Recently, I was invited to appear on Fox News Channel’s “Hannity & Colmes Show,” presumably to defend Mexican President Vicente Fox’s Administration against claims they funded Mexican library books containing songs with passages that glorify drug dealers.

During the time I worked for Vicente Fox, I came to know what I believe is his heart. I also feel confident I know the heart of the Mexican people.  As an American of Mexican heritage, working in the Mexican cabinet, I felt one of my principal goals was to foster harmony and reach new understandings between our two great nations.

That is why I have grown troubled in recent months by what appears to be growing efforts by special interests to highlight and sharpen divisions between the governments and the peoples of the United States and Mexico. 

The Mexican government’s funding library books with songs glorifying drug dealers has become one such point of controversy. 

I believe the producers of “Hannity & Colmes” expected me to be an apologist for such a misguided idea.  They were wrong.

Now, I know we are only talking about a few lines in a couple of songs. Nevertheless, I have no intention of excusing misguided decisions that may result, in children being taught that drug lords are anything other than murderous, greedy, immoral merchants of addiction and death.  Period.

Before going on the program, I did some quick research to confirm whether the information was true that Mexican government funds were, in fact, being used to buy books for libraries with songs glorifying drug dealers.  After sadly confirming that it was true, I immediately phoned contacts in President Fox’s administration to make them aware of this outrage, and was told that I could expect “heads to roll.”  They should, and I’m confident they will. 

Not infrequently these days, people from both countries with illicit private agendas will seek official sanction --and taxpayer funding!—for promoting agendas that conflict with the public welfare.  Such programs –when forced to rely on success in the free marketplace—nearly always meet failure when the public expresses moral disapproval with their pocketbooks.  Yet, deceptive ideologues and activists regularly slip educational materials past the noses of overworked or inattentive government workers…educational materials that defy the values of their audience.   It seems such was the case here.  However, such episodes are not unique to Mexico, which takes us back to my point.

The average good citizen of Mexico is just as offended by such textbooks as we are in the United States.   Let us not indict the ordinary citizen of Mexico, nor their honorable and conscientious President for the actions of a criminal subculture trying to corrupt the hearts and minds of Mexico’s schoolchildren.

As a U.S. citizen and parent, I would not tolerate my state or federal tax dollars being used to promote the values of a criminal element.  Nor do I for one second believe that the hard-working, law-abiding, church-going people of Mexico want their tax dollars promoting the drug lords who make victims of their own children.  The Mexican people are wise enough not to make heroes of criminals who couch their misdeeds in nonsensical populist economic rhetoric.

I have been honored by a unique vantage point in my career as a political advisor:  I have not only had the opportunity to help develop improved relations between the political leaders of Mexico and the United States, but also to get to know well the hearts of the average Mexican and the average American, too.  And I firmly believe that whether the media, government bureaucrats, special interest groups or even a criminal subculture seek to divide the people of Mexico and the United States…in the end, I believe the bond that will unite our nations will be the common good in the hearts of the people inhabiting both countries.

I believe it is natural that nations, like individuals, complement and advance one another through the unique strengths of their respective cultures.

I also believe that Mexico and the United States are too good and too great of nations to be kept apart by the private agendas of special interests.  We cannot allow unimportant sideshows to cause historic opportunities to pass…opportunities, for example, to reach breakthroughs in immigration and economic policy.

I think it’s time we sent a message to our respective elected officials, insisting that progress resumes soon on a fair and honorable immigration plan between Mexico and the United States, and that a new paradigm is launched in economic relations. 

It’s time to remember that which binds us is great, and that which divides is small indeed.  Let’s keep our eye on the ball, and not be distracted by sideshows.