Today it is a beautiful morning and am going on a bike ride. In two days I will be heading back to the USA and my mind is spinning full of thoughts. They include what is happening in the country now and the people that I have come to love.
After spending 2 years in Ecuador as I am leaving the country it is in turmoil. Marshall law has been declared for 30 days and the major cities have a curfew from 10pm to 5am. Many of the population is unhappy with their financial situation and the economy in general. The military has been mobilized to help control the protests in many areas.
I understand their frustration as I have been told 10% of the population earns less than $50 a month and 27.8% earn less than $88 per month. In the last six months a liter of cooking oil has gone from $1.43 to almost $4.
I do support the protests 100% but somethings I cannot. On my bike ride I rode to see where some of the demonstrations were and also later in my car to see them as they were in progress. Some groups protest peacefully at the capital and march in the streets. Other groups block city streets and major highways. What I do not agree with is the destruction that is done by burning tires and trash. It is not fair that this is done and left for the home owners and shop owners to clean up. That is who I saw cleaning up the mess.
In the USA the destruction caused by BLM and Antifa tore at my heart. I do not understand the violence. It is not needed. I have seen the videos here of people doing the same. It is just a small group that makes the protests unliked by many. Everyone understands the problems but most cannot agree with the violence.
People do not remember history. Nelson Mandela and Martin Luther King made huge changes in their countries with peaceful protests even though violence was used against them. It is not the easy way but the right way in my eyes. You should respect everyone’s rights not just the side you are on. I believe that is the way for change and it does not happen over night.
This is so easy to say and analyze as I ride through the neighborhoods on my $1500 bike. Believe me this is bouncing around in my head also. Last night there was a caravan of cars that stretched for miles. Their purpose was was to protest for peace. I thought it would have had much more meaning if they would have left the cars at home and walked like the people that are protesting. In my mind it just pointed out the division of the haves and have nots. Again easy for a gringo to say because I have not grown up in this society.
I hope and pray for all a solution.
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