| 10-17-01 It's 10:18pm on 10-17 as I write this story about the cab driver I met tonight. We went to see my friend Dan & Kipp's play, and when I told the cab driver the address (4210 N. Lincoln) he said "Bertoo." I had no idea what he was trying to say. I said, "What?" he said "Bertoo." Then I realized he was mispronouncing "Berteau" which is the name of the cross street right at 4200 N. Lincoln. I said "Ber-toe!" "Is that it," he asked, "Ber-toe?" "Right." I was more impressed by the fact that he knew the exact cross street for an address like 4200 N. Lincoln than the fact that he mis-pronounced the street name. Then I asked him how long he'd lived in Chicago, and he said 26 years. I asked him where he was from, and he said Columbia. I asked him if he ever got back there. He said every couple of years or so he flies back. His parents still live there. They are 87 and 85 years old, and they run a farm. They have chickens and pigs and cows and grain and food crops. He said that his father is out in the fields every day with a machete chopping down crops. "When I wave that machete to help him, I get tired in five minutes. He's 87, and he swings it for hours." They must be very healthy, I said, eating natural foods, and breathing clean air every day. Yes, he said, they sweat it out. I went to a doctor in Columbia once and asked him about moving my parents to the city, but the doctor said if I did they would die within a year. They would have nothing to do in the city. Out on the farm they live to keep things going. I don't like the farm life. I grew up on the farm, and I don't like all the animals around. It's not for me. I like the horses, they have horses. But they take the chickens to sell in the market. I don't like that. My son, I have 4 year old son, I call my father every 15 days, and let him talk to my son. He always wants to go visit the farm. My father tells him, "I've got a horse for you to ride." Can we go? my son asks. He thinks that because he talks on the phone the farm is right around the corner. "Will you ever take him there?" Oh year, when he's a little older. [He talks about his parents with great excitement and joy, miming the machete swinging, driving the cab a little too quickly.] "That's great. How long does it take to get there?" It's a full day. You have to take 3 planes. One to Miami which is 2 ½ hours, one to (some city) which is 2 hours then one to (some other city) which 1 ½ hours. It's a full day. "What do you think of the drug war in Columbia?" It's horrible it's causing so much killing. There are right wing death squads that will just kidnap babies and hold them for ransom. If you don't pay, they will send you the baby in plastic bag. "The United States has been supporting the drug war, sending lots of money, weapons, helicopters, requiring the Columbian government to attack the drug trade to receive loans." Those leaders in Columbia are so corrupt. They are stealing much money. There is no one you can trust there. The paramilitaries are everywhere. The government steals. It is terrible. They really hate Americans over there in Columbia right now, he said. Americans are not safe there. A couple, you know, one of those Christian missionaries over there? They were dragged out of a car and killed. "Tonight?" I asked. No, a few weeks ago. It's not safe to be American there. I said that the big corporate agriculture corporations are also trying to force all the little farmers out of business. Yes, he says. They start by driving them economically to give up multi-crop farms, {Yes, he says) and turn to single crop farms which they then sell this single crop back to the corporations. The corporations eventually start selling seed back to the single crop farmers so that the farmers become depend on them for both the purchase of seeds, and buying of product. The corporations control the crops. Yes, he says. The US government, the IMF & World Back support this economic program. I don't think it's going to change, I said. The only thing, he said, that will save Columbia is a civil war. That is the only thing that will change it. I think you're right, I said. On this somber note. we pulled up at Berteau, "There it is," he said, "Ber-toe. I see that now, e-a-u." He pointed just over his shoulder, "I used to live right there." Then we got out, I tipped him well, and we saw the funny show (the Tiff & Mom Halloween Show at Corn Theater.) The end. |
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