Freedom of Expression in Mexico or Decapitation
By Jayme Soulati
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Johnny Cash, When the Man Comes Around
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Foreword by Stan Faryna
There are three things that make life unquestioningly interesting, memorable, and awesome: the Beautiful, the Good, and the True. Our experiences of these three things may differ, but when a person or community feels these things to be under threat, our sympathy reaches across borders, cultures, and distance – so long as we still heave hearts. Some of us are even willing to put ourselves at risk in order to speak out. To be sure, there is a power in words spoken from the heart.
Maria Elizabeth Macias spoke out against evil. And she was killed and beheaded for speaking directly to evil. But her voice continues to ring with hope – long after her death. Murder will not silence truth, goodness, or beauty. Nor do gulags, concentration camps, or prisons silence them.
Jayme Soulati and thousands of others carry Maria’s voice in their hearts and they share her story with others. Maria’s voice grows more powerful. It has become a cry to heaven and a call to action. I hope that you too will carry Maria’s voice in your heart and join us in beseeching heaven for justice to come rolling down like thunder. Everywhere. For all.
Thank you, Jayme.
Stan Faryna
Bucharest, Romania
26 October 2011
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Foreword by Jayme Soulati
My friend Stan Faryna invited this repeat blog post to journey from the States to Romania in order to spread the word about terrorism and drug cartels that wreak havoc on innocent citizens. Mexico is suffering from an invasion and rampant disrespect for life by a drug cartel. It is inflicting horror on families and children; it is killing those who dare to speak out via the written word in opposition. Thank you, Stan, for this offer to share this story I find so repulsive and sad. My heart breaks for our southern neighbors struggling to keep their families safe. My post originally appeared at http://soulati.com/blog on Oct. 4, 2011.
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Freedom of Expression in Mexico or Decapitation
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At the risk of a beheading, and this is no joke, I’m sticking my neck out (that is a joke) to decry the horrific and terroristic behavior of a drug cartel that uses Z in Mexico. I won’t use its name to be somewhat cautious on this side of the border.
A woman blogger/journalist was decapitated because she blogged for safety on the streets of Mexico. She decried the power of the drug lords over innocent women, children, men, and families. She reported on the daily narcotics wars in the country and began to research info about the “Z” cartel. She dared to lash out via a blog in the name of freedom of expression that apparently is disregarded in our Central American neighbor. Because of fear, reprisal against self and family, money, safety.
While this true story may be gruesome to you, it’s not the first breach of freedom of expression the world has seen. We’ve watched the streets of Iran, Egypt, Libya, Syria, Iraq, and other countries explode in the name of freedom. Some were successful in their quest; others were not.
Americans have the freedom to express malcontent to the highest echelons of government without recourse (except perhaps a wire tap or creation of an FBI case folder). We picket, we lobby, we rant and rave in op-eds, and we blog – freely.
In honor of this woman, Maria Elizabeth Macias — “The Girl From Laredo,” whose severed head was placed next to her desktop, mouse and keyboard, I encourage your blog post speaking out against the tyrannical drug cartels in Mexico who are killing innocent victims doing what Americans’ inalienable right allows on a daily basis.
She is not the first to die under this rash of violence. Two others were hanged from a bridge with notes listing three websites. Six other journalists have already been killed this year.
In spite of being spooked, bloggers and Twitter accounts forge ahead:
>> Borderland Beat Blog tweets @OVEMEX
>> Follow #MtyFollow for news of cartel activity in Monterrey, Mexico.
>> Follow #AcaFollow for news of cartel activity in Acapulco
>> Follow #LaredoGirl to remain abreast of cartel activity in the name of Senora Macias
>> Follow #NenaDLaredo for rolling stream on news about the cartel ongoing after Ms. Macias’s passing
I applaud those who carry on against violence; I cry for those the world over who cannot hope to live in peace but always fear losing a loved one.
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About Jayme Soulati
Jayme Soulati serves up public relations and social media blended with marketing strategy and years of insight and experience. She is a problem-solver, a skilled counselor, and a creative communicator.
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Recently on Jayme Soulati’s blog: Six Ways to Challenge Best Practice
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The unofficial blog of Stan Faryna 
….and I’m left wondering what I was so wrapped up in this morning. You know what I mean? I would hate to be in the position (or country) to have to find out if I was strong enough to fight for my voice. So much that I take for granted. Is there an answer or a solution to end the bloodshed and terror? Is there a way around martyrdom? Someday it will end, but not in the way most think. I believe we’ll fight for it, sometimes by not participating or encouraging the evil that is the driving force behind it, but more likely by standing for right one at a time when the opportunity arises in our personal lives. The light will chase and smother the darkness. But I think that that is a ways away.
