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Bicentennial: "More quality than quantity"
Milenio - By Jesús Alejo - Translation by Eduardo Rincón Gallardo

The celebrations of the Bicentennial of our Independence and the Centennial of our Revolution constitute a phase of a historic insight that could well contribute to a national reconciliation. So said president Felipe Calderón last November 20, during the presentation of the program of activities for the year 2010.

A general objective that needs to be changed as the historic celebration must be managed away from the political debate, as said by journalist-writer Héctor Aguilar Camín during his meeting with Rafael Tovar y de Teresa, general coordinator for the festivities and Milenio newspaper journalists.

“The president is speaking of a political problem, the opposition and a party that does not recognize him; that is a problem that may or may not be resolved (but) it cannot be the result of a program that has to be dealt with outside the political arena, in search of our national pride” said Aguilar Camín.

Carlos Marín, editorial director general of MILENIO group, emphasized the importance of organizing social activities, as “it is not about organizing a Kermesse, because with a dance, the party is solved; it is about organizing activities that reflect in the social environment”.
 
During the interchange of opinions, Rafael Tovar y de Teresa offered a panorama of the theme axes and the activities leading the festivities of 2010, paying special attention to four conceptual lines: Memory, Diversity, Creations and Towards the Future; and five theme units: Education, Science and technology, Health, Biodiversity Sustainability and Culture, which will sustain the actions of the various federal government entities.

Source: VivirMexico photo by: redKris

The Bicentennial Park of Azcapotzalco, the Ecological Park of Texcoco, a wide editorial program, the restoration of 27 century-old theaters, dialogues, the digitalization and broadcast of materials for the knowledge of history, shows, contests and popular celebrations are part of the vast program of activities for 2010.

This is the first phase of the celebration programming, then the governments of the different states will integrate into the working programs. Five states have already formed their own commissions “though we expect all states to join”.

“I will have to go to every place and I hope to be able to persuade all into operating more by a quality criteria than a quantity one; let’s not try to satisfy 200 thousand needs for which there will be no resources nor time; let’s concentrate on things that really commemorate and serve the State”.
 
In the meeting, Aguilar Camín called on the need to show the world a modern country, as placing commemorative plates throughout the country transmitting an “absolutely traditional message, may be a positive step; (while) digitalizing the heritage held in the National General Archives and making it available to any Mexican witha computer, a message of modernity is sent”.

From his perspective, it is far more important to boost the national pride from intangible elements, such as “our National Anthem, our flag, our national soccer team and even the local pride for Tenango del Valle, Casas Grandes, Chetumal: the “matriotic” pride as said by Luis González”, where the participation of the media is essential.

Within this subject, the writer called on the need to rescue the  archives of Mexican themes that are in other countries, by far more important than those in Mexico in respect to its Independence and Revolution.

Among the outstanding activities are the construction of a new site for the National General Archives – as proposed in the meeting – being the depository of the nation’s memory, it could well become the main monument commemorating the Bicentennial.

The refurbishing of the National Museum of Anthropology and the Palace of Fine Arts are among the objectives as well as the opening of ten new achaeological zones in the country’s north and center.

During the meeting Tovar y de Teresa emphasized that the program has not been totally defined, there are possibilities of integrating new proposals into the commission’s work. A work focused on reflecting on our past and an analysis of a future for Mexico.

Source: www.presidencia.gob.mx/

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