Mario Emilio Nouel Mejía
His Excellency, Ambassador James W. Brewster (Ret.)
Subject: Reflections on Your Public Engagement in the Dominican Republic
Your Excellency, Ambassador Brewster,
I am writing to you as someone who has followed your career and who acknowledges your stated affection for my home country, the Dominican Republic. It is in that spirit that I wish to share a perspective that I believe is held by a significant portion of my fellow citizens.
The Dominican Republic is currently navigating a period of profound sensitivity. Our people are grappling with a skyrocketing cost of living, widespread accusations of corruption, and the arduous task of recovering from the destruction left by Hurricane Melissa, among other pressing challenges. The daily reality for the average working-class Dominican is one of resilience in the face of these compounding pressures.
It is against this backdrop that the recent controversy surrounding your participation in a symbolic wedding ceremony in Santiago de los Caballeros must be understood. While your personal convictions and work as an advocate are a matter of public record, the very public nature of this act, widely disseminated on social platforms, has introduced a potent element of social polarization into an already strained national conversation.
My primary concern is that such a high-profile gesture, while perhaps well-intentioned from a specific advocacy viewpoint, ultimately complicates the lives of the very people you claim to admire. The average "Felipe," already burdened by economic hardship and difficult working conditions, must now also navigate the unintended social friction and divisive debates that such actions provoke in workplaces and communities across the country. This controversy risks becoming a distracting side-show, overshadowing the critical, unifying issues that truly demand our collective attention and energy.
I honestly wonder why, as a high-profile public figure, somebody thought your recent actions were better than something more akin to the spirit of finding common ground with church teachings contained in Fiducia supplicans and promoting rule of law, given the confessional nature of the Dominican state. Somebody may have thought grandiose defiance to societal norms would get more accomplished regarding human rights and dignity long term (as defined by a questionable agenda), but the possibility of backlash and blowback against both working class minorities and the faithful of conservative creeds, really make me wonder whether the innate dignity of the eggs being cracked to make the omelette was even considered at all. Don Wally, por favor no menee el avispero porque no es a usted que le van a picar las avispas, hasta donde sé...
I urge you to consider that true affection for a nation involves a deep respect for its complex social fabric and the immediate priorities of its people. At this juncture, what the Dominican Republic needs most is solidarity in addressing its systemic crises, not actions that, however symbolic, risk deepening societal divides. Is the fight to enforce legal protections that already exists for minorities in the Dominican Republic is something you're struggling against? Be my guest, if you can and should, you must! Honorable Pelegrín Castillo believes investigations regarding alteration of public order are due, and given my past fondness of your exercise of leadership, I'm very hurt by the fact that I must say I agree because nobody is above the common welfare of the Dominican people in Dominican land.
Thank you for your consideration of this perspective.
With highest consideration,
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