Tuesday, October 30, 2012
Monday, October 29, 2012
Reflexiones en El Salvador
Puede que lo siguiente no esté completo. Algo que me encanta hacer es escribir estrofas de canciones o poemas de las cuales pienso colectar para poder expresar mis pensamientos y sentimientos. En mi tiempo libre juego con carboncillo. Lo hago más cuando estoy estresada. Aun no eh comprado un cuaderno con papel para jugar con carboncillo así que, eso lo tendré que hacer pronto para poder expresarme no solamente con palabras escritas sino con imágenes.
Desahóguese Señor ~
Compartiendo se desahoga el alma
Compartiendo se desahoga el corazón
Compartiendo abre los ojos
De toda la región
Lagrima en la mejía
Lagrima en el corazón
Lagrima que se seca y queda
En la tierra del Señor.
Siembre, Coseche, y Corte
Los recuerdos y pase la historia
Las cartas que nunca llegaron
Los recuerdos que solos quedaron
Son parte de nuestra historia
Son parte de nuestro corazón…
Qué diferencia hay entre los gobiernos y las pandillas?~
Dime Señor mío porque mi gente sangra con lágrimas ya vendidas..
El llanto se encarcela entre sus venas
Y sus sueños se derrotan entre mentiras..
El llanto de la niña sin zapatos
ella llora..
No porque no tenga sino porque de nada sirve su intento de detener la herida de su madre
Lagrimas rojas son las que lloramos.
Por eso tenemos la piel marcada
Las heridas siguen abiertas y el aire no las cura porque la lluvia está contaminada.
Dame señor el valor de abrir los ojos y de nunca cerrarlos.
Estoy guardando un rencor
En mi pobre corazón
Que se alivia con lágrimas y suspiros
Y me duele imaginar las cosas
Que tuvieron que pasar
Para hoy tener recuerdos de los desaparecidos.
Madre que pelea,
Madre que busca,
Madre de esperanza,
Madre de ilusión,
Madre que perdió su hijo,
Madre que perdió la razón.
OWL in EL SALVADOR
THIS past week has been a heck of a dive into life. El Salvador is a place where the past is the present in the minds of the older generation. It is a place that is filled with great potential but low investment. It is the kingdom of American fast food restaurants. It is a place where the roads and bridges are made out of pavement. It is a place where the streets are marked with the presence of the youth aka graffiti. It is a place where the dollar is a bill and a coin. It is a place governed by very polarized political parties. It is a place where deputees who have made decisive decisions that resulted in massacres are in congress.
MR. D.'
Listening and learning from peoples testimonies is harder than I imagined. He is a nice man I would say. A man with his many years and experience in life. He is a man with that little french hat. He lived his youth through a war that deprived him of peace and security, a life that was deprived of tears and emotions, a life that was like living and seeing death. A life that ends with a happy ending. He met his wife during the war and his children are now handsome young men. He is an alternate deputee in the National Assembly of El Salvador. He told us his story. Just a glimpse of his story. He met his wife during the war and he suffered many deaths of loved ones and friends. I call him Mr. D simply because I do not wish to use his full name. Man like him that have dedicated their life to his community makes me want to learn more about individuals and their potential. It was hard to listen to his testimony because he was completely honest as he talked about his friends, about his dreams as a young man. It was hard because I could hear his numb pain in his voice as he tried to express what he felt and asked us to imagine being in his shoes when he walked by the military unable to grief the death of the massacre that took place in a plaza. Mr. D. fought with the FMLN he is member of the FMLN.
On Friday the 26th I had the opportunity to meet with two FMLN candidates and an ARENA candidate. The difference between the two is extremely evident and complete polarized in relation to each other. FMLN is more for the people and infrastructure within El Salvador. The FMLN is socialist, from what I understand and ARENA is neoliberal. First of all when talking to the FMLN we met in a very simple room. One that looked like it could be a storage room or if fixed up a bit it would look more like a meeting room for a political party. When we met with ARENA the room was a museum of pictures. It had nice chairs and a great big table. The founders ARENA were framed on the walls. It was a heavy atmosphere, the founders of ARENA had been the mindsets behind massacres during the civil war. It is aggravating to know that has not been any trials for the murderers and masterminds of massacres. Open wounds are left open because there has not been any trials and amnesty has been given by the state. This is possibly the reason why the Salvadorian people are more open to share their stories and their struggles. There is a sense of grief that has not been consoled and by sharing the grief is legitimized.
