September 16, 2008
On September 28, 2008 there will be a vote to approve the new Constitution of 2008 for Ecuador. Since 1841 there have been 21 new constitutions, the most recent in 1998. This particular constitution, created by the hand of President Correa not only approves gay marriage and abortion, but there's also a sort of bad law of consecration. Let me explain. If you have 2 houses for example, the government would be able to take one, not give any retribution for it, and supposedly give it to the poor. Whether the government actually follows through with that promise is another story. Even if they did, it still wouldn't be right to just take someone's house and not pay them for it. On top of these 3 major changes, 2 people that Becky and I talked with today, Hermana Melendez y Mario who lives below us have told us that the constitution is really just a copy of Venezuela's. Apparently Presidente Correa is in cohorts with the FARR (Columbian drug traffickers), and also Chavez, and naturally is very against the United States.
All over this part of Guayaquil there are signs that say "Guayaquil dice no" (Guayaquil says no), so there is apparently a lot of opposition to this constitution. And yet, I don't think it will matter in the end. The Government only needs 1/3 of the vote to pass it, and Correa has a lot of control over the different branches, they do have legislative and electoral branch but, he controls it. He's pretty much almost a dictator already. And if the Constitution passes he really will be one. I saw some political propaganda today in the newspaper from the government. It's an entire separate section in the newspaper devoted to convincing the general population that the Constitution will save Ecuador and Correa will be their deliverer. But, it's created in comic book form. The entire thing is one big political comic book. It's incredible. And pretty graphic at times as far as violence goes. I didn't have a chance to read it, I skimmed over it, it's really long but it seemed to be saying that Correa wants to decentralize the government, take away some of the power of the military and give it back to the people. He has a lot of socialistic ideas that most likely won't turn out very well.
As we talked with the family that lives below us they told us that any time there is a problem with the president there is major inflation. Becky and I have noticed the high prices just going grocery shopping. We were really surprised because we expected to come to South America and live for $2 a day. In reality the food at the grocery store is just as expensive and may times, more expensive than back home. Mario, the father of the family who visited with us tonight, said that they are paying $1,000 more each month to live than they did last year. That's huge. $12,000 more to live this year than in 2007. How do people do it? I suppose they just don't, which is probably why everyone at the employment center talks about the south side of Guayaquil as if it's another world. I'm interested to see what it's like down there. I have a feeling I'm going to see poverty at it's worst. Already I've seen some beggars that look so much more poor and worse off than the homeless people I see in the United States. These people make me want to cry every time I cross the bridge where they sit with their children in their laps and their hands outstretched, or the old lady who opens her mouth, showing her remaining 3 teeth and stares you down as you pass by. And then I wonder what on earth I'm supposed to do. I can't give everyone my money. And I suppose I am doing my part, I'm here as a volunteer teaching people how to better their temporal lives which in turn will help improve their spiritual lives also. But still, I can't help but wonder what on earth Jesus would do in this situation. He wouldn't pass by these people and ignore them. So do I just look at them sorrowfully and wish I could impart of my substance to each one of them? Do I just pass by and wish I could hold their children and offer some sort of comfort? It tears at my conscience each time I cross this bridge down the street. There are the socially accepted customs of passing by homeless people and ignoring them. You pretend not to notice, because it would be rude to stare and insensitive to acknowledge them but then do nothing to help. There's also the whole safety issue, who knows what these people would do to get your money, blah blah blah. And the whole "it's their own fault they're in this situation" theories. And although in the U.S. maybe one could get away with saying that, I would never look at these Ecuadorians and think "oh, it's their own fault they are poor and their children are dirty, and their clothes ragged, and have lost all light in their eyes". I also don't think it's right to say that in the U.S. because we all have faults and have brought things upon ourselves, just some people have ended up with more public consequences. If it was in fact their fault in the first place. Even so, who are we to say those things?
So, after a slight tangent, I am back to the original question. What would Jesus do if he crossed that bridge? And what on earth am I supposed to do?
