San Cristobal

So, a funny little story about politics in Mexico.
My friend Danielle and I are doing a project about local politics in San Cristobal, exploring the reasons why a town so central in the Zapatista uprising is still so conservative, and hardline PRIista. But enough about that. One of the interviews that we wanted to do was with a representative of the PRD, the leftist party that I have referenced before.
When we went to try and see a spokesman at noon, they told us no one comes in before five or six. Alright. So we went back at 7:30, and sure enough, the office was full of people. The people at the front were very nice, and promised us an interview very soon. So we sat down, and starting shooting the breeze with Misael, a young volunteer who was manning the front desk. Seeing as he had nothing to do, and we were just waiting, we started a long conversation (at least half an hour) about how he was an architecture student, and wanted to visit the US once he learned English, and was Presbyterian, etc.
So we asked him what he liked about Lopez Obrador, or AMLO as he is known.
“Yeah, I like him. He’s changing politics, you know? He’s trying to end corruption, and all of the scandals, and that’s good. I’m actually a PRIista, but don’t tell anyone. But he used to be from the PRI, and now he’s with the PRD because of all the corruption, and so I volunteer when I can.”
So we talked a bit more about AMLO, and the plot by the ruling parties to have him thrown in jail so he couldn’t run for office, and meanwhile we kept looking at these CDs that they had on the desk with AMLO’s picture on it.
“Are those DVD’s?”
“No, those are CD’s.”
“Of music?”
“Yeah, songs that are in support of AMLO.”
“Really? Do they cost anything?”
“Ummm, yeah, treinta pesos (three dollars).”
Thinking this would be a great opportunity to learn more about local politics, and probably worth a laugh, Danielle and I decided to split the cost. All I had was a fifty, and so I asked him if he had change.
“Uhhhh, I only have fifteen pesos in change.”
“Well, that’s okay. Don’t worry about it.”
And with that, Misael took the fifty, folded it up, looked quickly at the door separating the reception area and the office where everyone else was, and put the fifty in his pocket. He then looked at us, smiling, and made the universal “shhhhh” sign.

Aaaaahhhhh, México. It’s great to see that your politics are finally on the mend.