The essence of a reader’s letter was that she and her husband were considering buying a retirement home in Baja. Then she read the United States ambassador was warning against visiting border towns. This news was followed by reports that Minutemen coming to the California border would be met by Latino groups. Gov. Schwarzenegger declared the border should be closed and then praised the Minutemen. A state elected official called for California to form its own border patrol. Finally, television commentator Lou Dobbs called Mexican President Fox corrupt and racist. So, the woman wrote, “we are going to need passports to cross the border.” Needless to say, she and her husband are having second thoughts about retiring in Mexico.

Contrast the above with an earful we got at a private social gathering in Tijuana:

“Why should we continue to cross and spend our money in San Diego when all we get is insult after insult? Border inspectors treat us as though they are doing us a favor letting us cross to spend our money in San Diego. Talk shows continually complain about the jobs Mexicans take, but not about who gives them jobs, or how many die crossing to find work. They don’t care. Commentators blame Mexico for drug smuggling but don’t mention the demand is from U.S. citizens. Corruption is portrayed as a way of life in Mexico with little mention of corruption in the United States, including legal corruption in the form of campaign contributions.”

The guests went on, questioning why little attention is given to the fact that drug cartels usually kill Mexican citizens, in particular the nation’s police officers, prosecutors, attorneys, judges, newspaper reporters and others who are fighting to keep drugs from crossing into the United States. Now the United States is preparing to make it even harder for its own citizens to cross and return. And the California governor has come right out and said the border should be closed. “So why should we cross?” asked the guests.

Over the years we have dedicated numerous columns to the negative economic impacts that border crossing delays have on the San Diego-Greater Tijuana region (Tijuana, Rosarito, Tecate and Ensenada) but not on the economic disruptions that actions and even words can cause. Lately there have been a lot of acts and words that obviously have great impacts.

Setting economic disruptions aside, we should first lament that neighboring people have such negative perceptions of each other. The majority of people in both countries are good, caring and respectful people.

But note many of the issues mentioned originate outside the San Diego-Tijuana region. Our binational region is being impacted by national and international events and people, while we locals pay the price.

Our letter writer notes that U.S. Ambassador Tony Garza from Mexico City says it is unsafe to visit border cities. Yet the ambassador actually was making reference to the Laredo, Texas, border following a State Department travelers advisory. Schwarzenegger, who is located in Sacramento when not in Hollywood, did manage to clarify his “seal the border” gaffe, but then praised the Minutemen, considered by many to be vigilantes. The elected official proposing a California Border Patrol is from Riverside County. The head of the Minutemen is from Orange County. Lou Dobbs is in CNN studios in Washington, D.C., and it’s the United States Congress passing the law mandating U.S. citizens have passports for reentry to this country, even when absent for only a few hours.

The Mexican commentaries were actually closer to home, such as some border inspectors playing the power game with Mexicans eligible for legal entry. The talk shows referred to are hosted by Roger Hedgecock and Rick Roberts, two entertainers who work hard at keeping their ratings high with impudent and insulting remarks often aimed at Mexicans and Mexico. Then the outsiders come in to play, the California governor, and statements and acts from other sources from outside the region.

President Fox has been called to task for a remark that is in our culture a bad stereotyping of black Americans. Dobbs referred to Fox as a corrupt and racist president, not noticing his own stereotyping based on perception. (There is no legitimate accusation that Fox is corrupt.)

Herein is the real problem — perceptions of Mexican citizens by U.S. citizens and perceptions of U.S. citizens by Mexican citizens, which lead to stereotyping, other faux pas and ill feelings. This all results in ill will between the two neighboring people and negative social and economic impacts.

The San Diego and Greater Tijuana regions have respected organizations that should cooperate in organizing community forums that allow citizens from each side of the border to engage in candid and kind-spirited discussions. The objective should be to get to know each other better and create a regional goodwill fortress against outside disruptive forces.

Patrick Osio Jr. can be reached at posiojr@sandiegometro.com. The veteran consultant also has issued The Mexican Perspective, an intensive primer on business culture and protocol. Copies are available at hispanicvista.com/sales/book_sale.htm.