(In my 1hr reflection class we are doing a "photo project" where we take one photo a week and write a little bit about it. This is a bit long but I thought I would share with all of you as well)
Photo 1: Waiting on the World to Change (A strike in BA)
I took this picture while walking to the Casa Rosada in Buenos Aires. While I'm not exactly sure what the people were marching or on strike for, the picture holds a special significance for the importance of politics in Argentina. It is extremely significant that while protesting this group is marching past the Casa Rosada because it is old home of the president and on the other end of the road lies the Congress. Jim said it best, "You will find that after not having a voice for so long the Argentine people are now very vocal about what they think."
Even at futbol games fans come with signs that exclaim how they feel about hot topics in politics. As we discussed in class which one of us has taken a banner with our thoughts about health care to a Iowa foot ball game: people would think we were crazy! I know on my first day here, my host sister told me exactly how their family felt about the current president, and at dinner and when the television is on there is a lot of discussion about what is going on politically. This is something my family from the states often avoids talking about. It is as if we would rather not get involved, or don't want to try go through the "hassle" of figuring out all this governmental "stuff: we do not feel like we can really make a difference.
In both cases, I think we are all "Waiting on the World to Change." (Thank you John Mayer). We all seem to want better social systems or better economic trade or policies, but what is the best way to get that? Is it ignorant to not get involved? Is it foolish to think that a strike will make all the difference? While I am still trying to figure all this out it is interesting to see everyone have such strong opinions and be so vocal about them. Its great to see people want to MAKE the world change as opposed to just watching it happen. I know personally Simpson's student body president sent an email and letter to all our families asking us to help lobby and not allow our politicians to cut money in the area of education, but did I do anything? Of course I discussed the consequences with my mother of not receiving financial aid, and I put writing a letter down on my list of things to do. But it soon got set aside and then was forgotten. It seems as if I didn't think my one letter would make the difference. But what if we all said that? Think of how many letters there could possibly be. I do feel a bit uncomfortable discussing politics in public, maybe because I don't want to impose on others views or because I do not feel like I know enough, how ever my first few days here have caused me to think differently. If everyone was a little involved maybe things would change, there is no sense in standing back and watching. Diving in head first and learning and questioning the issues that effect me may just be the way to go, because I do not want to wait for the world to change I want to change it.
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