Time to Help Mexico

[rawtribe]

My mother sent this to the NY Times, don't know if it will get published. I'm posting it here so at least it will be seen.

To: [e-mail]
Subject: Time to Help Mexico



The destruction to the Yucatan Peninsula from Hurricane Wilma has been massive. It is not just hotels, resorts, restaurants and beaches that have been damaged, but the population of the Mayan Riviera. Many of these people will have lost everything. They will return to work tomorrow to begin cleaning up and rebuilding the tourist industry of the area when most of them will have no homes or food and just the clothes they are wearing. After Emily, the small Mexican community of Puerto Aventuras was devastated, but the hard-working, honest, kind Mayan people returned to the resort to clean up and rebuild in record time. They had lost their homes and their families were displaced, but they came to work.

We have watched as our good country has helped victims of natural disasters in Asia and in the Gulf Coast. We now owe it to our neighbors in Mexico to do all we can for them. The organization and fund-raising skills of the former presidents Clinton and Bush should be put to work to help these people. As well, scores of celebrities have helped out with concerts and donations for these other tragedies. It would be wonderful if they would do that now for the good people of the Yucatan who need help. The natural leaders for this effort are Latin celebrities such as Antonio Banderas, Santana, Jennifer Lopez, Salma Hayek, Penelope Cruz, Ricky Martin and many others who could mobilize the entertainment world to help out.

If we in the US can work so hard and give so much to the victims of these terrible natural disasters in Asia, then we truly owe it to Mexico to help them too. The Yucatan Peninsula is an essential part of Mexico's economy and has been a shining jewel for the country. Not only does the area need to get the tourist industry up and running again as quickly as possible, but it needs to rebuild and help it's people that have lost so much. We can help them and we must.

[mestup]

1. Great letter! Hope it gets published.

[rawtribe]

2. Thanks, I do too.

Human being is synonyms with Mayan.

Something that can't be said about the average xenophobic U.S. consumer.


:yoiks:

[bklyncowgirl]

3. Good letter. The United States should help them recover.

I have alot of fond memories of the people who live in that area from traveling on the cheap in the Yucatan.

Also, Mexico helped us after Hurricane Katrina. We owe them.

[AnnInLa]

4. nominated and kicked

Thanks for this important post. I have many friends on the island of Isla Mujeres, just off the coast of Cancun (and, there is at least one DUer who lives there), and this island has just been devastated, cut in two by the storm surge. The locals there are the nicest, hardest working, helpful, people I have ever seen. I know many of you are tapped out by giving to disaster-affected people, but if you can spare even $10 or $20 to a Mexican relief agency, it would be SO appreciated and would be put to good use.