Mexican school libraries are stocking up on copies of a book that glamorizes violent drug traffickers. From AP:

MEXICO CITY – Mexico’s school libraries are stocking a book that includes the lyrics of “narcocorridos” – folk songs that glorify drug traffickers – causing a storm of criticism in a country where the drug market and its violence have become part of life in thousands of communities.

Opposition activists are livid that the administration of President Vicente Fox, which has declared a “war on all fronts” against drug gangs, ordered tens of thousands of copies of the book “Cien Corridos: Alma de la Cancion Mexicana” (100 Corridos: The Soul of Mexican Song) for grade-school libraries.

The book, printed by a private publishing company but bought in bulk by the government, contains lyrics for songs like “The Red Car Gang,” which describes Mexican cocaine smugglers shooting it out with Texas Rangers:

“They say they came from the south/In a red car/Carrying 100 kilos of cocaine/bound for Chicago … ”

Another song describes female drug traffickers who poisoned police with opium to protect a drug shipment, then praises “The Lord of the Skies,” the nickname for the deceased drug lord Amado Carrillo Fuentes:

“They caught him alive/but they couldn’t pin anything on him/ now they can display him dead/on trumped-up charges … “

Outraged Mexican legislators are demanding hearings on Fox’s endorsement of the books.

Meanwhile, here in the States, Chronic Candy–the hot new goodies that taste like marijuana–is a big, uh, hit among young celebrities. Youth reporter Becky Boyer has more.

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