Los Estados Unidos y Yo
The United States and I. Tengo muchos y muy buenos recuerdos de los Estados Unidos y su gente, recuerdos que todavia no dejó de construir. Con gente de todos los colores y clases, razas y religiones y castas. English from now on, of course. I will translate what I said, and continue moving forward in English without getting into the “English only in América” thingy due to the “La Raza” thingy. I said I have a lot of very good memories from the United States, the union of 50 states (more coming?) whose capital is DC, north of Rio Grande, plus Alaska and Hawaii (Canada annexation pending haha, but I think the quebecois are going to need to see some moolah to go for it). Regarding its people too. I think of my land as the spanish speaking lands, or predominantly spanish-speaking lands, south of Rio Grande, south of the border, minus a few american possessions/territories such as Puerto Rico and Amona until otherwise decided after a negotiation. Nonetheless, however, people and land are inextricably linked, as well as animals, but I do like to make a distinction between the two/three.
It is not a whites-only thing. Hawaiians, African-americans, asian-americans, latinos from the USA with an American/WashingtonDC-backed citizenship (both hispanic, and non-hispanic) have touched my heart and mind, which is why I can’t help but dispense that population with unspeakable amounts of love as a collective.
Some of my heroes are Americans (from now on, when I say americans I am referring to people who live in the USA, in the union of 50 states, who say they are americans). Arnold Schwarnzegger is one of them. Mr. Schwarzenegger, the Governor from California who is german-american, american because he manifested a desire to be “let into the club”, which was granted, and I think he has given back to his society, to his more than important chosen family, if I may posit that, is an interesting hero to me.
I feel Arnold is one of my weakest heroes. Maybe Alexander the Great had more faults but knew how to hide ‘em better haha. However, some things Arnold has done I totally understand. You can’t be perfect in an imperfect society. Which is one of the reasons he came to America and went to California. Because he thought his society was holding him back.
But I see Arnold and I see success. A very American version of success. I wonder if he is happy. Should he have stayed in his native homeland and do as instructed? I don’t think so. I wouldn’t be the man I am today without the german-speaking migratory influx which came to California. Which brings me to the Pacifica Graduate Institute.
PGI is an amazing institution that has generously educated me and granted me scholarships only asking for my opinion about the course and commitment to my community in return. That is where I have learned a significant amount of psychoanalysis. It is a Californian institution, and german-speaking migratory influx in California is part of why there is so much psychoanalysis going on in California.
American intellectuality is also something which has made strides in my thinking. “The Global North” has been accused of manufacturing even the ideas we Latin Americans in the South use to explain that. Nothing new under the sun, a lot of criticism made to Rome during the heydays of the Roman Empire were done with Roman law.
However, back in the day, “American” was associated with good quality. You wanted good butter in the Dominican Republic? Buy american. Good soap? Buy american. I still enthusiastically use American thinkers and unapologetically so. As a latin american, I’m expected to use latin american thinkers too. And I don’t find that problematic, we do have some very good thinkers like Pope Francis and Juan Bosch. Now, somebody who might struggle with using american thinkers might be resented at american foreign policy which ignores FDR’s “be a good neighbor” clause. But a lot of the people calling it out are americans themselves. There are good people in the USA. Some benefit from the rich in the Global North allying with rich in the Global South to exploit mercilessly the resources of said region, and they know it. But I think it is not realistic to boycott the solution out of corporations and the state. I think it is impossible to, realistically, have a normal day in America without putting cents into the pockets of those in bed with Netanhayu’s regime. But we are all doing our best here, bloodless goods are a luxury of the rich. It seems in most cases we have people with bloodless money who have to buy goods full of blood, or people with pockets full of blood money who can afford bloodless goods
God told Bush Jr to invade Irak. Won’t judge President Bush. I’m still buying it. However, statistically, most Americans oppose wars against countries they don’t perceive as threats to them. And not all of them go to the protest, the guy with an MA from his small-town community college in Women’s Studies might have some fry-frying to get done at McDonald’s that day, and if it is his day off, I think he and the world are better off with that guy letting his cortisol levels reset before another hard workweek, assuming he has money to go to the protest in Charlotte in the first place.
And, talking about God, again America is an empire. America is everywhere. When I call America an empire, I’m not even making a moral judgement, those puritans fled England cause they hated having someone bother them all the time, but we Europeans found a way to come here and bother them here. Little known historical fact: some americans didn’t support the revolutionary war (the loyalists), they were outnumbered by those who wanted Independence from the British crown. Most Americans at the time, nonetheless, didn’t choose any side; they only cared about getting out of the mess alive.
And I won’t whitewash, or attempt to whitewash, the “stolen land” issue. Man, at some point, I won’t start placing blame on anybody, but the Puritans tried repeatedly to find a way to stay in England. And the puritans were, to some Indians, or Native Americans, or Original Peoples, or Reds (whatever), a Godsend in fact because before the arrival of the first puritan, Native Americans were suffering because of diseases previous Europeans had brought. However, it all started pretty innocently: reds and whites traded, whites seemed to have a stronger immune system, and yeah, I do admit at some point Greed derailed the project. Which is something I think we have to admit: racial reconciliation requieres good, honest communication; whitewashing isn’t the solution, it only makes the problem worse. If you’re wrong, admit it. It’s in the Bible: treat others like you want to be treated (easier said than done, I find that a difficult commandment because not everyone is a priest, but patience is a virtue; sin brings more sin, virtue brings more virtue in a seemingly compounding phenomena).
