Four years ago, as a confused young womyn in the dead of winter, I purchased a one-way ticket to Costa Rica, and with nothing but the bag on my back, traveled throughout the country learning about life, culture, and to take a breath to appreciate the beautiful things in life. Why Costa Rica? I flipped through a book once, intoxicated by the plush greenery, progressive national identity and the idea that they, since 1948, refused to have a military and called themselves a peaceful nation. As a young woman looking to find herself, I wanted to be in a place that promoted living humbly, appreciating the little things in life, promoted peace always. I had an amazing experience and have a sacred place in my heart for the country that treated me very well. Which is why, several years later, I found myself beading my eyes, fuming from the nose and feeling like a lioness ready to defend her cubs when I read in an article that the U.S. is sending its military to Costa Rica.
Shortly after landing in San Jose, I learned the national phrase Pura Vida meaning pure life, representing the need to let go of worries, be positive and enjoy life for what it is. The people in Costa Rica do justice by the phrase as they enjoy life, are pleasant to all (especially this foreign womyn), and are as peaceful as you can imagine. Why need the U.S. military?
The U.S. is sending the military -approximately "46 United States Navy warships capable of carrying 200 helicopters, along with 10 Harrier vertical take-off and landing fighter jets, and 7,000 combat ready marines available for land based operations" [GlobalPost]- to combat issues of drug trafficking and boosts of Central American crime. Maybe I'm a bit pessimistic, but since when does the U.S. care about the crime in another country? Some have speculated that this temporary occupation, the military is scheduled to be in Costa Rica until the end of 2010, is just another way for the U.S. to push themselves into another Latin American country. Just ask neighboring Panama. Outside of the Panama Canal issues, the U.S. now has two permanent military bases in the country.
I also spent time in Panama. While there, passing in a car with some Panamanian friends, I learned that not only are Panamanians, outside of service workers, prohibited from going to those areas because they are "American soil", but some of the highest crime areas surround these bases because they are filled with prostitutes, drugs, and bars, all of which are catered to American soldiers.
Who wants that in Costa Rica????
Nobody. There has been a growing number of civilians protesting the occupation of the U.S. military because although they deem it important to tackle issues of drugs and crime, they do not see how it is necessary to bring in an outside military. A video campaign called "Yo amo mi pais sin militares" (I love my country with no army) has spread throughout the country. This campaign is calling for civilians to take a picture of themselves in form of protest to contribute to the quilt of pictures from people saying NO to American occupation.
Even their protesting is peaceful.
My two cents: The United States has no business going into yet another country, spending American tax dollars, or insisting that the solution to the problem is military action. Can we clean up our mess in Iraq? Can we stop pushing ourselves onto Afghanistan? Can we make sure that the more than 9.5% unemployed Americans struggling to make ends meet are taken care of before running up in someone else's country and spending money?
Get it together, U.S. We need a serious power intervention. How dare we impose our strategies for "making things right" on another country when we haven't gotten it right ourselves. And while we're on the shaming: Shame on you Costa Rican government. como, en 62 anos sin tener militares se les occura abrir la puerta a los ee.uu sin limites???? que sinverguenza.
Not only Costa Ricans, but everyone is encouraged to take a photograph in peaceful protest to contribute to the growing number of voices against this move. Email your photo at amomipaissinmilitares@gmail.com in support of this movement. Who knows, you might make it to their growing video.
It's amazing to me how wars and brute force is the only method for such an influential country like the U.S.
ReplyDeleteHandling another country's problem by way of military will not necessarily solve the problem. Sometimes I wonder if they just want a piece of the action in terms of drug money and control.
You pinpoint a very important and crucial issue, HNB: Money and control.
ReplyDeleteunfortunately, as we've learned through history, nobody just "helps" another country for the sake of being a good samaritan, there has to be something else in mind. The U.S. is notorious for barging in on Latin American countries and forcing their ways into the culture and politics.
It wouldn't be so urgent if there was nothing the U.S. could benefit from.
amor y paz.
Angela, your information on the unemployment rate in the U.S. is incorrect. Perhaps, you should do more research. Latin America is and always will be America's backyard.
ReplyDeletedearest anonymous reader,
ReplyDeleteyou'd be relieved to know that I research all of the topics I post about and do not just write propaganda for the sake of wanting to be heard- we already have plenty of those.
My information about the U.S. unemployment rate comes directly from the belly of the beast. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics calculates that unemployment, in the U.S, for the month of July, is at an "unchanged 9.5%". Why am I quoting July when we are in the beginning of Sept? Simple: Because the U.S. does not release information regarding August unemployment until September 3, 2010. So, reader, you see, my information is in fact accurate.
Still questioning my facts? check it out:
http://data.bls.gov/PDQ/servlet/SurveyOutputServlet?data_tool=latest_numbers&series_id=LNS14000000
Second, and more interesting to me, is your statement: "Latin America is and always will be America's backyard"
Sin falta de respeto, as we would say in Spanish, that language assumes a role of conqueror who begat hierarchy who begat racism, who begat exploitation and so on and so forth. Let it be known that countries who feel the need to use other countries at their leisure, as one would use a backyard, are suffering from what many know as the little penis complex. Statements like these are problematic because they don't aim to resolve any issues, they only mean to provoke them. And quite frankly, querido reader, it's really played out.
amor y paz.