LSA 220 Introduction to Landscape Architecture Jenna Ergort

9-23-14
The Middle of Trauma A Paradoxical Memorial To Mexicos
Drug War Victims Can Only Begin to Address The Countrys Deep Wounds. By
Jimena Martignoni

This article, The Middle of Trauma, is about the Memorial to the Victims of Violence in Mexico City.
Jimena Martignoni, the author of this article, was a part of the jury that decided that this memorial was
to be a place of reconciliation for the drug war that has taken thousands of lives in Mexico over most of
the past decade (p. 87, Martignoni). More than 20,000 people are believed to be missing and the death
toll has reached 70,000.
The memorial idea came about as a result of the Dialogues in Chapultepec which began in June of
2011 between Calderon and his cabinet and the Movement for Peace with Justice and Dignity (p. 87
Martignoni). The government came up with the idea of creating a competition and whoevers idea won
is what they would start the memorial off of. The completion of the project only took 5 months and was
finished just before Calderon left office. At some point along the way, the Movement for Peace with
Justice and Dignity turned against the project because they opposed two reasons, 1.) no official process
of identification and enumeration of the dead had been carried out; and 2.) The site for the memorial
would be alongside a military field in Mexico City (p.89, Martignoni). The memorial was completed but
it was opened in April 2013 by new president, Enrique Pena Nieto.
The memorial site covers 3.7 acres in the Bosque de Chapultepec, which is the largest and most
important park in Mexico City. Unfortunately, violence and death still occur all around the world
including Mexico. Death, amid so much violence, will seem forever unfair (p. 95, Martignoni) and for
now, in the end, this site will be a place of reconciliation.