For a U.S. audience, to watch as the wet, pinkish-red jelly -- the brains of Isis Odem Murillo, the young man killed last Sunday by the U.S.-trained Honduran military -- spill onto those who carried the Christ-like victim was to watch another tragedy unfold in a far off land.
But for those of us familiar with countries in the region like Honduras and El Salvador, where in 1989 U.S.-trained troops literally shot out the brains of six Jesuit priests, their maid and her young daughter, we see reminders of the possible return of the terror that takes friends, family and colleagues.
Such traumatic memories inform the sense of the past in the Americas, the same past that President Barack Obama recently told his hemispheric audience that he wants to break with. We see this, for example, in repeated references to the "past" Obama made during his important speech before the Summit of the Americas meeting in April ("To move forward, we cannot let ourselves be prisoners of past disagreements." Or: "I didn't come here to debate the past -- I came here to deal with the future.")
Noticeably absent in the forward-looking Obama's messages to Latin America is one of the two words we all identify him and his presidency with: hope.
Whatever the reasons for this omission, Obama would do well to remember that, in the bloodied streets of Honduras, and throughout the Americas, there exists a powerful political tradition in which esperanza (Spanish for "hope") is often defined by overcoming the pro-military policies of the country that took as its own the name given to the entire continent -- "America."
Regardless of the outcome of negotiations to end the standoff in Honduras between the de facto military government and the only recognized leader of the country, President Manuel Zelaya, Obama must view the Honduran crisis as an opportunity to support and negotiate with the forces of esperanza on the continent.
He must do so if he is to overcome the past and move forward as he said in his summit speech: "We have at times been disengaged, and at times we sought to dictate our terms. But I pledge to you that we seek an equal partnership."
In the insurgent region of Central America, tiny Honduras is nothing less than ground zero for the first encounter in the hemisphere between the tradition of esperanza and Obama's still-untested notions of "hope."
Contrasted against Obama's still-being-formulated-as-we-speak notions of "hope" and "change" in the region, the movements flying the ancient banner of esperanza have delivered historic shifts across the Americas, as can be seen in the leaders elected in recent years, leaders with no less startling and inspiring stories as Obama's. Indigenous leaders such as Bolivia's Evo Morales; socialist single mothers, and former torture victims, like Chile's Michelle Bachelet; and former steelworkers like Brazil's "Lula" -- Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva.
In times of great crisis, times in which Obama has yet to consolidate a sense of "hope" about the U.S. system in terms of things like health care, banking and jobs, the U.S. president has little to offer Latin America in the way of an alternative to the strides toward universal health care as in Venezuela and Cuba, the nationalization oil and other wealth redistribution programs of Bolivia or the democratization efforts of the deposed Zelaya in Honduras.
Until "hope" has some heft besides military heft to back it up, "esperanza" of Latin America will reign supreme -- and be defended ferociously.
Once called "America's Backyard" by Obama's predecessors, América the continent has torn down the fences of what political scientists call the "unipolar" power of the United States in the region as the forces of esperanza usher in a new, more multipolar moment.
For example, many Latin Americans were not just united in calling for an end to Obama's continuation of the $42.5 million in economic and military aid for Honduras in 2009. (Obama's just-announced cuts in Honduran military aid can be viewed as either the victory of esperanza or the negotiation between esperanza and hope). Polls show that Latin Americans are also fairly unified with regard to their skepticism about U.S. motives in the hemisphere.
According to a widely quoted poll by the respected Latinobarometro Corp. in November, Latin Americans have a more favorable opinion of Spain, Japan and the European Union than they do of the United States -- an unprecedented development -- and two-thirds of all Latin Americans say they "don't believe that the change of leadership in that country (the U.S.) will change the attitude of that country towards the region (of Latin America)."
China, whose foreign aid is mostly non-military (U.S. foreign aid varies between about one-third to two-thirds mostly military aid, as in the case of Colombia), which makes it one of the most important providers of foreign assistance to the region, is tied with the U.S in popularity ratings (58 percent favorable rating) -- and trending upward.
He Li, a political scientist at Merrimack College in North Andover, Mass., the rising popularity of China reflects a resurgent Latin American sovereignty and independence of action. Writing in the North American Congress on Latin America magazine, Li stated, "the Beijing consensus (in Latin America) represents an attractive alternative to its Washington counterpart, largely because Beijing respects the sovereignty of Latin American nations, not meddling in their affairs and certainly not dictating their policies."
Plus, when compared with the fact that Latin American families who live and work in the U.S. send $50 billion to their families at home -- exponentially more than what the U.S. government gives in aid -- the fountain of U.S.-led "hope" in the Americas appears to have dried up in Washington.
