Jaime Castro cosigned petition against re-election

While in Bogotá last montlh, I saw there was much ado about the twelve petitions opposing the Constitutional amendment to suit Uribe's wish for a king's crown, and return to the glorious days of yesteryear, when divine providence betwoed absolute power to the eternal monarchy.

Jaime Castro was a guest of a very cool host whose name escapes me, who introduced Jaime as an "exminister, exdiplomat, exmajor, the only title he lacks -the host went on- is that of expresident."

Jaime is a white-haired, impeccable in dress and word, gentleman, who with candid and precise language inumerated the reason why suberting the constitution in this manner would be a disaster.

Jaime explained very similar circunstances in the past when extremely popular presidents -even more popular than Uribe is now- seeked a very similar contitutional subersion, got it, and ended up being deposed by extremists who lead the country to chaos (Rojas Pinilla, and the other circa 1906).

I was also impressed by the fact that a politician who speaks this candidly about the powers-that-be has not been put to death yet. He must be extremely well connected to be spared "La mano negra" and excluded from "La Lista".

I fell in love with this man, and hope to hear his name more often, hopefully bearing good news.
Paz
Neonovo

40 years ago (almost)...

I moved to the states at 13, nearly 40 years ago; but when in Colombia, I'm under the impression that most folk won't even notice I was gone for any amount of time just from my accent.
In fact some people think I'm a paisa (I'm from Cali).
However, sometimes I get signaled otherwise, like when I flew into Bogotá on a 2-day jaunt (to meet my futura) last year. I walked off National Terminal, wearing my new clothes from Exito, top to bottom, and get into a Cab...
So where 'ya coming from? asks the cabbie. "Cali..." I say. "Been a while since I've visited Bogotá, though." (30 years, but I didn't let on).
We go on, shooting the breeze while he zig-zagged his way through traffic to get me to my destination. We talked about things prottypical colombians talk about; La violencia, la reina de belleza, el tráfico, etc, etc...until finally, we get there, I get off, and as I start to pull my cashe to pay him, and he, very casually asks: "¿Tenés dollares?" which I in fact did, and I in fact gave him, after a little bargaining...but I was amazed at his degree of observation, 'cuz I know damn well, sometimes a blurt out a gringada -and set off a laughter- when speaking, but this time I never even blinked a clue.

Paz
Neonovo

The separation of church and state...

I wish I had written this...

Today reading the electronic edition of the Christian Sciense Monitor (csmonitor.com), I read an artícle which I always wanted to write, but didn't know how; The article presents the position of the Founding Fathers in regards to religion.

From my Christian Science Monitor's favorite Blogger: Christian Science Monitor Blog My American Experience Archive March, 2005

Posted March 17, 2005, 'The Handmaid's Tale' and the Founding Fathers
By Tom Regan

The law drives the religious right crazy. As a result, even staunch conservative judges who make rulings that strictly interpret the Constitution as supporting the separation of church and state, are decried as "judicial activists." It's a great case of accusing your opponents of doing the very thing you are doing yourself.
The Founding Fathers, of course, had very strong views about the role of religion. George Washington viewed it very favorably, although historians note that he was careful not to malign or disparage any religious belief, including non-Christian ones.
In Benjamin Franklin, the 'first American,' there was no stronger voice for the importance of "tolerance" toward all religious beliefs. Thomas Jefferson, meanwhile, who had strong religious beliefs of his own bent, nevertheless felt it should basically be kept as far away from government as possible.
Jefferson also felt that the idea of "The Creator" should not be a specifically Christian one. Take, for example, the following quote from his autobiography, in reference to the Virginia Act for Religious Freedom (which Jefferson wrote, and considered one of the greatest achievements of his life), and the basis for the religion clauses in the Constitution's Bill of Rights:
Where the preamble declares, that coercion is a departure from the plan of the holy author of our religion, an amendment was proposed by inserting "Jesus Christ," so that it would read "A departure from the plan of Jesus Christ, the holy author of our religion;" the insertion was rejected by the great majority, in proof that they meant to comprehend, within the mantle of its protection, the Jew and the Gentile, the Christian and Mohammedan, the Hindoo and Infidel of every denomination.

Paz
Neonovo