Caudillos Versus the Nation State and The Slaughterhouse

     

     When reading the second chapter of "Latin America since Independence", something that I found interesting was the difference of opinion between the North and South in terms of the stealing of Santa Anna's wooden leg. The North perceived it to be "a prize, won through American ingenuity" (Page 47) as well as a symbol to show North America as a superior nation as well as having the ability to control itself. The people of Mexico have a very different view of this however, as they portray it to be a symbol of the misfortunes their country, as well as the cruelty and lack of respect from their neighboring country. Something that I found interesting was the complexity of feeling towards Santa Anna. He obviously must have been well respected due to the fact that he was elected to rule Mexico a stunning eleven times, but he was also a ruler in times when citizens had very little to no individual power.

 

     While I was reading "The Slaughterhouse" I noticed that the most prominent point which was repeatedly brought up was the Catholic churches' influence on the people. From the very beginning of the reading, which begins with Lent, the church orders for the faithful to fast, an to be gluttonous is a characteristic of the sinners. While the church was accepting towards the children and the sick to eat minimal amount of meat, however, the butchers that supplied the meat, who were Federalists as well as Catholics, would avoid the specific groups of people whom went against the churches orders. The author seems quite sarcastic at points, for example: "How strange that there should be stomachs subject to inviolable laws and that the church holds the key to all stomachs!" (Seen on the top-half of page sixty-two) which displays the control the church has over the people, which is repeatedly shown in other instances throughout the text. "A time may come when it will be forbidden to breathe fresh air, take a walk, or even to have a conversation with a friend, without first obtaining permission from the competent authorities" Which is found in the middle of page sixty-two.