In the land of esperanza, Obama must recognize that talk of "hope" that is accompanied by continued military funding for governments like those of Honduras or Colombia rings hollow. And are as increasingly vapid as the political slogans, such as "Si Se Puede" (Yes We Can), deployed by politicians and corporations pilfering beer, burgers and bad foreign policy.
Although the diplomatic dance between the Obama administration and Latin America has just begun, the initial steps in tiny Honduras may not be taken to the tune of "hope," but to that of esperanza.
This article appeared originally in Alternet www.alternet.org
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Paul Paz y Miño: Tragic History Repeats Itself on Brazil's Madeira River
The Madeira dams will not only tear apart the social fabric of these traditional communities, but will devastate fish stocks, Rondônia's principal source of nutrition.
So much of our relationship with latin America was defined, first, by a Manifest Destiny imperial concept (which once made sense when powerful European imperial powers could actually interfere in the region) and then by the Cold War -- that it's going to take a lot of time to uproot all the militarist-espionage-political interference bonds we've built over decades.
These kinds of organizations and relationships do not simply go away. Lots of weeding and political infighting, maybe two full terms of his presidency.
The real question is -- does Obama REALLY want to do that? Or will he fold the first time the Republicans raise the specter of Iranian nukes in Venezuela? Or will some other fantasy prevail? Again, I'm not optimistic -- -- he still regards our proposed "missile shield" in eastern Europe as something more than a joke.
One good thing: our military is already overextended and our economy is in dire straits. Bad for us, good for nations that would like to see us "otherwise occupied."
As the Mexicans say, "so far form God, so close to the United States."
A little breathing room for our neighbors to the south.
The Monroe Doctrine is alive and kicking
The best in the whole world that is freedom, and we are in the process of becoming one just by putting our feet down and say NO MORE.
If you consider freedom what is going on in Cuba, Venezuela and Nicaragua we will say NO THANKS.
If you consider Evo Morales story inspiring wait until you heard the stories that will come out after this storm.
Alone, NO. For the first time in our history I have never felt more protected by my laws, Supreme court and Military.
Zelaya made us read the constitution, unite every judge in the supreme court, we learn the meaning of a peaceful protest, we were not afraid. It was not a protest it was a celebration. Zelaya united every different political parties for one common goal. This is a great time for us.
Your article doesn't represent the situation or how we feel right now.
God bless the US and God bless Honduras.
P.S the Honduran street are not bloodied, trust me, they will if Chavez gets involved and I hope you will cover that too.
2+2=5 ... white is black .... black is white
Fareed Zakaria is a propagandist
Fareed Zakaria is dangerous
Fareed Zakaria is the face of military subjugation of millions of people like you and me
When will a journalist dare to ask Obama if he will abandon the Monroe doctrine in place since 1823? The Monroe doctrine says the Western Hemisphere is ours to dominate by force if necessary.
Bush/Obama Democracy flowing from the barrel of a Corporate owned gun.
(1) Obama doesn't understand how Latin America works. One thing that leaders like Chavez and Ecuador's Correa (Two men Lovato failed to mention--a conscious omission?) have learned from the bad old days is to prevent a coup, you have to hamstring the military: either by dumping the officer corps or developing parallel enlisted paramilitiaries loyal to the state. Zelaya did no such thing; hence his ouster.
(2) To see China as another "guiding light" for Latin America is ludicrous to the extreme. China invests in places that cannot and will not make a fuss about its human rights or lack of democracy. In essence, China has emerged as the most truly "capitalist" state in recent memory--they act purely on monetary gain. Do not be fooled into thinking they will back Latin American countries in any conflict. China would much more quickly run to somewhere where they can exploit resources more quietly.
(3) Why do we not hear about the violations of basic civil rights in Cuba and Venezuela? I have family in Venezuela, family that have often seen the rougher edge of the Chavista regime. Do not prop these regimes as the exemplar of the "new" Latin America. Brazil and Chile are the better examples to study: societies working to democratize and mobilize the poor WITHOUT alienating the business classes that make wealth in the first place.
It is ludicrous to say that Cuba and Venezuela are an example in Latin America. Chile, Brazil, Argentina and other successful countries in South America should be an example.
http://www.csmonitor.com/2009/0702/p09s03-coop.html
With Latin America, the military forces south of our border have often had very special relationships with our American military forces. The result has been that their military forces can see themselves as more reliant on the American military than on their own government, thus making democratic processes in those countries much more difficult. Also, unless our civilian authorities excercise very careful oversight over our own military and spy networks, they are liable to use their special relationships with Latin American militaries and spy networks to do whatever they think is in our own interests, which can sometimes be at odds with what the American people might desire. Our relations with Latin America are a real mess.
