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 Local Profiles 
From Oklahoma to Mexico to Iraq and Back to Mexico
a profile of English professor and writer Allan Wall
English professor Allan Wall, an American living in Mexico, has been writing articles about various aspects of Mexico and Mexican society for the past decade.
| | Allan believes that he has integrated into Mexican society more than many Americans who reside here. |
Allan Wall, a longtime resident of Mexico, was born in Oklahoma, where he received an MA in English, with concentration in Teaching English as a Second Language, at Oklahoma State University.
Since 1991, Allan has resided in Mexico where he works as an English professor, currently teaching in two universities, at both college and high school levels. Allan believes that he has integrated into Mexican society more than many, maybe most, Americans who reside here.
He has associated with various sectors and socioeconomic levels of Mexican society: with the rich, the poor, the middle class, campesinos, laborers, professionals, Catholics, Protestants, Secularists, etc. He has lived in what many Americans would consider a Mexican slum, he has traveled extensively in Mexico, and he has taught a Bible class (in Spanish) at the church he attends.
In 1996, Allan married Lilia, a Mexican citizen, who is a high school science teacher. Lilia and Allan have two sons, David (7) and Raphael (4), who they are raising to be bilingual. The family keeps busy attending a local Christian Church, where they participate in various activities, and traveling in various parts of Mexico when possible, to see the great variety of tourist attractions the country has to offer.
Wall is a member of the Texas Army National Guard, and drills once a month. In 2004, his unit was called up to go to Iraq, where he spent most of 2005. In Iraq, Allan was stationed at Tallil Air Base, which contains within its security perimeter the ancient city of Ur, home of Abraham. During his tour in Iraq, Allan carried out various assignments, including security missions, working with Iraqi civilians, and serving as a liaison with the Italian Army.
After his 2005 tour of duty in Iraq, Allan returned to Mexico, and resumed writing articles about Mexico. Prominent topics include the contemporary Mexican political scene, history and culture, tourism, and Mexican emigration as viewed from south of the border.
Allan enjoys hearing from readers, his email address is allanephraimwall@yahoo.com and his website is located at AllanWall.net.
Mexico Celebrates Cinco de Mayo
 Allan Wall
Cinco de Mayo is the holiday celebrating the Mexican victory over the French army on May the 5th, 1862, east of Mexico City, where the city of Puebla holds a big annual celebration on the anniversary of the battle.
An Enraged AMLO Says He Is "The Movement"
 Allan Wall
The dispute over the future of PEMEX has entered a new phase. Lopez Obrador claims that he fights the PEMEX reform proposal for the good of the nation, but his egotism and dictatorial methods are counter-productive to his cause.
Will PEMEX be Reformed After All?
 Allan Wall
Mexico's petroleum industry is in a real bind. There may be a lot more oil in Mexico's territorial waters, but its oil monopoly PEMEX (Pétroleos Mexicanos) doesn't have the funds or expertise to exploit it.
Players in Mexico's Upcoming PEMEX Debate
 Allan Wall
The Mexican government is gearing up for a big debate over PEMEX, the Mexican state oil monopoly. Who are the players in this upcoming debate, and what are they likely to do?
Mexican Biodiversity - 6 Species in Peril
 Allan Wall
Home to over 200,000 species, Mexico's collection of flora and fauna makes it the world's 11th most biologically diverse country. But, as everywhere, there are conservation problems in Mexico that put various species in peril of extinction.
Celebrating Easter in Mexico
 Allan Wall
Each spring, the major branches of Christendom memorialize the crucifixion, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Mexico has a variety of traditional Easter customs with a diversity of traditions linked to particular regions and cities.
Mexico’s Ten Billionaires (According to the Forbes List)
 Allan Wall
In Mexico, a country in which about half the population lives under the poverty line, where the per capita income is less than US$7,000.00, Forbes lists ten billionaires. Let’s take a brief look at each.
Must Mexico Be Self-Sufficient in Corn?
 Allan Wall
Mexico is no longer self-sufficient in corn production, and this is seen by many as an outrage. After all, corn was domesticated here and has been cultivated for millennia, and is still a staple food of contemporary Mexican society.
What is PEMEX, and Where is it Going?
 Allan Wall
Mexico's state oil monopoly, PEMEX (Petróleos Mexicanos), is protected from competition in Mexico, where it enjoys a legal monopoly on the exploration, processing and sale of petroleum. Its privileged status in national mythology affords it a certain immunity from criticism.
Democrats Troll for the Dual Citizen Vote — in Mexico
 Allan Wall
American citizenship is a desirable commodity in Mexican society. It’s not that all these would-be “Americans” are yearning to transform themselves or their children from being Mexicans. No, they want the benefits of American citizenship, as an ace in the hole for the future.
Will Mexico 'Smoke Out' its Smokers?
