After a day of hiking through the mountains the group made its way back to our hotel in Nebaj. With a quick lunch and the burst of energy that followed though Andrew, Justin, Rose, and myself were back out trekking the beautiful countryside of Guatemala in search of a 75ft tall waterfall. Well, we found it and man it was a neat little sight. Around it was a small oasis of jungle it seemed or at least jungle like underbrush.
Taking this is a once in a life time chance Andrew and I decided to climb it. Though I was not wearing shoes and my flip flops clearly wouldn't due, I still looked and Andrew with a smile on and said, "lets do it!" Taking off my flip flops I went at that waterfall hobbit style. It was a quick and fun little climb till we realized we couldn't get to far up before we ran out of material to climb on. So, we settled for half way, made our way back down and before we went back to the road Andrew stopped and looked at me with one of his "you wanna?" looks. I looked to where he nodded his head and was excited to see a tall hill we could climb as a short cut to catching up with Justin and Rose who had already started on their way back. With a smile he knew my answer and we went at it. It was fun to conquer that hill and certainly a fun walk all together.
Wednesday, June 16, 2010
Friday, June 11, 2010
Over the river and through the woods to God only knows where we go!
Another day and another adventure begins here in Guatemala. Dr. Saenze took the group on a long hike through the mountains surrounding the little town of Nebaj on a mission to find a village which fell victim to mass genocide carried out by the government in past decades. Everyone but Dr. Ocampo was in attendance making the total number of Gringos traversing the mountainsides Quince (15). The greenery of the mountains was as always, breath taking. Along the way we encountered steep hills patched in farmland, grazing cattle, and the native citizens tilling away under the hot sun above. The science nerds among us enjoyed staring at the soil profiles made clearly visible by the shear force that once formed these mountains.Dr. Tanner and Dr. Smith would be so proud of me haha.
Somewhere along the way our group split up. I decided to stick behind with the slower half of the group since I felt it was most responsible and most respectful to do so. We all made our way to the same little village tucked away in a remote valley though so all's well that ends well. Shirley, Sam, and I made our time with the group fun by challenging ourselves to races up the steep and curvy mountain path. Shirley and I also decided it might be funny and completely accurate to our dorkiness if we skip up a portion of the mountain. It gave me great satisfaction and some good laughs when we embraced our inner dork.
The little village was not only remote but also as one would expect very rural. it was home to a great many farm animals of which I once owned most of them or still own them. They had pigs, goats, sheep, horses, chickens, dogs, cats, and some cows. There was one horse who I decided to befriend who was in pretty beat up shape. She had pretty bad sores down most of her legs, she was a bit thin, and was very very skiddish. After patiently and gently working her over she let me pet her and talk to her. I relaxed her some and tried to see if there was anything I could do to help her but of course there was nothing I could offer her but some gentle words and love.
We then made our way on to Rio Azul (Blue River). It was a beautiful and clean flowing stream that captured and boggled my mind at just how beautiful the color was. We camped out for a picnic under a tree of my choosing. The thing was just begging for someone to eat under it and so I i felt oblidged to do it that honor. It was a nice picnic of cookies and pineapple soda for me before we moved on over the river and through the woods until we came across another town and took a shuttle back to Nebaj.
Somewhere along the way our group split up. I decided to stick behind with the slower half of the group since I felt it was most responsible and most respectful to do so. We all made our way to the same little village tucked away in a remote valley though so all's well that ends well. Shirley, Sam, and I made our time with the group fun by challenging ourselves to races up the steep and curvy mountain path. Shirley and I also decided it might be funny and completely accurate to our dorkiness if we skip up a portion of the mountain. It gave me great satisfaction and some good laughs when we embraced our inner dork.
The little village was not only remote but also as one would expect very rural. it was home to a great many farm animals of which I once owned most of them or still own them. They had pigs, goats, sheep, horses, chickens, dogs, cats, and some cows. There was one horse who I decided to befriend who was in pretty beat up shape. She had pretty bad sores down most of her legs, she was a bit thin, and was very very skiddish. After patiently and gently working her over she let me pet her and talk to her. I relaxed her some and tried to see if there was anything I could do to help her but of course there was nothing I could offer her but some gentle words and love.
We then made our way on to Rio Azul (Blue River). It was a beautiful and clean flowing stream that captured and boggled my mind at just how beautiful the color was. We camped out for a picnic under a tree of my choosing. The thing was just begging for someone to eat under it and so I i felt oblidged to do it that honor. It was a nice picnic of cookies and pineapple soda for me before we moved on over the river and through the woods until we came across another town and took a shuttle back to Nebaj.
