A New Kind of Revolution

Evita Perón said, “There are some oligarchs that make me want to bite them just as one crunches into a carrot or a radish.” She became a voice for the poor people of Argentina during her time, and while this statement evokes a chuckle, it’s the passion with which it was spoken that is relevant here. It’s a kind of passion that needs to be reignited and fostered in others, as one candle flame can light another, spreading its fire to many places.   

Much has changed throughout Latin America over the years. Yet, there is still that lingering element of separation that began so long ago, causing some to have inferiority thrust upon them. I’ve seen it with my own eyes while wandering the roads less traveled in modern-day shantytowns of Costa Rica. I felt the people’s burdens, and their pain. It is a type of injustice that need not exist. It left me feeling outraged, asking myself again and again, where is humanity? Does it even exist? I have also seen it elsewhere… in the eyes of elderly loved ones in Mexico… eyes that have never experienced the joy that comes from written words. Since proper educational opportunities were out of reach for them, they learned to not value it… and to scoff at those who do.

I agree that there is a lot of “injustice woven into the fabric of a society founded on conquest and dedicated, over the centuries, to maintaining inequalities” (Chasteen, p. 269). I also agree that there are forms of “institutionalized violence” (Chasteen, pp. 281-282) which foster poverty and ignorance in those neglected by the system. However, I don’t believe that government can solve every problem. Fidel Castro comes to mind. I never knew much about Cuba until I watched the movie, “For Love or Country - The Arturo Sandoval Story” (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lN6SzMXtMGQ). It really helped me understand the plight of the Cuban people. It makes it clear that unless a government is acting out of true concern for all people… and probably no government ever has… then it will ultimately just be about power and control, and the same problems will continue to exist as always.

 I believe there needs to be a humanitarian revolution in Latin America… one that restores hope and dignity, and helps people to become less dependent on government. Every person can make a difference individually, and so much more can be done when people join together. We must be the change we wish to see in the world (Gandhi). We can all start where we are, use what we have, and do what we can (Arthur Ashe).

This excerpt from Pablo Neruda’s “Ode to Hope” is a good reminder that we do not strive in vain
 (See the full poem here… http://sheltersky.blogspot.com/2009/10/ode-to-hopeby-pablo-neruda.html ).

We men,

touch the water,

struggling and hoping,

we touch the sea,

hoping.

And the waves tell the firm coast,

"Everything will be fulfilled."

Chasteen, John Charles (2011)  Born in Blood & Fire:  A Concise History of Latin America (3^rd Editions) W.W. Norton Publisher.