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From Daniela Rossell's 2002 book Ricas y Famosas: Mexico 1994-2001
Tiberge at Gallia Watch replies to my post (I sent her an email asking her what she thought) with these remarks. I've posted my reply below that.
Tiberge: Once a few years ago, I complained about the fact that the Indian Army was marching at the head of the Bastille Day parade. Two French readers disagreed, one saying it didn't bother him, and the other praising the quality of the Indian Army. You can review the post, and the comments:My reply:
Bastille Day, 2009 - Honoring India
The practice of a "guest star" is not new, and not always innocuous. Your information from The Telegraph seems adequate. I can't add much, except that when Sarkozy came to power in 2007 he changed the nature of most French patriotic holidays from France-oriented to "multi-culti" or "internationalist". Last year the big issue was having the Algerian Army march in the parade. I seriously objected to that, as did many others. Compared to Algeria, Mexico does not seem to be such a faux pas.
However, there were, according to Le Monde, raised eyebrows when it was learned Mexico would be honored. This was because of the corrupt nature of the Mexican government, its involvement in drugs and its mafia-style tactics.
Le Mexique, hôte problématique de la France pour le 14-Juillet
I find this a bit odd since France, though not corrupt in the same way, is also something of a mafia state when one considers Socialist theft, immoral permissiveness with regard to crime and criminals, and unfettered immigration for the purpose of replacing the French population. Mexico is corrupt, but is France much better? It was surprising to read such a condemnation of Mexico from Le Monde.
My post was done in a light-hearted way. I did not take time to delve into Mexico's presence. If I can find the time, I'll add an update with a more thorough explanation of why Mexico was a bad choice. You did not make too much of Mexico; it was probably I who did not take it seriously enough.
As for the falconers, I was just commenting on the beauty of the image, the discipline, the bird itself. Possibly "formidable" would have been more precise.
Mexico is really far more corrupt, at every level, than is France. I lived there as a student for two years. The police would stop you if they felt they could get something, and savvy Mexicans would give them bribe money to be left alone.
Politicians were completely mistrusted by the public. They were extremely wealthy over the monies that they could and would solicit through bribes, phony projects, and extortion.
No-one could really say how wealthy Mexicans became wealthy.
The elite: professors, businessmen, artists, writers, etc. would actually say that they encourage the poor to go to America and to "get their due."
Mexicans believed that the US "stole" their land in southern Texas, Arizona, California and other neighboring states, although they were gained through legitimate wars, often started due to Mexican aggression.
Murders and assassinations were getting frequent by highway robbers. Men in expensive cars were frequently hijacked for money, unless they were also stripped off their clothes(!) and their cars.
The ordinary Mexicans know all this, but they are so involved in their families, trying to make a living, watching American TV, hating America (blaming America, as their leaders would want them to), and inhabiting another "Orwellian" sphere, that they are willing to accept all this.