Our Lady Santa Maria
A while back our group left for a day long hike up one of the tallest volcanoes in all of Central America. Santa Maria was her name and she presented a great challenge to the group as a whole but we pulled through together. Santa Maria stands at above 3,700 ft reaching high into the blanket of clouds that lies above the city of Xela.
A view of Santa Maria from the Orphanage we worked at
We started out on our trek early in the morning around 4 with three tour guides that I reserved under the request of the professors. Each one of the guides proved to be extremely friendly, beneficial, and knowledgeable. As our group set out my friend Amanda decided to back down and return to the hotel after her allergies and asthma really kicked in. The youngest guide named Edgar volunteered to take Amanda back to the base of the volcano and ensure her safe return to the hotel. Edgar was a cute guy I must say. He was twenty years old and had two kids already with his wife!
Our group carried on with our remaining two guides. Edwin who was the eldest and most experienced of the guides charged ahead with Andrew, Steve, Nancy, Joe, Adrienne, Justin, Lady Grey and Black, and I. Lady Grey and Black was a stray dog who, according to Edwin, journeyed everyday up Santa Maria with the various groups who came through. She inspired confidence in us all with her not so healthy stature but irrefutable confidence and determination. It served her well as she managed to share lunch with everyone at the top of the volcano.
Our lead the pack as we scaled the steep and very torn up path up the side of Santa Maria and ended up being about twenty minuets ahead of the remaining two parts of our group. It was a real blessing to be climbing alongside Edwin who told us the story of how Gringo came to be. From the perspective of Latin Nations the term gringo came into being as a result of the Mexican American war. The term really came into prevalence though when U.S. forces became synonymous with their army green uniforms. Using this relation of an entire people to a color the phrase “Green Go” became a popular chant against American military imperialism. As with all cultures, slang then developed to shorten the phrase and allow our true laziness to shine through. The phrase “Green Go” soon became Gringo thus ushering in a new era of racial profiling.
My group half way up the volcano!
The second guide, Hacir, walked with Samantha, Julie, and Lizzie. As we learned later, Hacir not only climbs volcanoes everyday but also finds in his spare time amongst the clouds the drive to open his own coffee shop. Coincidentally enough his shop opened the following day and we were the first to receive a map and invitation to attend. Hacir seemed extremely nice and loved to practice his English with Sam and Julie.
Edgar, after scaling all the way back down a portion of the volcano, managed to work his way back up and lead Shirley and Jessie up the long and perilous side of Santa Maria. She, being Santa Maria, is quite the well toned and curved lady haha. She also proved to be littered with lies such as the rock that said “20 mins from here” when really it meant around an hour!
Like in that wonderful Miley Cyrus song we all know and love: The Climb, it was not about reaching the top or seeing what was on the other side, this journey was about the climb. We as a group grew together, suffered together, bit the dirt together, and succeeded together in reaching high above the clouds. Upon reaching the summit of Santa Maria I couldn’t help but embrace what I think was the presence of God. The air was moist and crisp, the scenery more beautiful than I could ever express in words, and the joy and pride I saw in the faces of my closest amigos brought me to a state of peace I have not felt for sometime. I could have spent the whole day in that moment and have been ok with it. I understand now why mountain tops are considered sacred and heavenly spaces in the many spiritualities of this world we call Earth.
The views from the top!
The trip back down the Volcano was quick and restful compared to the climb up but also caused many to trip and fall at least a few times. I managed to keep my good footing the whole time down but instead was swatted by underbrush that very unkindly refused to move out of the way of my face. Shirley had a nervous breakdown on the way back down the volcano. She just wanted to be done with the journey since she has both a great fear of animals and a great fear of nature. I am so proud of her for making the trip though and conquering her fear. Overall the journey is a defining moment for us all on our adventure through Guatemala. Never have I seen the group so united, so strong, and so thankful for a nice warm and comfortable bed haha. It is far from the last of such adventures though I am sure. Everyday is a new day full of potential and lessons to help us grow.
A view of Santa Maria from the Orphanage we worked at
We started out on our trek early in the morning around 4 with three tour guides that I reserved under the request of the professors. Each one of the guides proved to be extremely friendly, beneficial, and knowledgeable. As our group set out my friend Amanda decided to back down and return to the hotel after her allergies and asthma really kicked in. The youngest guide named Edgar volunteered to take Amanda back to the base of the volcano and ensure her safe return to the hotel. Edgar was a cute guy I must say. He was twenty years old and had two kids already with his wife!
