As a Swede, born and raised in a ethnically diverse suburb, I cant really agree at all. SOME dont bother, but it hardly applies to every immigrant. Also, many HAVE skills, but then find it hard to get employment in their areas of expertise(this applies to Swedes as well...) Im sure we all know the "Doctor in India - Cab driver in X". A friend of mine who is a marine biologist, waited 4 years and packed groceries in a supermarket before he got fed up with our governments lack of action, so he moved to Norway and is making great $$$. Funniest part? Before he left, some of the directors of the unemployment agencies tried to convince him to stay put, as "they were working on it...". Point is: Generalization is never good, regardless whom it comes from.
I wonder how many foreigners living in Mexico speak Spanish and how many English-speaking people in Mexico do not speak Spanish with the same fluency that they would expect non-English-speaking people in their own English-speaking native countries to speak English. Just a question.
Just my 2 pesitos... * Yes, it's a bit concerning that the violence seems to be increasing in Cancun... although I still think Cancun is safer overall than most cities it's size provided you're not directly involved with the drug trade. * Immigrants are people.. some people don't assimilate well, others do.. broad statements are silly since almost everyone's families were immigrants from somewhere if you go back far enough and they've melted into whatever society they moved to... it's unrealistic to expect people to be able to change their entire personality to suit a stereotypical national "norm" and learn a foreign language easily. All of us ex-pats can probably relate to that... my Spanish is still horrible and I doubt I'll even get all of the slang, sayings, and play on words that Mexican's like to mix into conversations.
The immigrant bashing is offensive to say the least, a sweeping generalization about millions of people that immigrate/emigrate around the world. How many ex-pats in Cancun do exactly what you are complaining about? They don't learn Spanish and they stick to their own community. Does that mean they are a detriment to society? I don't think so. My favourite thing about living in Canada and in Toronto was the multi-culturism, I miss it terribly. I never, ever looked at an immigrant to Canada as taking something away from me, only adding to and enriching my life. Some of the hardest working people I met in Canada were immigrants, they don't take their new life for granted and are grateful for any opportunity they have to work and to contribute to their family and to society. Just my dos centavos.... With regards to security, yes, there has been a decline over the years in Cancun, but as others have said, I don't think it's any more dangerous here than other place in the world.
It makes me sad that people are so tough on immigrants, especially Mexicans. I feel so fortunate that every single Mexican I've met here has been 100% supportive and patient with me (as an immigrant) while I try to fit into their culture and learn their language. Not once has anyone been anything but thrilled to help me further understand the Mexican culture, even when I'm sure I sounded like an ignorant jerk at times. Mexicans have also been very cool about celebrating my culture. How many Americans living here have celebrated Thanksgiving without being called racist? Everyone. How many times has a Mexican been excited to practice their English with us? Every day. How many times has a Mexican been angry with one of us for not speaking Spanish? Never. I wish the world accepted Mexicans as readily as Mexicans accept us. I also find it hard to believe that 3rd world immigrants are unskilled and unwilling to learn. My high school boyfriend in the US was from Paraguay. He spoke 4 languages fluently (including English), worked long hours after school and was very skilled in carpintry, plumbing, construction and electric work. Sorry, I realize we're very off-topic here, but I had to give my dos pesitos.
Have to admit, I do see where Cancunscorpio is coming from. To an extent. While we are all immigrants to Mexico we certainly didnt come here for free healthcare, to live on benefits and receive free housing and education or promote our own agendas. We also dont seek to build our own churches and demand that Mexican society embraces our way of living exactly the same way we once lived in our own countries and build our little country specific enclaves. Most of us come with the view of having something to give and not take, for there is little to take here except some sunshine. We might not all be able to speak Spanish very well, but most of us try our best. We might not celebrate the Guadalupe Festival for example but we accept that Mexicans do and dont try to interfere. We don't insist schools teach our language and celebrate St Georges Day or Thanksgiving (although we may celebrate those in private) and we don't build politicial parties to promote our immigrant views and strive to be the dominant power in a foreign land. There's immigration........... and then there's immigration.
CancunScorpio - Ok, I totally get your point (and Steve's) that we're talking about completely different people. Fair enough. However, I still recommend you be careful with your words. Generalizing about any group of people is a very dangerous thing. I have no doubt there are many people taking advantage of the system and doing exactly what you're describing, but it might be a bit rushed to say that all (or most of) 3rd world immigrants are looking for a free ride. Do you have any information to back this up?
If one chooses to pick out ONLY negative parts, such as "Chinese criminal gangs", "Vietnamese gangs" etc., then one can turn ANY place into looking like a hellhole... Another way of saying it: I feel enriched by the immigrant population in Stockholm, thats for sure, yet, I do realize that there are "rotten apples" in every basket. EVERY population has the same issues - Swedes, Russians, English, Americans, Canadians... Regardless if you are from a "3rd world country" or from freaking Zurich, you will ALWAYS have bad people. No exceptions. To even hint that it all has to do with where you`re from is ridiculous, to me at least. People, in their anger, seem to "forget" the tons and tons of immigrants that DO contribute in many ways - Swedish industry would never have been what it was/is without the tons and tons of Finns, Italians, Turks etc. whom all migrated when Swedes refused to do these "dirty jobs"... Im happy as hell to have grown up in a suburb that has/had over a 80 different nationalities - thanks to this I speak several languages, know MANY more cultures than I would have without these neighbors and now have loads of contacts in +50 countries worldwide, not to mention amazing food, parties and a feeling of togetherness that does NOT exist amongst "regular" Swedes Meanwhile a HUGE part of native, young Swedes sit on their butts, playing play station, complaining about "immigrants", and receiving social welfare, simply because they can. Just try not to put EVERYONE in the same "folder".
