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Message to Z gringos?

by ZihuaRob ⌂ @, Zihuatanejo, México, Monday, April 20, 2015, 10:18 (4219 days ago)

Possibly a few of you know some Mexican history and know that the USA invaded Mexico on at least 3 occasions, one of the invasions occurring in Veracruz in 1914 where the young Tte. José Azueta manned a machine gun to defend the port but was mortally wounded, for which he became immortalized as a patriot and a hero and after whom our municipio is named.

Apparently to honor our municipio's namesake our municipal authorities, without any public consultation, input or notice decided to remove one of the beautiful sculptures representing the artisanal handcrafts of one of the 7 regions of our state of Guerrero and instead placed a new sculpture of Tte. José Azueta manning a machine gun. Its placement aiming the machine gun at tourists arriving on cruise ships from our pier is menacing and mindful of the violence that grips our state. It goes completely against all the silly slogans that appear everywhere declaring Guerrero a place where we are "moved by peace".

We are all thoroughly disgusted by this unannounced and poorly thought out change of statues.

And of course we're all wondering in the private garden of which public functionary does our beautiful and iconic statue now exist?

Before
[image]

Now
[image]

Message to Z gringos?

by Tere @, Monday, April 20, 2015, 10:55 (4219 days ago) @ ZihuaRob

The first night the new statue was up we heard someone in the crowd ask why there was a monument to El Chapo. It's definitely odd placement.

Message to Z gringos?

by LadyM in Zihua, Monday, April 20, 2015, 11:27 (4219 days ago) @ ZihuaRob

Every person here I have spoken to here say the same thing you have posted. Some a little stronger in language than the message you have written.

The longer I live here, the crazier the people in power here become. It is certainly not a welcoming statue for anyone. People who are a little leary of traveling here in the first place will definitely not understand the reasoning for the statue, whether the young man was a hero or not. (I did know the history)

Message to Z gringos?

by midalake @, Monday, April 20, 2015, 11:30 (4219 days ago) @ LadyM in Zihua

Speechless..........But when the canal stinks so will the statue.....Which is where monies should go in the first place.

Well guess I was not speechless...

Dave

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Message to Z gringos?

by ZihuaRob ⌂ @, Zihuatanejo, México, Monday, April 20, 2015, 11:58 (4219 days ago) @ LadyM in Zihua

Every person here I have spoken to here say the same thing you have posted. Some a little stronger in language than the message you have written.

The longer I live here, the crazier the people in power here become. It is certainly not a welcoming statue for anyone. People who are a little leary of traveling here in the first place will definitely not understand the reasoning for the statue, whether the young man was a hero or not. (I did know the history)

Knowing the history should make the statue even more offensive to many of our gringo visitors, since technically he's supposed to be shooting gringos.

I love history more than most folks, but this is the WRONG message and the WRONG place for this statue!

Message to Z gringos?

by Croguske, Monday, April 20, 2015, 12:43 (4219 days ago) @ ZihuaRob

I couldn't agree with you more Rob! I feel the same way about the "Fist" statue here in Detroit, MI. If you were to see it in person you would know that it is incredibility menacing and it seemingly takes direct aim at our friends across the river in Windsor, ON. Disgraceful!!! And oh yes, I’m a big Joe Louis fan but this was not the way in which to honor this terrific human being and oh yes a pretty good boxer to boot.

Message to Z gringos?

by NJS @, Monday, April 20, 2015, 13:16 (4219 days ago) @ Croguske

Absolutely no common sense in the world anywhere any more!

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Message to Z gringos?

by Linda from Canada @, Zihua and Grand Marais, Manitoba, Monday, April 20, 2015, 13:27 (4219 days ago) @ NJS

My questions is: is anyone going to make a formal complaint and try to change this? Rob??? have the time or inclination?

--
Linda from Canada
check out my books at www.livingthedreaminmexico.com AND please have a look at www.cookingwithclaudiainzihuatanejo.blogspot.com as well as www.albertoinzihuatanejo.blogspot.com

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Message to Z gringos?

by ZihuaRob ⌂ @, Zihuatanejo, México, Monday, April 20, 2015, 13:31 (4219 days ago) @ Linda from Canada

My questions is: is anyone going to make a formal complaint and try to change this? Rob??? have the time or inclination?

