took the rule of law and started running wild as they fought amongst each other.
Question 3
I think that the writer’s statement that Americans could not give a shit about anything to do with Mexico unless it affects their beach time is not a valid criticism. First, Americans have to care about Mexico since the two countries are neighbors. They have to be concerned about violence in Mexico since the immigrants move to America where they create competition to the Americans. In the book,...