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Mexican Influence in American CultureThe United states has a wide variety of influential cultures/countries seeing as how it is the land of freedom. Mexico’s relation with the United States began in the 1800’s when the Mexican-American war broke out. By 1890 the need for cheap labor in the United States drew thousands approximately 75,000 Mexican’s to the United States. Since then Mexico has had a substantial influence on the United States. One of the most common cultural characteristics of Mexican American culture is the Spanish language. In the 1980’s there were approximately 11 million Spanish speakers in the United States representing 5% of the population. By 2012 the number increased to over 38 million which represents 13% of the United States population (“Mexican Americans”). Hispanic families teach their children Spanish as a way to pass down their heritage and culture. This emphasis on bilingualism has helped to revive the Spanish language in the United States. Based on history and facts Mexican culture has greatly influenced the United States and still does to this day.1,2a,b,c.Alondra grew up in Chihuahua, Mexico until she was the age of 11. Her mother told her and her siblings that they were going to Utah to visit family. Overtime in Utah Alondra’s mother took her to a local Jr. High in Utah to sign her up for school. It was shocking to her as she did not speak the language and she never had the chance to say goodbye to her close friends. Later on, her mother told her that they moved to the United States for more opportunities and a better life. She also wanted all of their family to be together and her brother who had recently graduated was living and working in Utah. Alondra’s mother had everything set up for her and her siblings passports and permits. When her grandmother passed away her and her family went back to Mexico after being in Mexico for some time it was time to go back to United States. This time was a lot more difficult for them as border patrol had changed laws and more documentation was needed. They got the necessary documentation and paperwork they needed to start working and living life in the United States again. In comparison to life in Mexico versus life in the United States, Alondra said education is a lot more advanced in the United States than it is in Mexico. If you weren’t able to keep your GPA at an average of 2.0 you were required to go to night school. Also, economic status in Mexico had an extensive impact on her while growing up in Mexico.3a, b.The economy has greatly influenced Mexico and its culture. After World War II Mexico’s population exploded and industrialism spawned by the war became a major element in the economy. Although Mexico has the 15th largest economy in the world with a 1.26 trillion economy, it’s economy has faced a number of challenges throughout the years. The price of commodities, important for Mexico’s income from exports, has been falling in what has been called “the end of the commodity super cycle.” (“Mexican economy”). Mexico is a federal republic composed of 31 states and the federal district. Government powers are divided constitutionally between executive, legislative, and judicial branches. Mexico’s government collects several forms of revenue, including individual income taxes, corporate income taxes, sales taxes, added value taxes, taxes on cigarettes and alcohol, production taxes and real estate taxes. Mexican resident individuals are subject to income taxes on their worldwide income regardless of their nationality. Non-residents, including Mexican citizens who can prove residence for tax purposes in a foreign country, are taxed only on their Mexican-source income.Leadership in Mexico has caused many issues for its economic growth for years. According to Mexico’s population its economy has recently taken a sizable hit due to its most recent leader Enrique Pe?a Nieto with only 12% approval in the latest presidential performance rating. Since Nieto’s term gas prices have climbed to an all-time high, the education system has been failing with new requirements and teachers protesting, security continues to be a problem with homicides on the rise, and personal corruption with Mexico’s government CITATION Kat16 \l 1033 (Linthicum, 2016).Economic resources such as silver and petroleum have played a key part in Mexico’s economic growth. Mexico is the world’s leading producer of silver, which is the most valuable metal extracted there. The silver belt still to this day is Mexico’s primary source of nonfuel minerals. Mexico is one of the most prolific petroleum producing countries, and exports account for a large share of foreign-exchange earnings. Mexico’s oil industry was nationalized in 1938 with the creation of Pemex, one of Mexico’s petroleums. Pemex produces approximately a hundred billion barrels or in other words 4.2 trillion gallons of oil a year. Mexico’s law enforcement has been suffering throughout the years and is not yet under control. Mexico’s residents have been suffering from a heightened sense of public insecurity for the last decade. With robberies and muggings being a regular occurrence. Currently, the public’s trust in the police is so low law enforcement is the last to be called when a crime is committed, in part because citizens fear further abuses at their hands. Many police officers have turned to crime and other forms of “rent-seeking” as a means of recovering earlier privileges CITATION Dia14 \l 1033 (Davis, 2014). Many members of the police force end up working hand-in-hand with criminals, either through their participation in crime rings or in bigger operations like drug trafficking and gunrunning, a situation that explains so much as to why police officer’s unwillingness to guarantee the rule of the law. One of the reasons the creation of an honest and efficient police officer in Mexico remains such a difficult task