Memorial Day

In the big political bed of life, it seems Vincente Fox has jumped in with Bush and Blair... how sad. What has Fox done for Mexico lately? Don't get me wrong, I think giving the illegal immigrants living and working in this country citizenship is precisely what should be and needs to be done, but I'm talking about a leader of a country that hasn't done much of anything for the people living there. I stand by Subcomandante Marcos' assertion that the ruling class doesn't have a solution. A sentiment, I believe, goes well beyond the borders of Mexico--and indeed, Marcos points to this as well... Check here for the latest (there is also access to a three part interview done in the last month with Marcos.

And indeed, as we see the re-election of Uribe in Columbia, there is no doubt that the next four years in Columbia will be just as miserable for its people as the previous... Maybe Uribe can tout reduced violence, but what about the conditions for his people? He has done nothing for social reform. Maybe this term, he can again change the rules so he can get elected yet another time?

I used to believe in Democracy... conceptually, I think it is still a nice idea; but I've never seen it in practice. As Che Guevara said: "Cruel leaders are replaced only to have new leaders turn cruel." It is the way of politics. Che is still battling today; theory and ideals never seem to work well in a political realm. It was a hard lesson learned by some good people. But it doesn't mean we don't keep trying something else. It's unfortunate that change has never truly come at a price any less than violence.