Our group carried on with our remaining two guides. Edwin who was the eldest and most experienced of the guides charged ahead with Andrew, Steve, Nancy, Joe, Adrienne, Justin, Lady Grey and Black, and I. Lady Grey and Black was a stray dog who, according to Edwin, journeyed everyday up Santa Maria with the various groups who came through. She inspired confidence in us all with her not so healthy stature but irrefutable confidence and determination. It served her well as she managed to share lunch with everyone at the top of the volcano.
Our lead the pack as we scaled the steep and very torn up path up the side of Santa Maria and ended up being about twenty minuets ahead of the remaining two parts of our group. It was a real blessing to be climbing alongside Edwin who told us the story of how Gringo came to be. From the perspective of Latin Nations the term gringo came into being as a result of the Mexican American war. The term really came into prevalence though when U.S. forces became synonymous with their army green uniforms. Using this relation of an entire people to a color the phrase “Green Go” became a popular chant against American military imperialism. As with all cultures, slang then developed to shorten the phrase and allow our true laziness to shine through. The phrase “Green Go” soon became Gringo thus ushering in a new era of racial profiling.
My group half way up the volcano!
The second guide, Hacir, walked with Samantha, Julie, and Lizzie. As we learned later, Hacir not only climbs volcanoes everyday but also finds in his spare time amongst the clouds the drive to open his own coffee shop. Coincidentally enough his shop opened the following day and we were the first to receive a map and invitation to attend. Hacir seemed extremely nice and loved to practice his English with Sam and Julie.
Edgar, after scaling all the way back down a portion of the volcano, managed to work his way back up and lead Shirley and Jessie up the long and perilous side of Santa Maria. She, being Santa Maria, is quite the well toned and curved lady haha. She also proved to be littered with lies such as the rock that said “20 mins from here” when really it meant around an hour!
Like in that wonderful Miley Cyrus song we all know and love: The Climb, it was not about reaching the top or seeing what was on the other side, this journey was about the climb. We as a group grew together, suffered together, bit the dirt together, and succeeded together in reaching high above the clouds. Upon reaching the summit of Santa Maria I couldn’t help but embrace what I think was the presence of God. The air was moist and crisp, the scenery more beautiful than I could ever express in words, and the joy and pride I saw in the faces of my closest amigos brought me to a state of peace I have not felt for sometime. I could have spent the whole day in that moment and have been ok with it. I understand now why mountain tops are considered sacred and heavenly spaces in the many spiritualities of this world we call Earth.
The views from the top!
The trip back down the Volcano was quick and restful compared to the climb up but also caused many to trip and fall at least a few times. I managed to keep my good footing the whole time down but instead was swatted by underbrush that very unkindly refused to move out of the way of my face. Shirley had a nervous breakdown on the way back down the volcano. She just wanted to be done with the journey since she has both a great fear of animals and a great fear of nature. I am so proud of her for making the trip though and conquering her fear. Overall the journey is a defining moment for us all on our adventure through Guatemala. Never have I seen the group so united, so strong, and so thankful for a nice warm and comfortable bed haha. It is far from the last of such adventures though I am sure. Everyday is a new day full of potential and lessons to help us grow.
Humanism
Humanism
There seems to be some confusion over what I mean when I say I am a humanist. To be humanist, in my definition, is to be an active advocate for justice based on the principles of humanism. But what do I mean by humanism? Humanism is idea that all persons have the right to have their needs, interests, and value equally recognized and satisfied based upon the universally shared conditions of human existence but also the individual’s personal conditions, needs, and circumstances of existence. These personal conditions, needs, and circumstances are derived from an individual’s economic, political, social, cultural, racial, sexual, gendered, geographical, physical, and mental existences. Humanism then advocates for the rights, value, interests, and needs of all persons taking into account the universally shared conditions and circumstances of being human while also accounting for each person’s needs, circumstances, and conditions determined by their existence politically, socially, culturally, sexually, and so on.
