PBH / travelers / Swinn88

Swinn88

Send private message	Activity:	50 forum posts, 346 comments, 12 friends.
	Member since:	August 2006
	Lives in:	United States Central Islip, NY
	Sex:	male
	Born in:	United States
	Has traveled in:	Colombia, Canada, Germany, Holland, England, Japan.
	Wants to travel to:	Costa Rica
	Favourite traveling style:	Time constraints and family will not allow me to travel any other way but the quickest.
	About (hobbies etc...)
	Websites:

New friends:

goin_south says on Jan 24, 2008, 21:47:

Swiinn, you de man...
When you goin_2 Colombia?
I jus wanna know when 'not to go'.

.
.
.
.
.
jjajaja...
kiddin, Swinn

0 funny, 0 helpful.

Swinn88 says on Jan 25, 2008, 12:09:

Thats funny.....I'm not sure when my next trip is. Possibly in May and if not in May then August.

0 funny, 0 helpful.

august says on Feb 13, 2008, 23:24:

Swinn, I was looking back at some past postings and you seem to be someone who's put some thought into the topic of Colombia's racial dynamics. My recent post http://poorbuthappy.com/colombia/post/racial-discrimination-in-colombi... is a little scattered in terms of what kind of responses I was hoping to get from people, but perhaps you might know about any specific equal opportunity hiring laws that do or do not exist down there.

I've noticed that a lot of the folks on this site really haven't put too much thought into the racial dynamics down there and while I want to blame them for it initially, I think also that part of Colombian culture discourages citizens and visitors alike from questioning the status quo there. The upshot is that, compared to the States, it might be much easier to overlook glaring disparities and the opinions that perpetuate them down there.

I think that based on some of your earlier comments though, you're right, racial discrimination is just as much of a problem there as anywhere in the Americas, especially those places where populations of African decent are found. I'm wondering if you might be able to articulate your own thoughts/observations on how discrimination differs in Colombia though.

I'm yet another damn gringo with a girlfriend down there, but my girlfriend happens to be Afro-Colombian and it's just been the most bizarro experience to observe how the dynamics between races are different there. She's proud, for example, when people refer to her by her sometimes nickname, Le Negra, and she'll even sign emails with that, but I've also been with her when minor street scuffles result in a non-Afro-Colombian disparagingly referring to her as a negra and she laughs it off in a not so funny ha-ha way. Obviously, in the second instance, you feel like cracking the guy across the jaw, but I can never very well gauge the level of insult that has been made.

Anyways, that's a lot of scattered thoughts, but I'm interested in hearing your perspective on things. Thanks.

0 funny, 0 helpful.

goin_south says on Feb 13, 2008, 23:31:

hey Swinn...
what's up dude?
good to see ya ...
what keeps you so damn busy, that we don't see you here much??
thought about movin your ''next trip'' up? in time?

...seems lots of people from pbh are gonna be in Bogota in March,...
the later part there of...
what about you?

0 funny, 0 helpful.

island girl says on Feb 14, 2008, 10:08:

Hi Swinn

Papi de Alejo indicated that you often post interesting Afro Colombiano related videos, commentaries etc ..... I am new here and have not been able to find them. I tracked down a three part series with Carlos Rosero that was very infomative. If its not too much trouble can you direct me to where I can locate some of your other posts concerning this topic?

Thank you!

0 funny, 0 helpful.

Swinn88 says on Feb 14, 2008, 20:13:

Goin South, I Thought I was going to make it to Colombia in May but That has changed and my next trip won't be untill August. Island Girl I will post some Videos in your profile. August I will also post my views in your Profile. Happy Valentines Day to all.

0 funny, 0 helpful.

Swinn88 says on Feb 19, 2008, 08:18:

Good Morning August it is 2/19/2008 and I am very sorry I was not been able to respond to your post a bit earlier. The truth is you hit the nail right on the head with regard to Racial discrimination in Colombia. I am by no means a scholar on the subject of racial discrimination in Colombia but I have studied the topic. I found this article.

http://www.utexas.edu/law/academics/centers/humanrights/adjudicating/p...

While I don't agree with it in its intirety I find most of it is on point. I hope it is useful to you. The following is an English translation of Colombias Law 70.

http://www.benedict.edu/exec_admin/intnl_programs/other_files/bc-intnl...

The Next Article I found very Interesting.

http://www.historycooperative.org/journals/ahr/111.2/lasso.html

The 1st Article is 33 pages long You may just want to skim through it. The 2nd and 3rd are not as long but they have great information. Racism is a problem and like I have said a number of times at this site, racism was not considered racism in The U.S. when everyone accepted the idea that it was normal, the Status quo. In Colombia they don't really address the issue as much as they should. They address it even less in other Latin American Countries. That is why I believe that the U.S. Is the best place to be if you are a minority, a black, an Indian, Etc.. Regardless of the things that have been documented in American history, Black American history, blacks are better off in the U.S. than in any other country that exist today. I am by no means a patriot but I was born in the U.S. and I know what side of the bread is buttered, I know where opportunity lies. Colombia on the other hand is a beautiful country with so much going for it. However there is a denile thing going on, and they have to get past it before any true progress can be made. The people that post on this site have a utopianist view of colombia that does not exist. To them Colombia is a perfect place. There is no racism, nothing is better than Colombia, food is better, Xmas is better, people are nicer, services are better. I have finally concluded that most people on this site must not be from Colombia, are Colombians ignorant to the goings on in Colombia, or are foriegners in Colombia that have problems with there own countries and back grounds. Children of parents that are Colombian also frequent the site and I must note that they usually know the least about colombia and the fact is that the have more in common with the the people that reside in the country that they grew up in than they do with Colombia, and its customs. I don't post often however sometimes I am moved to make a statement. I find the term gringo offensive, to me it is akin to Spic, sudaca, Indio, wetback, Etc. I am in Love with Colombia and will always be, but I won't ignore the truths about Colombia. Anyway sorry about rambling. I hope I didn't get to far off topic, I hope you enjoy the articles, and I hope you have a great day.

