Don't Wear Any Ruiz Buttons!

As many of you already know, teachers are kind of a big deal in Oaxaca. Their protests have postponed school for 34 days, reduced the ticket price of the popular Guelagetza dance festival from 420 pesos (roughly $42) to $0, reduced tourism by 75%, and may, in the coming weeks, lead to a radical shift in the state government. The teachers' specific school-focused demands have included higher wages, increased construction of schools in remote villages, and free breakfast and uniforms for every child in Oaxaca. The demand that has been getting the most press and seems to be the strongest rallying cry for the teachers, however, is the resignation of Oaxaca Governor Ulisses Ruiz. Among other things, Ruiz has been accused of rigging the state election, murdering his adversaries, and authorizing the June 14 tear gas attacks on protestors. As long as Ulisses stays, the teachers have said, they'll stay. Till the end of this school year and the next.

Luckily, for my parent's sake, all of this is a world away from sleepy Esquipulas. Technically it's only 30 minutes away -- two buses and you're in Zocalo, the site of all of the protests -- but really you couldn't get a more different climate. I'm pretty sure if anyone tried to start a protest here, it would last about a minute and a half. First off, they wouldn’t get mad enough for it: tranquilo's the third word out of everyone's mouth. Even if they did, they’d probably shout something like “We want answers now!” Which wouldn’t lead to much of a protest because the Esquipulan word for “now!” is ahorrita. Which roughly translates to “in the next few minutes to the next few hours to, eh, whenever you get around to it.”

I’ve tried to explain to my parents that Esquipulas and Zocalo are a world away, but being parents, they worry. Stories like these didn’t help matters:

OAXACA, Mexico -- Gunmen attacked Oaxaca's university radio station, authorities said Sunday, the latest incident in a wave of confrontations and protests that have driven many tourists out of this historic Mexican city. Assailants fired rounds of ammunition into the station's windows while it was broadcasting late Saturday, the Oaxaca state government said. Nobody was hurt in the attack. Witnesses said the attack was carried out by at least 10 assailants wearing ski masks. The university radio station has supported a wave of protests aimed at ousting Oaxaca state governor Ulises Ruiz, who is accused of rigging the 2004 election to win office and of violently repressing dissent.

I received this article from my dad, who was obviously concerned. At the bottom of the article, he added a loving message: “Stay out of harms way or I'll kill you.” A few minutes later, he sent another: “Don't wear any Ruiz buttons!!”

Given the seriousness of these directives and the obvious concern my parents had for my personal safety, I sent this photo as my reply.