In a wave of what seems to be endless violence south of the border, three teenagers were murdered in Ciudad Juarez, Mexico on Monday.
Carlos Mario Gonzalez Bermodez, 16, attended Cathedral High School in El Paso. Juan Carlos Echeverri, 15, was a former Cathedral student.
There were no witnesses, and investigators have not established a motive for the slaying. The citizenship of the victims has not been determined.
The basic rights of democracy are being violated, and corruption is winning. Government officials and media members have been intimidated or killed by thugs who are bent on showing how powerful they are.
Whether it be students, government officials or journalists, it is clear that living in Mexico has become increasingly hazardous for anyone who represents freedom, or vows to cut down on violence.
Last week, Mexico City police chief Manuel Farfán was ambushed and killed in Nuevo Laredo by assassins sent from a drug cartel.
The Committee to Protect Journalists reported that at least three journalists were killed in 2010 as an attempt to censor free press. Seven other journalists were murdered, but the motives remain unconfirmed.
While performing the tasks of one occupation should not be a death sentence, the gangs in Mexico are indiscriminate when choosing their victims. The Mexican government is too ill-equipped to continue and fight this battle.
With unrest in Egypt, Sudan and Tunisia, many are wondering if the US should intervene in the Middle East. But with conditions in Mexico gradually spiraling out of control, it could become a threat to American citizens.
Totally eliminating guns and drugs is a far-fetched proposition, and sending troops to Mexico to would jeopardize American lives. The US government established the Mérida Initiative which gave Mexico $1.6 billion to help combat drug trafficking. The US may have to up the ante on that one.
Justice may not be served in the deaths of the students. It is three too many that have fallen victim to ruthless and random attacks.
The crux of your editorial seems to be, "those drug traffickers are mean, awful people, and they should stop."
What a simplistic view of the world. Perhaps encouraging your fellow students to curb their drug use might be of some use. The demographics of the target group for the people who move drugs and cause the violence in Mexico are the students in your University. Your that eliminating drug use is far-fetched might be true, but curbing drug use likely will have a direct impact on the violence. The drug traffickers are fighting over who gets to control the flow of drugs.
Don't use drugs and there is less money for the people perpetrating the violence.
Shut up Mike. Don't make drug use illegal and there is less money for the people perpetuating the violence.