In this way humanism seeks to recognize and protect the rights, interests, and needs off all persons equally taking into account the total conditions and circumstances of their existence. This is unlike feminism which focuses its advocacy simply on recognizing the rights, interests, needs, and equality of women in society rather than reaching beyond the gendered circumstances and conditions of a person to incorporate a total understanding of a person’s circumstances and conditions of existence. Not all women are the same nor does every woman have the same needs or interests. This is because not all women share the same conditions and circumstances of existence. Where does feminism leave men? The poor? The handicap? Answer: on their own. Feminism also fails to incorporate and recognize the difference in existences and conditions of women of other cultures or racial backgrounds. Are the needs and interests of a Guatemalan woman and an American woman exactly the same? No of course not. The interests and needs of an African American woman in Detroit and a Caucasian woman in up-state New York are not the same either because in both scenarios the circumstances and conditions of their existences are drastically different. Yes, there are similarities based upon these individual’s shared existences as human beings and as women but feminism fails to recognize and incorporate their needs and interests that arise from their racial, cultural, economical, physical, mental, political, and social existences. This is not to say that Feminism and those who advocate for the equality, needs, rights, and interests of women are wrong headed or even a negative thing. I am fully supportive of most every action declared feminist take in order to achieve their goals. I am simply stating that feminism alone fails to recognize and advocate for the interests, rights, equality, and needs of all persons and even all women. There needs to be a completely inclusive understanding of the conditions and circumstances of each person’s existence which defines the many and varying needs and interests of a person.
One of the biggest criticisms I received during class against humanism was that humanism was too broad and had no focus therefore would be incapable of making any efficient or worthwhile changes. The fault of this argument is that humanism is exactly the opposite; humanism focuses on the total person so that any actions taken to right injustices can be done in the most efficient and beneficial ways. This is not to say that every action to right injustice is made to improve the economic as well as social standing of an individual but rather that any actions taken to improve one area of his/her existence is done in understanding of the other aspects of the individual’s total existence. An example of this would be a program I know of in the United States which provides homeless and jobless young persons with a job, a place to live, a stipend for food and such, while incorporating all of that within an undergraduate education program. This program, for which I cannot remember the name of, is the perfect example of a humanist program because it takes homeless and jobless young people provides them with a place to live, an education to better their lives, a stipend earned on which to live on, as well as jobs through the school. Some of the jobs better the community in which the school exists thus giving the young persons a sense of community and pride. Others work around the school itself further improving the immediate conditions that the young persons live in and learn in. This program provides a well rounded opportunity for the improvement of each student’s life taking into account the entirety of each individual’s specific and shared conditions, needs, interests, circumstances, and existences. A humanistic program like this does not serve to satisfy the total needs of a person but does improve their standard of living keeping in mind the total needs, conditions, and circumstances that formulate their existence in the world.
There seems to be some confusion over what I mean when I say I am a humanist. To be humanist, in my definition, is to be an active advocate for justice based on the principles of humanism. But what do I mean by humanism? Humanism is idea that all persons have the right to have their needs, interests, and value equally recognized and satisfied based upon the universally shared conditions of human existence but also the individual’s personal conditions, needs, and circumstances of existence. These personal conditions, needs, and circumstances are derived from an individual’s economic, political, social, cultural, racial, sexual, gendered, geographical, physical, and mental existences. Humanism then advocates for the rights, value, interests, and needs of all persons taking into account the universally shared conditions and circumstances of being human while also accounting for each person’s needs, circumstances, and conditions determined by their existence politically, socially, culturally, sexually, and so on.
In this way humanism seeks to recognize and protect the rights, interests, and needs off all persons equally taking into account the total conditions and circumstances of their existence. This is unlike feminism which focuses its advocacy simply on recognizing the rights, interests, needs, and equality of women in society rather than reaching beyond the gendered circumstances and conditions of a person to incorporate a total understanding of a person’s circumstances and conditions of existence. Not all women are the same nor does every woman have the same needs or interests. This is because not all women share the same conditions and circumstances of existence. Where does feminism leave men? The poor? The handicap? Answer: on their own. Feminism also fails to incorporate and recognize the difference in existences and conditions of women of other cultures or racial backgrounds. Are the needs and interests of a Guatemalan woman and an American woman exactly the same? No of course not. The interests and needs of an African American woman in Detroit and a Caucasian woman in up-state New York are not the same either because in both scenarios the circumstances and conditions of their existences are drastically different. Yes, there are similarities based upon these individual’s shared existences as human beings and as women but feminism fails to recognize and incorporate their needs and interests that arise from their racial, cultural, economical, physical, mental, political, and social existences. This is not to say that Feminism and those who advocate for the equality, needs, rights, and interests of women are wrong headed or even a negative thing. I am fully supportive of most every action declared feminist take in order to achieve their goals. I am simply stating that feminism alone fails to recognize and advocate for the interests, rights, equality, and needs of all persons and even all women. There needs to be a completely inclusive understanding of the conditions and circumstances of each person’s existence which defines the many and varying needs and interests of a person.