Visiting Santa Marta was quite impressive. Even though it has dirt/mud roads many homes were well structured. Electricity runs 24hrs, there is water and their are large mini size pools to hold water, some houses have propane stoves and there are latrines. The people of Santa Marta live together in harmony. They are what a community is suppose to be. The work together to move forward. Santa Marta is a village with history, it's people know their past and learn about it in school. It even has its own radio station called Radio Victoria in Victoria, El Salvador. Unfortunately, the station and the community have been threatened because of their social awareness. One example of such issues comes from foreign investors like those that want to conduct mining in El Salvador.The community has raised together to protect one another and to keep on with their movements and their presistance in holding the government accountable to prevent mining. The radio serves as a tool to not only spread information but to get the information through interviews and research.
I absolutely loved El Salvador. Its people are very friendly and open. I did feel the difference between Nicaragua and El Salvador and I am not sure if it is because El Salvador has a more recent war history or because the FSLN turned into a party instead of overthrowing ARENA. I would love to return to El Salvador.
MR. D.'
Listening and learning from peoples testimonies is harder than I imagined. He is a nice man I would say. A man with his many years and experience in life. He is a man with that little french hat. He lived his youth through a war that deprived him of peace and security, a life that was deprived of tears and emotions, a life that was like living and seeing death. A life that ends with a happy ending. He met his wife during the war and his children are now handsome young men. He is an alternate deputee in the National Assembly of El Salvador. He told us his story. Just a glimpse of his story. He met his wife during the war and he suffered many deaths of loved ones and friends. I call him Mr. D simply because I do not wish to use his full name. Man like him that have dedicated their life to his community makes me want to learn more about individuals and their potential. It was hard to listen to his testimony because he was completely honest as he talked about his friends, about his dreams as a young man. It was hard because I could hear his numb pain in his voice as he tried to express what he felt and asked us to imagine being in his shoes when he walked by the military unable to grief the death of the massacre that took place in a plaza. Mr. D. fought with the FMLN he is member of the FMLN.
On Friday the 26th I had the opportunity to meet with two FMLN candidates and an ARENA candidate. The difference between the two is extremely evident and complete polarized in relation to each other. FMLN is more for the people and infrastructure within El Salvador. The FMLN is socialist, from what I understand and ARENA is neoliberal. First of all when talking to the FMLN we met in a very simple room. One that looked like it could be a storage room or if fixed up a bit it would look more like a meeting room for a political party. When we met with ARENA the room was a museum of pictures. It had nice chairs and a great big table. The founders ARENA were framed on the walls. It was a heavy atmosphere, the founders of ARENA had been the mindsets behind massacres during the civil war. It is aggravating to know that has not been any trials for the murderers and masterminds of massacres. Open wounds are left open because there has not been any trials and amnesty has been given by the state. This is possibly the reason why the Salvadorian people are more open to share their stories and their struggles. There is a sense of grief that has not been consoled and by sharing the grief is legitimized.
Visiting Santa Marta was quite impressive. Even though it has dirt/mud roads many homes were well structured. Electricity runs 24hrs, there is water and their are large mini size pools to hold water, some houses have propane stoves and there are latrines. The people of Santa Marta live together in harmony. They are what a community is suppose to be. The work together to move forward. Santa Marta is a village with history, it's people know their past and learn about it in school. It even has its own radio station called Radio Victoria in Victoria, El Salvador. Unfortunately, the station and the community have been threatened because of their social awareness. One example of such issues comes from foreign investors like those that want to conduct mining in El Salvador.The community has raised together to protect one another and to keep on with their movements and their presistance in holding the government accountable to prevent mining. The radio serves as a tool to not only spread information but to get the information through interviews and research.
I absolutely loved El Salvador. Its people are very friendly and open. I did feel the difference between Nicaragua and El Salvador and I am not sure if it is because El Salvador has a more recent war history or because the FSLN turned into a party instead of overthrowing ARENA. I would love to return to El Salvador.
Thursday, October 18, 2012
THE TIME HAS COME
ALRIGHT, so I have yet again been absent for a while. I hope ya'll had a good time looking at the recent pictures that I put up. Later today I will be on my way to El Salvador. I will be indulged into an intense week long coverage of El Salvador's history; along with its triumphs and challenges it has gone through and is currently going through. These past few weeks I have been busy with papers, presentations and working on what my independent study will be. Once I return from El Salvador I will have a week of preparation for my independent study which will begin November 6, 2012. After much thought into what it is that I want to focus my studies in for this small time in Nicaragua I have come to the conclusion that ...
My study goal is to narrate the family and social influences of four to six youths whose parents and or grandparents may or may not be politically active; or might or might have not been politically active through out their youth or in present day; and to investigate the phenomenon of the gap between generations concerning the ideals of the revolution including Nicaragua's present regime.
