There are those who become offended when one starts "typing" people, especially into ethnic groupings. It's dangerous. On one hand we say we don't want to be typed, on the other hand we are often proud of our ethnic heritage.

Two ethnic groups in the U.S, more than any others, stand out as being very sensitive to criticism, and vocal about it! The Blacks and the Hispanics (The U.S Mexican). These groups don't want to be singled out for criticism of any kind, negative or positive. The Hispanics are very defensive! Yet it's a fact that people do differ individually and collectively through a variety of genetic and cultural influences. It's a fact that we are individually different one from the other. Of course there are exceptions.

It's also a fact that we all type each other in one way or another. Here I'm typing more the "border" Mexican (not the Hispanic), the poor Mexican, the poor Latin and his sub-culture. The following may include some of the characteristics of the Latino. To understand a people one must do a certain amount of "typing." These are my personal observations after thirty years working with the poor in Tijuana Mexico's border culture and Latin America's poor. Obviously my experience is limited and my eye is not perfect and just as obviously there are exceptions to my observations.

My intent here is simply to point out the differences between our US culture and Latin culture of the poor so that individuals, particularly "Gringo's" can understand the cultural differences and avoid land-mines that might harm their relationships in their new culture. I'm not trying to be negative, just honest.

OBSERVATION OF LATIN COUNTRIES: In my opinion Mexico (and many Latin countries) are like they are and will likely remain like so for the following eight reasons ...

1. Corruption: Corruption is inherent and accepted in the system. From the Taco stand to the Government, corruption is there. Lying, cheating, stealing, scams are simply an accepted way of life ... everyone grows up in it and is involved in it. In Mexico it's a necessary part of the economy. Their blatant corruption is cultural ... the people are absolutely indifferent to it ... What they don't see doesn't exist. "Tongue in cheek" castigation. Not that the man was wrong, but rather that he got caught! What's more, they seem to admire and identify with their heroes of corruption! Result? No one really believes anyone.

2. Justice: The Judicial system is more concerned with who did it and who it was done to ... than what was done! These are the two primary considerations in any case. If one has enough money and influence he can literally get out of anything, including murder. The rich man has enough money to hire the biggest shark! (This goes for North America too.)

3. Incompetence: Choosing people for jobs and/or responsibility is normally based on relationships, often "relatives" or "friendships" Selection is not often based on ability or competence. The man in position is often "obligated" by family and culture to choose his people on the bases of "relationship" and/or "friendship", consequently we get disappointed in expecting "competence" like we would define it in Japan, Europe or USA. In this kind of competence these boys haven't a clue! BUT somehow it gets done.

4. Fatalism: Most Latins are fatalists! They have a term for it in Mexico ... "ni modo" ... "that's just the way it is" ... In Latin countries it's never any one's fault! Because of this "fatalism" no one learns to do different or change, because it wasn't really their fault. No one seems to accept responsibility for "fault" in Mexico, unless they are forced to! ... so in fact there is no fault in Mexico ... consequently there is no need to change or learn or do it differently. Of course you don't admit you are wrong!

5. Discipline??: Mexicans like all Latinos are a strong emotional ... impulsive, heart driven people. Their time is "now" not "tomorrow." Most of the poor live for today and find it unnecessary to think of tomorrow. Their creed? When you have it ... spend it! If you want it, get it! Impulsive people who by virtue of their own culture have little self discipline. Tomorrow will take care of itself. "Mañana"

6. Business: Mexicans and Latinos in general are not the best at business! Not the best businessmen. Shall we say that economics is not their strong suit! Average or below average in the World community! ... and there's no improvement on the horizon!

7. Future: The early school system in Mexico is based on "rote" ... teaching the children to know (knowledge) by memorizing, but not (how) to think, reason or understand "why." The early school system of learning is primarily memory. Easy to increment ... memory! Often those who can't or won't memorize are called "burros" until they are convinced they are! And burros don't belong in school.

