Yeah, Right, Whatever

The last few years, I've tried to figure out what makes a good neighbor. Growing up, I think we had good neighbors (at least the ones right next door). Not perfect, but good. (Mom and Dad moved away from the house I grew up in several years ago, but they still keep in touch with some of our old neighbors.) And, I've learned a bit about what makes a bad neighbor (spying on your neighbors, dealing drugs from your garage, knocking on people's doors at 2am, and trying to scam cash from your neighbors). So, while I'm not exactly an expert, I do a know a little about neighbors. (and, no, don't start- I know we're not perfect neighbors. Gimme a break!)

So... SoS Condi Rice is headed to Mexico to spend some time with our neighbors to the South. And she might get a chilly reception whie she's there. Evidently, we've been saying stuff they're not happy with. Like what, you ask?

Mexican congressmen and Cabinet members have denounced recent U.S. warnings about violence on the border, human rights abuses, continuing drug trafficking problems and possible election-related instability.

U.S. ambassador to Mexico Tony Garza added fuel to the nationalistic fires last week when, during a speech to the American Chamber of Commerce in Mexico City, he spoke about corruption and crime, Mexico's dependence on remittances from the United States and the country's failure to adapt "to the new rules of the globalization game."

Garza earlier irritated many in January with a letter saying that "the inability of local law enforcement to come to grips with rising drug warfare, kidnappings and random street violence will have a chilling effect on the cross-border exchange, tourism and commerce."

The letter accompanied a State Department travel advisory about rising violence on Mexico's northern border.

A passing CIA reference last month to Mexico as a potential "flashpoint" for electoral instability and a State Department report alleging some human rights abuses in Mexico also brought indignant responses.

So, they're irritated. So? There's nothing there that isn't true. Isn't that the real problem? No likes people to point out our blemishes, our flaws, or errors.

"What we want is a good neighbor ... not someone who judges us," said Interior Secretary Santiago Creel. In a separate appearance, he denounced U.S. "interference." ...

...President Vicente Fox himself said the travel advisory and Garza's statements were "excessive and sensationalist" and he said they qualified as "meddling" in Mexican affairs.

Excessive? Sensationalist? I don't think so. The border between Mexico and the United States is no better than a sieve. American citizens are worried about going over the border for the day- too many bad things happen to tourists these days. Everything else Ambassador Garza and the CIA pointed out is true and accurate. It's just the way things are.

The United States would probably be willing to help out with several of Mexico's problem (that's what good neighbor's do), except for one little issue. The border. No one can deny (with any sense of integrity) that Mexico depends on the funds brought across the border by illegal aliens to prop up their economy. The Mexican government provides tips for those trying to get into the US illegally. It's really difficult to respect and want to help a country who has no respect for the laws of our country. Call us mean, that way.

I'm not a fan of fences- in back yards. Six-foot privacy fences make it hard to make friends. But, in this case, I'm willing to make an exception. The Israelis have the right idea- we need to build a wall all along our southern border.