ÐЯ...Эcuador...שּׁ

Autor: Juan Fernando Velasco

Interpretes: Juan Fernando Velasco / Pamela Cortes 

 

Yo nací en este país,

Que sabe a caña y algodón,

Que se ilumina mucho antes

De que salga el sol.

 

Yo nací en este país,

De niños pobres de almidón,

Enlodado con los mismos

Que se lo llevaron todo.

 

Un país lleno de historia,

De hombres y mujeres de hormigón;

Llenos de coraje y de ternura,

Llenos de pasión.

 

Yo nací en este país que va

Con alegrías y dolor,

Con gente linda

Y con canallas que nos roban la ilusión;

 

Que no le teme al porvenir,

Que no se deja derrotar,

Que no me pide visa

Y al que siempre quiero regresar.

 

Yo nací en este país,

Que a veces me echa para atrás,

A veces me resigno

A veces me quiero escapar.

 

Pero yo nací aquí,

Aquí aprendí a caminar,

Aquí te conocí,

Aquí me enamoré de ti.

 

Este país lleno de historia,

De hombre y mujeres de hormigón;

Llenos de coraje y de ternura...

Llenos de pasión.

 

Yo nací en este país que va

Con alegrías y dolor,

Con gente linda

Y con canallas que nos roban la ilusión;

 

Que no le teme al porvenir,

Que no se deja derrotar,

Que no me pide visa

Y al que siempre quiero regresar.

 

I do not know how dreams are born or from what well aspirations spring, but as far back as I can remember, my passion has been for Politics.

In effect, as a small child in Otavalo, a small but beautiful and touristy town in Ecuador, I spent many afternoons at my grandmother's home, standing on a chair, reading political handouts. In school, I ran for class president and involved myself in as many activities as possible.

I am also one of the 99.9% of South American men who love playing soccer! I played soccer in school, and was a member of the Peñarol team, which has won many soccer championships. I also play tennis, and I have won two squash championships in my hometown of Otavalo. However, as stated earlier, my real fervor has been always Politics. In this arena I have participated in several oratory contests concerning political matters, and they have been of important significance in my life.

The first oratory contest that I won was evocative because it was the first time that I had to speak in front of a multitude of people. Winning that first contest fanned the flames of my passion. I had something to say, and people thought it was meaningful.

However, the most meaningful contest was one I didn't win, but came in second. For one month, I had prepared very hard. By the day of the contest, I admit I was overconfident - a condition I now know often leads to destruction. When I met my "opponents," I felt their nervousness, which served to increase my confidence. I began thinking of the prize before I had won it.

My speech was fluent and powerful-just as I had planned. Everything went perfectly until I confused the names of one Ecuadorian hero with that of his brother, who was a villain. I realized the mistake instantly, but it was too late. The damage was done. I finished my speech, but the mistake caused by my overconfidence gave the victory to the other person.

This contest taught me to do everything responsibly, and never overestimate my abilities or, worse yet, underestimate the capabilities of others.

Since I was a little boy, along with the dream of changing the political debacle of my country was the dream of coming to the United States. The US is synonymous with greatness, prosperity, and opportunity, and knew that if I wanted to be influential in the Politics of my country I had to get a good education first. After I finished high school in my country, I moved to the US. My dreams and aspirations had not changed. My passion for politics was even stronger. My lifetime goal was set, and I was ready and eager to accomplish it.

My ambition is to obtain a degree in the US, because in my country, as in different countries of the world, a degree from an American university is highly respected - much more than one obtained from one of the Ecuadorian colleges. Thus far, my first two years and a half of college in America have not disappointed me.

I graduated with honors from Brevard Community College and from the College's Honors Program. I had an extraordinary experience on this small academic intuition; though full of great instructors, classmates and friends. I was part of Phi Theta Kappa, and my academic achievements were recognized with my name on the President's List and on the 2003-2004 National Dean's List.

This academic experience also allowed me to learn not only college lessons, but also lessons about cultures and peoples, the aspects that make us unique, and the common threads that bind us all together. I volunteered many hours in various places and found that the basic needs in this country are the same as the ones in my own.

