Conversations & Peace

By Juan Sebastián Cárdenas Salas
Spanish version: Conversaciones y Paz

From the essay: Meaningful conversations

(Written on May 30, 2015) 

Images: www.biografiasyvidas.com

Since this bond would mean both a wide and complex analysis, I just want to address it as the faint part from this essay by introducing the new episode that it has been writing in Colombia (my country) –under big expectations– about the peace talks tackled by the Government and the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC). Certainly, such event leaves a bunch of questions summarized here: are these dialogs meaningful conversations?

Throughout The General Agreement for the End of the Conflict[1] signed by both parties on August 26th of 2012 -supposedly the outcome from “The clamor for peace from Colombians” (MESA DE CONVERSACIONES, 2015)-, ideal thoughts loom large. Nonetheless, by overlapping what is written with what is shown (every single day) it is unavoidable to think about the traditional political bias. Claims as “The peace is an issue from all over society” or “The equal social development and wellness regarding most of the people” which is essential for “assembling a stable long-lasting peace” and so on, are some of the thrilling enunciations that come up from this record. Moreover, it is not vague to say that the evidence of those conversations hitherto has been an ambiguity widely covered by local media. Most of the startling[2] news, regardless its side, are a pack of lies clearly manipulated by politicking, the social sickness of my country even further painful than the internal armed conflict. Hence, one of the principal questions is: are the Peace Talks just demagogies?

Additional questions appear regarding the circumstances that gave way to the talks. On one hand, it is clear as crystal that the FARC strongly decimated by the Army Forces from the former government[3] were stalemated. Thus, it could be said it was the survival instinct what brought the FARC on the table, not its free will for the sake of the country. On the other hand, in the advent of economic growth (The main issue for a government controlled by Homo economicus) “The Peace” Insight as strategy for soaring competitiveness, foreign investment, and capital accumulation (for few) among other benefits, is a remarkable purpose of value[4]. Thereby, as we can watch on TV spots, listening on the radio, and gazing on several media, is the health of the nation for the Government and the FARC the most important asset to seek living in “a new country”[5]?

There are some historical events that show inspiring conversations of peace that changed the world. Notwithstanding the shady forces which hampered those virtuous purposes, some greater leaders never gave up on hard work, passion and faith, even risking life and limb to pursuing the good for their people. Here we have the “Nonviolence” talks conveyed by Mahatma Gandhi for the Indian freedom. As well as those addressed by Martin Luther King in the name of the equal rights for African Americans, and those meaningful conversations that Nelson Mandela had both with himself, their opponents and their supporters. He was thinking about integration of his folks along the 27 years he was deprived of his liberty. Nonetheless, in regard to the talks in progress, the matter here has to do with the good intentions of both parties: are both the Government and the FARC willing to run all the risks in order to bring peace for Colombians?

These questions are just ones of several that many Colombians have, mostly those who have been directly affected by this mayhem. Are questions that bulk large in those Colombians who –hopefully– are awaiting their disappeared relatives long time ago (or at least their mortal remains). Are those Colombians who are working devotedly and selflessly for the good of the country. Are those Colombians who gave their vote for peace by reelecting the current Government.

From my point of view as from many, I think that the running process of peace between both parties is by no means sane, but let us hope that in the near future –by taking our own actions– they can prove to the contrary, and writing in the history of Colombia, Latin America, and the World that the peace talks in La Habana were meaningful conversations.

Pride (In The Name of Love) - U2

Keywords: Conversations, Peace, La Habana, Peace Talks, Colombia, The End of the Conflict, Round Table Discussions, the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, FARC, Government of Colombia.

Bibliographic Interactions

MESA DE CONVERSACIONES (2015). PARA LA TERMINACIÓN DEL CONFLICTO Y LA CONSTRUCCIÓN DE UNA PAZ ESTABLE Y DURADERA EN COLOMBIA. Mesadeconversaciones.com.co. Web. 30 May. 2015. <https://www.mesadeconversaciones.com.co/sites/default/files/AcuerdoGeneralTerminacionConflicto.pdf>

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[1] You can check the file here: www.mesdeconversaciones.com.co

[2] “Bread and Circuses”…

[3] At this time the present governor was the Minister of Defense., the main reason why he was elected by Colombian people.

[4] This administration stands out because of its immense marketing strategy.

[5] The government’s slogan