Mexican Army Welcome in Texas

Mexico, Latin America and much of the world has long since been at the receiving end of U.S. humanitarian relief efforts. While the humanitarian aid was needed and humbly received and the generosity of the United States government and its people in times of crisis is always extraordinary, the acceptance implies a fundamental failure of the affected government to its citizens. Why does Mexico, Peru or the “other world” allow its people to live along mountains and in valleys that have been devastated by mudslides before? Have they not learned? Do they not care? When earthquakes ravage India or Iran even the untrained eye can see that lax or non-existent building regulations and shoddy construction supplies do more damage than the quake itself. Americans are quick to open their checkbooks and lend their skills and resources to help. That compassion cannot be overstated but it is not self less. We do feel pride that we have the capacity to give. We do feel scorn that these people are allowed to live in squalor and undoubtedly contribute to their condition and in our generosity we shame those governments that should have done more, that should have seen it coming, that should have not let it happen in the first place.

Now we open our hearts, our wallets and give time and energy to help our own. Now the Mexican government has sent a 47-truck convoy along with 183 soldiers and relief supplies north across the Rio Grande. Now the United States government humbly accepts the humanitarian aid from its poor neighbor. Mexico is proud to help the United States and Tejanos are proud to see the convoy make its way up I-35. While the symbolism of the Mexican Military convoy weighs heavier than the aid and relief they are supplying the fact is that we do need their help. All levels of the government failed our brothers and sisters on the Gulf Coast. It is enticing to lay the full blame on Bush, FEMA and other aspects of the federal government but they alone should not shoulder the burden of such a catastrophic failure of common sense and basic human decency. But it is shameful and morally reprehensible that the White House is once again on the offensive deflecting blame. They did fail and they should accept responsibility but it is very unlike Bush, when confronted with sitautions like this one, to show any inkling of honor and compassion and anything that resembles what a normal human being should feel and do.

Hubris felled many a Greek and history has an uncanny ability of repeating itself especially to those ignorant or unwilling to heed its lessons.

The San Antonio Express-News has a great story on the Mexican humanitarian military convoy that arrived in San Antonio yesterday.