On September 28, 2008 there will be a vote to approve the new Constitution of 2008 for Ecuador. Since 1841 there have been 21 new constitutions, the most recent in 1998. This particular constitution, created by the hand of President Correa not only approves gay marriage and abortion, but there's also a sort of bad law of consecration. Let me explain. If you have 2 houses for example, the government would be able to take one, not give any retribution for it, and supposedly give it to the poor. Whether the government actually follows through with that promise is another story. Even if they did, it still wouldn't be right to just take someone's house and not pay them for it. On top of these 3 major changes, 2 people that Becky and I talked with today, Hermana Melendez y Mario who lives below us have told us that the constitution is really just a copy of Venezuela's. Apparently Presidente Correa is in cohorts with the FARR (Columbian drug traffickers), and also Chavez, and naturally is very against the United States.
All over this part of Guayaquil there are signs that say "Guayaquil dice no" (Guayaquil says no), so there is apparently a lot of opposition to this constitution. And yet, I don't think it will matter in the end. The Government only needs 1/3 of the vote to pass it, and Correa has a lot of control over the different branches, they do have legislative and electoral branch but, he controls it. He's pretty much almost a dictator already. And if the Constitution passes he really will be one. I saw some political propaganda today in the newspaper from the government. It's an entire separate section in the newspaper devoted to convincing the general population that the Constitution will save Ecuador and Correa will be their deliverer. But, it's created in comic book form. The entire thing is one big political comic book. It's incredible. And pretty graphic at times as far as violence goes. I didn't have a chance to read it, I skimmed over it, it's really long but it seemed to be saying that Correa wants to decentralize the government, take away some of the power of the military and give it back to the people. He has a lot of socialistic ideas that most likely won't turn out very well.
As we talked with the family that lives below us they told us that any time there is a problem with the president there is major inflation. Becky and I have noticed the high prices just going grocery shopping. We were really surprised because we expected to come to South America and live for $2 a day. In reality the food at the grocery store is just as expensive and may times, more expensive than back home. Mario, the father of the family who visited with us tonight, said that they are paying $1,000 more each month to live than they did last year. That's huge. $12,000 more to live this year than in 2007. How do people do it? I suppose they just don't, which is probably why everyone at the employment center talks about the south side of Guayaquil as if it's another world. I'm interested to see what it's like down there. I have a feeling I'm going to see poverty at it's worst. Already I've seen some beggars that look so much more poor and worse off than the homeless people I see in the United States. These people make me want to cry every time I cross the bridge where they sit with their children in their laps and their hands outstretched, or the old lady who opens her mouth, showing her remaining 3 teeth and stares you down as you pass by. And then I wonder what on earth I'm supposed to do. I can't give everyone my money. And I suppose I am doing my part, I'm here as a volunteer teaching people how to better their temporal lives which in turn will help improve their spiritual lives also. But still, I can't help but wonder what on earth Jesus would do in this situation. He wouldn't pass by these people and ignore them. So do I just look at them sorrowfully and wish I could impart of my substance to each one of them? Do I just pass by and wish I could hold their children and offer some sort of comfort? It tears at my conscience each time I cross this bridge down the street. There are the socially accepted customs of passing by homeless people and ignoring them. You pretend not to notice, because it would be rude to stare and insensitive to acknowledge them but then do nothing to help. There's also the whole safety issue, who knows what these people would do to get your money, blah blah blah. And the whole "it's their own fault they're in this situation" theories. And although in the U.S. maybe one could get away with saying that, I would never look at these Ecuadorians and think "oh, it's their own fault they are poor and their children are dirty, and their clothes ragged, and have lost all light in their eyes". I also don't think it's right to say that in the U.S. because we all have faults and have brought things upon ourselves, just some people have ended up with more public consequences. If it was in fact their fault in the first place. Even so, who are we to say those things?
So, after a slight tangent, I am back to the original question. What would Jesus do if he crossed that bridge? And what on earth am I supposed to do?
I think you should read Mosiah 3 when King Benjamin talk about the poor among us. Also, take into account that the beggars you see are not the only faces of poverty. There are people in villages that are working on living on a dollar or two dollars a day. If you give money to the beggars how will that help them? besides give instant relief. And the begging culture is such that children are exploited and money is used for alcohol. Ask the locals what they do and you will learn things you didn't know. Have a prayer in your heart and kind words but help them help themselves.
ReplyDeleteIt is a tricky situation to be in
i agree with sydney, but im sure that doesn't make it any easier to see the suffering. there was a certain beggar in siena that i passed every day on my street. she was so skinny. Finally i couldn't walk by her anymore ignoring her, so I learned her name and would say hi to her. that helped me to not feel guilty for not "doing" something bigger.
ReplyDelete