8. Starts: Mexico is a country of starts ... beginnings ... promises. Great and lofty dreams, plans, projects and speeches. Doors, gates and arches! Often as not it never quite gets finished. The greatest of plans and projects often end as a dismal failure. Why? You guessed it ... someone ran off with the money! (Reff. corruption ... and back to square one!)

CULTURERAL OBSERVATIONS:

CULTURE: When one approaches another culture he can do one of three things. (1) Fight it. (2) Flex with it, or (3) Fit into it by stretching! The most effective missionary is one who finds the secret of fitting into his "second" culture. I've found fitting into my foreign culture an "enjoyable challenge."

THE BORDER CULTURE: or the Frontier: Frontier people are different in every country. The Mexican that populates the Frontier is different than the Mexican of interior Mexico, in that he behaves differently in the border culture. The Frontier is a colorful mix of Mexican, North American, Central American and South American opportunists. A hard, rough and tough group of people who have pulled up their roots and gone North to find their fortune. In going North they have sacrificed their roots ... because of this many have become culturally disoriented and disillusioned creating their own subculture! Contrary to our U.S. opinion not every Mexican living in Tijuana wants to go North.

MY OBSERVATION OF THE PEOPLE!

NOTE: To understand the Mexican (Latin) and how they think is to understand "favor." Often the children will ask you for something you have. You may respond by asking "porque" or why? They will almost always respond "por favor" ... for favor. Favor is pivotal in their thinking ... from childhood. It's the primary agenda to gain favor with the person or persons on top. They will judge their relationship to you by the favor you extend them. They will expect to be rewarded from that person or those persons on the bases of their loyalty or favor they have "earned" not necessarily because of their work or competence in a responsibility. Favor from a perceived superior is a prime agenda for the Mexican and Latin.

NOTE: The poorer Mexican men don't often make good students (learners) While a child and later a young man the Mexican accepts and often excels at schooling. When he gets about 35 or 40 years old "School and learning" is out of the question, it's childish ... learning then becomes a challenge to his macho image. He is no "child" ... so why should he learn or be taught? Little by little this concept is changing.

NOTE: Mexico runs on an essential trinity of three "P's" (1) Pesos (Money), (2) Primos (Relatives in influential positions) (3) Palanca (Pull, bribes, leverage etc.)

NOTE: The Mexican thrives on another trinity. A trinity of three "F's." Fun, Flirting and Flattery. This trinity will get you anything and anywhere in Mexico with a wink of the eye. This is a very important Latino trinity that is essential to success. Mexicans are natural actors ... act with them and enjoy it!

NOTE: Blinders! What Mexicans don't see doesn't exist! ... They think that way, They live that way and they drive that way (What red light?). You must drive that way if you drive at all! (I find this in many third world countries)

NOTE: Latinos are basically a gambling people. They love chance. "Nimodo" ... games of chance. The lotto is a natural with Latinos. The lotto is a bitter friend to the poor giving them the only hope they will ever have. Oh the price of hope! If Mexico didn't have the Lotto, drugs and alcohol ... where would it be?

NOTE: Latinos are great in responding to emergencies, but they cause half of their own emergencies! Emergencies play an important part in their cycle of progress.

NOTE: Friendship ... relationships are more important than anything else even money. If a Latin likes you he will do anything for you, if he doesn't like you he can and possibly will do anything to you! Flattery is part of the culture ... learn to flatter! Make friends! Learn to act! Truth isn't that necessary. Mexicans are great actors. (I feel the Latinos and Jewish make the best actors)

NOTE: If you have a disagreement with a Latin, the one way not to approach a solution is by logic or reasoning. The Latin finds both logic and reasoning difficult concepts. Far better to resolve the difference in a relational way of compromise and negotiating. After all, no one is really wrong, especially him.

NOTE: Mexicans are always suspicious of motives. They have to know the motive for everything. "It takes one to know one!" If they don't know the motive, they will create the motive. Why don't they trust anyone? Why don't they believe anyone? Simple. Because in many cases they can't trust or believe themselves.

NOTE: Mexicans are great at politics! Politics is a natural for them ... they seem born with a good political sense! Rhetoric is their bag! Gifted in flattery which helps politically!

