A few weeks ago I participated in a very peculiar event. Even though I had my initial doubts about the event, which consisted in the "wedding" of two young gentlement in the Duarte Park, I decided to go and check it out. Worse case scenario, I'd have a good laugh and a few beers.
The first surprise? Well, let's just say I thought our country had far more serious problems with social security and national defense than some protesting kids in a park. The place was completely militarized, not to mention the perfomance I was told I missed, where they had the Firemens Marching band perfom in order to stop people form talking and performing.
In fact, I have never seen so many Policemen together in one place (perhaps the Military Parade?) and it just goes to say what the state of our country is at this turning point of the 21st. Century.
Whereas other countries are debating equal rights under the law, ours is just starting to debate the right of choice. Thats about 35 years behind the world agenda. And should it be a surprise? Of course not! After all, our society is pleased to just move along and follow the leader as long as we get our cut of the deal. We have 3 political parties, and there is no ideological difference between them, but they do differ in how the operate to squeeze out the national budget: Ones are more skilled than others getting richer faster.
So whith such a heavy agenda, why would anyone bother following common sense? Thats what we have the almighty church for. An almighty church capable of demanding all the things its representatives are incapable of doing.
And this is of course not to be blamed on the politicians. Or the current society. Or the church. Or the stablished order. Its only to be blamed on the citizens.
Dominicans are used to vocalizing their worries, but not doing anything about them until: 1, it affects us dirrectly; or 2, it affects our interests directly.
What happened in that park is another example of how a strong, conservative, elusive rulling part of society is completely divorced from a reality to be dealt with. Who doesn't know a homosexual man or woman today? Everyone does, and everyone should acknowledge a right that is inherent to every human beign from the time of their birth: the right to persue its own happiness through its own performance in society, achieving the things everyone has access to: Work, ownership, health, and, family.
I am not advocating for anyone. Everyone who knows me, knows what I am capable of and the things I advocate for. But if this issue is close to you, you should seriously fight for it, not lightly but firmly. The wedding? It ended up beign a joke, but as a first step, I think it was a brave decision of everyone in that park, considering risking their own rights were at stake during a night where the public force was just waiting for an excuse to sweep everyone present.
Equal rights under the law is a goal everyone should fight for. But lets stop for a second and think: Is our society ready to admit what is right there under their noses? No; Are they ready to face the issues of a society fo the 21st century, such as right of choice, speach? No; Is the dominican society ready to face real issues that face our development goals? No.
But all it takes to bring awareness to these issues in one person, on step towards a long journey.
But that journey has to be driven by serious people, with genuine desire to reach a goal that they have clearly established. It was imposible to think of a black man as President of one of the most racist countries in the world, and there he is.
Impossible is nothing. Who wants to give that first step?
Ehl.
