Sunday, August 3, 2008

In response to John

I recieved this comment from a blogger named John who I can not reply to personally.

¨Believing that your heart is in the right place, I can only believe you are somehow misinformed. In an effort to inform you, as you attempt to inform others, I am left to ask in amazement--HUH? You want us to "Pray for President Evo and that his heart might be changed by the power of God?" I can understand the first part all right--it might be good to pray for others--but the second part?
In what way exactly, would you like "God" to change Evo's heart?
To be less good to the poor, the less educated and the elderly?
To reinstate the governance that has kept the impoverished in destitute circumstances? To not redistribute the 50% of Bolivia's arable land now owned by .2% (yes, that's point 2% or .002) of the population, much of which was stolen or gained through graft? To not gain for all Bolivians, the excessive profits that before nationalization went to foreign owners while Bolivia received a mere pittance?
I understand you not wanting to debate your blogged views, and ask instead for clarification. Precisely how would you like "God" to change Evo's heart?
Respectfully,,,John¨

So here is my clarification...
I have never claimed to be a political expert on Bolivia´s government. I hear bits and pieces of things both for and against Evo. I do believe that he is doing everything that you mentioned in your comment. However, I know that he and others in power hate the US, which is my home. They are making it nearly impossible for me to obtain a Visa even though I have come here to HELP with his countires over 200,000 orphans. And not just me but thousands of vounteers like me who don´t care about coca and cocaine and stupid politics. I know that he takes advise from other presidents from other countries and that he wants to president for life. I know that because he is indiginous that his religion does not focus on God, the creator and sustainer of life. But that is where my knowledge of the man ends. I DO know that everytime there is a vote like this the Christian churches spend DAYS on their knees praying to God for their country. Now if Evo was such a wonderful man doing such great things for their country, why would they be petitioning God in such a way? I realize from your comment that you think praying to God is some kind of joke. Thats a whole nother issue I´m not going to address here. And with that I think I am done responding. I´ve intentionally linked my email to this blog and you can feel free to respond via that link. However, I can not debate something such as politics that I don´t fully understand. And as for God, prayer, faith, ect... I still don´t understand that fully and thats the most wonderful part about it. I don´t know it all and never will. John, this is the best I can do. respectfully, Kim

3 comments:

Jim McIntosh said...

Hi Kim. I do very much appreciate your service to the poor of Cochabamba. It takes much dedication to leave your homeland to live with the poor in another culture.

I, also, do not want to debate anything except to say that I see much of what John wrote you to be correct. I do not think that Evo "hates the US". I think that he is just more willing than his predecessors to take on the US when its aims are not the same as those of the Bolivian people.

(I do not know what visa problems you are having, but perhaps you simply need a better tranmitador. Write me if you want information on one who I used and who is really very good.)

I think we can probably agree that one problem in Bolivia is one of "incomplete conversion". I think that a large part of the fault for this falls with the Catholic church and its past alliance with the rich and powerful rather than the poor and broken. I think that this has resulted in the perseverance of the indigenous beliefs -- such as the faith in the Pachamama.

I think it is difficult to blame those who hold to these traditional beliefs, when those of us who are Christian have not demonstrated adequately what it really means to be Christian -- either here in Bolivia or in most of the rest of the world.

Jim McIntosh said...

Ouch! I'm sorry. I meant tramitador (or, in this case, tramitadora), that is, "someone who can help speed up the process of tramites". Tramites is one of those interesting words that is almost impossible to translate into English. One can try with "paperwork" or "red tape" but nothing quite captures the complexity of tramites in the Latin American context with their multitude of forms, signatures and seals -- as, I can see by your post, is something you have learned. As I said, write me and I can point to you a great tramitadora.

Anonymous said...

Hello, Kim,

Hmm, if everyone were so enamored with the president, perhaps there wouldn't be a need for a recall referendum. Or, maybe this is just standard procedure down there. Obviously these two gentlement don't understand the concept of praying for your elected leaders. You are absolutely correct that we need to pray that President Evo governs in a way that is pleasing to the Lord. He walks a fine line between standing up for the campesinos and enacting a communist government that winds up hurting more people than it helps. We'll continue to pray for your safety and your visa.

Love,
Aunt Dawn