is that scholars, politicians and laypersons have been too willing to ignore the historical origins of Mexico’s police corruption and impunity.?4 a,b,c.As of 2015 a congressional research service report estimated that approximately 23,000 people were killed due to Mexican drug cartels. In 2013, the Global peace index showed the cost of fighting drug cartels was a staggering 172.2 billion dollars more than twice Mexico’s foreign debt. Drug trafficking is an activity for the Mexican cartels, generating an estimated annual revenue of 35 to 45 billion for Mexico. Mexico’s violence containment is ranked 25th among 162 nations, an economic impact of violence is estimated at 9.8 trillion of the domestic product CITATION Dev11 \l 1033 (Rygler, 2011).Due to insufficiency and corruption among Mexico’s police force, the participation of the military has spearheaded the government’s efforts against the cartels. Mexican police officers earn as little as 500 dollars a month in some areas which leads them to be tempted by taking drug traffickers money. It is believed that many government officials offer protection to drug cartels, and cartels offer money and bribes to the government officials to continue drug trafficking. In a series of raids that have been conducted in some of Mexico’s richest cities government officials arrested an unpredicted number of 141 police officers who they believe have been working with drug cartels and helping them smuggle drugs into the United States.The drug cartel has left a substantial impact on leadership in Mexico. According to the Mexican government, only 10 percent of murders are that of innocent people. It is hard to believe given the fact that majority of killings in Mexico are not criminally investigated. Leaders for years now have tried to implement stronger security, tighter laws, and break down drug cartels but due to police involvement it has been difficult to do so. Citizens fear that the justice system is getting worse with each leader put into office. It’s gotten to a point where crimes, including homicides are never sentenced or punished in Mexico. Anyone can kill anyone and nothing happens and people get away with it.5a. New song anthems have been created for the younger generation of Mexico to express feelings and concern. One of the most popular potent protest songs is “Gimme tha power” by Molotov. It depicts the frustration of the citizens of Mexico with police and government. The melody of this song is small to medium range, ascending contour, and the movement is stepwise. The rhythm/meter is triple simple. The harmony is in minor key. The texture begins as homophony with parts of homorhythm when they start chanting together. The timbre is created through vocals, drums, and guitar. The tempo starts out slower in the song and begins to go faster as the song progresses; the dynamics are medium to loud forte; the style begins softly and then builds into loud anger and chanting.5b.The Mariachi is one of Mexico’s most representative music groups. Mariachi began in the nineteenth century in the Mexican state of Jalisco in the town of Cocula. Mariachi was the distinctive version of the Spanish theatrical orchestra of violins, harp and guitars which developed in and around Jalisco. Some of the most famous songs played by Mariachi include the “La Bamba”, “Mexico lindo y querido”, and “El Rey”. “Mexico lindo y querido” is considered an anthem for many. It was written by Chucho Monge in 1921 to pay respects of the land of Mexico. Through this song expression of feelings in songs became popular in Mexican anthems.6.Today, Mexican music has been greatly influenced Rap, Pop, Reggae, and Punk. Many Mexican’s especially the younger generations like to listen to pop and Indie music. American songs are very popular in Mexico. Artists like Katy Perry and Taylor Swift are popular. Artist Selena Quintanilla-Perez better known as Selena released in 1992 the album Entre a Mi Mundo which peaked at number 1 on the US Billboard chart for 19 nonconsecutive weeks. In 1993 it won best Mexican/American album at the Grammy Awards becoming the first Mexican-American artist to do so. The most popular genres Latino culture has had on United States music is Rap and Pop. Artist like Justin Bieber, Major Lazer, Drake, and Jennifer Lopez have infused Latin styles in there music. Many other Mexican-American artists such as Demi Lavato, Carlos Santana, and Kid Kudi have made a stamp on United States music by making number one hits, selling out concerts, and making many other achievements in the United States music industry. In conclusion, the United states has been influenced by many different cultures and countries. Overall, I feel as though Mexican culture has had a wide impact on American music throughout the decades. Although the two countries are very different both have made a big impact on one another and are two countries that have a lot of good and bad history together, however they continue to work together even when it comes to music.7. Bibliography1. BIBLIOGRAPHY Amadeo, K. (2017, Janurary 27). Mexico's Economy. Retrieved from The Balance: . (2017). Mexican drug war facts. Retrieved from CNN: , D. E. (2014). Law enforcement in Mexico. Retrieved from Nalca: , D. (2014, June). Mexico's cost on fighting drug cartel. Retrieved from Forbes: , J. A. (2012, October). Drug cartel has left a srtong impact. Retrieved from Dailycal: , D. (2016, October). Carnage and Corruption. Retrieved from Reuters: , K. (2016, September). Nieto Mexico's least popular president. Retrieved from LA Times: Americans. (2003-2014). Retrieved from PBS: , D. D. (2011, January). Drug trafficking, violence and Mexico's future. Retrieved from Knowledge Wharton: . (2017, January). Mexico News Daily. Retrieved from , P. (2015, May 5). World economic forum. Retrieved from , G. R. (2017, January 13). Retrieved from Britannica: ................
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