Francisco Madero Francisco Madero inherited one of the five greatest fortunes in Mexico, so he and his family had done quite well under Porfirio Díaz’ three decades of dictatorship; and he had everything to lose by leading a revolution. But, lead one he did; and lose his life for it he did, too. Madero was […]
Streets of Mexico – March 2025 Read More »
Aquiles Serdán and His Sister, Carmen Carmen Serdán fired the first shot of the Mexican Revolution. And her brother, Aquiles, would become its first martyr. Their father had co-founded the Mexican Socialist Party, written an incendiary book about land reform, and then disappeared, probably murdered by Porfirio Díaz’ agents. So, both Carmen and Aquiles grew
Streets of Mexico – February 2025 Read More »
He ruined my life. I took a voice lesson with Timothy G. Ruff Welch. At first it thrilled me. Then, it made me very upset. You see, I realized afterward how it had affected so much more than my ability to sing. But it had come, in at least one painfully profound respect, too late.
José Vasconcelos He was known as the “cultural caudillo” (great cultural leader) of the Mexican Revolution and the “Apostle of Education.” A lawyer, philosopher, educator, and politician, he was a charismatic visionary; and, as with most Mexican leaders, he was very controversial. José Vasconcelos supported the liberals in the Mexican Revolution, lived in exile twice,
Streets of Mexico – January 2025 Read More »
Revolución It is difficult to comprehend the slaughter involved in the Mexican Revolution. A comparison to the United States’ Civil War may help. More soldiers died in the four-year “War Between the States” than in all the other nation’s wars (before or since) combined: approximately 600,000 men out of a total population of 181 million at
Streets of Mexico – December 2024 Read More »
Nicolás Bravo Mercy determined Nicolás Bravo’s fate—mercy he gave, mercy he withheld, mercy he received, and mercy he was finally denied. During the Mexican War for Independence, Bravo fought under Galeana and Morelos. The Spanish viceroy captured his father and promised to release him if Bravo would accept amnesty and cease fighting. Justifiably skeptical of
Streets of Mexico – November 2024 Read More »
Hernán Cortés Cortés was intelligent, courageous, ambitious, insubordinate, greedy, ruthless, and an inspiring leader—the quintessential conquistador. He established the Spanish empire (New Spain) in Mexico. In 1511, Cortés joined the conquest of Cuba, and impressed the island’s first Governor, Diego Velázquez, who chose him for his secretary, appointed him mayor of Santiago (Cuba’s capital), and
Streets of Mexico – October 2024 Read More »
Quetzalcoatl Quetzalcoatl was an enduring, often even preeminent god of all the great pre-Columbian Mexican civilizations, including the Olmecs, Teotihuacán, Mayans, Toltecs, and Aztecs. The amazing pyramid at Cholula (near Puebla), the most massive ever built in the Americas, honored Quetzalcoatl. A plumed snake, Quetzalcoatl was at various times the god of water, wind, air,
Streets of Mexico – September 2024 Read More »
“They called me in for what I thought would be a brainstorming session about an additional musical for Lakeside Little Theatre’s 60th season,” muses Tim Johnson. “And I walked out the newly appointed director of The World Goes ‘Round. I was stupefied. How had this happened?” Just a year before, Tim had been a director
For Tim Johnson, The World Goes ‘Round (very fast!) Read More »
Moctezumas I & II(Also, Montezumas) Moctezuma I went down in oblivion, while his namesake, Moctezuma II, went down in infamy. The former is a terrible shame, the latter a vexing mystery. Moctezuma I transformed the small Aztec city-state of Tenochtitlán into an empire. With his brilliant statesmanship, he created The Triple Alliance with Texcoco (ruled
Streets of Mexico – August 2024 Read More »
