Saturday, May 5, 2012

sat., 5 may, & sun., 6 may, 2012: cinco de mayo phrases & terms: give us This Day our Daily Curse


SPANISH: “¡Pobre Mexico! ¡Tan lejos de Dios y tan cerca de los Estados Unidos!”   ‡
SPANISH: “Pax Porfiana” ‡‡
SPANISH: “Pan o palo” ‡‡‡
SPANISH: Remoja la bandera con heroina y yo lo chupo. ‡‡‡‡

       ‡ )  “Poor Mexico! So far from God and so close to the United States!” —  attrib. to Porfirio Diaz, who had participated in the routing of the French at Veracruz, & who served as “President” of Mexico from 1876 to 1911  (with a brief periods, 1876, & again 1880 — 1884, when fuck-puppets Juan Méndez & Manuel González respectively served as interim presidents) ; Diaz’s presidency was marked by a surface stability (modernization & economic growth) made possible by political repression, graft & corruption, & by selling off everything to foreign corporations, esp. mining & agri-business concerns. In 1911 Diaz was kicked out on his arse during the Mexican Revolution; he slithered off to expile in Spain. After the Mexican revolution many industries were nationalized;
      ‡‡ )  “Porfiana Peace” — a period in Mexican history (1876—1911) marked by Porfirio Diaz’ rule, where a surface stability, modernization & economic growth was made possible by political repression & by selling off everything to foreign corporations, esp. mining & agri-business concerns. In 1911 the shit hit the fan with the Mexican Revolution & Diaz slithered off to expile in Spain  ;
    ‡‡‡ )  “Bread or the stick”  —  Porfirio Diaz’ strategy of offering problematic politicians or generals two options:  cushy & obscenely-salaried sinecures,  or a blindfold & a last cigarette & a firing squad.  (Diaz is said to have commented that a dog with a bone would neither bite or bark.) ;
   ‡‡‡‡ )  “Immerse the flag in heroin & I'll suck on it.”   /   “Soak the flag in heroin & I'll suck on it.”  —  attrib. to a famous former Commisssioner of Sewers  
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from curse + berate in 69+ languages, from Soft Skull Press.

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