Medellin Reports

[Legal Tender]

Another America hater. Americans are always the ones causing the problems, right? Imperialists? Give me a break.

Plan Colombia was a Colombian initiative. USA has pumped billions into Colombia to fight the FARC and the narco traffickers. Much of that money has also gone into infrastructure and human development.

I do think the free trade agreement will ultimately be beneficial to Colombia but there will be a lot of internal displacement as a result. One of the reasons the Colombian economy has been growing a such a rapid rate is that the country has extensive free trade agreements with the EU, China and other Latin American counties.

My observations and opinions are not emotional. I don't hate anyone, much less my country. It has many attributes, but reality is reality. Plan Colombia may have been endorsed by the powers that be in Colombia, but it has been devastating to many poor, hard working Colombians that are simply trying to feed their family. I suggest you read,"Beyond Bogota" by Gary Leech and / or Robin Kirk's "More Terrible than Death: Drugs, Violence, and America's War in Colombia."

I am not suggesting that the Colombian Free Trade Agreement won't benefit many Colombians. I imagine the costs of arepa will decline because USA produced grains will flood into Colombia. The efficiency of USA farmers can't be competed with by the Colombian small (and inefficient) farmers.

Bottom line, Colombia is America's bit*h in South America. The Fair Trade Agreement was agreed to without any addressing of the oppression of the Colombian labor leaders. I love America. But it's imperialistic foreign policy is unsound, immoral, and in the end, unproductive.

Hey, I advocate good energy not oppression and dominance.

[Legal Tender]

I'd better keep my mouth shut about Colombia! I've backpacked around Malawi also, only good energy.

A. G.

Come on Greg, everyone always appreciates your perspective on Colombia.

[Joey Smith]

[Deleted by Admin]

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[BlancoVikingo]

Those journals cover much of American foreign policy.

Of course America is imperalistic with military installations in more than 100 countries.

But America pays a high economical and political price for this engagement, even if it is beneficial to countries as Colombia and cities like Medellin.

There is no other way to handle the complex world, the isolationism 1920-41 is not an option, US allies are simply to weak, can't act because of their history or simply refuse, leaving the US no other choise than to act.

Back to Medellin.

The city is more like two worlds, Medellin and the suburbs. The first world and the third world in one. Even the languages is so different between the pure Castellano and the suburbs dialects (that it is hard to understand) so even with the Metrocable it is difficult for poor people to advance, speaking suburb dialect will exclude you from all finer social groups. Social stratas are very distinct in Colombia. There will "always" be a big proletariat, thus making the term "The Third World" relevant.

If one refrain to extrapolate Colombias current GNP-growth and looks at it's current GNP statistics Colombia is in the middle in Latinamerica with US$ 10, 000 per capita, Argentina has +17, 000, Bolivia 4, 900.

https://www.cia.gov/library/publicat...ook/index.html

[EstebanH]

Another America hater. Americans are always the ones causing the problems, right? Imperialists? Give me a break.

Plan Colombia was a Colombian initiative. USA has pumped billions into Colombia to fight the FARC and the narco traffickers. Much of that money has also gone into infrastructure and human development.

I do think the free trade agreement will ultimately be beneficial to Colombia but there will be a lot of internal displacement as a result. One of the reasons the Colombian economy has been growing a such a rapid rate is that the country has extensive free trade agreements with the EU, China and other Latin American counties.

I

The USA imperialistic attitude toward Colombia (and every other country) continues. Plan Colombia is highly unpopular among Colombians and has resulted in all kind of chaos in Colombia. Let's face it. In common parlance, the USA is a bully and that is not a paradigm for friendly relations based on mutual interest and respect. The Colombia Free Trade Agreement has yet to play out, but it will decimate the small Colombian farmer. It still perplexes me that such a beautiful country, with some of the most beautiful and sensual women in the world, has always existed in a vortex of violence and insecurity. To enjoy and appreciate Colombia, one has to learn a bit about the countries' history and as Ricker always advises, learn some Spanish.