 Allan Wall
On February 21st, the Mexican Senate is scheduled to vote on an anti-tobacco measure which, if it becomes law, would severely restrict public smoking nationwide.
Soccer and Football in the News in Mexico
 Allan Wall
The Mexican national soccer team recently traveled to Houston, Texas. There, in Reliant Stadium, el Tri encountered the U.S. national soccer team in a friendly match officiated by head referee Carlos Batres, of Guatemala. The teams tied 2-2.
Comparing and Contrasting the U.S. and Mexican Constitutions
 Allan Wall
February 5th is Mexican Constitution Day, commemorating the day it was signed - February 5th, 1917. However, nowadays, the official observance is on the first Monday in February, which in 2008 is February 4th.
Mexico's New Interior Minister
 Allan Wall
On January 16th, Francisco Ramirez Acuna stepped down as Secretario de Gobernación and was replaced by Jose Camilo Mourino. In Mexico, the Interior Minister is the president's chief negotiator with Congress, political parties and state governors.
The Tequila Express
 Allan Wall
On a visit to the Guadalajara area, my family and I were able to visit a real Tequila processing plant on a hacienda, where a tourist can see the entire process. It's just one of the many fascinating tourist destinations one can enjoy in Mexico.
Mexico 2007 - The Year in Review
 Allan Wall
The year 2007 A.D. is over, making it an opportune time to look back, review what happened in Mexico and speculate as to what might be in store for the new year. Whatever happens, it can't fail to be interesting, so stay tuned to Banderas News in 2008!
Is Mexico Ready for a Flood of Corn and Beans?
 Allan Wall
January 1st, 2008 is the scheduled date for the abolition of all tariffs on corn, beans, milk and sugar entering Mexico from the US. Many fear that a flood of agricultural imports will drive even more Mexican farmers out of business.
Christmas Time in Mexico
 Allan Wall
It's that time of year again - Christmas in Mexico. Mexican Christmas customs are an eclectic mixture of the old and the new, including elements from Europe, elements developed in Mexico, and, in recent years, elements borrowed from the USA.
Death of "Cannibal Poet" Highlights Crisis in Mexican Prisons
 Allan Wall
On December 11th, Jose Luis Calva Zepeda, the "Cannibal Poet," was found hanged in his cell in a crowded Mexico City prison. Aside from ending a morbid and grisly saga, the Calva case highlights serious problems in the Mexican prison system.
Is Mexico's Carlos Slim Really the World's Richest Man?
 Allan Wall
Mexican mega-magnate Carlos Slim is the owner of Teléfonos de México, the Telmex/Telcel/América Movil telecoms empire, and many other businesses under the umbrella of his Grupo Carso. But is Carlos Slim also the richest man in the world?
Mexico's Flagship University Gets a New Leader
 Allan Wall
On November 20th, 2007, Dr. Jose Narro Robles was inaugurated as the new president of Mexico's Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, the National Autonomous University of Mexico, known by the acronym UNAM.
Will Cloning Change Bullfighting?
 Allan Wall
The bullfight is a famous facet of Mexican culture. Now, with the announcement of the first-known cloning of a fighting bull, the corrida de toros tradition moves into the world of contemporary genetic manipulation.
Mexico's Centennial/Bicentenial Just Three Years Away
 Allan Wall
Just 3 years from now, in 2010, Mexico is slated to commemorate, in the same year, the Centennial of the Revolution and the Bicentennial of the Independence movement - or what became the independence movement.
Politicizing Mexico's Natural Disaster
 Allan Wall
The reconstruction work ahead in Tabasco is enormous, and looks to be expensive. Mexicans in the rest of the country have been generous, sending food and supplies. So, amidst all this Mexican solidarity, politics have been cast aside, right? Well, no, not entirely.
Do Mexicans Celebrate Halloween and the Day of the Dead?
 Allan Wall
Do Mexicans celebrate Halloween? Should they? At this time of year these issues are discussed, raising questions and controversies over Mexican identity, heritage, religion and commerce.
Are Mexican Soldiers Aiding Drug Smugglers on the Border?
 Allan Wall
Among the many problems on the US-Mexico border is that of reported Mexican military incursions onto the US side of the border. These incidents raise disturbing questions about US-Mexican relations and the two nations' wars on the drug cartels.
Madrazo - Mexico's Marathon Man
 Allan Wall
"The Fastest Man of Mexico." That's what Germany's "Berliner Zeitung" newspaper mockingly called Roberto Madrazo, the 55-year old Mexican politician who recently won - and is being disqualified from - a marathon in Berlin, Germany.
The "Queen of the Pacific" and Other Mexican Narco Women
 Allan Wall
When you think of a Mexican drug smuggler, cartel operative or drug baron, what is your mental image? Surely not Sandra Avila Beltran, who resembles a middle class Mexican mother or businesswoman, one you might see any day of the week.
