The Costly Death Struggle in Mexico

This week’s news is more than a little shocking. I start off with news that according to the Examiner, more than 80,000 people have died due to the Mexican War on Drugs. This number is still growing and the article puts it in comparison by using the Vietnam War as an example. 58,000 Americans died in the Vietnam War, so the 80,000 that have been killed is comparable now to a full fledged war, that carries large historical value. This eight year long war currently has no end in site; while the Mexican government still looks for solutions. Currently, President Pena Nieto is looking to reduce homicides and prevent crime, and although he has not taken a stance against (or for) legalizing marijuana, this issue still arises in Mexico City. According to the Time article, “North America’s Largest City Moves to Legalize Pot” it is said that legislators are looking to legalize pot, so they can regulate the high consumption in the city. There are many political figureheads who are publicly for this option, including former President Vicente Fox. Hernández of Cupihd says, “This is not an issue of left against right. Many in the political class are coming to realize that something has to be done.”

        Hernandez is right, the time for a change is now, the increasing number of deaths and displacement of the Mexican people needs to end. This will only happen if surrounding nations will grow to lead a revolution against this ongoing war. The Mexican legislators in support of the bill to pass marijuana state that it would set a precedence on how to go about regulating marijuana, so that way the rest of the country can follow and then too hopefully larger nations will join in. The Mexican drug war, has caused some trepidation for those crossing borders since there is so much violence, but the lack of action by the Mexican and American governments will only continue to harm this process. We will continue to see the death toll rise, until a fundamental change is made in the way combatting this war.

Kouri, Jim. (2013,October, 17)."Number of Mexicans killed in drug war surpasses that of    Yanks killed in Vietnam". Examiner. Retrieved from http://www.examiner.com/article/number-of-mexicans-killed-drug-war-surpasses-that-of-yanks-killed-vietnam

Grillo, Ioan. (2013, October 17). “North America’s Largest City Moves to Legalize Pot”. TIME. Retrieved from http://world.time.com/2013/10/14/north-americas-largest-city-moves-to-legalize-pot/#ixzz2i2OEp1uq.