A metaphor for the election - #14

“Danza de los Voladores”, originally uploaded by drtaxsacto.

Yesterday, my friend Fr. Dermot and I took another friend from the US through the Museum of Archeology. The trip to the museum is always an interesting one. Fr. Dermot believes that the museum is more ideological than historical - with an over-emphasis on Aztec culture because it fits with the prevailing myth when the museum was built. It is organized to have an emphasis on the other end from the entrance on Aztec culture. Regardless the museum has some wonderful rooms with a lot of interesting artifacts and as I have watched it over the years, the presentation in each of the major salons has evolved a bit.

When you enter the museum there is an architectural feature which is quite interesting. The architect constructed a huge water fountain in the center of the main courtyard. Yesterday, it was not necessary but when you are there on a very hot day - the temperature in the area is a good 20º below the prevailing one in the park.

This is contrasted with the place I stayed on this trip which had a problem with hot water (it lacked it).

The picture is of the dance of the flyers which is performed on a poll near the museum. This is an ancient dance which has alot of ritual surrounding it. I had not seen it performed for more than a decade and its elegance is quite wonderful. The dancers climb a poll and then jump off attached to ropes and glide down to the ground.

So how does all this fit with the on going election saga? I was surprised, as I commented in an earlier post at how recalcitrant MALO has been on this. Mark In Mexico continues to provide some of the best commentary on the election. He pointed out yesterday that at one point before the election to show he was a man of the people (not those people!!!) MALO commented that he would stand by the IFE even if there was but one vote difference. Of course he does not remember that promise. El Universal has switched their myths - most of my friends think MALO forced them by threatening their advertising budgets. There is a lot of symbolism here - but I think that good sense will prevail.

There are still lots of contrasts. Yesterday I saw a lot of posters and bumper stickers that were MALO inspired. The amount of money spent on these campaigns is awe inspiring. At the same time the IFE (according to Mark in Mexico) is planning to figure out a way to publish the tally sheets. MALO has tried to defame the polling officials by alleging fraud. Publishing the names will show the country how widespread the participation by key officials from all parties the process was. That would be a good counter punch. Mark In Mexico also points out that in the limited recount going on right now MALO has lost a total of about 2000 votes. Those recounts are limited to tally sheets where there is a question. This, as pointed out before, is not a full recount.

There is a lot of concern among the people I spoke with while there that the cold shower will come soon - but as I said to a friend last night - solving the problem is not the same as it was under the PRI. In the late stages of the PRI, paying the gas bill did not solve the problem. Now, with some wrinkles, if you do that, the problem gets solved. MALO wants to go back to the old ways. At this state in the Mexican political system there are discontinuities. MALO thinks he can exploit those - I believe he will ultimately be unsuccessful.

One other item of interest. The vision of the 2000 election was a landslide for Fox. That really was not the case. Fox received 42.52% of the vote, while Labastida received 36% and Cardenas received about 17%. In this election - Calderon won with 35.89%, while MALO received 35.31%. Madrazo, the PRI candidate received about 22%. That shows the divisions of this election are not new in Mexican politics. Obviously, this situation is much more pronounced. There were about 6 million more votes than in 2000. 58% of the voters from the US voted for the PAN.

One footnote, the loser in the 2000 election (Francisco Labistida) has re-emerged as a Senator from Sinaloa.

My guess is that the Mexican election is about where the Voladores are in this picture. It is still a bit upside down but will resolve itself sooner than later.