Letter to the Editor

Stephen Michael Murray

Colombia is making real progress because Colombians want their country back. The best proof of this was the demonstrations against Fuerzas Armadas Revolucionarias de Colombia (FARC) on February 4, 2008 in 193 cities around the world. In Colombia, banners with “No Más FARC” were everywhere. El Tiempo’s headline the next day, “Algo Jamás Visto,” above a full-page picture of the huge crowd in Bogotá, said it all. Some termed the populist demonstrations “a new Bogotazo,” referring to the intense public outcry following the assassination of Jorge Eleazar Gaitán just 60 years ago.

Wouldn’t it be great if we could get even larger crowds worldwide to demonstrate against any violence whatever the source! Maybe this is a project for all former Peace Corps Volunteers...all 190,000 of us. While the commitment of the Colombian people is palpable, that of the Colombian government is equally convincing.

Having heard from President Uribe and Ambassador Barco as well as other Colombian officials, one realizes that they are prepared to take their country back and they want the world to know it. We can help by doing just what we are doing, telling others every chance we get. I believe we also need to tell our fellow citizens, if they don’t already realize it, that the U.S. is part of the problem (and hopefully part of the solution).

We must do more to curb the demand for the lifeblood of the FARC....drugs. As long as demand continues to surge, the supply will grow to meet it. We can also tell people that Cartagena is a safe and beautiful place for a Caribbean vacation. Many Europeans already know that. Colombia is looking for foreign investment and a better distribution of its wealth, but neither is possible without stability. That’s where the country is headed, toward stability and self-confidence. We can help.

Colombia is back. Back Colombia!

Stephen Michael Murray
murraysm@swbell.net