1 hour writing, 4 hours reading, 0.5 hours emailing, page count = 174
Today I focused on reading and writing about the 1932-34 border conflict between Colombia and Perú, which was an important moment in the development of the Colombian armed forces, and in the emergence of Colombian nationalism, such as it is. The apparent level of popular fervor over what amounted to a patch of godforsaken, uninhabited rainforest was remarkable. After 1830, when Ecuador and Venezuela broke off from what had been "La Gran Colombia" to form their own independent nations, Colombia had been pretty much left alone on the international scene, until 1903, when the U.S. supported the Panamanian independence "movement," and the Colombian state of Panamá became the independent nation of Panamá. I suppose it was the memory of that violation of sovereignty that was behind declarations like this about the Perú war (from a priest no less): "While there is a free Peruvian, peace in South America is a physical impossibility. With the blessing of God and the Queen of Colombia, the Virgin of Chiquinquirá, whose image is emblazoned in the folds of the glorious banner that flies now over Tarapacá [a settlement invaded by the Peruvians and retaken by Colombia], we will free ourselves of the dishonor of having given liberty to the sons of the Incas." Well, not much you can add to that....
I also set up some meetings, including one by phone with some Nicaraguan scholars - courtesy of my friend and Villager Marco Mojica - to advise me about the section on that country in the Colombia in comparative perspective chapter.
1 comment:
Caro Mio:
One day in the sun and I am a new person. Please remember that in Latin America you are dealing, in the times that you are analyzing, with our inherent “Machismo”. It was installed in both men and women, in our childhoods, and it was inherent in our societies. “Honor” was a concept that we were ready to defend to death [including invasions by Peruvians].
Times are different now and at the same time remain the same. Hugo Chavez is “deeply offended” because his personal honor was challenged by Spain’s King [porque mejor no Te callas, was not a question was a command] and he is reacting now [in the process of examining the Spanish business in Venezuela and regulating them better] to defend his honor [never mind Venezuela’s].
You should have listened to your great grand parents [and your grand mother for that matter] talk about “Como los gringos nos robaron el Canal de Panama [probably they are revolving in their graves knowing that I became a gringo by choice and you by birth.
Ti voglio tanto bene, Il Babbo
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