Today’s narrative about the U.S.-México relationship is that México is the bad neighbor and a cause for all that is wrong with the U.S. At least from the perspective of Donald Trump and his supporters. Never mind that the reality is an entirely different thing, having México as the boogeyman helps Trump’s agenda. Take, for example, that México’s trade deficit with the U.S. is the third of the largest trading partners. China has the largest trading deficit with the U.S. and Germany follows at second place. Japan is fourth on the list. But if you accept the Trump narrative, Germany and Japan do not merit his antagonism because – well because only he knows.

What matters is the reality but the truth is hidden behind a curtain of bad will, hate and outright lies. But the truth always has a sneaky habit of sneaking out from behind the curtain of hate.

The truth is México is a good neighbor, an equal partner and is always ready to lend a hand to U.S. citizens whenever it can help.

Don’t believe me? Here is the latest evidence.

As reported by Jennifer Bauer in Click2Houston, a U.S. sailboat carrying three U.S. citizens became stranded on January 26, 2017, about 400 miles from the U.S. coast because its rudder broke off. Kevin Churchill, a seasoned sailor, called the U.S. Coast Guard for help. The U.S. Coast Guard refused to help because the sailor’s lives were not in danger. Instead the Coast Guard told them to call for a tow, although the U.S. Coast Guard did contact the Mexican Navy.

If you believe the Donald Trump hate rhetoric, then you likely believe that the Mexican Navy took the sailboat and demanded a bribe from the sailors to let them out of jail. At the very least you probably think a mordida was paid.

But, here is the truth, much to the chagrin of the Donald Trump hate mongers.

After being notified, the Mexican Navy responded to the sailor’s need for assistance. Per the news report;

“We were disabled at sea and the Mexican navy came and looked after us,” said Churchill. “I cannot emphasize how difficult it is to maneuver a 280-foot steel ship around a 40-foot yacht without breaking the yacht. This was an exceptionally well-handled vessel.”

The report adds that it took “more than a day to two the sailboat the 170 nautical miles” to México.

Now get this, as per the news report, “The Mexican government wouldn’t accept a single dollar.”

This narrative, from a U.S. citizen, is the reality – it is the truth. But the hate mongering is so deeply engrained that it is ignored or mischaracterized as a lie. Just look at the comments section.

But the truth is that México is a great neighbor and collaborator to the United States and its citizens.

Here, read what the skipper of the U.S. sailboat had to say:

“All of the people were nothing but wonderful to us…I’d like to see us recognize them for the good neighbors that they are.” Churchill closed, “Mexico is a good neighbor for this country, always has been.”