ღღღAHSTimes--Issue 3ღღღ

Mexico Revolutionary and Frida--

In 1910, Mexico went into revolution after 34 long years under dictator Porfirio Diaz. The revolution was also the cause of the civil war which lasted 10 chaotic years. Frida was born on 6th July 1907 and her father worked for Porfirio Diaz. So, why was she all for the revolution later in her life? Why did she even lie that she was born in the year of revolution instead of the rightful year 1907? Why was she such an active communist? The reason is indeed rather simple.

Mexico had been ruled by various ancient and sophiscated civilisations, for example the Mayans,the Toltecs and the Aztecs. The Aztecs ruled over Mexico and controlled most of it since AD 1200 and were the rulers during the Spanish arrival in 1959. The Spanish force was led by the brutal Hernan Cortes (1485-1547), he was a soldier and explorer, sent by Spanish Monarchy to conquer Mexico. Cortes killed 10,000 of the Aztec's emperor, Montezuma's, men and took him as prisoner and kept Mexico under Spanishrule for the next three centuries.

However, in 1810 Mexico gained independence from Spanish, but it was poor. Many countries, two of which was USA and Great Britain, used Mexico as a source of cheap labour and natrual resources (e.g. oil) Natrually, the Mexicans grew tired of the interference from other countries and including Porfirio Diaz's government method which was slow to make social changes, similar to Singapore's The Singapore Progressive Party . They believed in working towards self-government at a slow and steady pace as there were not enough educated peoplefor a new government and there were more pressing matters at that time like housing and unemployment after World War II. The S.P.P worked closely with the British which the people wish to break free from. Most importantly, they, S.P.P and Diaz do not fully understand what the people want.

As for the reason why Frida lied, she wanted to make the point that she considered herself reborn when the 'true' Mexico began to take shape. Due to all that Mexico had been through, patriotic Frida thought that she should help stand up for her homeland. Frida also tried her best to portray her support to the revolution in her paintings.


First Love

Aljandro Gomez Arias

• Leader of Cachuhas in school
• In accident was thrown under the tram
• Given Frida's first proper painting "Frida in a Velvet Dress"

(More to be seen in Issue 4)