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Chapter Thirty-One
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After some more flipping, he started fiddling with the folded sheet of paper being used as a bookmark. "I'm not sure that there's a good, concise place to begin, and the problem may get worse with Four Arguments for the Elimination of Television."
"The author could only think of four?" Ellamae asked.
Jaben idly opened the sheet of paper, and then his eyes widened. "This'll do nicely. It must have been left as a bookmark by the previous patron to check the book out. It's a seminar announcement:
"The Middle School PTA is sponsoring a free parent education seminar -- Why are we slowing down?"
"We're being pulled over," Thaddeus said.
Jaben reached into his wallet and pulled out 70 pesos, handing them forward to the front.
They stopped, and Thaddeus unrolled the window. "Buenos dias, señor." He held out the money; the officer took it, said "Gracias," and walked back.
Jaben put his foot on the petal and rolled up the window at the same time.
"It's really cool that in Mexico you can pay a speeding ticket on the spot without having to go into an office. That would have cost us so much time," said Sarah.
"Why are you smiling, Jaben?" Sarah asked, after a moment had passed.
"That wasn't exactly paying a ticket, Sarah."
"Well what was it then."
"A little bit of grease on his palm."
"You bribed a police officer?" Sarah asked, incredulous.
"Yes, Sarah. It's not the same as in America." Jaben said, folding the paper, sticking it in the book, and closing the book.
"I can't believe you did that!" Sarah said. "Does breaking the law only count in the United States, not in Mexico? There is no authority except from God, and Romans 13 and all."
"Sarah, do you know why the cop pulled us over?"
"Because Thad thinks that he's in Malaysia."
"Uh, ok. You have a point there. But do you know why else he pulled us over?"
"Yes, he was going to write a ticket."
"No, the cop had no intention whatsoever of writing a ticket."
Sarah closed her eyes in concentration for a minute. "Are you saying he pulled us over in the hope of receiving a bribe?"
"No, I'm saying he pulled us over in the certainty of receiving a bribe."
"Well, if a corrupt cop pulls us over, why don't we go in and report him?"
"Sarah, do you know what would happen if we did that?"
"Yes, they'd put him under discipline."
"Not exactly."
"Ok, I give up. What would happen?"
"We'd be laughed out of court," Jaben said.
Sarah opened her mouth, then closed it.
"Police officers are paid much too little, like the majority of other Mexicans, and it's an accepted part of the culture. In our country, bribes are associated with corruption and subversion of justice, but in Mexico they do not have that meaning. It's just an informal income distribution system with very little overhead. The outrage you are experiencing is culture shock."
"So there's nothing wrong with Mexico? All there is is difference? You can critique American culture, but Mexican culture is off limits?"
"No; there are a great many things wrong with Mexican culture, some of which make me sick. It's a macho culture, but women hold all the power --"
"Go, women!" Sarah cheered. Jaben decided not to recite Ambrose Bierce's definition of 'queen', and continued, "--and it's an unhealthy, manipulative power that they hold. If you were my wife, you might get me drunk and steal money from my wallet. The phenomenon exists in the United States; it's just not so stark. It's why there were all those bumper stickers saying, 'Impeach President Clinton and her husband.' In many families, the husband's off doing his own thing, drinking with his buddies, and the wife is meeting her emotional needs with her children, especially her oldest son. It's not incestuous, but it's very unhealthy. In contradistinction to our own culture's exaggeration of 'leave and cleave', a man will choose his mother and sister over his wife and children. They have the opposite error. Mexican culture emphasizes family and community, but certain aspects of familial community are very unhealthy. Their culture is as much marked by the Fall as our own."
Sarah sat in thought, and said, "Why do you condemn these things, but condone bribing an officer?"
Jaben said, "Later, I'd like to talk with you about implications of fundamental beauty. But for now, just trust me on this."
"Ok," Sarah said slowly. "I'll trust you."
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Chapter Thirty-One
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