One of the biggest criticisms I received during class against humanism was that humanism was too broad and had no focus therefore would be incapable of making any efficient or worthwhile changes. The fault of this argument is that humanism is exactly the opposite; humanism focuses on the total person so that any actions taken to right injustices can be done in the most efficient and beneficial ways. This is not to say that every action to right injustice is made to improve the economic as well as social standing of an individual but rather that any actions taken to improve one area of his/her existence is done in understanding of the other aspects of the individual’s total existence. An example of this would be a program I know of in the United States which provides homeless and jobless young persons with a job, a place to live, a stipend for food and such, while incorporating all of that within an undergraduate education program. This program, for which I cannot remember the name of, is the perfect example of a humanist program because it takes homeless and jobless young people provides them with a place to live, an education to better their lives, a stipend earned on which to live on, as well as jobs through the school. Some of the jobs better the community in which the school exists thus giving the young persons a sense of community and pride. Others work around the school itself further improving the immediate conditions that the young persons live in and learn in. This program provides a well rounded opportunity for the improvement of each student’s life taking into account the entirety of each individual’s specific and shared conditions, needs, interests, circumstances, and existences. A humanistic program like this does not serve to satisfy the total needs of a person but does improve their standard of living keeping in mind the total needs, conditions, and circumstances that formulate their existence in the world.
Friday, May 28, 2010
What is Democracy?
After watching the documentary Beyond Elections, the question “What is democracy?” is stuck in my head. For a long time I have always thought I knew what democracy was. Growing up in the United States democracy was defined to me as the government of the United States. Democracy was a system of government in which the people were the basis of power and elected representatives acted to uphold the wishes and protect the freedoms of the American people granted to them in the Constitution. However, as I grew older and was fortunate enough to receive a quality education I began to question my idea of democracy.
In middle school I could not come to grips with how the United States could be a democracy when during World War II we searched out and seized thousands of innocent Americans simply for their Japanese ethnicity. I do not recall when the people voted or made it a wish to there representatives that all Japanese Americans be rounded up and forced into camps. Were we not aware of just how similar this move was to what Hitler's Fascist regime was doing to the Jews in Europe? Or how about during the Cold War when hundreds of thousands of young men were drafted into a "conflict" which was never voted on, never declared a war, and was started more for ideological and political reasons than for any actual necessity of defense? I could not comprehend how a democracy, which derives its power from the people and is meant to protect and nurture the freedoms of all mankind, could so easily and in the face of public outrage and protest commit such treason? This is not the democracy I thought I knew.
Another issue which I was forced to come to grips with was how democracy could be a true democracy, yet not grant political rights and protections to groups of people such as children, blacks, women, poor or homeless, the handicap, and to this day the LGBT community? If democracy is defined in part by its protection, under law, of the natural rights and freedoms of all persons then how could such a system justify oppression, neglect, violent repression, and even the enslavement of persons under its governance? I was infuriated and still am to this day that a form of government, as supposedly modeled by the United States, of the people, for the people, and by the people could so aggressively commit such actions against those from who it derived its power, purpose, and existence. All men are created equal or so the rhetoric goes yet in practice our "democracy" failed to live up to its definition and still does today.
These are just small examples anyone with a high school education could cite if intelligent enough to question the system. In college I learned of a great deal more which furthered my questioning of what democracy is and whether the U.S. actually functions as a democracy. Just too briefly cite a few examples of what I came to learn I need only to say these two words to point the reader in the right direction: Latin America. The United States has long been interested in the on-goings of our neighbors in this hemisphere. Whether we admit it or not, the United States government has been, secretly and not so secretly, directly active in the political and economical on-goings of most every Latin American nation. Starting in the 1950's and going on well past the turn of the 21st century, United States governmental institutions such as the CIA as well as American transnational corporations such as the United Fruit Company have been active in funding, planning, and conducting numerous governmental overthrows in Latin America. These well crafted and U.S. backed coups often replaced a democratic government with a U.S. friendly military dictatorship that actively murdered and tortured thousands of people regardless of nationality. One can see this in State Department documents in which plans were discussed to over throw social democracies like that of President Allende in Chile on September 11, 1973 and replace him with a ruthless and murderous military dictator named Pinochet. The direct and secretive involvement of the US government and American transnational corporations in military coups, the destruction of democratic structures, and the planned taking of human lives in Latin American countries is not the end of actions taken against democracy and freedom by our "free democracy."
