Central/South American History/Expert Profile

Expertise

I am knowledgable about Mexican history, especially the Mexican-American, and Revolutionary wars. I am also fluent in Spanish. Furthermore, I have primary knowledge about the Mexican Revolution of 1910 due to my grandfather participating in it. I am also a Mexican-American War reenactor. can ONLY answer q`s about Mexican history.

Experience in the area

Have traveled extensively in Mexico, gone to all the major archaeological sites, museums, and some out-of-the-way places only locals go to. I am also a bilingual school teacher and I help translate official and technical type documents.

What do you like about this subject?

Mexico has a very rich history. Many US customs, language, events, happenings can be traced to Mexico. I especially like 19th century Mexican history, especially as it relates to 19th century U.S. history.

What do you still hope to achieve/learn in this field?

To figure out the dual personality of the Mexican people/culture as it relates to what is public and private manners, ediquette, and the effect of this dual manner of acting to the cultural history of Mexico.

Something interesting about this subject that others may not know:

There were units of the Mexican Army in the Mexican-American War which were made up entirely of American deserters, mostly Cathoilics who saw the US as oppressing a Catholic country and thus defended it as a matter of defending the faith. Most were killed in action, captured and hanged, or branded on the face with a "D" for deserter all under the orders of General Winfield Scott.

Something controversial or provocative about this subject

Many historians agree that the Mexican-American War of 1846-48 was a great, one-sided act of aggression from a powerful country to a pretty much defenseless country. Also, the Mexican Revolution of 1910, which still goes on today, was a revolution by mainly thieves, bandits, and murderers that merely took advantage of lack of civility and didn't do Mexico any good as a whole.