M. Swinn

0 funny, 0 helpful.

Swinn88 says on Feb 19, 2008, 08:44:

Hi Island Girl

Most of the videos I have posted you can find at Youtube or google video. I will post some here for you.
Racism The More You Apply It The Uglier You Get

These are justfew. I can post more when ever you like.

0 funny, 0 helpful.

Swinn88 says on Feb 19, 2008, 11:15:

Island girl this video is just short of an hour but very interesting. It's Called " Palenque Un Canto"

0 funny, 0 helpful.

Swinn88 says on Feb 19, 2008, 11:40:

presentaciones Cimarron Deals with Blacks in Peru but it relates to Colombia as well. Very well made video and interesting and educational.

0 funny, 0 helpful.

goin_south says on Feb 19, 2008, 16:06:

HEY Swinn.. thanks for the mensaje..
Later tonight... check yer personal messages.
As I am sending you one...
if Mafe, and Cg and Saucey and all the other
Hot Mammasitas on pbh will leave me be for a while ;-)

0 funny, 0 helpful.

august says on Feb 22, 2008, 16:52:

Swinn,

I can't say that's the best speech of my rep., Barbara Lee, you posted above but, oh well, she does some good work for us anyways. I appreciate your thoughts on Colombia. I think you make a good point there that despite the history in the US of deeply entrenched racism, and as much as I don't want to believe it's true, we do seem to have emerged with a much better racial dynamic than any other country in the Americas that I'm familiar with. I think that we do owe it to Colombians to be honest about their situation and the fact that there simply is not enough challenging of the status quo of race relations down there. I too get frustrated with the all-too-rosy images Poorbuthappyers tend to paint of Colombia - it really just doesn't reflect the facts and it's damaging to those in Colombian society who aren't making it. I may be projecting my own cultural bias on Colombia, but I just can't see any real advancements in equality being made without the creation and enforcement of some sort of equal opportunity laws there. It kills me to know that a resume is not complete there without a photo and that classified job postings can explicitly state gender and appearance (read: race) requirements. Damn the frustration! Got to turn it into action.

As far as the use of "gringo" goes, I agree, it doesn't sit right with me either. I don't know if I can place it in the same group as the other racial epithets you mentioned though. I mean, yes it is demeaning and it generally is derogatory, but at least when directed at a European-American like myself, isn't it being used in an opposite power dynamic? Perhaps you're right though, a good thing that doesn't make. In the end, it's really no different from "cracker" I suppose, which I probably couldn't be comfortable with. OK, Swinn, you've brought things into a new light there, thanks.

Again, thanks for the thoughts in general. Have a good one.

0 funny, 0 helpful.

Swinn88 says on Mar 7, 2008, 13:25:

No Todo en Colombia es Bonito

0 funny, 0 helpful.

MaFe says on Apr 23, 2008, 12:43:

Swinn, how did you end up on this board?

"All human actions have one or more of these seven causes: chance, nature, compulsions, habit, reason, passion, desire. "-Aristotle

0 funny, 0 helpful.

Swinn88 says on Apr 26, 2008, 20:42:

Hi Mafe i'm sorry I did n ot respond earlier but sometimes a few days pass before i can actually turn this computer on. I found PBH while looking for people to chat with about Colombia. I wish it were more exciting but that's it.

0 funny, 0 helpful.

Swinn88 says on Apr 26, 2008, 20:42:

WWw

0 funny, 0 helpful.

Swinn88 says on Apr 26, 2008, 20:42:

Trouble today with this thing.

0 funny, 0 helpful.

goin_south says on Apr 29, 2008, 18:25:

Hey Swinn! What's up?
I have my eyes set.... on a Yankee game this year (hopefully...in New York!)

0 funny, 0 helpful.

Swinn88 says on Apr 30, 2008, 09:10:

Just let me Know GS. My Wife and I will make sure you have a great time in New York.

0 funny, 0 helpful.

dwmte7 says on Oct 17, 2008, 08:47:

hello swinn.....sorry it took me so long to get around to your page. anybody who knows barbosa is a pal of mine.

what took you there? does your family travel with you?

what do you do in the states.

you mentioned issues of color....i worked across central africa, throughout the americas, europe, india, the middle east and here and there else around the world. and for all it's short comings, you're right, the easies place for folks of color...regardless the color, is in north america. it's not "horrible" in colombia...but they sure have a long way to go....you get to the east coast, buenaventura and the northcoast. their representation in govt are all sellouts and corrupt past their ears. so no hope there. once a rep gets to bogota, they enjoy the spoils and forget their roots. i found it the same in africa. the folks would by fate, win an education in cambridge, oxford, sarbonne, etc and when they returned home, they were so removed from their familial, tribal roots, they just acted like demigods instead, persecuting their own and raping the spoils. pity.

wanna chat...e me at dwmte7 at yahoo.com

we're stranded away from home...envigado...and family as we have our daughter youngest studying here in the states...the thought of her studying in colombia is most pale. where they teach the rich how to take advantage of the poor.

all the best, douglas

patriarch

0 funny, 0 helpful.