NOTE: In any group of people a Mexican has an uncanny sense in spotting the leader ... the power person. He will go for that person. ASAP he will attempt to make friends with that person.

NOTE: Pentecostalism ... is a natural for the Latino. Their love for the impulsive and the emotional as well as their love for "energy music" acting and showmanship make the feeling oriented Pentecostal approach a natural!

NOTE: The Mexican Pastor is often short on preparation and long on oration! Often eloquent but seldom relevant. Preaching faithfully to his small and largely feminine congregation.

NOTE: The Church in Mexico is feminine. More so in the Protestant Churches. The real man in Mexico sees the Church as irrelevant and unnecessary ... reserved for the woman, children, weak and elderly! It's almost a rite of passage in the young boy's life ... as soon as he starts to become a man, one of his first steps is to leave Church meetings and activity. (In most cases he remains a cultural "catholic") The Mexican male is more apt to be caught in Church dead than alive!

NOTE: Mexicans don't believe they have been to church until they have sung every song in the book at least once and had an hour to two hour sermon. A three hour service is not unusual. Spirituality is more often than not, defined by how you dress and how many meetings you have attended during the week, and how long

NOTE: Saints and prayers mean good luck with God to most Mexicans and most all Latinos. It pays to be in good with the priest or pastor just in case you need palanka when you die.

NOTE: Maryolitry (a term we protestants use) Mother Mary. Mary the interceder comes natural with the Mexican. Mother is often the interceder between father and child. Often Father of the poor is seen by his child as the creator, provider, the law giver, the final authority, often absent and unapproachable ... often angry and unreasonable! Mother has to be the interceder and protector. God The Father is compared to father of the house so I go to Mary to get to God. Because of the poor image of the father in the world of poverty, I rarely use the term father when it comes to describing God.

NOTE: Macho! The Latino man is 220 percent male! ... He is like his symbol the bull! Macho!! Yet in many ways he is feminine and artistic. The macho Mexican, like the bull always carries his bag of testosterone with him! Understand this! Macho? ... 100% pride! 90% Testosterone and 30% alcohol ... not always in that order.

NOTE: I define the Mexican macho as a trinity of (1) ego, (2) booze and (3) testosterone! Macho is 220% of the Mexican male. In the following percentages ... 100% ego, 90% testosterone, and 30% alcohol!

NOTE: A Latino will seldom confront you except in anger. He finds it difficult to tell you no to your face ... he will agree with you (for the moment) and tell you what you want to hear. (Flattery ... even if it's what we would call a lie!) If truth is hard to face or there are problems he prefers to deal through a third party. He prefers that you deal through a third party too. It's more comfortable and above all "face saving"! If there is a major issue he doesn't want to face he will avoid it or postpone it ... only by being forced will he confront it!

NOTE: A Mexican can do anything. You ask him and he will say "yes" ... qualifications mean absolutely nothing. (If he can't do it he has a relative or friend who can!) In Mexico place your name on a business card and your in business. "If you want to go to the moon, I'll take you there. When do you want to go? Tomorrow?"

NOTE: The yes thing! The Mexican or Latin really must say yes to a person of influence or one he deems superior. The question many of us have to ask ... when is a Latin yes really yes and when is a Latin's yes really a no or perhaps even a maybe? How can I tell? Three things to consider here. If the person's yes is hesitant it's probably a no. If his yes is a result of pressure it's probably no. If the both of you know he really can't do it, or doesn't want to do it, the yes is definitely a no.

NOTE: Exploiting the yes mentality! If you have an authoritative bearing and are dressed better than the Latin in charge, you can virtually go through any door marked no entrance and park (new or expensive car) in any area marked no parking. Especially if the person in charge doesn't know who you are.