Former President Fox Is Not Going Away
 Allan Wall
Vicente Fox stepped down as president of Mexico ten months ago, but he is not going away. For good or bad, the former president continues to be a frequent subject of the Mexican media.
Mexican Fiscal and Electoral Reforms Move Forward
 Allan Wall
After months of hoopla and horse trading, the Mexican Congress has finally approved reforms in fiscal policy and electoral law. The passage of these reforms demonstrates the necessity of negotiations in the Mexican Congress.
September 16th - Mexican Independence Day
 Allan Wall
Every nation needs symbols, traditions and celebrations, to affirm its identity and pass its traditions to the next generation. That’s why national holidays are important. One of the most popular Mexican patriotic holidays is Independence Day.
A Mexican Miscellany that Goes Beyond the News
 Allan Wall
In a country as large and diverse as Mexico there are all sorts of things other than political wrangling and drug violence for the media to cover, and many stories that run somewhat "under the radar screen" are also of interest to Mexico news watchers.
Maneuvering for State of the Union Address
 Allan Wall
On September 1st, as required by law and custom, the president of Mexico delivers his "Informe Presidencial," the Mexican State of the Union address. Though it hasn't yet been held, this year's informe is already fraught with controversy.
Intransigence and Incompetence at the PRD Circus
 Allan Wall
Is the PRD (Party of the Democratic Revolution) a modern leftist party that is capable of governing Mexico? Judging from its latest party convention, its Congreso Nacional, the answer would be a big fat "No."
"Plan Mexico" - the New "Plan Colombia"?
 Allan Wall
Current negotiations between the U.S. and Mexican governments may lead to some major U.S. aid package for Mexico in its war against the drug cartels. In fact, it may amount to a Mexican version of “Plan Colombia.”
Soriana – A Mexican Success Story
 Allan Wall
The Mexican economy has a good many success stories, and it’s good to point them out and see what we can learn from them. One such example is Soriana, a 100% Mexican-owned retail department store chain that competes head on with Wal-Mart.
Tourist Guides - Let the Buyer Beware?
 Allan Wall
Francisco Madrid, an official with SECTUR, Mexico’s tourist bureaucracy, recently announced that Mexico lacks qualified tourist guides, saying that for every 27,000 tourists there is only one guide who complies with the rules established by SECTUR.
Mexico’s Debate Over Values
 Allan Wall
Disagreement over gay marriage? Arguing over sex education? Fighting over abortion in the court and Congress? Are we talking about the United States? We could be, but nowadays we could also be talking about Mexico.
Human Sacrifice and a New Discovery
 Allan Wall
Mexico's wealth of pre-Hispanic archaeological sites are sometimes discovered by accident. In 1978, workers in Mexico City accidentally discovered the "Templo Mayor" Aztec temple. In 2007, another accidental discovery revealed a gruesome example of child human sacrifice.
Races of Mexico and the Mexican Genome
 Allan Wall
A friend of mine was visiting in Europe, and there encountered a white tourist. Upon finding she was from Mexico, my friend blurted out “But you don’t look like a Mexican!” So what does a Mexican look like?
The Amnesty Defeat and Mexican Politics
 Allan Wall
Last week's defeat of the Bush-Kennedy Immigration Bill in the U.S. Senate beautifully coincides with the ongoing negotiations over Mexican fiscal reform, which is very important for the future of Mexico and its economic development.
Fiscal Reform in Mexico: What are the Prospects?
 Allan Wall
President Felipe Calderon has sent his long-awaited fiscal reform proposal to the Mexican Congress, and negotiations have begun. But this is not like the old days of the one-party state, when the Congress was a rubber stamp for the executive.
Mexican “Telenovelas” a Big Hit in China
 Allan Wall
What’s a telenovela? It’s a type of series produced in Mexico and other Latin American countries. The closest equivalent in the United States to a telenovela is the soap opera. There’s a big difference though, between the two.
Mexican Emigration Versus Economic Development
 Allan Wall
Each year Mexicans in the United States send billions of dollars in remittances back to Mexico. Remittances have become (after petroleum) the second highest legal source of income for Mexico. But are these billions of dollars really helping Mexico?
The Army, the Police and an Interesting Poll
 Allan Wall
The Mexican Army continues its operations at a high tempo, as President Calderon continues the war against the drug cartels. Is this a good idea? Is the Mexican military the proper tool to use against the cartels? Some critics say no.
World Bank Diagnoses Mexican Economic Problems
 Allan Wall
Economic growth in Mexico is in just about everybody's interests. Though the fundamentals of the Mexican economy are solid, a greater dynamism that would provide more and better-paying jobs seems to elude the country's economy.
President Felipe Calderon and the PRI in Mexico
 Allan Wall
Mexican President Felipe Calderon has now completed his first five months in office, and it’s been anything but a vacation. As nobody can deny, the challenges Calderon and Mexico face are enormous.
