It is much easier to see the propaganda efforts that regimes undertake to preserve their power when you have other reference points. Regimes use indoctrination which they call, “education” as one of their tools to accomplish this. In the Yucatan, the national myths currently being propagated concern how the North American Union is good for everyone. Many of the locals do not like the union and see it as a threat. The ones supporting it are the ‘elite’ or more well to do peoples of the area. There is also misinformation concerning the rights of Mexico to the Southwest portions of the empire.

Many of the people I talked with still believe Mexico has a right to these areas and that the United States usurped the law to obtain them. What makes matters worse, the persons that the government puts forth as heroes consists of trouble makers and reformers who had histories of violence. Jose Morelos and Benito Juarez are emblazoned on many public buildings. When the people are feed misinformation and then the rabble rousing persons of the past are idealized as heroes, potential trouble is in the making. Although Father Hidalgo is presented as a hero, his associations with Texas are minimized if not outright ignored.

The Mexican government even maintains strict control over the training and licensing of tour guides in order to make sure you have the “official” information concerning that nations archaeological and historic past. The guides must maintain training in the latest information and how to present it to the tourists. I can understand this for updates of new finds, yet, the interpretations presented are the ones sanctioned by the regime rather than letting the facts and events speak for themselves. The brutality of the killings and sacrifices were toned down. The sordid aspects of the historic sites are often ignored or only minimally mentioned. Mexico is not alone in this. When you visit national parks in the empire, you will be treated to the latest “politically correct” information concerning the site and some angle that a special interest group thinks you need to be exposed to.

The connections of Texas with Cozumel and the Yucatan are not even mentioned. The Yucatan born statesman de Zavalla is not even mentioned. It seems to me that if you want people to emulate the state sanctioned heroes, you may want to put forth the statesmen, innovators, and pioneers, rather than the rabble rousers.  Even the Maya’s touted their heroes with stone billboards known as stelae. The stelae told of their accomplishments and how they helped the people.

I am glad that in Texas we have men to emulate such as David Crockett, Hiram Granburry, B. F. Terry, Albert Sideny Johnston, Sam Houston, Jefferson Davis, LaSalle, and others presented to the future generations as heroes, and not merely just the rabble rousers.

The public indoctrination system is a key component with any regime maintaining its power and influence over the people. The governments of the United States and Mexico have used it to promote their agendas and maintain the myths that keep the ruling regimes in power. In a free South, we will need to have out children learn  the story of the South, with both good and bad aspects. They will need truth rather than indoctrination. They will need the facts.

Free Texas!

J Murrah

Culture, Lorenzo de Zavalla, Mexico, North American Union, Political Well Being, polticial correctness, Yucatan

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