Revolution Day

Today is Revolution Day in Mexico, commemorating the overthrow of Porfirio Díaz.

Diaz had ruled for thirty five years.  He was a dictator, but as dictators go, he was relatively benevolent.  His overthrow was bizarrely brought about by an interview he gave to an American magazine suggesting that if the Mexican people were ready for democracy, so was he.  This was picked up by Francisco Modero, who took him at his word, challenging him for the office, which was not really ready to give up. This ultimately lead to the Mexican Revolution.

The revolution, unfortunately, did not bring about democracy but instead the leadership of a series of leaders from the Institutional Revolutionary Party to the exclusion of other parties.  Only within the last couple of decades has Mexico transitioned into a democracy.