talk

Aaahhh, nothing like a fresh sex scandal to get Americans involved in “public life”, or more appropriately, in someone else’s private life.

The recent news surrounding Governor Spitzer’s shenanigans have had amazing resonance and omnipresence in the last few days. I suddenly started asking myself why this affair was so present in my mind, and realized that it is because we are fairly being bombarded with news on it. Now of course, Spitzer’s transgression is undeniably of public importance because:

1. He is a public figure known for his valiant efforts to battle prostitution rings, who has now completely invalidated and ridiculed his own efforts.

2. He might have been using campaign money to buy prostitutes.

3. The criminalization of prostitution continues to be a controversial issue.

However, other than that, I do not see how his infidelity is of anyone’s concern, except for his own and his family’s. What really mystifies me is not so much the reaction to Spitzer, but the way “Kristen”, the last high-priced prostitute he was reported to have met with, has been projected in the media. I don’t want to make any moral judgments here, because what this girl does with her body is really her own business. I am, however, puzzled that a woman’s choice to prostitute herself could become a reason for her glorification and upheaval.

The last time I checked, selling your body was not a trait to be admired, much less a passport to stardom and fame. It seems, though, that as of late, sleeping around and exposing private parts is enough to put you on a pedestal along with the Paris Hiltons of the world. “Kristen”, an aspiring singer, will not attain fame through talent, but, incredibly, by sleeping with important men. Yey for feminism. Meanwhile, in the midst of all this, there are so many other minor, unimportant things happening in the world, like deaths in Palestine and frisky South Americans getting into disputes.

But hey, why would the media cover stories like those when they can dish out tabloid-worthy material on one hell of an expensive gal pal.

There are few presidents that can act as flamboyantly as our dearest Hugo Chavez. Last Sunday, during his program Aló Presidente, Chavez declared in classic Chavez style: “Mr. Defense Minister, move me ten battalions of tanks to the border immediatelly. Send tanks and military aviation”.

All this after Colombia’s military had ventured a mile into Ecuador on Saturday to kill the number two FARC leader Raul Reyes . It could actually be a sketch from SNL if it weren’t true: President X gets mad at President Y for going into President Z’s country and killing a guerilla leader from country Y.

Hard to follow? That is what makes Garcia Marquez a genius, he takes every day life from Latin America and shares our craziness with the rest of the civilized world. Makes for excellent drama and magic realism.

Both Uribe and Chavez suffer from macho egos but neither can afford an armed conflict, still, it seems Latin America is undergoing a escalating arms race. Political tensions are on the rise day by day with commentaries from Chavez such as: “President Uribe is a criminal, not only a liar, he is a gangster – a paramilitary that leads a terrorist State. He is a criminal, that leads a band of criminals at the Presidential Palace”. Strange choice of words coming from Chavez… I guess it takes one to know one.

Our very mixed group includes both Colombians and Venezuelans living in close quarters, I wonder what this conflict should mean for us. Should we send a battalion to the creative team? We could bombard them with paper planes flying through the office. Maybe close our PR department and send our account executive back to her country as has been done with the embassy staff?

As tensions run high during this ridiculous situation, our only recourse is to laugh laugh laugh. We have to remember we all speak the same language, eat the same food, dance to the same music, have the same background and prefer a cold beer at the beach on a slow day than to get up in arms. No matter how ‘bravo’ a pueblo we are – the ‘rumba’ comes first.

As of February 24^th Fidel Castro is no longer the president of Cuba. Can you hear the chants? “Cuba si, Castro no!” “Cuba si, Castro no!” He has stepped aside and let his younger brother Raul assume the title of “America’s largest thorn in the side of democracy”. While the United States hopes that Raul Castro paves the way for more liberal reforms, certain prominent figures like Felipe Perez Roque (a longtime confidant of Fidel Castro) feel that Raul is merely Fidel the 2^nd. I, like many Cuban Americans, beg to differ.

In the interim period that Fidel the 2^nd has held office there were signs of hope that this regime may be one of hope and reform for the Cuban people. Raul has sought the opinions of his countrymen on Cuba’s high unemployment and stagnant economy. He has acknowledged that the $19 a month government wages do not satisfy basic human needs for an individual, so one can only imagine families trying to survive on the same income. Fidel the 2^nd himself has commented on Cuba’s inevitable transition from a communist country to an evolved form of socialism with the possibility of democracy on the horizon.

So how has the United States of America responded to hints of progress? The Bush administration has classified Raul Castro as “Fidel Lite” which means that the nearly five-decade U.S. embargo of Cuba will remain in place for now. I, like many Cuban Americans, dream of the day when trade with Cuba is not a dream but a reality. Trade will not only improve their economic well being but with favorable regulation may balance out the ridiculous trade deficits that we are currently experiencing in this country. The United States should be a catalyst for change, not an oppressor to the oppressed.

Conservatives who are anti the war will vote for Obama instead of McCain. Obama is less polarizing than Hillary and more acceptable to conservatives who are not so anti-immigration and want to get out of Iraq. He seems to have an independent take on issues that feel honest and refreshing and projects an image of someone who is not spouting political rhetoric. He has also managed to stay on the high road when most politicians start to get ugly. He’s shown judgment, education, class and polish so far, if not as much experience as some would like. I think a lot of republicans that want out of Iraq will be wearing those buttons…

Its a start of freedom, that many hoped Raul would embrace since succeeding his older brother Fidel as president last month. But who can actually afford one?

Is this a delusion? or a Real opportunity? Let us know what you think

CLICK HERE TO SEND YOUR COMMENT