The Bravest Colombian in my Book

ARMacleod says on Oct 31, 2005, 12:13:

How sad! I have come across all kinds in my fairly long life and the nicest people generally are those at some kind of physical disadvantage. I always try to help in some way, but, it is not always accepted, for obvious reasons.

On the other hand I look at some of the malcontents around me and feel nothing but loathing, Oh god, how I wish I had the power to reverse the situation, there would be a great increase in the number of disabled and a nill return on the statistics for the previously disabled.

I don't know if it was just me, or my personal situation when I was in Colombia: I cannot remember encountering many people with the disabled problem?

I hope their god will bless them in any case.

My stated facts, although interesting at times, are generally irrevelant.

The brain is like a parachute, it only functions correctly when it is open. Pax vobiscum.

0 funny, 0 helpful.

cam0940 says on Oct 31, 2005, 12:26:

I wasn't going to say anything, but I saw more canes, crutches, and walking apparatus in Bogota than over any comparable stretch in my life. The users were relatively young men, too. I wondered (perhaps naively) if they had been injured in the military, since many of them were in the area of Salitre Plaza, not too far from the military hospital. I would estimate to have seen 3 or 4 per day at least.

0 funny, 0 helpful.

Desideria (Moderator) says on Oct 31, 2005, 12:33:

fíjate bien donde caminas...

There are a lot of disabled people in Colombia; at least I see a lot of them around (but then again, you don't have to believe what I say since I'm not honest or credible, according to some posters:(...)

The use of landmines has left many innocent people without legs which is one of the tragedies of the internal strife.

The presence of so many handicapped people begging on the streets of the larger cities of Colombia is something that I never can get used to.

Cheers,
Desi

"When shall we three meet again? In thunder, lightning, or in rain?"(First Witch in Macbeth)

0 funny, 0 helpful.

kerry says on Oct 31, 2005, 13:49:

NO NO Tell him you are giving him a larger note because if he thinks it is a lower note he may give it to someone thinking it is a lower note. Remember he can't see. Also he can't appreciate what you have given him because he wont be able to see it all day or all week.

0 funny, 0 helpful.

Monpirri says on Oct 31, 2005, 14:21:

I believe in you Desideria Colombia is the second country in the world with more landmine victims. Every 10 hours a Colombian citizen dies or they end up with amputated limbs.
Where are the PBH experts on Politics and War? And why they do not post PERIODICALLY on these victims?

Annette Taddeo for US Congress 2008

0 funny, 0 helpful.

Desideria (Moderator) says on Oct 31, 2005, 22:57:

thank you monpirri for believing in me:)
Sometimes I just get so tired of trying to explain certain things from the best of my knowledge and then just be called not credible or plain dishonest. People just hear what they want to hear and believe in others that just confirm their own thoughts. There's no use debating issues with people who already made up their minds to believe only what they thought from the beginning to be the case.

The landmine issue is a serious one and causes great damage not only to the civilian population of Colombia but also to the international reputation of Colombia, since the use of landmines is totally prohibited in most of the world.

But that is a debate that doesn't belong to this forum at all.

Cheers,
Desi

"When shall we three meet again? In thunder, lightning, or in rain?"(First Witch in Macbeth)

0 funny, 0 helpful.

adrimm says on Oct 31, 2005, 23:57:

I agree with the number of ill or unhealthy or still-a-child street people being difficult to handle. I'd never seen anything like it until I went to Colombia. I think some of people in Colombia on the streets who are missing extremities have lost them to leprosy. I remember seeing at least a few lepers in my earlier trips, but I guess that numbers are either lower, or I haven't gone to the places where they are on more recent trips.
I don't know if it still exists, but my mother says that in her generation, and those before it, leprosy was a huge taboo. Anyone suffering from it was quietly sent to a "colony" and never talked about.

I never really considered landmines, but I guess it is also an unfortunate consideration. Colombia did sign the 1997 Mine Ban Treaty; Land Mine Ban Signatories and Ratifications but I guess it isn't recognized by numerous factions operating in Colombia.

