Dr. Mario Melgar-Adalid

SAN ANTONIO, Aug. 13 - A global pollster conducted a survey to identify the countries with the happiest population.

Mexico was one of the countries whose inhabitants show traits that make them one of the people who enjoy life the most.

Recent times have been difficult. The road to a complete and full development has been surrounded by difficulties. The most conspicuous difficulties are the lack of safety caused by crime, social inequality, corruption, poverty, unemployment and absence of opportunities for young people.

These structural problems were compounded by the economic crisis from abroad, particularly the recession in the United States of America and the health crisis of 2009, with the AH1N1 influenza epidemic. The damages and losses caused by this year’s meteorological phenomena have left thousands of families homeless.

With this heavy burden, Mexico prepares to celebrate two hundred years of independence and a hundred years of the beginning of the Mexican Revolution. Some pessimists have doubts about the reasons for celebrating. The reasons are many and just by reviewing the country's daily life and the way it faces adversity, it is enough to realize that there are plenty of reasons to celebrate.

Mexico has gone a long way to build a country with a large international personality, whose political system, though imperfect, bet on democracy as a means of resolving disagreements and inherent rivalries of a society that is lively, pluralistic, multiethnic, open and free. It is important that the country celebrates two hundred years of independence and a hundred of its revolution. 

Nevertheless, it is more important for the political, social, cultural and economic leaders to reflect on what has been achieved, which is plentiful and clear, and in particular, to reflect on what should be the country’s trajectory for the following years to come.

Mexicans have reached the age of majority, and it is time to continue as one of the happiest people in the world, but also to make a new plan to shape a better future for Mexico and Mexicans.

Dr. Mario Melgar-Adalid is a member of Mexico’s National System of Researchers (SNI). He is a Law researcher at UNAM’s Institute of Juridical Research and currently an Of Counsel at Cacheaux, Cavazos & Newton, L.L.P. in San Antonio. He writes a regular column for CCN's monthly Mexico Report, which also appears in the Guardian. To view all previous versions of the CCN Mexico Report, go to: http://www.ccn-law.com/

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