Michael E. Burke (1) (1942–)

Only in histories of Latin American nations can everything be the fault of whites, the United States, and dictators and all that is sweetness and light can be traced to hatred of whites, hatred of the United States, and the goodwill of other dictators. Only in a history of Mexico written by a liberal historian can it be written on one page that the years of the republic under Juarez "were good ones for Mexico" and only two pages later that when Porfirio Diaz took over in 1876 "Mexico was less advanced in comparison with the rest of the world than it had been as a Spanish colony at the start of the [19th] century." Okay.

Only in a history of Mexico written by a liberal historian can it be written that during the Revolution that began in 1910 did "the Mexican people [take] matters into their own hands and forged their own identity" and then state in the very next sentence that the "Revolution was a war without rules and clearly-defined sides." Talk about forging "their own identity." Only in a history of Mexico written by a liberal historian can it be written that the Revolution was good for indigenous Mexicans and mestizos because the Revolution fought for their ideals and then denigrate the same indigenous Mexicans and mestizos for fighting in the Cristero Revolt because of their deeply-held Catholicism. Only in a history of Mexico written by a liberal historian can it be written that "like the men, women found participation in the Revolution a liberating experience, and a vast improvement from the harsh life they endured on the haciendas." Really? Liberating? From what? Life?

Only in a history of Mexico written by a liberal historian can it be written that the Constitution of 1917, which ushered in a period of unabashed one-party rule until around 2000, was a good thing. But then again, if the one-party dictatorship builds things like clinics and schools and attacks priests and nationalizes industries and supports communal farming ("ejidos") it is okay that people like Obregón, Elías Calles, and Cárdenas were nothing but dictators.

A serviceable background history of Mexico, but, if you want the gist, here goes: Spanish evil, whites evil, Anglos evil, United States evil, French evil, conservatives evil, Catholic Church evil, capitalists evil, dictators evil (unless they are PRI), United States evil, United States evil, and United States evil. There you go.… (mehr)