In 1988, Porfirio Muñoz Ledo interpellated President Miguel de la Madrid. El Siglo de Torreón calls the interpellation unprecedented. Muñoz Ledo began with the words “Con su permiso, señor presidente” (With your permission, Mr. President). A member of the PRI tried to hit him to stop him from speaking.
The Boss Is Not Always Right
In July 2021, El Financiero published an article titled “Tu jefe no siempre tiene la razón: ¿de qué manera puedes contradecirlo?” (Your boss is not always right. How can you contradict him?). It notes that “el jefe siempre tiene razón” (the boss is always right) is a golden rule for many people, and it says that this is not true.
Its advice for disagreeing: “Manifiesta el mayor respeto hacia tu jefe, pero di lo que verdaderamente piensas” (Show the greatest respect toward your boss, but say what you truly think).
A Word to the Wise
A buen entendedor, pocas palabras. “For one who understands well, few words.” A study of sayings in Decires, a journal of UNAM, notes that refranes are often expressed “parcialmente por razones de un estilo sugerente” (only in part, for the sake of a suggestive style). Their sense “se da siempre por sentado” (is always taken for granted).
Obeyed and Not Complied With
Spanish colonial law gave officials a way to stop a royal order for a time. A royal declaration of 1509 says such orders “primero deben ser obedecidas y no cumplidas, y después consultadas” (must first be obeyed and not complied with, and then consulted on). The Recopilación of 1567 uses a similar formula: “que la tal carta sea obedecida y no cumplida.”
Between 1571 and 1574, the authorities of Mexico City, doctors included, applied the formula obedézcase pero no se cumpla, “let it be obeyed but not carried out,” in a dispute over medical practice. A study of the case sums it up: “obedecieron pero no cumplieron” (they obeyed but did not comply).
Strictly Personal
In 2019, the first year of López Obrador’s government, a series of senior officials resigned. Simón Levy, undersecretary of tourism, called his resignation “estrictamente personal” (strictly personal) and “irrevocable.” When Patricia Bugarín left as undersecretary of security, her ministry spoke of reasons that were “estrictamente personales.”
Two officials broke with this. On May 21, Germán Martínez left the IMSS, the social security institute, and called excessive savings in health “inhumano.” On July 9, Finance Secretary Carlos Urzúa wrote in his letter of resignation: “Discrepancias en materia económica hubo muchas” (There were many disagreements on economic matters).
The Vocabulary of Trust
Confianza means trust. It also means familiarity between people.
De confianza, a person one can rely on, or a close and intimate one.
En confianza, in private, between people who trust each other.
Agarrar confianza, to grow at ease with someone over time.
Pásale, con confianza, “come in, make yourself at home,” said to a guest.
Tomarse confianzas, to take liberties, to act with more familiarity than the relationship allows.