Back and still alive (picture heavy)

[MichaelHarris]

I was a bit saddened when I returned from my trip into the mountains of Mexico, in and and around Nayarit and Jalisco state. One of the first posts I saw when I got back to DU was about someone wanting to buy a gun because of some event they recently experienced, I think someone followed them too close in a car or something. Another post said they wanted a gun because they felt the health care debate was getting dangerous. You may wonder what this has to do with Mexico and the small pueblos in the mountains.

For years our government has given us reasons to fear the "brown people". Drug Wars, Killer Bees, and Swine Flu have all been used. I see posts on DU all of the time about fear, some won't even travel to cities where they can't carry a firearm. I hate fear. Fear is weakness. I've walked the cites and towns all over the world armed only with a camera. When you allow fear to dictate life's terms you miss an entire world. Here's one, no bad water, no drug wars, no swine flu, and no killer bees. The jury is still out on the killer chiggers, I have bites on places I didn't know I had. Enjoy the photos of places you probably won't die in:

[gateley]

1. Beautiful photos, and beautiful message. Thank you. nt

[Texasgal]

10. Must have been nice to visit such a nice

area of Mexico... However there is massive violence going on there now, especially in the border regions.

: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/news/mexico-drug-wars

[MichaelHarris]

23. Thank you

very much

[devilgrrl]

2. Fantastic! Thank you for sharing!

K & R !!!

:thumbsup: :thumbsup:

[MichaelHarris]

24. thank you

[Mojeoux]

3. Beautiful Mexico

Thank You.

[izzybeans]

4. One of the more profound posts I've seen on this website.

Ever. The fear you speak of in the U.S. is imperceptible because its the air we breath. "Fear the other, they want your wallet." You can't visit any country in the world without at least one "do gooder" telling you to "watch your wallet, pick pockets will be after you."

Thank you for sharing.

[MichaelHarris]

25. Thank you

so very much.

[hunter]

5. gorgeous!

[corpseratemedia]

6. beautiful

makes me want to be there..sigh


that young woman is very striking!

[Mira]

7. Exquisite photos and a very necessary and timely message.

I don't think I have seen you in our Photo Forum, would you consider visiting, and bringing some of your wonderful photos with you?

[MichaelHarris]

14. Hi Mira

I will. Lately I've been so busy with school and photo assignments. Here is some of my other stuff: http://www.palousephoto.net/

[Mira]

17. I went to your link and I have been enchanted with the work and the diversity.

I don't know if I'm right that you are not a visitor and participant with the photographers, but please let me invite you in once more. We are, we think, the nicest and most congenial group on DU (:)) and we would love to learn from you and share with you.

[MichaelHarris]

19. Thank you

someone was nice enough to get me a star, I am now able to join the group.

[proteus_lives]

8. It's not about need. It's about choice.

I read your sig line.

Why should people have their choices taken from them?

[midnight]

9. Lovely....

[Toucano]

11. K&R n-t

[asdjrocky]

12. No fear here.

Wonderful photos, my favorite if I must pick one, would be number 7. What cute kids and you can see the way his older sister watches after her brother. That picture is full of love.

[graywarrior]

13. Great photos!

[onehandle]

15. Fear IS weakness. Thank you so much for these photos. nt

[MichaelHarris]

26. Thank you

[Foo Fighter]

16. Beautiful pics.

What part of Mexico? I'd love to do a bike trip down there sometime. It's been on my to-do list for awhile now.

[nadinbrzezinski]

18. Ah the back country that is away from the frente de guerra

that is the war on drugs...

Good for them, and good for you.

(Oh and yes the Mexican press reports the news from Juarez, acapulco et al, as the front lines of...)

[amborin]

28. most

of the country is away from the "front lines" and unaffected

[nadinbrzezinski]

29. I know, which is the way it usually is

in a damn civil war

[amborin]

20. were you in San Sebastian del Oeste?

[MichaelHarris]

22. Yes

for one day. The other towns were Chapalilla and some I didn't even know the name of. Itzlan Del Rio was the biggest one.

[amborin]

27. it's very charming

....stayed three days there, twice, this year and last; the birding is great; and, it's fun to drive around all those towns throughout "old Mexico"

[Danascot]

21. Wonderful photos

You should try Chiapas if you haven't been. We were there in September and loved it; both San Christobal and the countryside. Our visit was very peaceful though there is still some ongoing tension between the Zapatistas and the government.