Clare Sammells
Miguel Centellas
Maria Bruno
Sara Simon
Chris Exner
Kate McGurn Centellas
Claudine Vallières
Jonathan
Andres Vaughan
Donna YatesThe Blog de Bolivia has a short video clip of Hillary Clinton answering a question about how she will change the relationship between the U.S. and Bolivia. She’s not very specific, but at least she recognizes that Bolivia is a democracy (unlike some other U.S. leaders I won’t mention here). Let’s hope there are more questions like this posed to the candidates, so we can judge the specifics of their proposed foreign policies. Anyone want to go find Barack Obama?
Filed under: International Connections, Politics, U.S.-Latin American relations
Um. Ok. But did that sandalista have to put his question to the candidate while wearing the equivalent of black face? I found it a bit phoney & actually a little racist (even if unintentionally).
Also, I still have my serious reservations about BdB … almost none of my Bolivian contacts have ever heard of it, and those that have have had negative experiences w/ it.
I share your concerns about the gentleman who made the video, Miguel. I wouldn’t compare it to blackface, though, that seems a bit harsh. His heart seemed to be in the right place.
Since Bolivia comes up so rarely in U.S. Presidential election campaigns, I mostly wanted to share Clinton’s response. Again, I thought she was vague. It would be interesting for us to try to compile what the candidates think about foreign policy to Latin America, the U.S. War on Drugs, and Bolivia specifically.
And P.S. This was not meant to be a plug for Clinton. I would be happy for people to post (objective) information about other candidates, Democratic or Republican.
I second the concerns for the gentleman who made the video. This is the kind of tourist mentality that really aggravates me, even for someone who has lived there for 40 years supposedly. But like Clare said, his heart seems to be in the right place. Perhaps people have no culture of their own, or their culture has failed to accept them so they find solace in others. Bolivia seems to be a magnet for these types given the amount of political hubris that exists on it’s surface. Upon closer examination of Bolivian politics, I have found it’s not quite as black and white as most people think and that such mentality only contributes to violence. I feel sorry for the guy, pity him really.
My comment for the Battle star Galactica post: Kill your lawn.
I don’t have a lawn. I have a postage stamp urban yard newly planted with native species (after I ripped out the invasive ones). I also compost and grow vegetables. I try to practice what I preach!
Again, I see your discomfort with regards to the maker of the Clinton video. But also I think this is generational. Talking to those who have been in anthropology longer, it seems that wearing “native” dress or accessories to conferences, for example, is something that comes in and out of fashion (right now, it is out).
I think we have to take his motivations into account. He was not trying to insult or make fun of Bolivians. On the contrary, he spoke in Spanish to his presumed Bolivian audience (subtitles would have been a great touch, though). I think he probably saw the clothing as a way to bring Bolivia to the rally in a material way, and make clear that he was asking as someone intimately involved with that country.
If you look at some of the comments left at Jim’s site (particularly those by a guy named “Grindio”), I’m not so sure about cutting slack. There have been a number of outrightly racist attacks on Jim’s site (e.g. Grindio’s claim that I’m clearly an affirmative action academic and otherwise “geneticall” unqualified … and this from a so-called progressive who thinks I’m on a right-wing gonista!) have never gone w/ a comment from Jim or his staff.
I understand the issue of not wanting to censor, but there’s a long established patter on the site of ignoring that kind of behavior. Coupled by the lack of any links (or even acknowledgement) of Bolivians (academics or otherwise), their blogs, their works, and their opinions — a reliance on American students for “staff” (unpaid interships, as far as I can gather) — even while enjoying substantial support from people like the Soros Foundation (listed as a sponsor on the site) — I’m not sure I’m willing to cut such slack.
Yes, trends in anthropology about what do w/ indigenous dress come & go. But I think a “blog from Bolivia” that routinely ignores Bolivian voices, doesn’t speak out against racism, and uses white people in “Bolivian” dress … I may be oversenstive here, but that’s not kosher.
Oh Clare!
Man, my grammar on that last post is horrible. No idea what happened.
Hey Miguel,
When you put it in that context, your misgivings are completely reasonable. Clearly more is at stake here than merely fashion sense.
Jonathan — I’m laughing over here about the lawn thing, are you?
But part of the reason I posted about BSG — i.e., what I learned about rural lifestyles in Bolivia — is exactly the same motivation I had for learning about local flora here in Illinois and trying to gain some small clue about how to feed myself. So it’s all related.
Yes Clare we are laughing here in Oregon! I must admit, I have not been able to kill my entire lawn as I am at the mercy of my landlord. But we have managed to kill off 3/4 of my backyard for growing food and herbs.
I’m actually really into growing gourmet mushrooms and truffles as well. Mushrooms are incredible! I recommend inoculating your compost pile with some spores. Checkout http://www.fungi.com. It’s fun for kids as well. It’s also one of the best ways to regenerate soil. Mushrooms will save the world! I am really excited about it.
I have no idea what BSG is btw.
Very cool! My compost pile is in my basement though — we vermicompost. I’ll keep the mushrooms in mind if we ever get a yard.
BSG = Battlestar Galactica. Very cool SF show, if you like that genre.