The United States, through its dominant role in international governmental organizations like the International Monetary Fund and World Bank, force feeds the domination of American transnational corporations as well as the full privatization of all national utilities and economic structures of Latin American nations such as Argentina. The end result as evidenced in Argentina in 2001 is the complete and utter collapse of the Argentine economy causing mass unemployment and poverty, wide spread starvation, increases in illnesses, and even in some cases death across the Latin American country. All of this is done in the name of freedom, democracy, and the protection of "American interests" and the "American way of life." Well I am sorry, but since when did the people of America vote in favor of or decide that the oppression of and forced extreme poverty upon the people's of Argentina was in our best interests or wishes? Since when did we the people decide that our way of life, in which 1 percent of the population holds 50 percent or more of the wealth, is best protected and worth the mass murdering and neglect of hundreds of thousands of Argentine citizens and citizens in countries around the globe? Since when did "All persons are born equal" and "have the right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness" become all rich American white guys "are born equal" and "have the right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness?"
This is not the democracy I thought I knew when I was growing up. America is not and cannot be the definition of true democracy. In fact the United States is no democracy at all. In my opinion the United States is a democratic regime of rich white men who further the exploitation of many to fuel feed their own pockets and need for power. They use the established system to lure and keep American citizens from realizing the corrupt and unjust society we live in. We live in a country where the only power we the people have is to elect officials into a position of limited power from which they assist the continuation of a world wide system headed by wealthy transnational corporations and governmental figures. The same elite population that live lavish lives while repressing, killing, and marginalizing anyone necessary for the continuation of their power including those activists who stand for justice regardless of nationality. If this, the reality of the United States, is the definition of democracy then I have no choice but to define democracy myself and fight for its existence.
Democracy, as it stated in the documentary Beyond Voting, is a process. It is not perfect from the start but rather develops and expands overtime. It is a form of political process that requires the direct and active participation of the people in the development of a better society in which the freedoms of all are protected, nurtured, and expanded. No majority rules, rather consensus rules so that no minorities are neglected or oppressed. The rights and equality of "the other" are respected and valued. The people are in power through direct participation, especially at the local level, in the decision making process. Democracy is a system where any elected officials are easily held accountable for their actions by the people for whom they are meant to be representing; a governmental structure that works to advance the living standards of all its citizens and the world without oppression or repression of any group of; a real government of the people, for the people, by the people that will never parish from the face of this Earth. That is democracy, a government worth fighting for.
Sources used to construct my argument: The book Empire's Workshop by Greg Grandin, and the documentary Beyond Elections, Lincoln’s Gettysburg address, and the Declaration of Independence.
In middle school I could not come to grips with how the United States could be a democracy when during World War II we searched out and seized thousands of innocent Americans simply for their Japanese ethnicity. I do not recall when the people voted or made it a wish to there representatives that all Japanese Americans be rounded up and forced into camps. Were we not aware of just how similar this move was to what Hitler's Fascist regime was doing to the Jews in Europe? Or how about during the Cold War when hundreds of thousands of young men were drafted into a "conflict" which was never voted on, never declared a war, and was started more for ideological and political reasons than for any actual necessity of defense? I could not comprehend how a democracy, which derives its power from the people and is meant to protect and nurture the freedoms of all mankind, could so easily and in the face of public outrage and protest commit such treason? This is not the democracy I thought I knew.
Another issue which I was forced to come to grips with was how democracy could be a true democracy, yet not grant political rights and protections to groups of people such as children, blacks, women, poor or homeless, the handicap, and to this day the LGBT community? If democracy is defined in part by its protection, under law, of the natural rights and freedoms of all persons then how could such a system justify oppression, neglect, violent repression, and even the enslavement of persons under its governance? I was infuriated and still am to this day that a form of government, as supposedly modeled by the United States, of the people, for the people, and by the people could so aggressively commit such actions against those from who it derived its power, purpose, and existence. All men are created equal or so the rhetoric goes yet in practice our "democracy" failed to live up to its definition and still does today.
