What was Moctezuma thinking? He knew Cortés was coming. But when the Conquistadores finally arrived he greeted them at the gate. Los espanoles wound up living in his palace for several months. Moctezuma was host at the beginning, and captive towards the end of their stay. They finally wore out their welcome with the Aztecs , though, who stoned Moctezuma to death and chased los espanoles out of Tenōchtitlan on La Noche Triste.
It’s easy to look back on the fools of history and laugh. But what about us? What have we let into our house that’s come to take us captive? I saw an article on los gorditos that said nearly three times as many people in the U.S. are now fat, 34%, as were thirty years ago. The article (in Science) went on to link obesity to all sorts of health problems: coronary heart disease, type 2 diabetes, stroke, nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, polycystic ovary syndrome, asthma, some cancers, and even Alzheimer's disease. Big Mac came into these people’s lives along with his buddies, Quarter Pounder, Whataburger, and Super Size. A rock hit Moctezuma on the head. A stroke will hit some of these folks on the head. Same outcome for the subject, either way. Same outcome for the winners, too. Corporations like McDonalds are doing fine, thank you. Now it looks like Obama’s henchmen are fixing to rig health care. As if it weren’t already rigged enough.
Los Conquistadores got the loot in Cortés’ day. What should we call the ones getting the loot today, Corporations? Naw, that’s too facile. How about “rich” ? Por lo menos, es verdad. We’re being farmed like a bunch of fat turkeys and it’s almost Thanksgiving. First it was the eggs on the way up, stock market boom, housing boom – a handsome Christmas bonus for the bankers, a $5,000 bottle of wine dinner to celebrate, a handsome new yacht next to the waterfront mansion. Now it’s feathers on the way down – bailouts, guarantees, troubled asset relief. Next will come the meat. That’s when the traditional turkey dinner really starts.
Será la noche triste for those who survive. That would be the conquistadors, of course – those ones who are now taking our money, jobs, and pensions. ¿Qué debiéramos llamar ellos? |