0 funny, 0 helpful.

dwmte says on Nov 1, 2005, 05:22:

nice post, colombiche... i can see you have your heart on your shirt sleeve. were that more folks didn't try to open their hearts and let the compassion that resides in all hearts, flow out. it only requires giving it a chance.

hats off to you and all who address humanity with courtesy and kindness. regardless people's paths--regardless--they are equally creations of our COMMON FATHER and are deserving of our respect.

dw

0 funny, 0 helpful.

cam0940 says on Nov 1, 2005, 07:21:

Desi, I hope that you are not referring to a recent disagreement on another thread. I for one, believe you are credible. If I'm not mistaken, the bulk of your Colombian experience comes from Cali, a good 500 miles plus from Barranquilla, which was the area in question. With all due respect, it seems plausible that the Cali experience could be different in some ways from the Atlantic coast experience. So, while certain aspects of life may be exactly as you described them in Cali, it could still be inaccurate in a discussion about costenos. We know the two groups are fiercely regional; any Colombian will tell you that cachacos and costenos are not exactly cut from the same fabric. It was in this context that I disagreed with you, but I don't recall writing anything that said you were absolutely incredible. I hope this clears up any friction.

But back to the plaza, dealing fairly with the disabled vendor touches the humanity in all of us. He could easily panhandle, as there are more able bodied people simply asking for money. This guy is providing a service and although he has obvious obstacles to running the business efficiently, you have to applaud him for his effort. I think that qualifies as bravery.

0 funny, 0 helpful.

platano says on Nov 1, 2005, 07:44:

Thanks, Colombiche... I am enjoying your posts immensely.

Plátano X
Oxigeno Verde ¡Libertad por Ingrid y los demás!

plátano

0 funny, 0 helpful.

Desideria (Moderator) says on Nov 1, 2005, 09:24:

yes, cam, I was but not any longer. I felt irritated at your comments about everybody else (except the costeñas) not being a credible or honest source of information and insight on the thread that you are referring to; I certainly felt implied.

Back to Colombiches's post: it's very admirable to pay homage to one of these everyday heros that abound in Colombia. We tend to forget that they exist; the man Colombiche describes is a poignant example of personal courage in spite of all odds.

The handicapped people in Colombia have had to recur to an enormous supply of survival tactics in a country that basically lacks the resources and network to make their lives tolerable. This is by no means a Colombian problem; same thing can be observed in many developing countries.

The blind mayor of Cali is another courageous person but maybe not the man for job.

Cheers,
Desi

"When shall we three meet again? In thunder, lightning, or in rain?"(First Witch in Macbeth)

0 funny, 0 helpful.

adrimm says on Nov 1, 2005, 09:40:

Colombiche Of course I have to agree whole-heartedly with Doug and Desi on this. Thank you for posting it. A valuable reminder.

It is a very bittersweet sad side of Colombia, perhaps quite one quite different from what many of us enjoy remembering about Col, but that deserves just as much remembering.

I know he is doing what it takes to survive, but he could give up so easily and beg. He is extraordinary. How many fully blind people in some of our home countries would even consider running a stand themselves, would they do if they had no social aid coming in? It takes guts and determination. Bravo.

0 funny, 0 helpful.

goosekirk says on Nov 1, 2005, 15:05:

I saw Bravest guy I ever saw was a blind guitar-player playing for change on the buses. I saw him with his cane, wandering the sidewalk, trying to get a bus to stop. Cynical guy I am, I wondered if he was really disabled... but sure enough, you could see that his eyes were messed up, and unless his acting was truly exceptional, he had absolutely zero eyesight.

And then he played and sang BEAUTIFULLY. It was the first time I'd heard a singer on the bus that was really incredible. I gave him all the change I had.

After he got off the bus, I realized I should've gone after him and talked to him. I mean, I feel really proud of myself that I can navigate Bogota's mean streets and buses, and I can freaking SEE. He's out there wandering around, getting on buses by sound and then asking people where he is when he gets off. Talk about huevos. I can't even comprehend how difficult this must be.

After he got off the bus, I was just sitting there thinking about what a remarkable human being I'd just encountered, and I was pretty much awestruck.

