A popular class at Orange Coast College might be on the fringe of extinction. History of Mexico (A-145) may not be available in the incoming semesters.

    Some might call it a ploy against Mexican-American students or bashing Mexico’s Independence Day. I see it more as a matter of survival inside a campus feeling the onslaught of the economic recession. Latin American Studies is the weakest link in a department dominated by Western History tenured professors.

    The cost of closing the History of Mexico class greatly outweighs the cost of hiring a part-time professor assigned to teach it.

    For those who are unfamiliar with this subject, this course isn’t just about finding out how the Aztecs dominated Meso-america during the 14th, 15th, and 16th centuries, or how a few thousand of Spanish “conquerors” and a local indigenous alliance defeated a powerful Aztec empire, or how a miniature dog has evolved from a favorite Aztec meal to an iconic figure in Hollywood.

    There is more to it. History of Mexico is an introductory course, in which students are asked to learn academic material beyond Mexico’s own boundaries. How do open-market policies fit in this country? Has the North American Free Trade Agreement brought wealth or devastation to Mexico’s economy and society? What are the repercussions of this agreement in the United States? And what role, if any, does NAFTA play in the immigration debate?

    Many Americans do not realize that Mexico is our second trade partner. Our exports to this country rose from 97,411 billions in 2003 to 128,892 billions in 2009. The net increase of these capital transactions has generated more jobs in America soil.

    In contrast, last year we only exported 26,493 billions to France; 43,306 to Germany; and 26,095 to Brazil. And we ran a huge trade deficit with China; 226,877 billions last year.

    Mexico’s President Felipe Calderon strong stand against organized crime has triggered a major war between drug cartels, and Mexican law enforcement authorities.

    This war has resonated along American border towns, and has raised concerns about the danger of these dreadful criminal organizations reaching in American territory.

    All of us want our political leaders to stay focus on the drug war and other issues related to Mexico.

    If our local leaders enjoy ample knowledge on Mexican history, culture and economics, they are in a better position to make coherent decisions.

    In this context, history courses on a particular region or a country are intended to facilitate information to students, as well as provide them a forum to engage in class discussions and analysis.

    Having these courses in colleges and universities pay off in the long run, whereas cutting them might imperils our future leader’s ability to understand deep-seated social and economic issues that, ultimately, are closely related to us.

    Orange Coast College officials, especially the Dean of the Social Science Department, must find a way to keep this course open for the next generation of students.