(I know that there is space for questions and conserns so please feel free to comment. I would greatly appreciate any feedback and recommendations.) The reason I am focusing on a theme of politics in generations is because I want to take advantage of the time, space and place. The generation that lived through the Contra war of the 1980's is todays older generation. I am a student and therefore am seen as a neutral party and therefore will encourage a safe space to share personal thoughts and refelections. Nicaragua has a very recent history of civil war and so, because of my presence here I am able to communicate with three generations whose perspectives are nurtured through family and social issues and have led to ... well, this is what I want to find out.
I have yet to find an advisor for my independent study, I need one to guide me with my research and be able to provide connections to what might be helpful for my investigation. I bought a very expensive voice recorder today. I might be crazy buying it but I will aim to use it restlessly and make it worth the cost. I figued that since I will be making many interviews I will need something to help me remember things I miss for when I go over my notes. I will use it in El Salvador to see how well it works and to test out its battery and proficiency.
Early this week I skyped with my older brother and started to brag a bit about my professors and lecturers. I guess I will mention the few I can think of right now just to provide an idea of how intense and well credited the program is:
Comandante Dora Maria Tellez, the women who dealt with negociations during the take of the National Palace which was the turning point to the fall of the Samoza regime (1978).
Comandante Eden Pastora, aka Comandante Zero during the take of the National Palace (1978).
Johnny Hodgson the father of autonomy of the Caribbean coast of Nicaragua.
Simone Zenon Morales the only (Garifuna) snake doctor in Orinoco and surrounding Bluefields.
Antonio Lacayo, Engineer that served as the right hand man of President Chamorros' during her presidency.
Zoilamerica Narvaez, step daughter of current President Daniel Ortega. She is an advocate for peace and a victim of sexual assult and abuse from her step dad Daniel Ortega.
Maria Teresa Blandon, strong feminist and founder + regional coordinator of La Corriente
Luis Fley aka Comandante "Johnson" de la contra (CIA)
Araceli Alfaro VERY VERY VERY interesting woman!!! She is my Spanish professor with a strong not really horribly complicated but yet very very very much so (see how complicated that is?). She also happens to be the god daughter of President Daniel Ortega. She also has a military background.
And many more that I cannot remember right at the moment!!!
CANNOT WAIT FOR EL SALVADOR!!!
My study goal is to narrate the family and social influences of four to six youths whose parents and or grandparents may or may not be politically active; or might or might have not been politically active through out their youth or in present day; and to investigate the phenomenon of the gap between generations concerning the ideals of the revolution including Nicaragua's present regime.
(I know that there is space for questions and conserns so please feel free to comment. I would greatly appreciate any feedback and recommendations.) The reason I am focusing on a theme of politics in generations is because I want to take advantage of the time, space and place. The generation that lived through the Contra war of the 1980's is todays older generation. I am a student and therefore am seen as a neutral party and therefore will encourage a safe space to share personal thoughts and refelections. Nicaragua has a very recent history of civil war and so, because of my presence here I am able to communicate with three generations whose perspectives are nurtured through family and social issues and have led to ... well, this is what I want to find out.
I have yet to find an advisor for my independent study, I need one to guide me with my research and be able to provide connections to what might be helpful for my investigation. I bought a very expensive voice recorder today. I might be crazy buying it but I will aim to use it restlessly and make it worth the cost. I figued that since I will be making many interviews I will need something to help me remember things I miss for when I go over my notes. I will use it in El Salvador to see how well it works and to test out its battery and proficiency.
Early this week I skyped with my older brother and started to brag a bit about my professors and lecturers. I guess I will mention the few I can think of right now just to provide an idea of how intense and well credited the program is:
Comandante Dora Maria Tellez, the women who dealt with negociations during the take of the National Palace which was the turning point to the fall of the Samoza regime (1978).
Comandante Eden Pastora, aka Comandante Zero during the take of the National Palace (1978).
Johnny Hodgson the father of autonomy of the Caribbean coast of Nicaragua.
Simone Zenon Morales the only (Garifuna) snake doctor in Orinoco and surrounding Bluefields.
Antonio Lacayo, Engineer that served as the right hand man of President Chamorros' during her presidency.
Zoilamerica Narvaez, step daughter of current President Daniel Ortega. She is an advocate for peace and a victim of sexual assult and abuse from her step dad Daniel Ortega.
Maria Teresa Blandon, strong feminist and founder + regional coordinator of La Corriente
Luis Fley aka Comandante "Johnson" de la contra (CIA)
Araceli Alfaro VERY VERY VERY interesting woman!!! She is my Spanish professor with a strong not really horribly complicated but yet very very very much so (see how complicated that is?). She also happens to be the god daughter of President Daniel Ortega. She also has a military background.
And many more that I cannot remember right at the moment!!!
CANNOT WAIT FOR EL SALVADOR!!!
Monday, October 15, 2012
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