CHAPTER 3

Was Veracruz the first civilized city in the American Continent? Why most Spaniard conquerors married Indian women? Why are Mexicans so empathetic?

CONQUERORS SUBCULTURE

(Background/ Involvement in Mexican Culture/ Future)

CONQUERORS SUBCULTURE’S BACKGROUND.

   History mentions that La Villa Rica de la Vera Cruz was the first city in America, emphasizing that such marvel was possible thanks to the Conquest.

   No doubt a new history began there, although if you pay attention, saying it that way, implies a denial of the previous existence of larger urban centers, which had police, judges, chambers of commerce, schools, water reservoirs, drainage, public places, and markets.

   The denial of Natives’ achievements became a characteristic of the Conquerors subculture.

   Additionally, the invaders imposed many rules to secure their domain.

   Two are next:

No one should resist our will, because that is against the natural order.

We know the truth and we don’t have to explain it.

   Religion was very influential in modeling Mexican culture.

   Catholic Church decided Native's believes, food, and medicines, were demonic doings; to bath naked was lust; and women who used to dress only waist down, were sinners.

   Natives who collaborated with the Spaniards to destroy the Aztec empire, joined the Conquerors subculture.

   They found useful to show contempt for the other Natives, taught their children to deny their past, and pretended to know the truth.

   Collaborators were not Mexicans. They were Otomies, Purepechas, Zapotecas, Totonacas, etc., who had many reasons to hate Mexicans. Some became distinguished Citizens of the New Spain. As Conín, an Otomi chieftain who when baptized as Christian, took the name of Fernando de Tapia.

   Conín participated in the foundation of Queretaro City, and nowadays there are two statues in his honor in that city, one where he appears dressed as Spanish, and another where uses Native garments.

   The Conquerors subculture have played an important role in Mexico’s history.

   As a group, ruled during the colonial period and the few years of Iturbide’s empire.

   As an ideology it is present in all Mexicans’ subconscious, shows with intensity in Politicians subculture, and profiles the attitudes of Mexican "high society".

   This subculture gave supremacy to Spain born and “Criollos” (Mexico born Spaniards); then to “Mestizos” (half bloods), who became majority during the early Colonial Period.

   Mestizos are now more than 90% of Mexico’s population.

   That is why we will look further into this group evolution.

   First thing is to get rid of the idea that, most half-bloods were born because the Indian mother was rape by the Spanish father. That was not the case, and not because of the Christian principles the conquerors boasted to follow.

   Spaniards had to be cautious not to conflict with local values when still fighting Native rebels. They were always facing a Native enemy, and had a Native allied looking over their shoulders. So it was not advisable to go around raping women, because to do that, they had to dismount, take off the armor, and most likely to close eyes once in a while.

   They better married, and when convenient rejected their wives or got a second one.

   Another very important fact influencing the Conquerors subculture, and hence all Mexican Culture, was that Native mothers taught the moral values of the Forefathers' Precepts to their children.

   Pure Spanish blood children received those teachings from their Indian nannies.

   That is why nowadays Mexicans are so polite, empathic, share food and shelter, and are so clean.

   All this comes natural to them, but to the rest of the world, where is notorious that Mexicans’ empathy is extraordinary, and that they bathe with a surprising frequency.

   Some may find it difficult to accept that Native women were so educated. Next questions are for them to answer. Why most Spanish conquerors took Native women as lawful wives? What could force them to tight bonds with a filthy and ignorant woman? Why Spanish women chose Native women to take care of their children?

   The answer is only one.

   Native women had not only a pleasant presence, they were also clean, respectful, elegant, had good manners, and were hard workers.

   The conclusion for this section is: Conquerors subculture backgrounds are, a settlers’ greedy credo, a medieval Church’s twisted Christianity, and the Native wisdom of the Forefathers’ Precepts.

INVOLVEMENT OF CONQUERORS’ SUBCULTURE IN MEXICAN CULTURE.

   Spain born, Criollos, and Mestizos, managed to rule together during three hundred years, in spite of their differentiated privileges.

   When Napoleon invaded Spain, he crowned his brother Joseph Bonaparte as king, it was then when some members of the settlers’ elite, conspired to free New Spain from Napoleon. That rebellion started Mexico’s Independence War.

   Many Native died, so did many Spaniards, Criollos and Mestizos, although most had not a precise idea of what they were fighting for.

   Agustin de Iturbide (a pure-blood) and Juan de O'donojú (last viceroy), preceded the festivities to celebrate Mexico's independence. At the time, most Mestizos and Natives didn’t feel something have change.

   Mexico became a free country, and after a brief period, Iturbide was overthrown, Spanish nationals exiled, and Criollos expelled from government. That was the end of this subculture as a group.

   The credo and values of conquerors stayed as part of Mestizos’ culture.  

   It is unfortunate, yet true, that at the dawn of the twenty first century, there are in Mexico people conducting themselves like medieval conquerors.

   They, although nasty, do not represent a social risk, since are not organized in any way that might represent a threat.

FUTURE OF CONQUERORS SUBCULTURE.

   The conquerors subculture is no longer a group. It is a syndrome of rejection to what is local or Native, and appreciation for everything coming from other nations.

   Thinking like that, makes Mexicans an easy target for most marketing tactics, that tell them what to buy, eat, drink, desire, and have as purpose of life.

   Other sick attitude caused by the presence of the Conquerors syndrome in Mexican’s psyche, is the tremendous frustration that invades them, when cannot impose their ideas to whom they consider members of their inner circle.

   It would good for Mexicans most affected with the “conqueror syndrome” besides admiring what other countries produce, to start behaving respectful of others and law, as do the people of the countries they admire.

   It is interesting to see that this Mexicans, when visiting the countries of their dreams, change their manners and behave as the inhabitants.

   The remainders of the Conquerors subculture are likely to fade with the appreciation of Native roots. This places the issue in a vicious circle, because the ones infected with the "Conqueror syndrome" are not in the mood to appreciate their Native roots.