The phrase “that Mexican thing,’’ which was used by Republican vice presidential candidate Mike Pence in the debate with Democrat Tim Kaine, has become a trending topic. The Boston Globe’s readers should know the scope of such words.
“That Mexican thing’’ represents approximately 35 million Mexican-Americans living in the United States, 11 million of them born in Mexico. They are a hard-working diaspora that generates $24 billion, pays $90 billon in taxes, and consumes $5 billion in public services yearly.
“That Mexican thing’’ creates 6 million jobs in the United States through the North American Free Trade Agreement. Out of every dollar Mexico sells to the United States, 40 cents stays here, supporting American jobs.
“That Mexican thing’’ warmly hosts, as residents, more than 1 million of Pence’s fellow citizens. Every year, 17.1 million Mexican tourists visit the United States.
“That Mexican thing’’ has several full names: In the arts, two Mexicans were awarded Oscars for best director: Alfonso Cuarón and Alejandro González Iñárritu. In sports, ask the Los Angeles Dodgers about pitcher Fernando Valenzuela. In science, the Nobel Prize in Chemistry went to Mexican Mario Molina (University of California) in 1995. In international aid, the Mexican Army provided humanitarian support when Hurricane Katrina hit New Orleans in 2005.
Mexico and the United States moved from being “distant neighbors’’ to siblings in matters of law and health. Two examples: The late Stephen Zamora dedicated his professional life to entwine the United States and Mexico through law, exchanging students to learn from each other’s country. Dr. Jorge Quesada discovered the application of interferon for hairy cell leukemia and kidney cancer, and is still saving lives at a Houston hospital.
President Abraham Lincoln’s strategy in the Civil War benefited from President Benito Juárez when Mexico defeated the French Army at the Battle of Puebla. This is the historical basis for the Cinco de Mayo celebration held throughout United States, and only a small portion of the history of “that Mexican thing.’’
Emilio Rabasa
Mexican Consul General in Boston