Amazing the endless caos
One day in one of our f.p. classes, she proceeded with, "you Americans, with your little t-shirts, hats, haircuts, think your tough, think your cool....you know why I am going to school in this country? Because it is your gov't in my back yard killing and raping and helping those who do. It is your country and your gov't and your military so do something about it."
Over and over and over again, the events of the past that the US may or may have not been involved in have been used as an excuse for the current situation.
Legacies of colonialism and that whole line of thinking only holds so much water and am well aware of interests in labor and resources in all the countries with foot prints but some folks need to realize that using such excuses for people who chop children arms off and rape and do all the things they do, just does not fly.
Good luck and safe journeys.
You are smart people; don't believe bloggers who are not here and have not been here during this time.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=da9etL5uqy8
With the publishing of this decree in the Gaceta, President Zelaya himself
kicks into motion Article 239 which states that “whomever changes or
attempts to change” article 4 (an unchangeable “petreos” article protected
by Article 374) relating to the alterability of the presidential position,
“will be immediately removed from public office” and lose his/her
constitutional powers. This is very important! As soon as the decree was published, President Zelaya automatically stopped being president and became a regular citizen.
Zelaya was clearly following the same template that Chavez has created for this so-called bolivarian revolution which aims to set up havez satellites. We continue to move in the right direction and even then Hugo Chavez, Daniel Ortega, Fidel Castro, continue to openly attack our country.
The Honduran Armed Forces (HAF) have no authority whatsoever – none,
ever – to carry out detention orders of the Supreme Court. If there
were a valid detention order (there was not), it would be the police
forces that would have to be authorized by the court to carry it out.
Having said that, no detention order was even presented when the HAF
broke violently into the President’s residence.
They broke in violently (also illegal) at around 5am, whereas
Honduran law states that authorized entries (which this was not) can
only occurring after 6am.
If there were a valid legal case before the Supreme Court (there is
not, or if there is, no one has seen it), no detention order would
have been issued by the Supreme Court. First, they would have issued
a summons to President Zelaya to present himself, with lawyers,
before the court to hear the charges.
If there were a valid legal case before the Supreme Court (there is
not), if there were a valid detention order (there was not), then the
authorized police forces (no police forces participated in the
violent entry, only the HAF), would have brought the accused –
President Zelaya – to appear before a judge.
As is known, the HAF took Zelaya in his pijamas and slippers to Costa
Rica.
As I said--GOLPE GOLPE GOLPE
That same day, in blatant disregard to all court rulings, Citizen Manuel
Zelaya gathers a group of protesters and proceeds to the Air Force warehouse
where the ballots had been impounded. He threatens with force and uses human
shields, risking other citizens’ lives. Calling on Article 59, which states
that the protection of “human life is the Constitution and the state’s
supreme responsibility/obligation,” the Armed Forces yield to the mob and
allow Citizen Zelaya and his human shields to take the ballots by force.
Immediately, the Supreme Court issues an arrest warrant for Citizen Manuel
Zelaya for the crimes of (a) attempts against the form of government, (b)
treason to the country, (c) abuse of authority, and (d) usurpation of
functions belonging to other branches of government. The Supreme Court
orders the Armed Forces to serve this arrest warrant because according to
Article 272, the Armed Forces has the constitutionally-assigned
responsibility to maintain and protect the alterability of the presidential
office
*Although it's true that he's closer to 'demagogue' than dictator.
How this words resonate nowadays thru out Latin America.
Capitalism has been abused in the region as it has on Wall Street. Today, the facts on the ground are that Castro and Chavez are heros throughout among the poor. The Oligarchies do exist as they do here in the US. Nonetheless, the majority of people in LatAm dislike the Oligarchy more because they are associated with inside dealing than class envy. Sounds like us here in the US. The World Bank and the IMF also contributed to this regional "Capitalism Crisis" with their awful austerity budget mandates that punished the working and middle class.
We need to make capitalism work again in LatAm and in the US. Castro and Hugo cannot be the answer. Obama has work cut out for him. Godspeed.
Now, in terms of reforming capitalism for latin america, I think here you're entering into neo-liberal fantasy land. First, the legacy of capitalism in latin america is one of unequal exchange, colonialism, neocolonialism, primary resource extraction, etc., all of which served to enrich the countries of Europe and later the USA. Some even argue capitalism would not have achieved it's dynamism without all of the wealth plundered from the americas.
Furthermore, if you have not noticed, capitalism is in a global structural crisis of overproduction. The last big crisis thereof resulted in a world war to resolve the crisis. Hard to see how anyone could prescribe such an irrational system for the countries of the south, who are in the process of overthrowing capitalism, little by little, in favor of something which actually works for the majority, and not just for the regional oligarchies.
But communism is still wrong.