Many U.S. citizens who have lived in Mexico for an extended time have a repellent response regarding all things Donald Trump.
The result: a wide swath of foreigners who recognize admirable crowds of local neighbors – especially when compared with the Republican presidential candidate. And also certainly when compared with many of their own countrymen-and-women who use their families’ often well-known nepotism and contempt for the Republic’s middle and lower classes. Such unfortunate clusters are seen to be very much like Trump and his ill-gotten wealth. Just as, for many Mexicans, there is little difference between the ruling few and Trump and his loathsomeness. But dents in the present culture often tote too much greasily acquired riches, and poorly controlled contempt for their fellow, poorer Mexicans. Certainly there are a good number of gringos and Mexicans who appear as heroes when compared with the people who often govern them – and with the Trump-types who are their enemies.
Presently this mixed, often uncertain social reality prompts both groups to sharply – often ridiculously – compare the two extremes. Yet it also brings into active recognition of those whose behavior makes one proud that such “heroes” even exist, and exist so bravely, and at fitting times and places.
A stirring flourish of a gringo example of such a social revelation exists in the life-and-death bravery – and modesty – of a former Guadalajara consul general. The name of this “unflappable” career diplomat was Richard Morefield, and he was assigned here after maneuvering to help to keep the American staff of the U.S. Embassy in Tehran safe. He had been assigned there just four months before that diplomatic mission was seized by a mob of Iranians in 1979.
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