One of the hardest things about being an idealist is that many times reality hurts. A lot. When I heard about the attack on a caravan of activists in Oaxaca, Mexico a couple of weeks ago, which resulted in the deaths of both a Mexican and a Finnish activist, it hurt. I don’t know either of the individuals who were so tragically and senselessly killed, but I am familiar with the work that they did. I’m also familiar with being an activist and with the risks it entails. Like any other occupation in life, one never really knows what might happen.
The attack brought out a lot of different emotions in me, mostly anger and empathy, but also many varied doubts about my own role as an international volunteer. According to a report by Democracy Now! the Finnish activist had recently arrived in Oaxaca from across the Atlantic Ocean and intended to give ecological workshops. In his excitement to start his work, I’m sure he never imagined that his life would be taken the way that it was and so far away from his home.
My mind spun while scouring the internet for more information on this sad event. Holding a U.S. passport, for example, if a situation turns risky or threatening in another country I simply head to the nearest airport and head home, right? Until what point should we dedicate ourselves to what we believe in? Where is the line between “right” and “responsibility?” Should we not “meddle” in the affairs of other countries, even if we sincerely believe it to be for the common good? How do we prove our dedication to a place/issue/people when it’s so easy for us to pack up and ship out? Why don’t many Latin American issues get taken seriously until a foreigner gets killed?
It’s slightly terrifying but also very meaningful to explore these doubts and fears, especially because we will face them coming from others who question our work and we should have thoughtful, intelligent answers. I don’t mean to be a damper on the sunny, optimistic idealist community (which I love and is so necessary to our work!), but I feel that even the most positive idealist should consider some of these tougher issues. Hopefully from this we can build greater solidarity with our Latin American (and global) allies.
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This article presents a real challenge for volunteers – on the one hand, the activists were trying to get supplies to people in a city with a real need. But on the other hand, after reading the rest of the article you linked to in the post, it does seem as though they were heading into a situation known to be dangerous without all of the resources they needed. Breaking through a blockade is a serious undertaking, and one that requires serious consideration.
I’m interested to see how this affects the situation in San Juan Copala and volunteer efforts in that region – thanks for bringing awareness to this story!