[Aussie Greg]

I have been to what I think everyone will agree is the poorest among some of the poorest. I've helped a couple of young men from Malawi study in the United States. I just use Malawi as an example to contrast with Colombia since I've experienced both. You and Dickhead appropriately corrected my sloppy use of words.

Only good energy, SD

I'd better keep my mouth shut about Colombia! I've backpacked around Malawi also, only good energy.

A. G.

[TweedleD]

Sorry if this has been asked before, but are there any Casas in or near by El Poblado? I have looked at the Medellin list and the handy google map, but they seem clustered around El Centro. There should be some decent places in El Poblao right?

Thanks!

Centro de Masajes Pekin, Calle 10A # 43A-31, Apt 201, El Poblado. 3 Chicas. Prices: 70k 45 min, Playboy session 150k 30 min. Tel: 268 64 22. Hours: 10am to 8pm. From an old posting, prices are up a bit, and the 3 or 4 girls working there fall into the MILF catagory

[Legal Tender]

Legal Tender Colombia is NOT a third world country. Have you ever been to a third world country? I am guessing not, it is alot more different to Colombia.

I have been to what I think everyone will agree is the poorest among some of the poorest. I've helped a couple of young men from Malawi study in the United States. I just use Malawi as an example to contrast with Colombia since I've experienced both. You and Dickhead appropriately corrected my sloppy use of words.

Only good energy, SD

[Legal Tender]

The terms First, Second, and Third Worlds are obsolete and have been for quite some time. No one really agreed on who was where and what it meant. Colombia is a "developing country." First, Second, and Third were rather ethnocentric terms which, given the often jingoistic nature of the more developed countries' foreign policy toward them, weren't too popular in places like Colombia. A good example of jingoistic US policy towards Colombia would be the Hay-Herráand Treaty of 1903. This comprises the root of the instinctive dislike that many Colombians have for the US.

A lot of what some call the Third World would have been the First World if the Spaniards hadn't come in and fucked them all up with bullionism. The Mexica and the Inca were much more developed than those who invaded them.

I had to look up a couple of words, e. G,"jingoistic" and refresh myself on the hay-Herraand non-treaty before I could write this response. Dickhead is a prolific poster and I've read many of his reports on his exploits in South and Central America. A stalwart among us fellow mongers. I'm glad he took the time to post here.

Dickhead, my use of first, second and third world terminology was sloppy and imprecise. Colombia is a developing country with one of the strongest economies in Sur America. The USA senate ratified the Hay-Herraand Treaty, by which Colombia would have given the USA the land on which the Panama canal was eventually built. The Colombians didn't ratify the treaty, so the USA supported a pro USA revolution in Panama, and the result was an "independent" Panama and USA control over the canal.

The USA imperialistic attitude toward Colombia (and every other country) continues. Plan Colombia is highly unpopular among Colombians and has resulted in all kind of chaos in Colombia. Let's face it. In common parlance, the USA is a bully and that is not a paradigm for friendly relations based on mutual interest and respect. The Colombia Free Trade Agreement has yet to play out, but it will decimate the small Colombian farmer. It still perplexes me that such a beautiful country, with some of the most beautiful and sensual women in the world, has always existed in a vortex of violence and insecurity. To enjoy and appreciate Colombia, one has to learn a bit about the countries' history and as Ricker always advises, learn some Spanish.

[Heartz05]

I visited Medellin in September. I played in Chica punto com, Energy, New life. It was fun. Although I think I'll visit again at the end of the year, do you go home Everyone girls?

[Liveheree]

Sorry if this has been asked before, but are there any Casas in or near by El Poblado? I have looked at the Medellin list and the handy google map, but they seem clustered around El Centro. There should be some decent places in El Poblao right?

Thanks!

[Hasideas Tao]

Maybe the wording of my previous post was confusing.

