ON PAISAS: MEDELLIN STEALS MY HEART AGAIN

A SILLETERO AND
HIS FLOWERS

Last week was Feria de las Flores, the Flower Fair, in Medellin, Colombia.  It is a week (and a little more) of celebrating the richness of the agriculture of the Antioquia region, especially the cultivation and distribution of beautiful flowers.

This metro area of more than 3.5 million people fills with tourists from around the world during the festival. Unfortunately, this is also a time, as in any large city, when also travel those folks solely inclined to take advantage of those from out of town.

On Wednesday, while traveling on the Medellin Metro transit system I was the victim of a pickpocket.  The crowds were huge in each car and, despite closing the button on the pocket holding my wallet, the constant bumping from side to side and crush of humanity enabled someone to take what was not his.  

Sunday, the porter at my building called me and asked if I had lost some papers.  I said yes.  He said someone is here.  I rushed down stairs and I noticed a cart in front of the building.  It was the cart of a recicladore (recycler)  See more here: Help Women in Colombia.

THIS GROUP OF RECICLADORES INCLUDES TWO
WOMEN, WHO, I SWEAR, WORK TWICE AS HARD
AS THE MEN

At the porter's window was a small, older, round woman, bald except for a few wisps of hair.  She had two business cards of mine on which I had handwritten the address and phone number of my apartment in Medellin.  I asked if this was all.  She nodded to me no.

I went outside to meet her.  From a place hidden under her shirt, she handed me my wallet.  Though the $200,000 pesos in notes and the local Metro card were gone; my credit cards, debit cards, Veterans Administration identification, Florida driver's license, blood donor card, Medicare card and more were still nestled inside.

YES, THOSE ARE REAL FLOWERS.
YES, THOSE ARE SILLETEROS CARRYING THEM.

I had mentioned to a friend on the Thursday after the theft that I received a telephone call the day before from a woman, but I could not understand all she said and she told me she would call me later.

This beautiful woman, now standing outside my building, told me she was the one who had called...from Plaza Botero, a park located many miles from my apartment in Barrio Laureles. She then apologized to me for not being able to speak English to me, in her country.

I hugged her tightly, gave her a big kiss, told her how thankful I was, and I gave her a reward...I am sure the amount was more than she had earned all week from the hard, backbreaking work she performed in this huge city.

She left quickly with her cart. I am sure to return to work tomorrow morning. And, then, it dawned on me.  She had walked those miles...through the rain of the last two days; through the heat of the days before.  And, for those who know Medellin, this city nestled in the Andes Mountains, her journey to me was only up hill from the center of our city.

LUNCHTIME FOR THIS
WOMAN?
IT COMES AMIDST THE
RECYCLABLES

This paisa, this woman who works harder in a day than any ten gringo men in a week, walked here because it was the right thing to do.  She walked here because she found something that belonged to someone else. She might have thought there could be a reward, but she had no guarantee of one and she did not ask me for even a centavo.

She did it because she is "paisa." Perhaps only paisas know what that really means. Gringos like me only know paisas because of the fictional character Juan Valdez, of Colombian coffee fame, the prototypical paisa. See more here: Paisas on Wikipedia

For those who wonder why Martin keeps returning to this city of contradictions, this tale tells you all you need to know.  Who would not want to be close to this woman of the streets, this beautiful PAISA.


NOTE: I have written well over 100 pieces for Martin's Musings. This is the first time I cried while writing a story.  While the USA deals with idiots like Donald Trump talking down to women, women here show me what it means to be human...and, what is real work.


  

ON POLICE IN AMERICA: THEY ARE KILLING, NOT PROTECTING

Almost every city and town in America has its own police force.  Every state has a police force.  The Federal government has several for differing reasons...FBI, DEA, US Marshals Service, and more. The USA also has a standing military and each state has a National Guard service, which can also be nationalized. United States' citizens should be well protected in the event of any emergency.

But, instead of local police that protect and serve, American cities have forces that kill and maim. According to The Guardian, 672 people are dead so far this year at the hands of these protectors. [click here] The Counted  What happened?

After Pearl Harbor was attacked, Americans got angry and went after the culprits, Japan and Germany.  The USA built a huge military and went after the bastards.  We beat them into submission, then went home and re-built a peacetime nation.

