The Mexico of Sacal

The violent altercation that took place in Mexico City between a man of wealth and a doorman has incensed many Mexicans because of the millionaire’s arrogant and repugnant behavior. However, the circumstances that surround this incident paint an even darker picture about Mexican society today.

It all started when businessman Miguel Sacal Smeke made an insult-filled demand that the sole doorman at his building change the tire on his Porche. The employee politely said that he couldn’t leave his post unattended, which infuriated Sacal who proceeded to punch and kick the man. The building’s security camera shows another security person who, after timidly trying to separate the two, simply watches the incident. Another staff person, a few centimeters away, chose to ignore the incident entirely.

Suffice to say, Sacal wasn’t detained for even an instant as a result of the altercation, even though there are numerous prior incidents demonstrating the businessman’s temper. It is impossible to imagine that the police would have handled this in the same way if the doorman had been the aggressor.

In addition, during the attack, Sacal’s racism was apparent as he derogatorily called the man an ‘Indian,’ as if this gave him the right to hit and humiliate another. Unfortunately that discriminatory attitude isn’t limited to this one person or a single incident.

Some in Mexican society and the media have referred to Sacal as “the Jewish businessman” despite the fact that the insults – both in tone and color – couldn’t be more Mexican. It would be highly unusual to describe a perpetrator as a “Catholic businessman,” but not so if Jewish. Anti-semitism has reached such a level that representatives of the local Jewish community felt the need to denounce Sacal’s action, as if anyone would think that this sort of arrogance and brutality are condoned by the Jewish faith.

In reality, entitlement and feeling one can act with impunity is a question of class. Sacal acted as if he was above the law and those around chose not to get involved because they accepted his position of privilege. Whether from fear or apathy, bystanders allowed the abuse to continue even though they too could have been the target of Sacal’s rage. They accepted that he was untouchable.

The elitist attitude of disrespect exhibited by some in the ruling classes, virulent anti-semitism, and the passivity of those who today are witnesses but tomorrow could be victims, have all merged together in this one incident. It leaves us all with a bitter taste.

Mexico faces many difficulties. This incident shows that some of them are symptoms of much deeper problems.