On my bike ride to work last night I encountered a barricade that spanned at least a mile of Calle 60. I woke up to helicopters flying over my house this morning. I've seen a number of people covered in body paint holding "Kill Bush" signs lately.
Having GWB in town isn't a positive experience, I would say. We don't even get a gig out of it.
If anything, it's saddening.
The most striking thing I've seen so far due to Bush's arrival, was on my bike ride home from work last night. As I approached the Monument to the Flag, I thought it looked different. When I got closer I realized why- it was surrounded completely by shoulder-to-shoulder militia men, holding large bullet-proof plastic shields. They were standing somberly, looking straight ahead, motionless, as still as the humid air, while night fell around them, protecting their most important monument. I wondered how long they had been standing there.
I continued on about a block and realized why their presence was necessary. I suddenly found myself in the midst of a protest. I wished I had had a sign myself that read, "Yes, I'm obviously an American. But I live and work here and I hate him as much as you do." Instead, I decided to keep up the pace, as I was getting more than the usual amount of strange sideways glances.
The protest was fairly disorganized-it looked as if they were thinking about having a parade, but there were more stragglers than people in the group. As I passed another barricade I heard what sounded to me like gun shots, in my slightly on-edge state of mind. I soon realized that it was just some particularly animated protesters, kicking the metal barricades and shouting. It made a truly awful sound, and yet was neither violent nor productive. There were a lot of people holding "Pinche Bush" signs or the like. Bush was a few blocks away, probably dining peacefully and talking about what "hard work" it is to be President and pontificating about his "culture of life." (That is his catch-phrase that I absolutely detest most.)
Generally, my bike ride home from work (English classes) is one of the best parts of my day. Things have finally cooled down, I've finished my obligations for the day, and I have that post-teaching I-contributed-and-got-a-good-response-out-of-some-teenagers buzz. I like putting my iPod on shuffle and getting really into whatever pops up, as I bike down the most beautiful street in this city and enjoy knowing that my house is one block away from it. Something about that and the breeze always make a little reflective as well.
So last night, I had a lot to be reflective about. The image of this huge barricade around any streets remotely close to Potus' (thank you West Wing) hotel struck me as a giant metaphor for politics in our world today. A huge leader (please note that huge is not intended with positive connotations) comes to town, and the most anyone can do to participate is fruitlessly kick a giant piece of metal repeatedly. Such is the system, no? Our leaders are off quarantined in some highly secure area, making decisions, or not, to get re-elected, to nab some political deal, or to vote with the party. We get our impression of it through the filter of the media, be it liberally or conservatively biased, and make our judgments accordingly. When a big shot actually does come around, we are kept far far away for the fear of assassination, anthrax, or even bad press. The people are separated from their leaders and the leaders are separated from their people. The whole experience is one of complete detachment. Where is the representation, community, exchange of ideas and possibility that politics is supposed to be? The only things from the visit that affect you are the detours and helicopter noise. No wonder nobody votes. (I understand that I'm describing an international visit, but domestic visitis strike me as the same, if not worse.)
I, for one, have voted every chance I've had since I turned 18, out of the principal of the thing. And because I have to believe it makes a difference. But sometimes I just don't know.
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3 comments:
This is what heads of state do. They meet with other heads of state. President Bush and President Calderon will meet, share a meal, tour the pyramids, talk about issues of mutual concern, and that will be that.
Is Bush supposed to chat with every Mexican he passes on the street so they can complain about the cost of tortillas going up? That's silly.
And perhaps the reason all those barricades are needed is because of all the crazy socialists in the world who throw bottles, break windows, and engage in all sorts of hooliganism every time the G7 meets or someone dares to utter the word "capitalism" out loud. Really, those barricades are there because some people are idiots and can't conduct themselves in a civil manner. If people weren't idiots, the barricades would be unnecessary.
I have no doubt that the President can conduct himself in a polite and reasoned manner, even among those who disagree with him. I can't always say that I believe the converse is true, especially when those folks are all holding signs telling the Presdient to screw himself.
I knew Spot would be all over this one. Of course I'm not saying he should stop and chat with every Mexican. I'm also not saying there shouldn't be barricades, because I agree with you that their necessary and I understand why. It just makes me sad that it's come to this.
It was a metaphor.
As far as the President "conduct in himself in a polite and reasoned manner" I'll give him that when it comes to social occasions and official appearances. As far as real international policy, I would never use the word "reasoned."
Wow. I didn't know he would be in M.
"the most anyone can do to participate is fruitlessly kick a giant piece of metal repeatedly"
It is true. Yet we'd like to think we have a system where all voices can be heard in a dignified, organized way, but with so many voices and so much misrepresentation by our "leaders" hope is easily lost. We might as well bang our heads against a wall.
On a nicer note, C, I do love your description of biking home. I'm the same way and finally have been able to get out and back on it up here. I get this high biking; heavy pannier attached, layers on, big old violin strapped to my back, cruising past walkers and bus waiters like no other. Plus, with my iPod on random I get the best of the C-ster. (I'll admit that sometimes I skip the horn concertos though- don't hate me! That one group is pretty hip though... it's a biking thing. :))
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