It's Colombia with an "O"

"People always say there are no good guys in Colombia. There are good guys; they just aren't armed.
- Lisa Haugard, LAWG

A lot of people want to call it "Columbia" after British Columbia or the District of Columbia, but COLOMBIA is a much different place. In many ways it defies description, which is probably why it has taken me almost two weeks since my visit to two of its major cities to post a single blog entry

No matter what a country offers, the basis of its greatness revolves around its citizenry, and I must say that Colombians are among the most hospitable, friendly, and fun-loving people I have met. Of course, I did not have a chance to introduce myself to the various armed groups patrolling the streets; I am talking about the vast majority who believe (at least relatively speaking) in peace and nonviolence. These are the silent revolutionaries. They might be black, white, or somewhere in between. They may be poor or rich (though it's less likely that they'd be rich because the rich are profiting from the chaos). They may dwell in the countryside or the cities.

The point is that peacemakers are everywhere. They occupy each and every country brandishing their briefcases and pruning forks, spreading their message of harmony and cooperation. Despite their mild-manners and lack of deadly weapons, they couldn't be more frightening to all those interested in maintaining the status quo. This is the situation in Colombia. This is probably why peacemaking groups such as the Fellowship of Reconciliation have been spied on by the right-wing government and its cronies. This is why the government and the paramilitaries are so hell-bent on forcing young men into military service. They feel they must stomp out the promise of peace wherever it lies.

Their actions reveal the strength of nonviolence. The peace lovers far outnumber the warriors. War survives on propaganda and the authority of the state and its institutions, but I believe it will all come crashing down one day. The people of Colombia give me hope on that front. They struggle tirelessly against one of the most militarized systems in the world, and they do it without perpetuating that same system. They're Colombians - with an "O" - give them the respect they deserve.