Teacher Sings Barney Amidst Drug Cartel Violence

Transcript by http://www.newsy.com

BY MEGAN NOE

You're watching multisource world news analysis from Newsy.

When Martha Rivera Alanis became a kindergarten teacher, you can bet this wasn't in the job description. As gunfire rang out outside the Mexican school last week, Rivera calmed her students with a song from Barney.

The YouTube video has gone viral since friends posted it to YouTube, fueling discussion by the BBC and others about the drug war's traumatizing effects on regular citizens.

"'The truth is, I was a little bit scared, but my children helped me through it.' She may be today's heroine, but for many in Mexico, the episode is a painful reminder that the violence from organized crime has become a reality that they can't but learn to live with."

The shootout in Monterrey killed five, adding to the nearly 40,000 killed in Mexican drug violence since 2006. Rivera serves on a security committee for teachers-- a team that is becoming all too necessary, says Al Jazeera.

"In those towns and cities, an increasing number of children and teens are living through gun battles among rival gangs who are killing each other over control for key drug trafficking routes. Some children are being taught what to do if they find themselves in the crossfire. This teacher tells her students that when shootings start, they should watch out for stray bullets."

A Times Record News writer says teachers shouldn't have to be drug warriors...and she offers a solution.

"Before Congress spends another dollar on the law enforcement superstructure that so far has been unsuccessful in preventing the entry of illicit drugs into the United States, it may be time to discuss their legalization. That's right. End prohibition and crash the drug commodities market..."

But until the government comes up with an answer, experts say children exposed to the violence may experience night terrors, concentration problems, and an inability to separate themselves from their parents. Fox News psychiatrist Dr. Keith Ablow, though, says Rivera did the right thing.

"It's amazing, courage transcends nationality. Everybody understands what this woman was doing. She was doing something courageous and selfless to help children. That's not a national thing, that's something that's a human thing."

In addition to the praise that has flooded her Twitter page, Rivera received an award from state officials for her courage.

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[MrPappitoes]

Mexico will never get it's act together. Never. Third world to the max. But then, it's always been that way. Corruption is a way of life down there.

[CR1T1K]

Mexican cartel puto!!!

[urantiruslan]

fuck the cartel kill them all