Blog Post #3

Would you argue that the Mexican Revolution “has legs” (i.e., still has meaning and power in Mexican politics, culture, and social relations)? Why or why not?

I would argue that the Mexican Revolution does have legs for many reasons and with plenty of evidence. Firstly in the terms of culture the Mexican Revolution had bouts of changing cultures such as the socialist attempt to create secular holidays and eliminate the catholic culture that was dominating Mexico prior to the Revolution taking place. In this clash between teachers and priests, secular holidays and festivals both have survived to the current time. Cinco de Mayo is one of these secular holidays that has persisted through the end of the revolution, while it is the celebration of a Mexican victory over the French, it was cemented as a national holiday during the revolution and is secular which shows some ties that have yet to break. In terms of education, public schools have become popular throughout the rural and urban centers of Mexico and shows that not all of the socialist ideas that were created during the revolutions end were necessarily bad. The public education system in its own right is an example of the legs the Revolution has but it is also a crucial topic discussed and taught about to the children of Mexico the same way the industrial revolution or the civil war is taught in American schools. In Gawronskis’ paper about the Mexican society and its ties to the Revolution he references a survey that was given to the public in order to see if the goals of the Revolution were still relevant and if they were fulfilled. Overwhelmingly the goal of no reelection was the most fulfilled aspect of the revolution which is still extremely important to the people in the current day. This survey also determined that the social justice side of the revolution has yet to be fully realized and therefore also holds the merit that the revolution had ideals and principles that people truly wanted for their country even to this day.

In Mexican politics the Revolution also has a significant amount of power and meaning to this very day. The change in the party of the president in 2000 brought mixed emotions and ideas out throughout Mexico as it ended the rein of those that began at the end of the Revolution. Most Mexican citizens agree that the regime that came from the Revolution failed to complete the changes that were promised and outlined within the Constitution of 1917 and therefore this regime change could be seen as a directional switch away from the Revolutionary governments towards one that may finally get the things promised completed. Many of the aspects that are covered through the political system within Mexico are also highly tied to the Revolution and the culture of the society that was born from it, these foundations impact the political nature of the people and were formulating throughout the history which includes the revolution.

In the terms of politics and society the Mexican Revolution does still have impact and therefore does have “legs”. The ideas and foundations that were set when the Revolution both began and ended are still tethered to the people of Mexico and their surroundings. These include the regime and how they have succeeded or failed and how they have recently been voted out for a change, as well as the very holidays and school systems origins that are utilized and celebrated every year.