Dizzy Democracy or Motion Sickness

Listening to young Sonia Lopez speak yesterday was to experience directly the uncomfortable feeling that it's all a crazy merry-go-round, that groundhog day realization that you have seen this all before. She was speaking as the new director of the Joel Sierra Regional Human Rights Committee, a dangerous job to have in the violence permeated region of Aruaca, Columbia. At the tender age of twenty one she is committed to helping her people caught in the age old conflict of super power hegemonic ambitions and a resource rich developing nation. The US has given more than 3 billion dollars in military aid to this Columbian government which, along with it's right-wing para-military allies is threatening and killing peasant farmers, unionists, indigenous people,rights activists and community organizers, that is ,whoever might stand in the way of controlling Occidental Oils oilfields and pipeline. Another example of our support for "democracy" wherever the black gold exists.

Before oil there was gold and copper and sugarcane and bannanas , but always a "national interest" to stay involved in Latin American affairs. In Mexico we are watching "democracy" unfold as the opposition candidate is removed,and the powers that be stare with half hooded eyes, unblinking. We know Chavez is in trouble, with all the Texas tea under his feet, the great bringers -of-democracy are planning right now how to oust that amigo de Castro. Round and round, same as it ever was.

Of course in Iraq, it's a totally different story. There we are unselfishly liberating our good friends the Iraqis from a tyrant and the oil is just a happy coincidence. We spread a little democracy around Pakistan, recently, with a gift of F16s but just to show we don't pick sides we are letting Coca Cola Co. spread a little democracy around India in the form of poisoned groundwater and depleted wells.

Just twenty one Sonia has come to America to find support and raise awareness (and funds) for her worthy cause.I recalled listening to young Nicaraguans and Salvadorians and Chileans so many years ago, making the same sincere pleas. She asked us to contact our representatives , because we live in a "democracy", and ask that they discontinue support for the oppressive regime currently in power in Columbia. I had to look away.