Now, racial reconciliation is definetely a loable, great, huge goal to have. However, if I may posit a perspective as a white man, we whites don’t even get along among ourselves in the first place. Change begins at home, like Bill Gates says clean your room before trying to save the environment (which is, I’m not sure if Bill realizes it, but I think it’s a very poetic statement that is deep and complex as heck; definitely not a neutralizing maneuver to keep wild politically-saavy teens “in check”). Interracial dialogue will be mastered, I think, after intra-racial dialogue is nailed. Irish vs British, Slavs and Germans, Anglos and Francos in Canada, White Latin Americans and WASPs…
I find diversity beautiful, however one thing is that when we point out differences we get along better if we are willing to respect and compromise. Latinos love mocking drip machine coffee, if it ain’t made in a moka pot, it is sock water. I realized something when I moved to Canada though: I started drinking drip machine coffee. And when my dad, in disbelieve, pointed out he can’t believe I’m drinking that ****, I told him “Dad, when I wake up in winter, my in-door thermometer says it is 57F inside (I liked turning the heater off at night because I like the cold when I’m sleeping), when my 2-person moka pot brews, by the time I take my mug to the couch, it is already cold; Americans like this coffee because since it is weaker you can drink more to heat you up too).
Some of my best friends are Americans. No last names: Lucas, Daniel, Zac, Matthew, Sue, Max, José, and if we get the Canadians in the lists grows even longer. And some people hate americans, some people mock americans, but I honestly find myself incapable of doing so because of how important my friends from America are.
I learned how to dance in New Hampshire (a bunch of american jocks teaching the white dominican how to dance was certainly an interesting sight). My first crushes were American. My first employer-I’m-not-related-to is American.
My first “wow, you’re a politician, can I take a picture with you!?” was from an american. She is african-american, she touched my heart; I promised her I will do something good for Black America that day in Multicentro Churchill. Chavez, hugely controversial, officially more hated than loved, was a pioneer in the Latin Americans helping Blacks in the United States theory, he helped heat up black homes. Some will call it loyalty buying; I’ll go with an “a politician is a politician is a politician”.
The other day, yesterday to be exact, I said I will choose a President Donald J Trump as head of state of the United States any day of the year over an establishment democrat or republican. By American standards, I do lean left on some issues so to speak. However, there is something I like about the USA: states rights, which Donald has supported regarding controversial issues such as being “pro-choice” and gay weddings. And I think that is a beautiful thing because, at the end of the day, a politician acknowledging a community might know how to “do it better” than some bureaucrat in Washington who a second before being asked for an opinion didn’t even know that small town existed before pulling up ChatGPT is very important. Man, a sleek “on the issues” section, made by a professional “political marketing” mercenary, which an aspiring congressman paid for with money donated by special interests groups including Big Oil and Big Porn…I’m not going to say he is a bad guy instead of “pragmatic”.
I totally get the changing the system from the inside theory some good people, including myself, identify with. But, on the other hand, that guy may actually also just be a bad guy. I’d rather have a Republican with probity than a guy who “hits the spot” when he talks “about the issues”, and doesn’t do **** when elected. Which, again, I supported Trump the morning before some horrible people tried to whack him, and I don’t regret it. I was fully aware Trump, or other Trump supporters, at some point, were going to drive me nuts regarding things like foreign policy and the environement. But I can be wrong, so can other people. We’re not perfect. And sometimes politicians do have to bluff which is why I sometimes choose to not emit an opinion or judge. Because I am not aware of all of the facts, and I trust the American leader will do his best and, by the way, I feel supported when I choose to support latin american politicians which Washington might not want in power (or couldn’t care less, but politics and realpolitik are real, so is pandering, a favour is a favor, etc…). I think that is very respectful. Which again, that is something I really admire about the American people: respect.
Some people might have a hard time wrapping their heads around that one, but it is super simple. An activist can be a registered independent and support a good feel the bern Dem in Vermont and a good MAGA Republican in Texas. Is it incoherent? Not really, because I think people in Vermont want a huge welfare state, and people in Texas would rather have low taxes and a waaay more limited government. And also, sometimes, you may not even like the guy, but you work with him because he’s a legit authority, and US Veteran plus presidential candidate John McCain thought me, via example, that “crossing across the aisle” to get good things done for the good people of the republic in a fast, efficient way that will deliver a good, tangible result is good.
At some point, while maturing, I learned that picking sides and stirring the fight shouldn’t be my default go to. Why? Sometimes praying for peace is better. De-escalation is a necessary asset, it is vital. And if de-escalating gets it accomplished, it may even be better than escalating because war, continuation of politics via other means, is best done when only the minimum amount of resources are used. I’m not a pacifist, I believe in self-defense, but war is a last resource and we should try to avoid it at all costs. War mongering isn’t only sinful, war mongering isn’t even good millitary theory. It may be a good business idea regarding ROIC, no matter how unethical and wrong it is, which is one of the problems in the world today: war for profit instead of self-defense or humanitarian action against a tyrant making innocent people suffer (R2P).
So yeah, I always choose sides: whoever is right. Our main allegiance, as humans, should be to God only, and I believe God demands fairness and justice in all of our affairs.
Some say the USA doesn’t have permanent friends or enemies, only permanent interests. I don’t believe the American population is a machiavellean sociopath. Now is a time for people who love America to remain steadfast in their friendship to the American people. They are, I think, figuring some stuff out, they’re having a tough time in history, but they say, and this is good news, that it is in tough times when you learn who your real friends are. A collateral benefit of this tough situation.
I will share a final piece of something I think I’m justified in calling wisdom: I would love to say America will emerge stronger out of this current situation. But I cannot say that. Because Americans have free will. It is my sincere desire and wish, my utmost wish, that a healthier, wealthier, wiser America emerges. So, you know the drill, Franklinian style, early to bed, early to rise.
Es cuanto.