How badly is the Mexican drug war going? According to this news item from Mexico’s El Universal, to better communicate the gravity of the situation and send a message to the people and government of the United States, Mexico President Felipe Calderón has unveiled a huge sign within a stone’s throw of the U.S. border that says: ‘No More Weapons!’
For Mexico’s El Universal, reporter Jorge Ramos starts out this way:
Ciudad Juárez, Chihuahua: One hundred sixty five yards from the border, President Felipe Calderón unveiled a spectacular new sign. Positioned so it can be read from U.S. territory, and constructed by the military out of three tons of weapons seized from criminals, the sign demands: “No more weapons!” Calderón himself called for “no more weapons,” and in English he asserted: “Mexico needs your help … no more weapons to Mexico.” It is the same call he made in the Capitol, the seat of the U.S. Congress, and on visits to the American Union. But now his call is in form of a sign that is 26 feet by 72 feet. “Brilliant!” exclaimed Margarita Zavala, the president’s wife. Everybody rushed to take a picture with the sign behind them.
Facing the United States and with the sign in the background, Calderón launched a new appeal: “We Mexicans have asked for this in many ways and many tones of voice. Today, our presence here, in this mournful Ciudad Juárez, demands that we make a new and respectful call to the government, Congress and people of the United States. We need their help to stop this violence.”
In our neighboring country, guns can be purchased “several meters from here,” indiscriminately and with the same ease as one buys a toolbox.
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