I certainly wouldn't live here alone if it was a scary place.

Such foolishness on behalf of those in charge.

Do they have one of these machine gun ones in PV. We are on the way there Friday and want to know what to expect.

Surely this is an alternative universe where April Fool's Day is now April Fool's Month and this is a complete photo-shop creation. The statue is so graphically violent, unwelcoming and unpleasant. Public art doesn't need to be all sweetness and light but this is a very key position in town. Whether it's "greeting" visitors at the pier, also where younger people practice their band music, or even were to be moved to La Cancha as an example for children playing games or practicing art, it is ill-advised. It reminds me of those horrible carvings in Merida of the conquistador stomping on the heads of the Indian natives, or of a bunch of statues in Spain of Santiago graphically murdering the Moor. Those are centuries old art/propaganda. Have we come no further than brutality and weaponry? Who are the decision-makers??! Do the locally born people like this statue and it only seems offensive mostly to gringos? It's incomprehensible to me that this is being placed where tourists from anywhere first enter a town! Mind boggling. Zih is much better than this. It seems like some of the public art in Zih "wears out" or disappears after some period of time, hopefully this one will go away very quickly.
Susan

I wish this were some joke, but it looks like the joke's on us thanks once again to our unresponsive unrepresentative unprofessional municipal government.

Of course when my wife made the mistake of commenting to a Mexican Navy Admiral who was there, telling him the statue was offensive, he looked at her quizzically as I expected any military man would do and smiled politely, asked if we were locals and suggested we communicate with the municipal authorities, which of course we've done numerous times as have dozens of other concerned local citizens. It has been a major topic of discussion among locals, and so far every person I know who has commented on the matter has agreed. We are tired of glorifying weapons and violence. We especially abhor violence here in our region and we completely comprehend the unwelcome appearance it gives to our tourists and visitors, especially if they were arriving by cruise ship and hadn't a clue about Mexican history.

It's truly a shame the public was never consulted on this and that so much money was wasted to create this statue and install it in such an inappropriate location, apparently threatening arriving visitors to our pier. Just another reflection of the poor judgement endemic in our local municipal authorities.

"Gracias compadre pero no me ayudes!"

https://youtu.be/xRLq6Y3oAWM

Has anyone thought about what the message this might convey to arriving cruise ship passengers? Assuming a ship ever stops again. Really, interesting way to say "welcome. To Zihuatanejo".

And, I can hardly wait to see snaps of this thing when people realize they can decorate it. It invites mischief. Or is it just me? No disrespect to a brave lad and a national hero, but there's a time and place for everything. This is just so wrong.

Your complaints were heard LOUD & CLEAR, The statue is being removed from the pier, the old statue will be put back, though now it will have a bit larger base.

Now the "authorities" decided to put the machine-gun statue in the zócalo next to the basketball court in area currently used by children for painting, crafts and trampolines. I guess they figure the children won't complain as loudly as the adults, but I wouldn't bet on it.

Thanks for making a difference! Y'all ROCK!

Apparently we were misinformed and the machine-gun toting statue is going to remain where it is "welcoming" tourists to the pier, and the statue of the women of La Costa Chica is going to be placed next to the basketball court.

All I can say is HANDS UP GRINGOS! You are being symbolically shot at.

Dare I say it? Fortunately (?) there are no cruise ships.

I'm no fan of cruise ships whatsoever, so it matters little to me that they have stayed away from Zihuatanejo lately. I do appreciate the small boost that they give to local merchants and restaurants when their passengers come ashore for the day. The few times that we've seen cruise ships in Zih, we just stay put around La Madera and hardly notice the presence of the day-trippers at all.

I agree. What I meant was that there won't be any gringos arriving by cruise ship anytime soon. And "unfortunately" with a "?" because, while I won't miss them, some local businesses might.

I do understand the pride of their Military in Jose Azueta for defending their country many years ago. Their Military housing area would be a wonderful place for them to put the statue pointing toward the sea should someone else ever want to invade other than tourists wanting to spend their money here.

Why not sink it in the bay near Las Gatas to keep the sunken Jesus statue some company?

Now now, please remember you're referring to one of our national heroes. Just because your birth country doesn't have any...

We were there for the unveiling this morning. One of the officers asked why I was there. Then she asked if I was a tourist and I said yes, and I write for a big newspaper. This is the same....no?

Good to hear it will not be here long. What a slap in the face for all non-Mexican tourists.

Good for you! I'm putting you on the payroll!

Good to hear it will not be here long. What a slap in the face for all non-Mexican tourists.

I don't care for the new placement either, but one step at a time.

Fantastic news on the statues. Public outcry is an effective tool for affecting positive change.

I suggest the Tte. José Azueta monument be placed on the municipal pier on Playa Linda and positioned facing Veracruz.

LOL Now that is funny right there....I don't care who ya are.........

Dave

I suggest the Tte. José Azueta monument be placed on the municipal pier on Playa Linda and positioned facing Veracruz.

Now the "authorities" decided to put the machine-gun statue in the zócalo next to the basketball court in area currently used by children for painting, crafts and trampolines. I guess they figure the children won't complain as loudly as the adults, but I wouldn't bet on it.

Thanks for making a difference! Y'all ROCK!