Cinco de Mayo – What’s It All About?
 Allan Wall
Cinco de Mayo, Spanish for “May the 5th,” celebrates the victory of the Mexican army, commanded by General Ignacio Zaragoza, over the French army on May the 5th, 1862. A number of legends have grown up around this famous battle.
Mexico Must Encourage an Entrepreneurial Culture
 Allan Wall
At the outset, the entrepreneur does not know whether his venture will succeed or fail. But when it does succeed, it creates more jobs for his fellow citizens, which is what Mexico sorely needs.
Would Legal Drugs End Cartel Violence in Mexico?
 Allan Wall
The Mexican war on drugs continues. In a recent international summit in Campeche, Mexico, Mexican President Felipe Calderon and Colombian President Alvaro Uribe pledged to work together to fight the drug cartels.
Slim Makes Underwhelming Contribution to Mexico
 Allan Wall
Each year, Forbes magazine publishes a list of the world’s billionaires. The 2007 list is headed up by Bill Gates, who is worth US$56 billion, followed up by investor Warren Buffet, at US$52 billion. But do you know who the world’s third-richest man is?
Will Mexico’s Drug Cartel Violence Ever Stop?
 Allan Wall
The Mexican war on drugs continues. In a recent international summit in Campeche, Mexico, Mexican President Calderon and Colombian president Alvaro Uribe pledged to work together to fight the drug cartels.
The Cold, the Cartels and Cantarell
 Allan Wall
Is Mexico perpetually sunny, bathed in continual sun? Certainly it’s warmer than the United States, but it is definitely possible to be cold in Mexico.
Mexico’s “Meritorious” President and His Legacy
 Allan Wall
In the gallery of Mexican historical heroes, none loom larger than Benito Juarez. His birthday (March 21) is a national holiday in Mexico, and to make a three-day weekend out of it schools and government offices are closed on the 3rd Monday of March, which this year falls today.
The Mexican Army and its Controversial New Rifle
 Allan Wall
The massive military parade held on Mexican Independence Day (September 16) is an annual tradition. In September of 2006, it provided the opportunity to showcase Mexico’s new FX-05 “Xiuhcoatl” assault rifle.
“Racist” Apocalypto Opens In Latin America
 Allan Wall
“Apocalypto” is, above all, an action movie. Although historical fiction in an exotic locale, it still follows the basic canons of an action movie, and the jungle chase scene is a cinematic tour de force.
Does Mexico Really Own the US Southwest?
 Allan Wall
The average American doesn’t know much about the Mexican War and thinks about it less. But here in Mexico they do think about it a lot. In Mexico, everybody knows that "the U.S. took half our national territory."
Mexico: In the Crossfire of the Drug Cartels
 Allan Wall
A Mexican congressman shot, and hundreds of families evicted from their homes. It was another week in the Mexican War on Drugs, and indicative that President Calderon’s war on the cartels has a tough road ahead.
On Its Day, a Look at the Mexican Constitution
 Allan Wall
The U.S. Constitution was designed for a limited-government republic. In contrast, the Mexican Constitution of 1917 was designed for an activist state, entrusted with granting social justice to its citizens. Its social guarantees are pointed to with pride.
Can Calderon Boost Mexico’s Tourism Industry?
 Allan Wall
One of Mexican President Felipe Calderon’s promises is to stimulate the tourist industry, a great strategy insofar as tourism is already important to the Mexican economy. In fact some regions depend upon it.
How Mexican President Calderon Kept His Word
 Allan Wall
Mexican Inauguration Day was looking to be a real disaster — but it turned into a triumph for Mexico’s new president, and hopefully for Mexico.
Will Calderon also be Obsessed with Mexican Emigration?
 Allan Wall
Will Felipe Calderon, scheduled to become Mexico’s president on December 1st, be as obsessed with emigration as President Vicente Fox has been for six years?
Mexican Magnates Make More Money
 Allan Wall
By world standards Mexico is not that poor but compared to the United States it is. About half the country lives below the poverty line. It’s not because there’s no money here in Mexico. There’s a lot.
Mexico's Anti-Israeli Chutzpah
 Allan Wall
Most of the world ignored it, but Mexico and Israel recently had a diplomatic tiff. Their exchange raises some interesting questions about U.S.-Mexican diplomatic relations.
Mexican Races Coming Down to the Wire
 Allan Wall
The Mexican presidential election is down to its last week. It’s a tight one, but it looks more and more like Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador (AMLO) of the PRD will be the winner.
So How Far to the Left is AMLO of Mexico?
 Allan Wall
Is Mexico’s Party of the Democratic Revolution, the PRD, presidential candidate Andres Manual Lopez Obrador (AMLO) a menace? Might his election be a threat to the United States?
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