"Back home". Beggars tend to ask for money with nothing in exchange. I tried to clarify that by making the cutting reference about teaching kids to stand in front of supermarkets and praised girls scouts for cutely ripping us off with their over priced over packaged snacks.

In Medellin, it has been my experience, most people on the street want to make some kind of exchange with you for money. Respect.

However, the recent events in El Centro have occurred in part because it is already dangerous.

I'm no social analyst or economist. I will try to be concise, since admittedly, these are the opinions of a layman. Maintaining the status quo doesn't seem like a good solution. Yet, making a change is going to cause some grief. It is simply impossible to make everyone happy. Fact is, its a designated business environment. Regardless of whether or not someone is there just trying to survive. Public drug use, urination, defecation and peddling in the streets intimidates others from peacefully going about their business and from simply getting from point A to B. If I ruled the world there would be only one law. If what you are doing purposely, directly, negatively and unwillingly impacts another within a 5 yard radius, you can't do it. Obviously that was facetious. Point is something should be done for the improvement, development, enhancement and safety of Medellin as a whole. My compassion is immense. I love Medellin.

My feelings aside, I've spoken to a few people who live there and those few have all played the recent events down. I know this a monger forum but hopefully we will continue to receive front line updates since this topic undoubtedly impacts the environment as a whole.

I assume that "back home" where you are approached "by very few straight up beggars" is in the USA or other western, industrialized country. What you wrote reveals a total lack of understanding and absence of compassion for these poor human beings in Medellin. In Colombia, the number of internally displaced people is approximately 4. 9 million. Nearly the population of Colorado. This makes Colombia the second largest internal displacement country in the world next to Sudan. These people do what they can to survive, even selling "useless junk picked from the trash." They are trying to survive, doing whatever they can do to continue to live. Man, I get a bad feeling from reading what you say you feel when you view them. Try a little compassion and care, if you're capable.

I don't mean to write disparagingly of your honest conclusion drawn from your observation. I'm almost as sad for you as I am for them.

But, dude, try to find some good energy when you consider those that are so much less fortunate than any of us.

[Dickhead]

The terms First, Second, and Third Worlds are obsolete and have been for quite some time. No one really agreed on who was where and what it meant. Colombia is a "developing country." First, Second, and Third were rather ethnocentric terms which, given the often jingoistic nature of the more developed countries' foreign policy toward them, weren't too popular in places like Colombia. A good example of jingoistic US policy towards Colombia would be the Hay-Herráand Treaty of 1903. This comprises the root of the instinctive dislike that many Colombians have for the US.

A lot of what some call the Third World would have been the First World if the Spaniards hadn't come in and fucked them all up with bullionism. The Mexica and the Inca were much more developed than those who invaded them.

[Superboy1]

You are so right. Colombia is a third world country, and most of the residents live a less than tranquil life. I don't know why our fellow monger's posting really hit me the wrong way. Seeing this desperation absolutely contributes to the experience, though. Medellin is not Poblado. Reality ought to be the goal of any experience. Colombia is such a troubled place. My view is that lack of compassion is the gold standard for determining heartlessness.

Try a little good energy toward everyone. Something that I admit I don't always follow, but when I do, my life is so much better.

On a happier note, I have a couple of new scholarship applicants in Medellin next week. One scholarship recipient, who claims she is a 19 year old virgin, keeps e-mailing me she wants to have sex. I wrote about her before, she the girl that rides from Medellin to Rio Negro every Sunday on her bike. She's is shape. I've been a womanizer all of my life, but I don't feel right about this. Anyone else understand that?

Only good energy,

Legal Tender Colombia is NOT a third world country. Have you ever been to a third world country? I am guessing not, it is alot more different to Colombia.

[BlancoVikingo]

It has occured to me that almost every girl seem to lack money, due to genrally low wages, unemployment etc. This makes it hard to distinguish the good one from the barracudas. But if one follow a plan, a strategy, this can minimiza loss of time and money.

We need advice from you Legal Tender. You have found a method that works, while many of us still fumble in the Darkness Of Cultural Misconception.