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I FOUND PEACE BETWEEN COLOMBIANS AND ECUATORIANS

I had a pleasant surprise yesterday in Los Angeles, California when I went to one of my favorite Colombian restaurants. We were having an early dinner with family and friends when a musician started setting up his musical instruments to play. After a short introduction of himself he started to play old Colombian ballads. I must say it was well played, well in-tuned and not too loud. My surprise came when he asked for petitions from the public and the family sitting next to our table happened to be from Ecuador. Just like us they were enjoying a nice Colombian meal at a Colombian restaurant surrounded by Colombians and they were just as relaxed as we were. Later, when we were getting ready to leave I asked the musician where he was from. He laughed and said "I'm from Quito, Ecuador.'' and then he added, "We musicians are just that, musicians and we don't get involved in politics.'' I laughed and gave him a firm hand shake and a good tip as well. I was happy to see that neither one of us (Colombians or Ecuadorians) hold grudges against each other. We are neighbors and we have a lot in common: music, foood, culture, and many times, extended families as well. We might get angry at each other at times, but overall we are civilized enough to live in harmony.

By mrgizmo on Apr 21, 2008, 09:21 in Friendly Talkzone.

Catfish35 says on Apr 21, 2008, 09:44:

MrGiz,
Is refreshing your story. I always find it amazing how the media, politics, religion, and stuff the like make people do and hate when otherwise they wouldn't.
I still hold to the belief that people, not matter where are inherently good. It is the mucky variables that divide and cause confusion.
Look what one man in Germany did. The German soldiers actually thought that they were doing the right thing and something good. Most were religious and or brought up religious.
Look at the USA and what Bush has been able to do. If you keep repeating a lie eventually people will begin to believe it.
Its good you had that experience it puts your belief in humanity, back into you when it occurs.

Political correctness is a doctrine, fostered by a delusional, illogical minority, and rabidly promoted by an unscrupulous mainstream media, which holds forth the proposition that it is entirely possible to pick up a turd by the clean end."

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mrgizmo says on Apr 21, 2008, 09:50:

Catfish35, thanks for your comment. Yes, I agree, it's not the people it's the politics and also like you said, the media plays a big role in this manipulation of the mind.

Behind every successful man, there's a nagging woman

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Sam Salmon says on Apr 21, 2008, 10:04:

Great story!

I've always found Ecuadorans to be level headed fair minded people.

' a la orden!'

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cali373 says on Apr 21, 2008, 10:19:

I Agree, I am going to ecuador this summer

Smile if you are a thinker!

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Mononoke28 says on Apr 21, 2008, 12:21:

I don't hold anything against the people from Ecuador. Only against the idiot of Correa, that's all.

Diana

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Monpirri says on Apr 21, 2008, 15:26:

Ecuadorians are really good friends and they make a great shrimp ceviche.

"Anyone who still thinks that Colombia is not a gastronomical paradise needs to have their head examined." Darloup

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goin_south says on Apr 21, 2008, 15:43:

of course then, ... you could always hear some nasty bordertown stories. I have.

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Monpirri says on Apr 21, 2008, 16:00:

Ecuador =Cumbia=

I hear they like to dance cumbia :>)

"Anyone who still thinks that Colombia is not a gastronomical paradise needs to have their head examined." Darloup

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cali373 says on Apr 23, 2008, 08:53:

Since we are in topic, why is correa an idiot? What has this U.S. educated PHD in economics do that made him an idiot? And please try to stay clear of the usuall baseless righ-wing propaganda and stay with facts.

Smile if you are a thinker!

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Mononoke28 says on Apr 23, 2008, 09:26:

Well for one, he had no problem with the bombing that president Uribe had told him about on the phone. Then he talks to Chávez and changes his tune.

Not to mention the fact that he had support from the FARC on his campaign and even though they have proof of it, he denies it. I guess he thinks that if he doesn't talk about it, it'll go away. And also, isn't interesting how quiet Chávez has been since Colombia started coming out with all the stuff they found in that camp and in the computers? I guess he can no longer back him up as he did in the beginning.

Then he goes on a "tour" of Latin America campaigning on how they should all be on his side and be against Uribe. Well that waste of miles didn't work out too well.

He's just a chain of mistakes. Novato, perhaps?

Oh and by the way, having been educated in the US and having a PhD does not make him a wise man. I've met many people with degrees up to their ying yangs (especially in corporate America) who don't know the difference between their head and their ass.

Diana

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Robert Jorge says on Apr 24, 2008, 00:13:

Some of the dumbest people I have ever met hold post graduate degrees.

"You can not take the barrio out of the girl you really can't." Oneforamillion

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trojancd says on May 2, 2008, 05:15:

Hey where's this favorite Colombian restaurant of yours in LA? I head back to LA about once a year and would love to check it out.

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