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.

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?

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.

The Fellowship of the Bikes

Despite the lack of any real concrete planning and some underestimating of the difficulties and dangers of the quest, a fellowship of nine set out from Quetzaltenango early Sunday morning in order to traverse many miles and scale a mountain to volcanic feed springs. This fellowship of nine, including myself, had only bikes, some minor supplies, and one another to face whatever challenges may come.

Andrew, who had set up the renting of the bikes and was given the maps took lead while I volunteered to take up the rear in order to make sure no man or woman was left behind. Together the nine of us set out and within the first 30mins many were ready to quite. The roads were rough, the sun hot, the hills extremely steep, and the physical challenges a bit more than people had expected. However, we continued to motivate one another and I kept the stranglers going strong. Once past our first big mountain the riding became easier but dangerous. Going down what came to be nicknamed the "downhill of doom" came at great costs. Despite the beautiful scenery the road was not an easy one and my front brake completely snapped off while going down the hill. Luckily my long legs and back break came in handy to help me come to a stop. For the rest of the trip both extreme up hills and extreme downhills I was left with only a partially working back brake and my feet. A few companions such as Adrienne, Julie, and Joe made sure to be there as support for when I needed it.

In our adventures we traveled through two large towns located in different valleys. The people had next to nothing and the sanitation was far from sanitary as piss and sewage ran straight through the streets where peopled walked and ate. Despite this the people were extremely friendly and aided us on our quest. When Andrew had realized the map was inaccurate the aid of the locals became crucial. In the second town close to the base of the great mountain/volcano, there was ironically a great bike race going on hosted by the local cathedral. We in a strange way blended into the competition but as soon as the first major hill struck our fellowship dropped from their bikes and walked them up the hill.

It was a long and misty journey up the great mountain. By the time we reached half way we were so densely immersed in cloud that it became hard to see more than 15 feet in front of you. The air was thin and felt hard to breathe at times but we took it slow and made our way to the top where we entered the Fuentes...or the volcanic feed springs. They were extremely got and relaxing sulfur springs which helped give us rest after traveling I think near 17 miles. Two members of our fellowship broke off from the group unable to make the final leg of the journey into the belly of the beast. They returned via bus ahead of us to the hotel back in Quetzaltenango. As for the rest of the group we finished our quest and scaled back down the mountain through thick fog and the constant threat of a random cow or horse or car. Once at the bottom we jumped on a bus after loading our bikes and made the final leg home. All reached safely with great pride in completing the journey. It was a memorable and big bonding experience that will stick with the fellowship for the remainder of our lives.

Josh

Quetzaltenago

Hola mis amigos!
So I find myself in Quetzaltenago, a much smaller city in Guatemala than its Capital, Guatemala City. The beauty of Quetzaltenago is uniquely Guatemalan unlike that of Guatemala City which whose beauty was almost eroded by the overwhelming presence of American and western capitalism.

The number of Mcdonalds, Burgerkings, Goodyear stores, Hallmarks, Beauty Stops, and other American companies was sickening really. Even the government buildings of Guatemala seem to be constructed to match that of the western powers. I read recently in an article entitled Empire's Workshop, by Greg Grandin, that there are three periods of western influence in Guatemala the first being the Invasion and colonial rule of the Spanish in the 16th century, followed by the second which is American Corporate imperialism that ranged between 1950-1970's, and now we are in the period of imperialism by multinational banks, the American Treasury, and the International Monetary Fund. It is clear to see the results of these imperial periods as I look around Guatemala City and witness Guatemalans dining out at Taco Bell. I mean wow, what a slap in the face to any Latin Americans when Guatemalans and tourists decide to eat fake American tacos over actual traditional and homemade Latin American cuisine. The domination of American markets, the number of unemployed and uninsured, the presence of large malls and bars all playing forms of American media, and the religious presence of Jews and Christians and Evangelicals and Muslims are all visible examples of the results of western imperialism that I have personally witnessed and read about.

