Pensamientos

Sorry blog, I have neglected you. And I will continue to neglect you for a while longer, because we only have a few weeks left in El Salvador and I'm so busy eating pupusas...

But, I wanted to share a striking Facebook post by my roommate Noel, commemorating 10 years since he attempted to move to the United States. Some food for thought (and a good adventure in Spanish to English translation!)

“March 6^th”. One decade ago, on a day exactly like today, I made a decision that taught me so much about life. 10 years ago I searched for what many call “The American Dream”. This was what I experienced from March 6^th through June 8^th 2004. I can honestly say, in contrary to what many say, “Thanks be to God that this so-called American Dream did not come to pass for me.”

I traveled for nearly 4 months in trucks, boats, mountains, cars, the desert in Arizona, the plane from Los Angeles. Almost 50% of these 4 months was spent in three jails in Miami, Florida, where immigration control arrested me and my 4 traveling companions. On my journey I saw robberies, abuse, and even death.

This decision which I made 10 years ago taught me to love all the people that are a part of my life, and keep them physically close to me. If immigration control had not arrested me I definitely would have had another way of life, and these words would not have been written from our beloved country which has suffered so much.

I know that love for El Salvador continues to grow in our people, it is tangible. Here live the people and family that we love, and the place and geographic location which we call the “bellybutton”, the center of our being. Sadly the social inequality has affected us in many ways and 2.8 million of our people have had to leave (almost half of our population). If these 2.8 million people had not have to leave, they would have been working alongside the rest of us to help develop our country. Unfortunately the political and economic structure has taken so much from us, meanwhile politicians like Paco Flores are robbing millions of dollars. Our country continues to die, without realizing what it is dying from. 

All over the world, we can find people with a lack of economic resources - a lack of food, health, education, fun, etc. The simple enjoyment of life is lost. The false illusion that tomorrow will be better always exists. My four grandparents, may they rest in peace, always lived with this illusion that tomorrow would be better. Now they are dead, and the cycle of this way of thinking continues like it did 90 years ago, or since the beginning of El Salvador. Should the development of a country take centuries? If only those who have been running our country had the knowledge and willingness to help their people, we would not need a century; only a short time would be needed to achieve social justice and human equality, where people are truly dedicated to helping one another.

Ayayaya… so many feelings come up from remembering the experiences that shape our lives… Despite everything I have witnessed in El Salvador, I love this place. I give thanks to God for allowing me to return from that capitalist country (the USA). The only reason to leave El Salvador and live there is to have money. Yes, it’s true that money is the way that we obtain material things and services for our family, but money can’t be a substitute for love from other human beings.

I am grateful to be here, and I hope to continue working for my people as long as my knowledge and physical, psychological, and mental strength allow me. I love my people, I love my family, I love my girlfriend, I love the children, I love the elderly, I love the humble and simple people, I love the people that live in remote and rural places in our country, I love the privilege I have had to get to know so many wonderful friends in my university… Ahhh. I want to clarify that I hate with everything in me the rich that exploit my people and that my people are obligated to be born and die poor. El Salvador is not poor because our people do not work, El Salvador is poor because others exploit it.

I am sending greetings to all of you. I am sending you big hugs and lots of love to my family and friends in all parts of the world – especially in the United States. Maybe you feel that you have more material things than us in El Salvador, but I am sure that the majority of you would give up everything that you possess to give just one hug to your mother or father, to hug your friends and family that you left behind. Our country is so tiny and has suffered so much. Fight for what you love. I hope that all aspects of your personal and professional life will be blessed like never before. I appreciate and admire you all.

Blessings,

Noel