Judging by the events of recent days/weeks : ousted ambassadors, violent clashes in Bolivian streets, Russian nuclear payload capable fighter jets landing in Venezuela, heightened tensions around Colombian / Ecuadorian borders; I'm thinking we will probably avoid Bolivia. Check out this CNN vid for a brief overview of the situation:
Some personal reflections...
The one thing that is certain: this trip will challenge much of what we (Chris and I) have been brought up to believe as North Americans. Certainly our concepts of safety, justice and economics will not mesh with the prevailing ideas in South America. I was imagining yesterday trying to debate in Spanish after arguing on a CBC forum for the opening of the airline and uranium industries to increased foreign investment. It was interesting because it is this same battle of left-right policies that dominates much of South America, except down there the pendulum is swinging left.
I wonder what I would believe if I had been born on the other side of the fence. Certainly I agree with my current beliefs, but at their root they are founded upon the arguments of much smarter people than I, and my knowledge of the "opposition" has certainly come through a lens colored by our dominant world-view. Would I also agree with the perspectives of the left if they were presented in a logical manner? By no means do I expect to become a socialist during this trip, but it is likely that this may be the final step in a true "post-modern" education, the loosening of the final bolt grounding my beliefs to something absolute. Perhaps this is why business people are the chameleons of the human race, expected to adapt to whatever mindset serves them best in a given situation, able to hold and express conflicting perspectives simultaneously with little to no internal friction.
Now I'm just rambling. Whatevs. Maybe we should go to Bolivia after all... 15 day till go time. We'll keep you updated.
B
Saturday, September 13, 2008
Guess We Won't be Going to Bolivia...
The Proposed Trip
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1 comment:
two comments
1) A lot of how you see the world around you and the people within it will definitly be challenged, and somethings will change. At the end of the day, you will still be the same person, albeit slightly more mature, with a crappier liver, more experienced, and still as ugly. Basically, you`ll be B Loney with a dash of understanding for others...however..youll still look forward to what you grew up in.
2nd comment.
although they are left leaning here, don`t forget the people in charge own most of their respective countries, maybe not in name and title, but in other ways..ie through holding companies.
If they aren`t driven by money, they`re driven by power and no political rhetoric can hide that when you are inside the country.
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