Bonito Living

While visiting Colombia the writer Jorge Luis Borges once said that “being Colombian is an act of faith”. A good phrase describing our identity as Colombians.  Oscillating between faith and despair, being Colombian means that you somehow have accepted the difficulties but still believe we can. We know the richness of our country, our people, the innovators, the solidarity; but we know of violence, of repression, of injustice.  The protests in the last ten days are a testimony of this pendulum situation, a Colombian spring, one of many, although this time there is a new generation in charge, and new strategies for speaking up, including art, beauty, dance and imagination. But there are also death squads trying to crush the protest, unidentified trucks of paramilitary groups shooting around; people have disappeared; abuses are rife. The answer has been death in front of dance, and yet we need to keep dancing.  

Why is the protest?

Where to start? The abuses are historical, rooted in economic and political reasons, I cannot remember that we have had any period of peace. My grandparents and parents have suffered and witnessed violence, having to leave their lands/houses and relocate hurriedly in another place.  The reforms to Health and social investment have followed the cruel measures of neo-liberal dogmas, where people do not count, only maximising capital. The promises of peace have been broken, social leaders are assassinated in the regions and countryside, displace people keep moving and growing, there are no opportunities. The environment is offered to sale to rampant investors, contamination takes lives, our proud biodiversity is menaced. The last drop was the Tax Reform, that will tax middle and low sectors of the population, to raise an alleged capital to “revive the economy”, while conglomerates and multinationals can go free in charge of depleting resources on low taxes. And if that money were invested, well, that would be nice, but the corruption is shameless, and I think folks have had enough! 

But the news look awful

Yes they do, but they are a part of the situation. In troubled waters many try to take advantage, vandalism and crime take advantage. The government and armed forces response have been not even excessive, it has been criminal. With the excuse of “restore the order”, they have tried to silence people. The ideology inspiring this response is not far from the worst aspects of nazism and the juntas trained in Escuela de las Américas. And there is a pervasive culture of authoritarianism, patriarchalism and environmental destruction, that somehow we have allowed, and many have supported.  As somebody explained, the narrative of the news is problematic: to a first image of peaceful protesters singing, the following image is vandalism, implying that the first group transformed in the second, muddling the perception of the situation.  The ghost of the guerrilla and the Castro-Chavismo keep blinding any balance view, and the conditions that gave place to the left movements in the 1960s, passing for the failed promises of the several Peace Agreements, refused by a slight majority in the Peace referendum in 2016. 

Responsibility

A phrase that Colombians like to use is “pais de mierda” = “shitty country”, but I don’t agree. Not because I don’t think there is a lot of it, but because it is not the only narrative, neither the most constructive. Also because it is easy to say that sort of thing from the comfort of our computer, living abroad, surrounded by privilege. In fact, I must confess that many in my generation gave up faith, and that was one of the reasons to migrate.  It is understandable, the systematic assassination of the leaders of left parties during the 1990s was the beginning of downfall; for me it was the assassination of Jaime Garzón, humorist, writer, and one of the most witty analysts of our Colombia process. We lost faith, and we gave in to the avalanche of radical discourses on the right, the narratives of hatred, the anger and the despotism to progress. Many Colombians lost hope and let the taxes and restrictions grow, accepting as if a bad fate was our only option.  I read the news and I felt ashamed, but that’s not going to help, isn’t it?

The dangers

Colombia’s Constitution of 1991 shrines the democratic nature of our country. Historically we have kept on the side of democratically elected governments (for good or bad) and we have avoided the military dictatorships of our many Latin American countries. Similarly we have curbed from the economic crisis of almost all the subcontinent, and we have tried to make the best of our natural resources. But this situation can be used as an excuse for a coup, the consolidation and enhancement of power in the hands of some few, the propagation of a very dangerous ideology of hate. Some statements from people in power shows that “shooting is the option” and that “order should be restored”. Nothing like, let’s talk, let’s think this together. 

Beauty

The historian and story-teller Diana Uribe has educated a whole new generation in the history of the world. Her radio programs have shown us that our history is not the worst, the more tragic or the more violent. She has insisted that every country can decide to leave the shadows and move into the light: the peace processes in Northern Ireland; the independence of India achieved on pacifism and civil disobedience; the end of the odious Apartheid in South Africa, are all examples that show much more difficult and ingrained hatred, historical abuse, clashes between races or religions and empires, but albeit difficult and challenging, these people gave themselves the opportunity of a future.  What we are witnessing in Colombia at the moment is a new generation dreaming that future.  And they are doing it with knowledge, and beauty. Just to see the way that the Students from all the spectrum talk, the student union president language of reassurance, her commitment and preparation; or the choreographic dances in the protest; the graphic images invading the streets, sticking bold designs in walls and fences.  

The news does not show that apart from the “vandalism” there is a lot of art and music. The musician that needed for her dissertation to “direct” an orchestra and 400 musicians turned up to her call to be “directed” and help her with her degree. Or the peasant who gave up his harvest because at the end that can be recovered, but dignity and justice require his presence here and now. Or a couple of two young models who commented on the destroyed bank buildings saying, “this can be rebuilt, but life must prevail.”Or how protesters bring food and share with some of the policemen -and it must be noted that not all police are evil- we are all neighbors, or friends, or we are in it together. Yes, there is drama, and we are praying for Lucas Villa in his magic dance shot by the police. But there is beauty, and beauty is powerful too.  Education happens in the streets, and beauty responds to terror. 

So can we do?

We must act with the best of our talents. It may not be in the streets, but art, writing, painting, talking must continue.  Let’s keep our eyes open, and please do not forget Colombia. We have good leaders, good people wanting the best for the country, there are also terrible leaders too. The protests are supported by the wider society, not only the usual peeps, but from the street sweepers to people in the neighbourhoods, artists, and universities.

Things are changing: the tax reform was halted, and more changes about social security, health, peace and the environment are following. The international attention has made that people in power are changing the tune, at least pretending, but as we say “make it until we make it”.

We need to keep informed and asking questions. This is a spring and we can blossom.