NOTE: The Mexican and Latin has no real concept of uniformity. Everything or everyone the same. This is indeed a foreign concept. Nothing, it seems, is ever done the same way twice. Even Mexico's military has difficulty with true uniformity. The reason is simple. These are an artistic people that have brought about an artistic culture

NOTE: A Mexican child when he is angry will "explode" lash out ... and then go sit by himself and clam up! I mean clam up! No amount of prying or trying to reason with him will resolve the issue. In fact he delights in making you frustrated. He has to have his time alone and then he will slowly pull out of it. Don't pry ... let him sit alone and simmer in his anger!

NOTE: Latinos are great starters ... good builders and excellent repairers! ... but terrible maintainers. Maintenance has always been a problem with Mexicans and Latinos. If it works, tinker with it. When it breaks down and has to be repaired ... bad news! From then on it's down hill. Moral of the story: Never loan a Latino your tools or your equipment if you can possibly help it. If it comes back to you, it will never come back to you in the same condition. Rarely is there an exception here. In loaning equipment you are always taking a big chance. You may lose your equipment and a friend.

NOTE: The Mexican will "butter you up", when he wants you to do him a favor! He will come to you unusually warm, friendly and cooperative. He may ask what he can do to help you out or he may do some little favor even give you a gift ... then he will spring the "favor." He will "butter you up" for just a short time (minutes) before asking for the favor. He doesn't believe in much "foreplay."

NOTE: The Latin, especially the Mexican, is curious, very curious and has a hard time leaving things as they are. He always wants to tinker or make them better. Televisions, radios, generators, cars, even new cars come under this need to tinker. (They are especially fond of carburetors) There must be something he can do to make it better.

NOTE: If you ask for advice or help on anything, the Latin will be greatly honored and definitely give advice or put his stamp on it. If you ask him to read over a paper and see if it looks good, he will inevitably change it somewhat, before placing his stamp of approval on it. If you take this paper to ten different Latinos they will each change it somewhat. With a Latin there is nothing completely right unless he created, designed or has his stamp on it.

NOTE: Above all else Mexicans (Latinos) are individuals ... independent individuals who fight regimentation! They don't like routine, conforming and organization. Not great soldiers! We won't see a great Mexican (or Latin) military machine for a long time! (Oddly enough they don't seem to mind standing in line, however if they feel they need to be first they will go directly to the front and edge in.)

NOTE: In most cases the Mexican is stubborn! Like the burro, try to push him ... and he will refuse to budge. No amount of logic or reasoning will make him move and force will only create a confrontation. He will require time and/or an emotional solution! Never repeatedly honk your horn at a car in Mexico or it will turn into a burro! Is there such a thing as a Mexican stand-off ... you bet!

NOTE: Lying isn't seen as lying "when it's necessary."

NOTE: Stealing isn't seen as stealing. It's simply taking something you need from someone who isn't using it, doesn't need it, or has a lot. This really isn't stealing it's more like borrowing. I need, so I take it from those who have a lot.

NOTE: Borrowing in Mexico. To the poor a loan is actually (and in fact) expected to be a gift! The Mexican says: If you loan me something and don't ask for it back, it becomes mine after a matter of time. If you keep asking him for it, He'll make excuses and avoid you in the future. At least for a time. Loaning then, isn't loaning it's a term which means gift! After a matter of time the borrower will greet you and solicit your friendship as if this had never happened. He won't bring it up again and you won't bring it up again. He may even ask you for a loan again, and be offended if you refuse him on the bases of the money or object he hasn't paid or brought you back.

NOTE: Is the Mexican generous?? In most cases I find the Mexican's (Latino) charity (in many cases investment) is limited to three. (1) His family/relatives, (2) his friends and (3) people who have influence. Seldom if ever is charity extended to the real poor and needy. He is not particularly a "kind" person. That is "Kind" with out ulterior motives.

NOTE: Acceptance: The Mexican quickly & easily accepts people as they are not as they should be. He wants to be accepted in this same way.

NOTE: Climb: Every Latino learns at an early age to climb the ladder of influence. He will make friends of influence to climb. If necessary he will leave his buddies behind ... in fact he is encouraged to leave his buddies that aren't climbing behind. Mother encourages this more than father.