As you can see by my other post here, I'm already stirring up enough hornets and I am extremely busy at the moment. Hopefully other citizens can handle this one. It's already gotten quite a bit of attention by my friends and neighbors on Facebook.

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Message to Z gringos?

by dhunsber @, ¡Dondequiera que voy, estoy aquí!, Monday, April 20, 2015, 14:48 (4219 days ago) @ ZihuaRob

Stunningly horrific!

And the sign on the window in the background is in soft enough focus that I can easily misread it as saying
"WELCOME DEAD VISITORS"

If I were to come ashore in Zihuatanejo from a cruise ship or a private yacht to be greeted by that new monstrosity, I'd snap a quick foto and post it to all the folks I know describing how friendly the natives are.

And, I too, wonder which fine dignitary has spirited the lovely statue that formerly graced that space to her/his own home.

¡Que lástima!

Message to Z gringos?

by HolyMole, Monday, April 20, 2015, 18:14 (4219 days ago) @ dhunsber

Stunningly horrific!

And the sign on the window in the background is in soft enough focus that I can easily misread it as saying
"WELCOME DEAD VISITORS"

If I were to come ashore in Zihuatanejo from a cruise ship or a private yacht to be greeted by that new monstrosity, I'd snap a quick foto and post it to all the folks I know describing how friendly the natives are.

And, I too, wonder which fine dignitary has spirited the lovely statue that formerly graced that space to her/his own home.

¡Que lástima!

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

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Message to Z gringos?

by dhunsber @, ¡Dondequiera que voy, estoy aquí!, Tuesday, April 21, 2015, 08:28 (4218 days ago) @ HolyMole

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.

Message to Z gringos?

by HolyMole, Tuesday, April 21, 2015, 16:19 (4218 days ago) @ dhunsber

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.

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Message to Z gringos?

by Pelicano, Monday, April 20, 2015, 16:05 (4219 days ago) @ ZihuaRob

Maybe it's temporary and they'll take it down after the anniversary....;-)

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The most beautiful statue removed Message to Z gringos?

by esldonna, Zihuatanejo, Monday, April 20, 2015, 16:17 (4219 days ago) @ Pelicano

My sadness is that the most beautiful statue was removed. I question as to where it went?
Let's work together to get it back, and remove this nasty one.

The most beautiful statue removed Message to Z gringos?

by mapache, Monday, April 20, 2015, 17:34 (4219 days ago) @ esldonna

ill take the nasty, machine gun narco scarecrow statue for my garden !

The most beautiful statue removed Message to Z gringos?

by JoAnna @, Colorado, Monday, April 20, 2015, 22:44 (4219 days ago) @ mapache

How obscene & grotesque!
Your statues in Z are the loveliest I have seen anywhere! Surely hope it can be retrieved!

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The Big OOPS! - vindication

by ZihuaRob ⌂ @, Zihuatanejo, México, Tuesday, April 21, 2015, 08:53 (4218 days ago) @ ZihuaRob

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! :jam:

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The Big OOPS! - vindication

by dhunsber @, ¡Dondequiera que voy, estoy aquí!, Tuesday, April 21, 2015, 09:01 (4218 days ago) @ ZihuaRob

Might make for fewer fouls during the basketball games.

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The Big OOPS! - vindication

by timixtapa ⌂ @, Ixtapa, México, Tuesday, April 21, 2015, 09:01 (4218 days ago) @ ZihuaRob

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.

The Big OOPS! - vindication

by midalake @, Tuesday, April 21, 2015, 09:42 (4218 days ago) @ timixtapa

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

The Big OOPS! - vindication

by Sun Seeker, Tuesday, April 21, 2015, 09:45 (4218 days ago) @ ZihuaRob

Happy to hear the beautiful statue will be returned. :kingtut:

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

The Big OOPS! - vindication

by LadyM in Zihua, Tuesday, April 21, 2015, 10:20 (4218 days ago) @ ZihuaRob

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.

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The Big OOPS! - vindication

by ZihuaRob ⌂ @, Zihuatanejo, México, Tuesday, April 21, 2015, 10:39 (4218 days ago) @ LadyM in Zihua

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! :megusta:

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The Big OOPS! - vindication

by B&S @, Tuesday, April 21, 2015, 11:18 (4218 days ago) @ ZihuaRob

They should erect it on the grounds of their ugly military apartment complex on the rod to la Ropa.