After the attacks on September 11, 2001, Americans got angry and let their President lash out at anything that was an easy target.  Instead of bombing Saudi Arabia, where most of our attackers were from, including their leader, we attacked Iraq and Afghanistan.  Two very easy targets (and, our inept President even managed to botch these two missions).  And, instead of letting our National Guard, Federal military, and Federal police agencies protect us, the gun industry saw an opening to arm every policeman in America.

In practically the blink of an eye we went from Officer Friendly to Officer Murderer.

From this:

To this:

How do Americans put this mean, nasty genie back into the bottle?

ON THE FLAG OF THE CONFEDERACY: HERE'S WHAT IT STANDS FOR

For those neanderthal's who continue to defend the use of the Stars and Bars, the flag of the Confederacy, the Rebel Flag, whatever name you want to give it, no photograph bears homage to the flag's true meaning than this shot.  

The photograph was taken by photographer Bob Daugherty on April 14, 1964.  The demonstration was occurring in front of the hotel where Alabama Governor George Wallace was residing in Indianapolis, Indiana.

For those who are confused, the white guy with the flag on a stick is not happy that Negroes want to vote.

Martin's Musings: HELP WOMEN SUCCEED IN COLOMBIA

Martin's Musings: HELP WOMEN SUCCEED IN COLOMBIA: PLEASE ASSIST ME IN HELPING SOME WOMEN BUILD A BETTER FUTURE FOR THEMSELVES AND FOR THEIR FAMILIES. INDIEGOGO IS THE WEBSITE.  ...

HELP WOMEN SUCCEED IN COLOMBIA

PLEASE ASSIST ME IN HELPING SOME WOMEN BUILD A BETTER FUTURE FOR THEMSELVES AND FOR THEIR FAMILIES.

INDIEGOGO IS THE WEBSITE.  "HELP WOMEN SUCCEED IN COLOMBIA" IS THE CAMPAIGN.  

I AM TRYING TO RAISE A TOTAL OF $10,000 TO BEGIN THIS PROCESS.  I HAVE NAMED SEVERAL PEOPLE WHO WILL GET THESE FIRST DONATIONS IN MY CAMPAIGN BACKGROUND INFORMATION.

IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS, PLEASE ASK.  AND, THANK YOU FOR YOUR HELP.

LINK:  HELP WOMEN SUCCEED IN COLOMBIA

ON FLAGS: THEY MEAN SOMETHING

In 1860 the U.S. Census estimated that approximately 3,954,000 people were held as slaves in the Southern and border states of the Union.  In 1945, when the Nazi Government of Germany was defeated, approximately 11 million people were freed from forced labor and POW camps.

Post-war Germans believe Nazism was an aberration. Most U.S. citizens believe the Confederacy of southern and border states was an aberration as well.

So distasteful was the rise of Nazism in Germany that the German Strafgesetzbuch (Criminal Code), specifically Statute 86a, outlaws the "use of symbols of unconstitutional organizations."  This law includes flags, insignia, uniforms, slogans, and forms of greeting.

The traitors and terrorists who rose up to defy the Federal Government of the United States and caused a Civil War between the states of the Union, should be shown the same courtesy that Germany offers Nazis...none.  The U.S. government would be within its right to ban Confederacy-inspired parades, flags, cemeteries, societal groups, and more.

Making slaves of humans and dissatisfaction with government policies are held in common by the carriers of these two flags.  Quit trying to explain racism and slavery as if it makes sense.  It does not. Relegate the flag of the Confederacy to the Museum of Hatred, where it belongs.

I do not care if your great, great grandpappy fought and died for the flag. He was a stupid racist like his fellow rebels and deserves nothing save contempt.

ON RAISING CHILDREN: PAY ATTENTION MOM AND DAD

Dear Moms and Dads of America,

If you own, or have seen, photographs of your children and one of your brood looks like this in any photo,

or appears looking like this, 

or smiles such,

do America a favor.
Do not...

I repeat, DO NOT...

buy them a gun as a gift.  

As a matter of fact, if they possess a gun, take it away from them...by force if you have to! 

And please, for the sake of your fellow citizens, after you have screwed up this child's life with your sexist or racist or alcohol or drug-infused rants about getting screwed by "them," or your unwillingness to hold them responsible for any of their actions, or your unwillingness to sink all your savings into making them well or keeping them from harming members of your society, do us all a favor.  

If they use the guns you allowed them to own to kill your friends and/or neighbors, take it upon yourself to do the following.

Blow both your own damn brains out as well. 

You are responsible for making these horrible creatures, not us.

With love,

Martin