Then, a few blocks later, another blind guitar-player got on the bus.

0 funny, 0 helpful.

juancegomez says on Nov 1, 2005, 17:35:

... Those are all stories of true bravery, on the emotional/empathic side of things. Clearly, some people here are certainly capable of transmitting and discussing such stories in such an interesting and, at the same time, worrying manner.

Though I myself usually don't engage in such discussions, more out of lack of habit rather than because of lack of interest, I am still capable of recognizing their worth.

Granted, this fragment of our reality usually goes a bit to far ahead of some of us when posting here, let alone when dealing with our own daily struggles of a different but sometimes just as tragic nature.

That said, I reiterate that I'm glad that some people are capable of expressing what some of us may also think but don't really get a chance to properly communicate to others.

0 funny, 0 helpful.

quindioman says on Nov 3, 2005, 04:20:

ahi pegaste duro Colombiche....la vi muy bien....mi corazon tanbien sufre cada vez que regreso a mi pais y veo esta clase de gente tan desafortunada pero aun siguen en la lucha...y aqui estamos en paises "desarollados" y chillando por tonterias que no valen la pena.

0 funny, 0 helpful.

Colombiche says on Nov 3, 2005, 18:28:

Yeah.... Sometimes I wonder if I am actually "blinder" than this man. There are so many things around me I don't see. So many things I don't stop to take a look at and appreciate.

No me den trago extranjero, que es caro y no sabe a bueno.... (Rafael Godoy)

0 funny, 0 helpful.

Rubiazo says on Nov 3, 2005, 20:35:

I had a friend who toured with Stevie Wonder He said 'being around him makes you WISH you were blind, he notices so much stuff you don't in music!'

0 funny, 0 helpful.

utopiacowboy says on Nov 4, 2005, 09:30:

I think you are one of the most, maybe the most, credible posters on this forum, Desi.

Disclaimer: any comment I make is inane and is not to be taken seriously, and is so patently ridiculous that no one should take it seriously, even as an insult.

0 funny, 0 helpful.

Desideria (Moderator) says on Nov 4, 2005, 10:24:

why, thank you UC I certainly appreciate your high opinion on my credibility. I also happen to think that your credibility ranking is very high when you're not bullshiting or being unnecessarily sarcastic. Then again I might have been treated with silk gloves in comparison to the treatment you have received.

Cheers,
Desi

"When shall we three meet again? In thunder, lightning, or in rain?"(First Witch in Macbeth)

0 funny, 0 helpful.

poco says on Nov 4, 2005, 10:34:

Hummmm Funny, there is a deaf guy who plays guitar and sings in the park. Puts his hat out on the sidewalk for donations. Maybe he would be a better musician if he was blind and could talk and hear?

He can't really sing nor can he play. His guitar usually does not have strings and of course he can't talk either,, just makes noises.

The blind guy at least has a home, business and income.

Colombia is FULL of these folks,,, yep,, PBH posters spout out (spew?) their PET agenda at every opportunity when the problem is MUCH greater.

NOTHING,,, NOTHING will ever improve much in Colombia until the government controls ALL the country and has the will and opportunity to enforce the EXISTING laws.

"When you men get home and face an anti-war protester, look him in the eyes and shake his hand. Then, wink at his girlfriend, because she knows she's dating a pussy." Quote - General Tommy Franks

0 funny, 0 helpful.

Cockney Colombian says on Nov 8, 2005, 04:53:

Your posts are beautiful Colombiche

0 funny, 0 helpful.

Colombiche says on Nov 8, 2005, 06:44:

Thanks Cockney If my posts are half as good as yours, then I am happy.

I loved the one about the old house.

No me den trago extranjero, que es caro y no sabe a bueno.... (Rafael Godoy)

0 funny, 0 helpful.

Cockney Colombian says on Nov 12, 2005, 04:06:

Thanks. I'm thinking of doing a follow up post. I returned to that house for the first time in eight years this summer and it had changed in all that time, and yet remained strangely familiar, as though the house of my memories was still hidden beneath the new.

0 funny, 0 helpful.