I can't believe how few people get that.
Just saving the country from the impending bankruptcy brought on by the hippo, is good enough for me.
I was one of those who expected a lot more from this administration in 2004 2008 - because I was bringing my British mentality to the possibility of a New Beginning.
I was one of those who hoped for a great deal more being spent on Education.
I was one of those expecting to see a much more austere administration, a greater interest in getting rid of the corruption 'In High Places'.
I was one of those ...............................
I am STILL one of those who bitches to Dominicans that their Government is not doing enough to put things right, that THEY themselves have to demand that Politicians be honest & upstanding citizens who represent the people rather than ones who steal from the people ....... I get laughed at (in a friendly way & extreme good humour) because I just do not understand!!
It is all very fine for us extranajeros to jump on our horses in shining armour & go storming off about how things 'Should be done' & 'How we do it in OUR country of origin' but here it takes a L O T longer & has to be 'FELT' by the local populace.
Back off all you do-gooders from out of the country (Dominican OR regular visitors) - many of us here are pushing the boat as hard as we can right now & to do more would be dangerous.
'Take Videos & put them on U-tube'???? That would be downright dangerous. It would take any reasonable investigator about two days to find out who is putting those videos up & then 'The Rough Guys' would come visiting!! Anyone remember our friend on this board who got murdered nearly 2 years ago? Lloyd Robins was his name & he was murdered by person or persons unknown (well, not brought to any form of justice that is) because he was trying to help the community he was living in - THAT upset someone & he was removed from the scene VERY unceremoniously!!
One last point. This is the Dominican Republic. 99% of the people who live here are DOMINICANS & it is THEIR land. They make the decisions about their future ..... NOT us. All we can (& should) do is encourage them to look at things from a different viewpoint & allow THEM to choose which direction they wish to go in. Anything else is doing the Imperialistic thing which we 'Modernised' countries have been doing for so long - foisting OUR desires, needs, thoughts & values into a country that MAY NOT WANT TO LISTEN~!!! Now that is their choice & if THEIR form of democracy is to be upheld here, we must accept their choice.
Sorry for the rant ~ Grahame.