Use Caution if Visiting Mexico

jmmom
Fri, 04 Apr 2008 15:01:34 +0000

We do have a retirement home in Mexico. I, too, agree with astrophysicsmom. Danger and tragedy is everywhere; and it is equally tragic when a student fails to come home from Athens, Ga.; Burlington, Vt. or Chapel Hill, NC as it is to not return from Rosarito.

xiggi is right, I believe, that police in some of these areas have been part of the problem rather than part of the solution. However, I do truly believe that real efforts are underway to clean house in Rosarito/Tijuana. Problems will not be solved overnight. But I, personally, am not afraid to be in either of those places… and I am there frequently. Common sense and respect for locals, as xiggi says, must travel with you.

My heart bleeds for the parent of that young man. I have a 21-year old son who spent spring break (with us) in the same area. But crime and tragedy happen in Detroit, NYC, LA… as well as bucolic rurual areas. Not just Mexico.

I do NOT believe in blaming the victim. But a sad and shocking truth that we parents of young adults need to face is this: scratch the surface of most (not all, but too many) of these tragedies and you find a young adult who has overimbibed alcohol or other substances. Next step, good judgment is diminished. Vulnerability is increased. Using common sense - not so likely as if they were sober and at their best.

Me, I would focus a lot more on trying to get this through to my young adult than trying to direct where s/he went for spring break.