Everything in its right place

Just when you think optimism is a valid option for life, reality puts things in their right place. After all the euphoria and torrents of information that Ingrid Betancourt's release brought, it is convenient to calm down and see what has changed. Yes, you guessed it: nothing has changed, at least for the better.

It turns out that for Colombians, president Uribe is not merely popular: he's closest thing to god around. Although some of his staffers had already disclosed that he has "a superior intelligence" (which, among other supernatural things, allows him to "express himself in abstract terms"), now it seems there's a growing number of people believing the same. Yes, I know every country has the leaders and politicians it deserves ---nothing more, nothing less--- but facing the reality is always painful. This time, the perfect timing (so perfect that seems suspicious) of the blitz that set Ingrid free was very convenient to forget ---the rather human--- recent controversial actions of him, like suggesting that the judges of the Supreme Court are terrorists and have something against them. (Any similarity with Silvio B, another innocent victim, devastated by the systematic attacks of the justice, is a mere coincidence.)

I have no problems with the decision, now almost certain, the Colombian people will make by electing Uribe (or someone similar) for a number of presidential terms to come. Of course I strongly oppose to that ---for a number of reasons, his unbreakable desire of destroying the basic democratic values perhaps being the main one. I am not disappointed in the Colombian people. That's essentially because to be disappointed in something one should have put some faith in that something in the first place. I have never had faith in the political sense of Colombian people.

This is to be contrasted with the hope I had on Ingrid Betancourt. I was somewhat sad and disappointed, but then I remembered she's still a politician. I cared to lose sleeping time to hear her impressions just after she got off from the plane. She said interesting things, but her position was clearly in favor of the government. Not that I expected a speech full of anger towards the Uribe administration, but a bit more of critical attitude would have been refreshing. She and her family are also forgetful, which is understandable, considering the indescribable suffering a long captivity comes with. The day after, she broke my heart even more by saying "Uribe running for another term? Why not? Reelecting him has been a very positive thing for Colombia." This might sound harsh, but perhaps Ingrid as we used to know her did die in the jungle.

Not everything was that bad, though. I didn't know the comedian Ingrid has inside. (I cannot resist women who are both intelligent and funny, so I don't discard voting for her, for the sake of such a rare combination.) She was so excited to be back in the civilization that she said one of the most laughable things I have heard recently. When acknowledging the French involvement in her case, she said the following (more or less): "as Colombians we should be confident in France. Each Colombian can rest assured in France as a second fatherland, that will take care of each one of us. Never give up on France." LOL!

That remark on the appreciation France might have for me as a Colombian citizen (or conversely, the fact I can rely on France, still LOL) made me remember all those foreigner tourists, that once they visit Colombia, complain about the lack of love Colombians feel for it. Bastards. I have to admit some of such tourists are very brave, as after a nice summer in Cartagena (or after being trapped by a Colombian beauty), they decide to leave their lame lives behind and come to live in Colombia. Clearly, your view on Colombia might change if you have an alternative citizenship.