Nosotros Somos Dios (2/20/2018)

Last year, I read a play by Mexican author Wilberto Canton entitled Nosotros Somos Dios.  This play focused on a family politically split during the early 1900s in Mexico.  The father, Don Justo, was a Huertista, meaning he supported conservative ideas.  The son, Carlos, was a Madersita, meaning he supported Francisco Madero's revolution.  As the play progressed, this father son relationship came to symbolize the struggle between conservatives and liberals in early 20th century Mexico.  Conservatives used the ley fuga to silence and murder anyone who opposed their power, including Carlos's close friends.  As power switched from Huerta to a more liberal Carranza, political views almost broke the Alvarez family apart.  In the end, Canton shows how both sides were to blame, and that putting political beliefs ahead of relationships and family is toxic to the nation.  

The lecture this week reminded me of Nosotros Somos Dios.  As Porfirio  Diaz created his conservative regime, Mexico began to split based on age.  The older citizens viewed Diaz as a war hero in the Battle of Puebla and a strong figure who brought their country stability and economic prosperity.  Mexico's younger generations, however, viewed Diaz quite differently.  To them, he is a tyrant, and he only cares about the rich few and being conciliatory with foreign countries.  Mexico's political divide manifested into a generational divide, as exemplified in Nosotros Somos Dios.  

At the end of the play, Don Justo sacrificed himself to protect his family, and ensure the freedom of his unborn granddaughter, who symbolizes a new Mexico.  Just as it occurred in the play, the conservatives, Huertistas, and Diaz supporters will eventually lose and leadership will be restored to the liberals.  Just as the older generation will be replaced by the younger generation, the old ideas will be replaced with new ideas, and Mexico will move forwards as a nation.

-J