These are just small examples anyone with a high school education could cite if intelligent enough to question the system. In college I learned of a great deal more which furthered my questioning of what democracy is and whether the U.S. actually functions as a democracy. Just too briefly cite a few examples of what I came to learn I need only to say these two words to point the reader in the right direction: Latin America. The United States has long been interested in the on-goings of our neighbors in this hemisphere. Whether we admit it or not, the United States government has been, secretly and not so secretly, directly active in the political and economical on-goings of most every Latin American nation. Starting in the 1950's and going on well past the turn of the 21st century, United States governmental institutions such as the CIA as well as American transnational corporations such as the United Fruit Company have been active in funding, planning, and conducting numerous governmental overthrows in Latin America. These well crafted and U.S. backed coups often replaced a democratic government with a U.S. friendly military dictatorship that actively murdered and tortured thousands of people regardless of nationality. One can see this in State Department documents in which plans were discussed to over throw social democracies like that of President Allende in Chile on September 11, 1973 and replace him with a ruthless and murderous military dictator named Pinochet. The direct and secretive involvement of the US government and American transnational corporations in military coups, the destruction of democratic structures, and the planned taking of human lives in Latin American countries is not the end of actions taken against democracy and freedom by our "free democracy."
The United States, through its dominant role in international governmental organizations like the International Monetary Fund and World Bank, force feeds the domination of American transnational corporations as well as the full privatization of all national utilities and economic structures of Latin American nations such as Argentina. The end result as evidenced in Argentina in 2001 is the complete and utter collapse of the Argentine economy causing mass unemployment and poverty, wide spread starvation, increases in illnesses, and even in some cases death across the Latin American country. All of this is done in the name of freedom, democracy, and the protection of "American interests" and the "American way of life." Well I am sorry, but since when did the people of America vote in favor of or decide that the oppression of and forced extreme poverty upon the people's of Argentina was in our best interests or wishes? Since when did we the people decide that our way of life, in which 1 percent of the population holds 50 percent or more of the wealth, is best protected and worth the mass murdering and neglect of hundreds of thousands of Argentine citizens and citizens in countries around the globe? Since when did "All persons are born equal" and "have the right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness" become all rich American white guys "are born equal" and "have the right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness?"
This is not the democracy I thought I knew when I was growing up. America is not and cannot be the definition of true democracy. In fact the United States is no democracy at all. In my opinion the United States is a democratic regime of rich white men who further the exploitation of many to fuel feed their own pockets and need for power. They use the established system to lure and keep American citizens from realizing the corrupt and unjust society we live in. We live in a country where the only power we the people have is to elect officials into a position of limited power from which they assist the continuation of a world wide system headed by wealthy transnational corporations and governmental figures. The same elite population that live lavish lives while repressing, killing, and marginalizing anyone necessary for the continuation of their power including those activists who stand for justice regardless of nationality. If this, the reality of the United States, is the definition of democracy then I have no choice but to define democracy myself and fight for its existence.
Democracy, as it stated in the documentary Beyond Voting, is a process. It is not perfect from the start but rather develops and expands overtime. It is a form of political process that requires the direct and active participation of the people in the development of a better society in which the freedoms of all are protected, nurtured, and expanded. No majority rules, rather consensus rules so that no minorities are neglected or oppressed. The rights and equality of "the other" are respected and valued. The people are in power through direct participation, especially at the local level, in the decision making process. Democracy is a system where any elected officials are easily held accountable for their actions by the people for whom they are meant to be representing; a governmental structure that works to advance the living standards of all its citizens and the world without oppression or repression of any group of; a real government of the people, for the people, by the people that will never parish from the face of this Earth. That is democracy, a government worth fighting for.
Sources used to construct my argument: The book Empire's Workshop by Greg Grandin, and the documentary Beyond Elections, Lincoln’s Gettysburg address, and the Declaration of Independence.
Wednesday, May 26, 2010
The Church of Nancy
So while in Guatemala City the group and I visited the central plaza of the city. It was such a massive and beautiful area surrounded by large churches and structures I think were the capital buildings. In the middle was a nice stone fountain covered in groups of people, lovers, and families. Our group stood on the outside edge near a line of buildings which were home to various stores and resturantes. As we stood soaking up the scene I noticed a middle age gentleman walking behind Nancy. He was very clearly checking out her ass. I was at first a bit dumbfounded at how openly he stared even as he continued to walk but then my protection instincts kicked in and I gently walked over and put my arm around her. As I walked over the guy turned away finally and, to my surprise and my continued amusement, crossed himself "in the name of the father, the son, and the holy spirit." Oh man I could not believe what I just saw. The man literally asked for forgiveness for bearing witness to Nancy's beauty.
