It recently came out that the potential peace agreement between the Colombian government and FARC was shot down by a nationwide referendum. This was largely due to the Right Wing’s desires to have the conflict end by “peace through war” instead of negotiation. Don’t worry if the details of the situation aren’t especially clear to you. In the end this largely breaks down into a long war that has taken many lives not ending because some wished for the last words to be written in blood instead of ink.
That Right Wing was largely supported by the same right side of Venezuelan politics, a group who are my allies in standing against the Chavismo Venezuelan government. I quickly realize the conflict of interest. With this all in mind I find myself navigating how I feel about those voices who made sure that the old wounds of the Cold War which are all too deeply sewn into the fabric of Latin America were opened once more in Colombia. These voices chose to act on their hate. They were presented with a new era of change and enlightenment and instead chose to pursue their old need for revenge.
The scary thing is I get it. In my own way, especially in regards to those Venezuelan Opposition voices which helped make this happen, the anger and bitterness that spreads through those who do not join in Chavismo. I too feel the rage to the ones that stole the country when it was at a time of need and warped into one of the few things that could be considered worse. In my life I have had days where I want things to go to the extreme. I did not cry the day Chavez’s life was claimed by cancer. I did not pity him. I remember what it felt like to take that loss as a sign of luck finally turning toward our side. I know that rage. A small piece of that rage is mine.
If the rage controls us nothing changes. That rage is the very thing that propelled the leftists to act as they did. It is the very entity that created the split we now debate. Peace with FARC was a sign of a new day. Peace with FARC made me believe that once more Marxists, Leftists, and Conservatives could take seats at the same table and speak only with word and reason. I have not lost hope in that seed, even if the deal has gone bad. I have only lost hope in those who claim to be the voice of change only to fall back into their traditions. I hope that one day they can be their words.
Peace through War is a false concept. You can’t kill an ideology, certainly not one like strict Marxism or Socialism. Today I am not proud to associate with voices who say otherwise. Today I hope for no bloodshed between my kinsmen on the Right and Left. Today I wish the best to the country which has just been condemned back to the fields of war. May your glory, even now, never fade.