Thank you Jayme for your passion!
Betsy
Yes, it is very serious and even more so when it can become a life or death matter. Very tragic indeed and hopefully it is something that can be controlled and eliminated.
Somebody has to speak out and maybe if enough do it will bring the attention it deserves.
First we MUST legalize drugs. As long as they are illegal we will have murder and corruption. The US Government is just as responsible as the murderers. I want an inner city youth to feel getting an education and a job is the only way to survive vs dealing drugs.
Why aren’t they legal? Because the Police, Judges, Military, Jails, Court Employees etc know if drugs are legal and crime drops they will lose jobs so they spend millions ensuring they stay illegal. When someone like that goes to church or temple or mosque it makes me very angry because they are selfish evil people.
This has to stop. We have 15,000 murders in the US every year. Over 160,000 since 9/11 many gang and drug related. When people are worried about terrorists I laugh at them. I used to write to the LA Times for every gang murder why it is not a terrorist act? Where is the Department of Homeland Security? Why does no one care?
The war on drugs has been more damaging to the US population and World than the drugs themselves by a factor of a gazillion. People should be working not in jail for drugs. Paying taxes vs having their lives taken away because most of the drug offenders in jail are poor. If you are rich you get off. Poor you go to jail.
So when the US thumps the Bible over this stuff if Jesus really is God he is sending them all to hell because he wouldn’t choose the world to be this way.
Alien over and Out
Betsy, you’re so right. Stories like this make what we’re so wrapped up in pale in comparison. The heroes and heroines amongst us must be remembered in their plight to protect what’s sacred — family and life itself.
Thank you for commenting here, and thank you, Stan, for the invite to repeat this story.
Great seeing you in Romania, King Bill! Thank you! I don’t have an answer; the little bit I do to raise the issue makes me feel guilty I’m not doing more.
How can we help, really? An entire country cowering against a regime that has no fear, no concern or care for humanity.
Is government so weak it will remain the loser in this battle? My heart to the people of Mexico…
I wished to add everyone in the US does drugs. If not illegal ones they abuse prescription ones. The fact we discriminate against the poor who use them is horrible. The co-founder of Broadcom Henry T Nicholas used to have exstacy parties during his rich boy meltdown days. He never went to jail for it. It is glamorized for music stars and movie stars. Lindsay Lohan if she was poor and black would be in jail already and no one would know. We all know people who do drugs that we think are good people. Yet we turn a blind eye and elect the wrong people to congress.
My High School friends who became NYC Police Officers turned blind eyes at their friends doing drugs at home on Long Island but enforced the law in NYC. What is wrong with this picture?
Howie, my dearest and only Alien Master. Your depth of knowledge and ability to present sound arguments is always impressive. You raise an amazing point — legalization of marijuana (for starters) has become a circus act in many states (only good for medical reasons).
When you pair drugs to jobs, the entire film rolls and heads nod agreeing with you.
Have you considered running for a seat in government? I think you’re a breath of air most Americans would want to see.
[…] You may access it here, “Murder Will Not Silence Us.” […]
This is a terrifying that people have to live life with the very real fear of violent death hanging over them every day -while murderers walk free with no fear of reprisal. I cannot imagine having to live like this!
I agree with sky pulse on this one, something must be done to take the power away from these cartels, because what we’re doing now obviously isn’t working worth a damn.
[…] [toread] Murder will not silence us. A guest post by @Soulati. « The unofficial blog of Stan F… – […]
John, darn, my iPad fritzed up on me the other night when trying to comment back and then I had a senior moment about coming to the blog from the desktop…sorry it took me too long to acknowledge you!
When I was a kid, I lived in Iran (as I’m half-Persian). While there, I knew even at a young age, to conduct myself with decorum as the Shah’s secret police, the Savak, were always watching my dad. That fear, even as a youngster, has stuck with me (not to make me paranoid to the extent of inaction, but to know that in the back of my mind someone is watching our family).
To live in a country knowing that any day my child could be kidnapped and held for ransom (b/c that is what’s happening in Mexico all the time) would probably give me heart failure.
Stan, I’m so amazed at the extent of the RTs of this post via @Triberr…they are still coming in. Apparently, it became a “post of choice” across the tribes and everyone got access to it.
So, thank you, again, for the suggestion that this be republished.
I don’t know what a “post of choice” is, but that’s awesome we got extra reach on this important message!
[…] Murder will not silence us. A guest post by @Soulati. […]
[…] Murder will not silence us. A guest post by @Soulati. […]