México’s coverage on its war on drugs has gone through several stages, ranging from the need to educate people all over the world about the ongoing issue to peoples’ indifference because they have become desensitized by the coverage on violence. It has become something they can’t control due to the corruption of power-hungry politicians and their lack of action; so it seems some have learned to deal with it. When I ask people for their opinion on México’s ongoing struggle, I’m given the same apathetic response almost every time: “Well, it’s been going on for years. It’s not going to change anytime soon. There’s nothing we can do.” When I stare back dumbfounded as I fully absorb the notion that they’ve given up so easily, I explain that there’s plenty we can do. We can unite, fight corruption. It won’t be done over-night. But, won’t it be worth it in the end? Of course, that’s easier said than done. Living in the U.S., it’s easy to ask people to take action. I’ve never lived in fear for my life for writing a story about the drug war and corruption as is the case for many reporters in México.

Nevertheless, I continue to have hope for a better México and I’m not alone. Javier Sicilia, poet, activist and journalist spoke at the National Museum of Mexican Art on April 17 about the country’s continuing struggle with violence and the importance of mobilizing and uniting to create a better México for all.

In March of 2011, Silicia’s son, Juan Francisco Sicilia Ortega was murdered in Temixco Morelos by drug gang members. In response, Sicilia has been traveling all over México and parts of the U.S. holding protests and calling for an end to the war on drugs, the legalization of drugs and the removal of Mexican President Felipe Calderon. Sicilia stated that this was not only a Mexican issue but for those living in the U.S as well.

“The day will come when whatever is happening there will happen here [in the United States] because here in the U.S. you also have victims of drugs, victims of guns. Your jails are full of people who are caught with just a little bit of drugs for their personal consumption and that means a lot of pain, broken families. It also means criminalizing because the largest number of people that end up in jail are blacks and Latinos. As if the drugs that whites took were good drugs. It needs to be decriminalized because it’s causing pain and lives and it’s enriching not only criminals but also people involved in laundering money,” said Sicilia.

The soft-spoken poet has become an unlikely leader to those who still hold out for change and peace and I think he has given people a sense of hope and unity. That’s exactly what México needs right now.

TweetShare on TumblrShare via email