The Big OOPS! - vindication

by LadyM in Zihua, Tuesday, April 21, 2015, 12:49 (4218 days ago) @ B&S

That is actually the best idea I have heard.

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.

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The Big OOPS! - vindication

by frostbite @, Hamilton MT, Tuesday, April 21, 2015, 12:01 (4218 days ago) @ ZihuaRob

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

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The Big OOPS! - vindication

by ZihuaRob ⌂ @, Zihuatanejo, México, Tuesday, April 21, 2015, 12:25 (4218 days ago) @ frostbite

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... :stirpot:

2nd OOPS! -

by Oeste Hermoso @, Zihuatanejo, Tuesday, April 21, 2015, 14:45 (4218 days ago) @ ZihuaRob

The base of a sculpture is properly referred to as "plinth.";-)
And congratulations on getting things done!

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MACHINE-GUNNER UPDATE - HANDZ UP GRINGOS

by ZihuaRob ⌂ @, Zihuatanejo, México, Wednesday, April 22, 2015, 09:03 (4217 days ago) @ ZihuaRob

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! :jam:

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. :wtf:

[image]

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MACHINE-GUNNER UPDATE - HANDZ UP GRINGOS

by frostbite @, Hamilton MT, Wednesday, April 22, 2015, 10:27 (4217 days ago) @ ZihuaRob

Just love that penile extension...

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MACHINE-GUNNER UPDATE - HANDZ UP GRINGOS

by Fran @, Evanston, IL, Wednesday, April 22, 2015, 12:25 (4217 days ago) @ frostbite

I have to admit that the gun is graphically (and amusingly) positioned.

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.

MACHINE-GUNNER UPDATE - HANDZ UP GRINGOS

by Susan, Wednesday, April 22, 2015, 12:06 (4217 days ago) @ ZihuaRob

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

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MACHINE-GUNNER UPDATE - HANDZ UP GRINGOS

by ZihuaRob ⌂ @, Zihuatanejo, México, Wednesday, April 22, 2015, 12:59 (4217 days ago) @ Susan

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

MACHINE-GUNNER UPDATE - HANDZ UP GRINGOS

by Coco, Thursday, April 23, 2015, 16:08 (4216 days ago) @ ZihuaRob

Zihuatanejo is , according to Imagine Mexico, a certified city of peace! At the opposite end of the waterfront stands the peace monument! We should move them closer together!

MACHINE-GUNNER UPDATE - HANDZ UP GRINGOS

by Sun Seeker, Thursday, April 23, 2015, 16:21 (4216 days ago) @ Coco

Zihuatanejo is a very friendly place to visit and live.
The statue in no way portrays the true vibe of Zihuatanejo.

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

Such foolishness on behalf of those in charge.

MACHINE-GUNNER UPDATE - HANDZ UP GRINGOS

by LadyM in Zihua, Thursday, April 23, 2015, 16:30 (4216 days ago) @ Sun Seeker

The truth is, no matter what we think or tell people...seeing that statue as they come off the pier gives a different statement. We are lucky Sandy feet...we know better.

MACHINE-GUNNER UPDATE - HANDZ UP GRINGOS

by LadyM in Zihua, Wednesday, April 22, 2015, 16:58 (4217 days ago) @ Susan

Susan, this has been a big topic of conversation with many of the local people here that are friends of mine and just others that I know. Several have apologized to me for the statue. They are all disgusted with it and are as upset as anyone would be. They also have said to me what Rob has already mentioned. No one they know of was consulted and it was a complete surprise to everyone.

MACHINE-GUNNER UPDATE - HANDZ UP GRINGOS

by LadyM in Zihua, Wednesday, April 22, 2015, 16:49 (4217 days ago) @ ZihuaRob

We noticed the stand they were doing at the basketball court was not big enough for the machine gun.

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.:stirpot:

MACHINE-GUNNER UPDATE - HANDZ UP GRINGOS

by Mexalberta @, Thursday, April 23, 2015, 17:04 (4216 days ago) @ LadyM in Zihua

Expect a cleaned up PV. The Pan Am Games were a good thing.
Also tourists from UK are common in PV. Very good for the local economy not to rely on Canadians and Americans to spend money, Mexican are very big non-spenders when they are tourists in PV. Just ask the local business owners.

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Message to Z gringos?

by timixtapa ⌂ @, Ixtapa, México, Wednesday, April 22, 2015, 08:53 (4217 days ago) @ ZihuaRob