Gang,
For a very long time I have been struggling to understand what is it about the DR that exerts such a powerful pull to all of those that have either been born in the DR or have had enough exposure to it to become addicted. I say this because over 15 years ago I left the DR (Jarabacoa) to look for a better future in the big city (NY) and although I have done relatively well for myself, I have been unable to let go of that incredible past I left behind (I was 13 when I arrived). In that 15+ years span, I have gone through a bunch of transitions...went to school, got an education, got married, have a kid, got a prestigious job at one of the top investment banks, have owned a successful business...have traveled quite a bit, etc. YET, I have been unable let go of my past in the DR...in fact, my dream has always been to go back there on a permanent basis...even as a 13 year old kid. I continue to visit the DR at least once/twice a year and I continue to feel a weird closeness to it that I cannot comprehend. The funny part is that out of 100 Dominicans I meet a very high percentage feel a similar passion for the DR. All of my 5 brothers and sisters that also live in NY feel the same way I do, although some of them came to the US a lot younger than me.
So, as you might imagine, I spend quite a bit of time trying to figure out what it is about the DR that exerts such a gravitational pull....here's some of the weird conclusions I've come to understand:
Human Nature:
Human nature dictates that it is a lot easier for us to let our instincts dictate the course of action that we take. This means that, other things being equal, we feel a lot more comfortable with ourselves when we're free to do as we please...without the inherent restrictions that a democratic/capitalist system imposes. The previous statement may sound contradictory but the truth is that the more a democratic system develops, the more rules and regulations that need to be imposed...finally culminating in a highly restrictive system....where the instinctive expression of the human mind has little room to move in...and therefore, needs to be suppressed. A highly sophisticated democracy, by nature, requires highly restrictive rules and regulations to control the "human greed". This concept, which is the origin of the US constitution (the document that dictates the legal system) has a profound effect on society as a whole. In its pure translation, what this means is that we (humans) are BAD by nature...and therefore need to be constrained...
It is interesting to note that one of the top complaints about the Dominican Republic is it's loose democracy...corruption...legal system...and the fact that there are no rules and regulations controlling peoples' behavior. The praises, on the other hand, are: freedom to do whatever the hell you want, ability to get things done...as long as you know how to deal with people, the ability to conquer(?) a beautiful women with relatively ease...and more. The fact of the matter is that DR is what it is because it has not found a cure for the deceases mentioned above. In other words, as soon as we cure the democratic system, corruption and all other malices...the DR will no longer be ther DR...it's essence will defuse into the air of modernism and Santo Domingo will be just like Miami...I think that "La cura resulta mas cara que la enfermedad"....
I am aware that we all want the best for the DR and that my assessment of the situation may sound a bit rough...lacking principles and morals...and probably more importantly, lacking hope. But my friends, I've come to understand that you "cannot have the cake and eat it too"...that there's a certain give and take in life called compromise...and that the combination of black and while = gray. I've come to understand that absolutes don't exist...at least in this world...and that in mathematics 2+2=4 only because it is derived from a logic that could have as well been 2+5=4....
?Los arroyuelos son capilares que hacen su recorrido con una meta firme?la de llegar al r?o y desenbocar su caudal. Los r?os, ya alimentados por sus capilares contin?an el recorrido hacia un final que sus antecedendes desconocen?el mar. El mar, calmadamente esperando la llegada del r?o, parece estar dormido por momentos pero las olas le recuerdan que son sus manos y que hay trabajo por hacer. Las olas comienzan a extremecerse poco a poco extrellandose contra las rocas orillentas creando as? una brisa placentera. Las palmeras, que est?n cerca, comienzan a sonre?r por la llegada de la brisa y bailan juntas hasta que toda la faz de la tierra baila con ellas?y as? se forma el viento?.?
This could go on forever but I need to cut it before it is restricted....and boring...any reaction(s) are welcomed.Human Nature
For a very long time I have been struggling to understand what is it about the DR that exerts such a powerful pull to all of those that have either been born in the DR or have had enough exposure to it to become addicted. I say this because over 15 years ago I left the DR (Jarabacoa) to look for a better future in the big city (NY) and although I have done relatively well for myself, I have been unable to let go of that incredible past I left behind (I was 13 when I arrived). In that 15+ years span, I have gone through a bunch of transitions...went to school, got an education, got married, have a kid, got a prestigious job at one of the top investment banks, have owned a successful business...have traveled quite a bit, etc. YET, I have been unable let go of my past in the DR...in fact, my dream has always been to go back there on a permanent basis...even as a 13 year old kid. I continue to visit the DR at least once/twice a year and I continue to feel a weird closeness to it that I cannot comprehend. The funny part is that out of 100 Dominicans I meet a very high percentage feel a similar passion for the DR. All of my 5 brothers and sisters that also live in NY feel the same way I do, although some of them came to the US a lot younger than me.
So, as you might imagine, I spend quite a bit of time trying to figure out what it is about the DR that exerts such a gravitational pull....here's some of the weird conclusions I've come to understand:
Human Nature:
Human nature dictates that it is a lot easier for us to let our instincts dictate the course of action that we take. This means that, other things being equal, we feel a lot more comfortable with ourselves when we're free to do as we please...without the inherent restrictions that a democratic/capitalist system imposes. The previous statement may sound contradictory but the truth is that the more a democratic system develops, the more rules and regulations that need to be imposed...finally culminating in a highly restrictive system....where the instinctive expression of the human mind has little room to move in...and therefore, needs to be suppressed. A highly sophisticated democracy, by nature, requires highly restrictive rules and regulations to control the "human greed". This concept, which is the origin of the US constitution (the document that dictates the legal system) has a profound effect on society as a whole. In its pure translation, what this means is that we (humans) are BAD by nature...and therefore need to be constrained...
It is interesting to note that one of the top complaints about the Dominican Republic is it's loose democracy...corruption...legal system...and the fact that there are no rules and regulations controlling peoples' behavior. The praises, on the other hand, are: freedom to do whatever the hell you want, ability to get things done...as long as you know how to deal with people, the ability to conquer(?) a beautiful women with relatively ease...and more. The fact of the matter is that DR is what it is because it has not found a cure for the deceases mentioned above. In other words, as soon as we cure the democratic system, corruption and all other malices...the DR will no longer be ther DR...it's essence will defuse into the air of modernism and Santo Domingo will be just like Miami...I think that "La cura resulta mas cara que la enfermedad"....
I am aware that we all want the best for the DR and that my assessment of the situation may sound a bit rough...lacking principles and morals...and probably more importantly, lacking hope. But my friends, I've come to understand that you "cannot have the cake and eat it too"...that there's a certain give and take in life called compromise...and that the combination of black and while = gray. I've come to understand that absolutes don't exist...at least in this world...and that in mathematics 2+2=4 only because it is derived from a logic that could have as well been 2+5=4....
?Los arroyuelos son capilares que hacen su recorrido con una meta firme?la de llegar al r?o y desenbocar su caudal. Los r?os, ya alimentados por sus capilares contin?an el recorrido hacia un final que sus antecedendes desconocen?el mar. El mar, calmadamente esperando la llegada del r?o, parece estar dormido por momentos pero las olas le recuerdan que son sus manos y que hay trabajo por hacer. Las olas comienzan a extremecerse poco a poco extrellandose contra las rocas orillentas creando as? una brisa placentera. Las palmeras, que est?n cerca, comienzan a sonre?r por la llegada de la brisa y bailan juntas hasta que toda la faz de la tierra baila con ellas?y as? se forma el viento?.?
This could go on forever but I need to cut it before it is restricted....and boring...any reaction(s) are welcomed.Human Nature