Quetzaltenango however seems to cling a little more strongly to Mayan and Guatemalan roots. There are traditional parades through the streets of Mayan men and women in their traditional clothes that speak to this connection to the old culture. The presence of Mayan languages as well as the lack of almost any American or Western corporations in Queztaltenango gives the city a very Guatemalan feel. Though it is my first night here in Queztaltenango the difference in the attitude of the people and how they view themselves is so clearly different from that of the people in Guatemala City. The people of Queztaltenango are extremely friendly and confident in the practice of their traditional customs to the degree of even having statues in their central park dedicated to figures such as this one Mayan women who did good things for the local community. The focus of the people and thus the city of Quetzaltenango itself seems to be on the local community and customs as opposed to Guatemala City which focuses on modernization and replicating the culture and design of American and other international cities.There are certainly visible effects of imperialism though in Queztaltenango the biggest being the massive church located in its central park region. The church towers over most any other structure in the city and resembles that which you would find in the most modern western cities across Europe. The other visible influence is in the modern section of the city that I have yet to thoroughly explore but even from what I have seen there is American presence through stores such as Levis Jean company. The biggest effect though of western imperialism, mostly recent western imperialism through the multinational banks and International Monetary Fund is the drastic rate of unemployment. So many homeless beggars lined the streets, kids attempting to polish your shoes in order to have enough money to buy a meal, and other such sad faces all suffer due to the imperialistic economic "free market" policies forced upon Guatemala by the IMF and other organizations or countries.

A sad reality but still the people of Queztaltenango seem to live with hope for a better tomorrow and pride in the glory of their past. The city's nightlife is extraordinary and could compete in its own unique way with any American or European city. I thank God for the fact that at least in Quetzaltenango there seems to be a mix of music influences some being native Guatemalan or Spanish and others being the very prevalent and overwhelming music of modern America. With 11 or so days left in this city I look forward to discovering more and enriching myself in the Guatemalan way of life.

Josh

A Sign of Light in an Ocean of Darkness

Being gay is often one of the toughest but most strengthening experiences I am fortunate to have. Often misunderstood and judged negatively, sexuality is innate in one's being. You either love women, or guys, or both if you are bisexual. These things are innate parts of who we are as individuals and not learned preferences or habits. Love, though hard to define, is not defined by gender and knows no bounds. It bothers me personally when people question my understanding of love simply because I happen to be both spiritually and physically attracted to guys. I do not question a heterosexual individual's understanding or experiences or feelings of love simply because he or she likes the opposite sex. Love is love no matter who one feels it for and simply because one happens to love the same sex does not mean that their perception or experience of love is any different from what a man feels when the women of his dreams is walking down the aisle adorned all in white.

Upon arrival in Guatemala City I was struck immediately by the overwhelming presence of these green and white signs posted all across the city on telephone poles, buildings, and traffic signs. The signs read something along the lines of "Eduquelo! El tolerencia y la igualdad de derechos en lugar de trabajo: Homosexualidad, Bisexualidad, Lesbianismo, y Transexualidad."
At the bottom of the sign was the name of a LGBT labor rights organization who stated their objective to be the securing equality of treatment and rights for homosexual, transgendered, and bisexual individuals in the workplace. The plethora of signs and their bold calls for equality were bold stands to take in a primarily strong anti-gay culture. Even in the generally more liberal-ish international metropolis of Guatemala City, the idea that any activists would so clearly and boldly advocate for justice in face of such fierce and violent resistance amazed me. Justin, a fellow Le Moyne student and homosexual friend of mine, and I were simply dumbfounded but excited by this sign of hope.

Activism in Guatemala, regardless of what is being advocated for, has a very real and recent history of violent resistance. The culture sees homosexuality as taboo and though no particular anti-gay laws seems to exist from the little research I have been able to do and observations I have made, the consequences of homosexuality are profoundly negative and most definitely deadly. According to Globalgayz, a site for gay travel, life, culture, and such: Anti-gay motivated violence and murder is so accepted in Guatemala that the existence of any openly gay groups do not exist. Globalgayz and the well known Human Rights Watch organization both report frequently on recent murders, disappearances, and mistreatment of homosexual persons in Guatemala including the murder of two local dancers or drag-queens of Guatemala City over the past decade or so.

The overwhelming number of signs across Guatemala City and the boldness of their message seems to speak to a recent increase in the desire for justice and has kindled my interest in further exploring the Mayan and traditional Guatemalan understandings of homosexual, bisexual, and transgendered individuals. Though the posters spoke primarily of homosexual rights in the workplace the underground movement for homosexual toleration and equality does not end there. This is evidenced in Guatemala City through the continued existence of "Pandora's Box," one of three gay bars located here in Guatemala City. The continued success and survival of these bars acts as the first steps forward in breaking the taboo and injustices related to homosexuality in Guatemala. In a culture where breaking the norm or failing to live up to certain social expectations is often met with death or harsh consequences, gay bars and the presence of a bold gay rights labor organization are a huge targets for violent repression but strong statements in favor of justice and equal rights for all. Beacons of light in a sea of darkness.

Josh K