A parade of absolute certainties in the midst of the national bustle
Ah, the glorious November 20th. A date to commemorate, to see little soldiers and horses parade, and above all, for President Claudia Sheinbaum Pardo to take advantage of the microphone and the platform to release a litany of revealed truths that, without a doubt, left more than one scratching their heads. From the Plaza de la Constitución, with the aura of the revolutionary heroes in the background, the president enlightened us with such an extensive list of people who “are wrong” that one almost expected a PowerPoint presentation or, at least, a rhyming sheet. Because, let’s be honest, who doesn’t love a good speech that tells you exactly where you’re wrong, why you’re wrong, and, in the process, reminds you that the person telling you is right?
With the solemnity that only an anniversary of the Revolution can grant, Sheinbaum declared, with the forcefulness of someone who has just discovered the philosopher’s stone, that the Fourth Transformation is stronger than morning coffee. The magic recipe? A pinch of honesty, a kilo of results, and—the secret ingredient—love for the people. Of course, all seasoned with the affirmation that the people have said “never again” to racism, classism and discrimination. One can almost see the entire nation embracing in unison, as Mexico advances along the path of honesty, peace, democracy and justice. A path, by the way, so straight and clear that it makes you envious.
The catalog of the wrong ones: a masterpiece of rhetoric
And then came the good part: the enumeration of modern sinners. It was a true oratory tour de force. “He who calls for violence is wrong; he who encourages hatred is wrong; he who believes that force replaces justice is wrong…” The list continued, implacable, ranging from those who call for foreign intervention (a classic in the manual of the desperate opponent) to those who think that women are weak (ha!), passing through those who believe that the Transformation sleeps (spoiler: no, it only takes a strategic nap) and the who dare to think that the people are stupid. Wow, with so many wrong people, it’s a miracle the country is still functioning. One wonders if at any point the president breathed during this monologue, or if she has lungs of steel forged in dialectical battles.
But it’s not all finger pointing. There was also space for political poetry. “When we walk together with the principles that have guided us, nothing stops us,” he proclaimed. A phrase so inspiring that it almost, almost makes you forget the traffic of Mexico City. He stated that today power is used to serve and not to subdue, an idea so noble that it sounds like the motto of a comic book superhero. And he finished with the jewel in the crown: “in Mexico no one is silenced anymore, no one is persecuted for thinking differently”. A statement so forceful that it will undoubtedly make journalists and opponents who complain otherwise wonder if they live in the same country. How nice it is to think that we have reached a state of democratic grace where all voices resonate in perfect harmony, right?
Couldn’t miss, of course, the flash story class. With the elegance of a sledgehammer, Sheinbaum compared his current critics to the Porfiriato, that idyllic period of exploitation, social racism and the harassed press. And, oh, surprise!, it also reminded us of the “36 years of regressions, poverty, inequality, corruption and privileges” of the neoliberal period. Because, clearly, to understand the present you have to paint the past with the thickest brush possible and in a single color: absolute black. It’s a foolproof strategy: if your present is bright, make sure the contrast with yesterday is blinding.
Finally, he left us with the pearl that the Fourth Transformation is peaceful, unlike its armed predecessors. Thank goodness, because after listening to the speech, two things become clear to one: the first, that according to the official narrative, Mexico will not walk backwards again. The second, that with so much confidence and so little self-criticism, gives the impression that, in effect, there is no going back… for this particular style of communication. A true exhibition of oratory in which, ironically, the only sound that was not heard was that of “perhaps we are wrong about something too.”
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