Another important activity in which I have participated was a recent political activism event called Civic Rock, organized on my current college campus. This event was presented by the Civic Rock Team, the Chi Nu chapter of Phi Theta Kappa, Brevard Community College, Melbourne Campus Student Government Association, and the African-American Student Union. It was offered to make voters aware of the importance of not only voting, but voting intelligently. Our principal goal was to supercharge the political knowledge and emotions of young people, so that they would not only vote on November 2nd, but so that they vote smart, according to their issues. Civic Rock featured appearances by federal, state, and local candidates. A mock election was held. It was a wonderful experience to be a part of the political process in this way.

I believe my destiny is to help people better their lives, and I wish to do so by being in the political arena. I want to do whatever I can to make people's lives better. That may sound idealistic, but I believe that one person can make a difference. Simply, I want to make a difference. Ultimately, the political arena will likely be the platform for my service. My Associate's degree was the beginning. Baccalaureate and graduate degrees will provide the preparation to achieve my dream as I will follow the path of great world leaders that have studied in this country.

My Honors AA degree began my preparation, and a baccalaureate degree from UVa will continue it. I want to be ready for whatever opportunities the future holds for me. It is now the University of Virginia, the place where I have begun a new stage of my life.

Ayer a la medianoche, mientras miraba las noticias vía Internet y me sumergía en el mundo de la reflexión y la especulación acerca de la situación que vive MI PAIS y de los acontecimientos que se desarrollarían el día de hoy luego de el “¡ATROPELLO A LA CONSTITUCIÓN!”, consumado por el residente de Carondelet, recibí un e-mail de un compañero de Universidad. El, al igual que millones de ecuatorianos en nuestra tierra y los miles de nosotros fuera de ella, se preguntaba qué es Ecuador? Y hasta dónde va a parar nuestro país? Fluctuoso de encontrar mayor explicación, este compatriota trataba de localizar respuestas a estas interrogantes en la ironía de unos cuantos graffiti que hacia circular en forma de una presentación de Power Point. "No toda distancia es ausencia ni todo silencio es olvido", esta frase de Mario Sarmiento, preparaba el camino a estas frases de repudio a la situación político-jurídica en la que ve envuelto nuestro país.

Ecuador era definido a través de los graffiti como,

País donde robar le está permitido solo al Gobierno y los a los Ricos.

Donde periodistas buscan opiniones políticas en Delincuentes y Prófugos de la Justicia. (Bucaram)

Donde para ocupar puestos públicos importantes necesitas tres cosas:

A) NO TENER CAPACIDAD.

B) SER AMIGO O FAMILIAR DE LUCIO.

C) (Indispensable) NO TENER VERGÜENZA.

Y es que a tanto ha llegado nuestra apatía y desprecio hacia los gobiernos que nos han representado en estas ultimas tres décadas de democracia, que estos mismos han sido capaces de provocarnos repudio ante un principio democrático esencial como es la política.

Y es que la política debería ser el fundamento mediante el cual, cualquier individuo es capaz de organizar y administrar sus proyectos. Sin embargo, nuestra mala fortuna, representada en el frase cínica,  “Algunos nacen con suerte… Otros en Ecuador”, nos ha llevado a pensar en política como la imprecación mas grande de la democracia.

La política es buena, diría un gran profesor acá en la Universidad en mi primer día de clases, y desde ese instante mi convicción ha seguido acrecentando. Nuestro país necesita implementar una política que realmente ayude mantener el orden y gestione recursos para el desarrollo social, económico y jurídico nacional. Una política que no permita que los grandes hurtadores de la heredad nacional y deudores de la banca sigan sueltos. Una política que proteja a los abandonados sociales, a los niños huérfanos, a las madres solteras, a los ancianos olvidados, a los pobres relegados. Una política que suministre los recursos necesarios a las pequeñas empresas del país como a las grandes. Pero sobretodo una política que reconozca la gran importancia de la educación como base para el desarrollo estable, ecuánime e integro de mi patria pequeña... que la quiero Grande.