NOTE: A Latino is very quick to make friends. He is friendly & warm. In less than an hour a fast friendship develops based on who (influence) he thinks you are. He is impulsive. Instant friendship. Instant response ... "My house is your house!" Future problems as the friendship deteriorates and "his house becomes too small." Unfortunately he never learns from this.

NOTE: The typical Mexican or Latino makes a very poor administrator. He simply likes to do it himself because then it's done right. He wants to do the job more than administrate it.

NOTE: Even if a Latino doesn't want something done. He may agree with you at the time but if he really doesn't want it done he will stall. His tactic is to stall and not confront. He will literally wear you out. He will divide the thing up into impossibly slow increments until you finally give up. He will exhaust you. In most cases he will end up with your dream and your profit in his pocket.

NOTE: Husband: The Latin bull demands to be served! His dinner better be on the table and hot when he gets home or there is an explosion! If there is no money for food, or he doesn't say when he will be home ... it makes no difference ... his food better be there and hot! That's what wives are for.

NOTE: Marriage: Mother will try to dictate the marriages of her sons and daughters. Especially her sons. She will endeavor to move them upward, always upward ... up the ladder of influence. She will try everything in her power to use her influence effectively. She is second only to passion in her son's decision to marry.

THE POOR ... The resolute poor are most often the destitute poor.

NOTE: Marriage: With the poor in Mexico marriage isn't really necessary (It's a costly luxury the poor can't afford) ... living together and having a family is expedient for both young man and young woman. In his older age a man will often have another younger woman ... two families. Often both woman and the children will know this, yet they won't admit it ... again "what they don't see doesn't exist." No one talks about it. (except in angry explosions ... often over money!) Family becomes Social Security.

NOTE: Social Security: In the Mexican poor community, a young lady finds it expedient to have many sons and as soon as possible for future security. Married or not. The son with the best living conditions will take care of his mother in her old age. Her sons are her future hope. It's not always a matter of ignorance, passion or condoms but just plane Social Security.

NOTE: Celebration: The Mexican poor, like the poor of many third world nations, like to celebrate. They will look for any occasion to celebrate. They will gladly spend money they haven't got on celebrating ... again, living for today! The poor only have today in mind because today is the only day they have.

NOTE: Saving: The poor Latino for many good reasons doesn't save money. (Overlooking the fact that he grew up in an environment of today only ... day to day living) If he comes into money, (1) where does he put it? Where does he hide it? The bank is a scary complicated thing located a great distance away. The bank can and does cheat the poor and ignorant, and make it hard for them to bank. The poor and ignorant aren't profitable. The Bank is a concept he doesn't trust nor understand. (2) More likely, if he has money someone will borrow it ... especially "family." He is obligated or pressured into "loaning" (giving) his money to others. His money won't last. If he does save it for a year it will all go out in Christmas gifts!

NOTE: Credit: The poor Latino (or any poor person) doesn't understand credit or payments. He can't be trusted with the credit concept. His is a day to day, money to mouth existence!

NOTE: The Mexican poor, type people by their looks or mannerisms. They are very observing. Especially toward the physical. Their nick names reflect this!

NOTE: The Mexican poor will attempt to fix anything. The Mexican is very good with his hands and common (mechanical) sense. He doesn't know the word "Can't." He is very good at a temporary fix ... a temporary solution. Why? Mexican's are very bad maintainers of vehicles and equipment ... of necessity they must develop a good skill in repairing. Out of every three Mexicans, you can bet four of them will be mechanics! All Mexicans love to tinker. They have an uncanny ability to take anything apart and get it back together again ... and it works!

NOTE: If you can't make a poor Latino male fight for any other reason ... you insult his mother! He must then fight for her honor (and his). This is a cultural obligation.

NOTE: The first idea a Latin has is generally the one he buys! The first observation is the view he takes ... He decides fast and sticks to it.

NOTE: A Latin functions best under crisis. Often he will precipitate a crisis. Like the explosions of a four cycle engine, he functions from crisis to crisis. It's crisis or nothing. Crises is an important part of their cycle of progress.