Forgetting Forbidden: Chapter Four, Lift your pinky finger when you hold that Ayotzi sign!

"Manuel Antonio Carreño was a musician, a teacher and a diplomatic from Venezuela. [...] 

In 1853 [he] serialized the Manual of Urbanity and Good Customs, for which he received great recognition and fame. However, this manual has been heavily criticized, mainly because of its excessive formalism, almost ritual character of many of the recommendations biased in religious matters, classicism and maleness." [source]

Good customs. It might seem obvious after reading the zapatistas text but to be completely honest, this was supposed to be my fourth and final chapter before I read that text. 

So, I went back to the main source: a manual written in 1853, the same manual my parents and grandparents grew up with. Yes, some parts are completely obsolete but if you strip the dramatic tone in some sections, some of the principles are well, actually not bad.

Skipping the Divine duties (yawn) we quickly arrive to the duties towards Society (which is more about dealing with your parent's slow descent towards death with obedience and fortitude). Then the manual arrives to the duties towards your Country.

I

Our country, generally speaking, is all the extension of territory governed by the same laws that rule in the place we have been born, and where, with the help of our fellow citizens, shape the great society the interests and national feelings.

Not bad, huh? Seems ok. Skipping again till number five:

Those in charge of the public power, comprised of our fellow citizens, will shelter and protect us from the unfairness of men, against the lurking of the perverse; they will safe keep our sleep and constantly watch over the preservation of our life, from our properties and all our rights.

Mhm. Something's wrong here, not in the text obviously but in my country.

VII

After these considerations, it's easy to understand why we owe everything to our country. In it's serene and bountiful days where it provides pleasure and content, we will manifest our love by faithfully respecting it's laws, obeying the magistrates, presenting ourselves to serve it every time it needs of us, and contributing with a part of our profits to sustain the establishments of public character, and the employees that are needed to direct the society with order and everyone's benefit.

Ahhhh, then EPN's cabinet is behaving dutifully so but maybe with some minor corrections:

...respecting it's laws, obeying the magistrates, presenting ourselves to serve it every time it needs of us, and contributing with a large part of our profits to sustain the establishments of public and private character, and the families, friends, gardening, yachts and golf courses not only of the employees but also of the employees of the employees that are needed to direct the society with disorder and only towards their benefit.

IX

If we result dead in defence of the society we are born in, there will remain our families and so many innocent ones whom we have saved, in which inflamed chests filled with gratitude, we left a undying memory that will be passed from generation to generation: that's where the history of our country lies, in the catalog where the names of our libertarian men will be inscribed; there remains a noble example to imitate, and that will heighten the memories that make the land we're born in, so dear.

Solidarity. An effect we all Mexicans agree, was a good trait in 1985. But beyond the marches, if we must remember Ayotzinapa, amongst other things, is for recovering the idea behind the decayed patriotism we yell while drunk every September 15th. An idea to die for: the search of truth and justice. Isn't that a honorable principle to build a new nation upon? So who's behaving dutifully now, Peña Nieto? Does your military, naval and police forces hold that principle today? You, your wife, your cabinet your narco economy, any of us in Tweetland for that matter? 

Skipping to Chapter three, duties towards Ourselves, point nine:

In the unfairness of men we will not see but the reflection of our own unjustness: in their weaknesses, our own weaknesses: in their miseries, our own miseries. They are men like us; and our tolerance towards them will be the measure, not only of the tolerance that our own faults will find in this world, but of larger and more solid rewards that are offered to all our sufferings and sacrifices, in the breast of eternal life.

I don't think so Mr. Carreño, it is precisely that attitude that has brought us here. And really, things have changed since 1853. Someone who flays a young student is not a reflection of my own  misery, my tolerance does not have to be greater than the rage that's provoked when the unjust sequestering our friends and family happen. They are not men or women like us, they are monsters that do not deserve our suffering.

Sacrifice... Terrible word. You would think we had enough of it in Catholicism or even worse, human ones in our distant past, our recent past and unfortunately, our barbaric present.

After that chapter it all becomes a set of rules for conducting yourself towards others, at home, your self image and cleanliness, before and after bed, of your room, of your dress code in your house, with your family, with our neighbours, on the street, at the temple, at school, and in conversation. Sorry drug dealers but you're breaking rule XIV on this chapter:

With no exception, is correct to mention someone by means of a nickname or making fun of his name.

To clarify: The Chief of chiefs, El Chapo, The Barbie, La Tuta, The Taliban, etc.

Skipping more pages about rules towards visitors, table manners, saving face while playing games and of course, writing letters. By the end of the manual, we arrive to the Diverse Rules chapter. Without Carreño's knowledge, it seems number XXV was written for all public figures, from Mrs. Rivera, to Murillo Karam to Videgaray and the whole cabinet of the so-called Mexican Obama (one that doesn't seem to remember what did his wife died from).

XXV

It is completely undignified of a good education to falter the truth, mostly when done in a customary way. Lies not only degrade and make men [and women]'s character vile, but it also takes away the right of being trusted even when he/she is speaking the truth, even further, predisposes someone naturally towards slandering, which is one of the clumsiest and most heinous faults that God and society can be injured with.

To conclude my chapters [1 | 2 | 3], I want to admit the fact that most probably, none of the public figures in government will be impeached, removed or sent to prison. That, unless Mexican reality gives us a twisted turn of events, the Ayotzinapa students are most likely, dead. But it seems that by behaving with etiquette and enduring suffering without loud interjections, we might not be able to attain the Mexico we deserve. [The peaceful how is where I think most of us get stuck but we'll figure it out maybe in this next election period?].

Finally... I think it is forbidden to forget because it seems if we do, we'll never be able to recover from this incongruence, and mainly for failing to seek the truth and justice for ourselves.

Teresa Carreño, Mr. Carreño's daughter with Elegia N° 1 Op 17 (Complaints)