EDITOR’S NOTE:
Dear readers, this article is crucial in combating the extremists who distort the history of the Conquest. They have fostered resentment towards our Spanish brothers, almost turning it into hatred. It is vital to remember the truth of what happened, as history is full of nuances that deserve recognition. Vale, Marvin Ramírez.
Dear President Dr. Claudia Sheinbaum, we would like to clarify a few points:
No, Tenochtitlan was not founded almost two centuries ago; Tenochtitlan is approximately seven centuries old. It is at least surprising that we have to explain this from Spain to an entire president of Mexico.
In 1839, the highest authorities of Mexico and Spain signed a treaty of peace and friendship, swearing to forget forever any grievances between the two countries. You are not only being untruthful in your statement, but you are also breaking the promise made by the Government of Mexico at that time.
When Spain left Mexico, this country was much larger, richer, and more populated than the United States. The current situation in Mexico is in no way the responsibility of the Kingdom of Spain.
Mexico was not of Spain; it was Spain. Mexico was never a colony; it was a viceroyalty and very advanced for its time. For example, the University of Mexico was founded in 1551, almost a century before the first university in the United States. Spain also founded the first university in the Americas (Santo Domingo, 1538) and the first university in Asia (San Ignacio in Manila, 1590), as well as dozens of universities across the continent where both Spaniards and indigenous people could study without distinction. In fact, at the University of Salamanca in 1556, there was even a black professor.
Marriage between Spaniards and indigenous people was legal from the very beginning of the conquest. To make a comparison: in the United States, interracial marriage was not legal in all states until 1967. It is questionable for England, the United States, or the Excellency President Dr. Claudia Sheinbaum to give us lessons regarding the treatment of indigenous people.
The most optimistic estimates say that only 1.5 percent of the attackers in the final assault on Tenochtitlan were Spaniards. The rest were indigenous peoples allied with the Spaniards who had been massacred by the Mexicas for decades. It is well-known and recognized that the Spaniards wanted to preserve the city while their indigenous allies tried to raze it to the ground. It is very bold of you to speak on their behalf, President Sheinbaum, just as it is of López Obrador, who has no indigenous ancestry but does have a grandfather from Santander (Spain) and a grandmother who is the daughter of Asturians.
After the conquest of Mexico, several direct descendants of Isabel Moctezuma, daughter of Moctezuma II, moved to Spain. Many of them received noble titles in recognition of their lineage. They were received with respect and all honors. Today, more than 350 descendants of Moctezuma live in Spain. They have already “forgiven” Spain for everything they had to “forgive” centuries ago.
The most reputable historians and archaeologists have proven beyond a reasonable doubt that the flowery wars were basically genocides, not to mention cannibalism and pedophilia, which were common practices in the pre-Hispanic period. It is estimated that more than 50,000 people were sacrificed at the main temple of Tenochtitlan. In fact, hundreds of skulls from child sacrifices have been found in Tzompantli in Mexico City. Andrés de Tapia, a Spanish soldier who accompanied Cortés in the conquest of Mexico in 1521, spoke of seeing a gigantic tower made entirely of the heads of men, women, and children who were sacrificed. In 2015, this tower was found in the temple of Huey Tzompantli in Mexico City. This is just one example of a brutality that has been silenced for centuries and for which no one has ever asked for forgiveness. Although honestly, we are not sure who should be asking for forgiveness, to whom, and for what. Do you see the absurdity of this?
Mexico cannot apologize to Spain for the conquest of Mexico for the simple reason that Spain and Mexico did not exist 500 years ago. Be that as it may, the descendants of the Spanish conquerors are not the Spaniards living in Spain; they are the Mexicans living in Mexico. It sounds ridiculous to have to explain something so obvious.
Since the independence of Mexico, we all know the treatment that indigenous people and indigenous languages have received. The living conditions, rights, and proportion of speakers of indigenous peoples were infinitely greater then than they are now. Do not blame the Spaniards in 2024 for this.
We believe that the request for an apology from the Mexican government to the King of Spain is nothing more than a smokescreen to divert attention from more important issues. For example, in the last 10 years, an average of between 40,000 and 50,000 people are murdered in Mexico each year (and rising). Just to compare, in Spain during the same period, there are fewer than 300 murders per year (and falling). During López Obrador’s government, from December 1, 2018, to September 24, 2024, approximately 198,640 murders have been recorded.
For all the above, we support the Spanish Government’s decision not to send any representative to the inauguration of Claudia Sheinbaum, and we suggest to all Spaniards and to all neighbors and allies of the European Union that they consider choosing other destinations for their vacations and investments in the coming years if this woman remains in government in Mexico. It is unfortunate that a brotherly people like the Mexicans allow their president to humiliate the head of the Spanish State in this way, a friendly and allied country.