From this the joke of the trip has erupted and developed against the better wishes of Nancy. Joe, my roomate, took the cross to a whole new level though. Instead of randomly crossing ourselves in front of her or at grace when in the presence of Nancy, Joe has created the Church of Nancy. Applications for positions in the church are available if interested. Our idol is Nancy and her beauty our stairway to seeing the divine haha. Any can join so long as you appreciate and cherish the absolute beauty of Nancy as discovered by some random Guatemalan man.
Is it not funny how one random interaction with a stranger can cause a ripple of events and memories that will last a life time?
From this the joke of the trip has erupted and developed against the better wishes of Nancy. Joe, my roomate, took the cross to a whole new level though. Instead of randomly crossing ourselves in front of her or at grace when in the presence of Nancy, Joe has created the Church of Nancy. Applications for positions in the church are available if interested. Our idol is Nancy and her beauty our stairway to seeing the divine haha. Any can join so long as you appreciate and cherish the absolute beauty of Nancy as discovered by some random Guatemalan man.
Is it not funny how one random interaction with a stranger can cause a ripple of events and memories that will last a life time?
Here Comes The Rain
Quetzaltenango seems so much like Syracuse except normally a lot warmer. The weather just cannot make up its mind. One second its pouring and lightning out and the next its sunny and windy. The mountains are almost always shrouded in midst and cloud which reminds me of waking up and looking over the valley at home. I actually miss home quite a bit. Not so much for the actual physicality of home but rather the people. This is something I knew would come. It is always hard to leave friends and family behind to do something like this but in the end its worth it.
Still though as I go to sleep thoughts of someone tend to fill my head as I grip my pillow and snuggle under the thick wool blankets. Joe and Steve are great roomates though and help to keep me from feeling lonely. My friends here have been so fun to hang with and if not for them this would be a much different trip. As I write my friends Amanda, Jessie, Nancy, and Shirly are playing spoons with hairbrushes and its freaking hilarious. They keep accidentally hitting each other or knocking the others off the bed while also commenting on the hot cowboys that fill the nearby TV screen. I can't wait to share the adventures with my friend and family at home. The professors have been so generous and just amazing to be around. I have learned so much in such a short time.
Its fun and hard to look on facebook seeing all the comments and messages people are sending one another and me. I love the fact that i can keep in touch but at the same time witnessing the lives of my friends and family from a distance is weird and makes me wish i was there. Traveling is such a great thing but its not easy. One has to be strong, be open, be flexible, and have a level head and strong heart. Its not something for everyone but something I wish everyone could do. It really builds connections between people of different cultures causing all involved to realize just how similar we all are. We are all humans and though we might have different styles of living in the world there are some universal circumstances and experiences we share as human beings. We all need food and water, we all need love, we all have dreams and desires, we all share a special bond with friends and family, we are all capable of great things even in the smallest of ways.
I hope I come back from this trip with a better understanding of the world, a new found wisdom, and bigger heart, and more love than ever for those who have so patiently been waiting to see me at home. Keep waiting and know I carry your love with me. Miss you and see you soon a better person.
Still though as I go to sleep thoughts of someone tend to fill my head as I grip my pillow and snuggle under the thick wool blankets. Joe and Steve are great roomates though and help to keep me from feeling lonely. My friends here have been so fun to hang with and if not for them this would be a much different trip. As I write my friends Amanda, Jessie, Nancy, and Shirly are playing spoons with hairbrushes and its freaking hilarious. They keep accidentally hitting each other or knocking the others off the bed while also commenting on the hot cowboys that fill the nearby TV screen. I can't wait to share the adventures with my friend and family at home. The professors have been so generous and just amazing to be around. I have learned so much in such a short time.
Its fun and hard to look on facebook seeing all the comments and messages people are sending one another and me. I love the fact that i can keep in touch but at the same time witnessing the lives of my friends and family from a distance is weird and makes me wish i was there. Traveling is such a great thing but its not easy. One has to be strong, be open, be flexible, and have a level head and strong heart. Its not something for everyone but something I wish everyone could do. It really builds connections between people of different cultures causing all involved to realize just how similar we all are. We are all humans and though we might have different styles of living in the world there are some universal circumstances and experiences we share as human beings. We all need food and water, we all need love, we all have dreams and desires, we all share a special bond with friends and family, we are all capable of great things even in the smallest of ways.
I hope I come back from this trip with a better understanding of the world, a new found wisdom, and bigger heart, and more love than ever for those who have so patiently been waiting to see me at home. Keep waiting and know I carry your love with me. Miss you and see you soon a better person.
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