Why The Man Stole The Cow.
Ever since new government went into effect and before prices have been rising on everything including basic food staples. If I feel the pinch then I am certain those living in the barrio feel it. Fact is they are starving. It isn't the fault of Leonel but it is a fact here in the present. And then the dollar drops substantially and those remittances from abroad suddenly are not doing the job. If I lived in the barrio and I wasnt making it for my family on my meager earnings, then I would be a thief also. I would do whatever I had to do to feed my family. That is a fact.
I personally will be fine with the situation the way it is and so will all of you. But are we to say burn these poor people alive. Are we still, as human beings, so barbaric.
The problem with the entire world is the state of the distribution of wealth. The reason we have terrorism is this distribution of wealth. Most of us here know that...even if we choose not to admit it. Even though we choose to do and say what we may to protect what we have. Well, at least sometimes talking in such evil terminology makes us feel better, safer, more in control.
My question is just...to The Haves....to The Wealthy....when will you have enough? When will you have enough that it allows you to be a human being and allows you to say...okay, lets start changing the situation here so that these people can eat. Don't you think they need to eat...to drink clean water...to have a roof that does not soak the house when the rains come. Can they afford medicine. Can they afford to buy just basic furniture for their homes. Can they buy toilet paper, or toothpaste, or a diaper for their baby.
The focus of the economy has moved far to the right of those in the barrio. Those who control the markets could care less. Their new focus is on the dominicans returning from abroad with money. If the poor cannot keep up...F### Them. Price the products accordingly...so that those to the left will buy it. Some to the right can buy it. Most to the right cannot. But who cares. We just want to get ours while the getting is good.
New Dominicans/Wealthy Middle Class Low Middle Poor
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So, those to the far right sometimes have to steal. I would. I might even kill. You might also. Kill or be killed. Oh you say, "I would work" you are already working. I have friends in the barrio that make 4000 pesos a month building the fences, gates, etc. with iron. They are exhausted at the end of the day. Now my question is...can this guy actually feed his family of four on 4000 pesos? Of course, why do we have religion. Why do we have religion? We know it is a tool to keep the masses in check.
Interesting...Kill or be killed...I was thinking...that is the same way that the terrorist think. They feel that their entire culture is at stake. If they allow the USA and the west to continue the way they have been, they fear that they will die off. So they decide to take a stand. They don't have super powerful bombs like the USA...but they do have the willingness to blow themselves up. That is pretty powerful.
Have you ever seen the movie Apocalype Now. Marlon Brando says at one point...he his talking about the North Vietnamese ability to go into a town and cut off all the arms of the little children who had been innoculated by the American troops....he says, "If I had 10 battalions of men like that, this war would be over very quickly". That is not an exact quote but pretty close. He goes on to talk about the Willingness of these men who have families, who are fathers to little children...their willingness to do that.
I tell people that I don't think the Iraq war can be won by the USA. I think the muslim world...and damn is the muslim world large or what...I think they believe that if the USA wins in Iraq then the USA will not be happy with just one country. The USA has in so many terms stated that their desire is to change the middle east...does that mean making it more like the west. I think the insurgents in Iraq are being funded from all over the muslim world. I think they will keep going to Iraq and keep going and keep going until they overturn the current government and the USA leaves. Just like Vietnam...only it is not a jungle and thus you don't see the massive casualities like you did in Vietnam. You would have to seal off the entire border and have a guard posted every so many feet. And that may not do the job. And then you would have to keep it like that forever. Well, that is an impossible feat...we know that.
We need to work as individuals in what little way we may...to help create a world where this type of thought does not need to exist. Where a man never has to choose a willingness to steal, or kill in order to survive. The problem lies within ourselves and the solution does also.
Otherwise we are destined to become a world where...I am sure you have seen the sci-fi movies about societies of the future that are in chaos. The USA will see terrorism on USA soil again.........and again.......and again. In fact terrorism will exist here also in the good ole DR. It will exist everywhere.
Will we destroy ourselves or at least create a world where we walk around contaminated from nuclear fallout...where masses of people die from chemical attacks.
The best way to start is to educate yourself. And then take what you know and try to make a connection with others. Try to understand and accept people for who they are regardless of color, race, religion, sexual preference, etc.
A man steals a cow and you lynch him? It is a damn cow. There are other more humane ways to handle the situation.
I encourage intelligent conversation.