smorgasboard of thought

a few random things i have been learning in class:
**in human rights we are studying ecuador’s constitution of 1998, their most recent one (they have had 16). it was the first constitution to extensively include human rights in it, including the equality of men and women, recognizing that ecuador is a multi-cultural country, rather than trying to pretend that it is pure mestizo, etc. its shocking to me how some of the very basic stuff in the constitution had not been said before, but also, compared to many other latin american countries, ecuador has some great law and human rights statements. the way they are put into practice (as in most of the world), however, is another question entirely...
**the hacienda system, in which indigenous persons were forced to work the land of mestizos in return for small pay, which also included the paternalism system, in which the indigenous people were dependent on their masters for respect and favors, existed up until the 1960s! and remnants from the system, including rampant racism, apartheid-like practices (not by law but by custom and fear), still exist today! (though things have improved significantly in the last 15 years).
**ecuador doesn’t have life in prison as a punishment option, the longest punishment is 25 years, and if you’re rich, that means more like 8. also, there is not a system of multiple charges for multiple murders, for example. how many people murdered does not matter, murder simply gets a maximum penalty of 25 years.

last thursday night i went to “el pobre diablo” to see martin “doc” holladay, famous u.s. jazz player. he spoke next-to-no spanish, so it was funny to watch him interact with the crowd. big guy, big white beard, shaking his bum as he made music... thoroughly entertaining. and when he played “sweetness and light,” dedicated to his wife, that was a gorgeous moment.

flowers here are cheap cheap cheap. (cut flowers are one of ecuador’s top exports). in the santa clara market the other day, i bought a large sunflower for 50 cents. a dozen roses, in any color you could dream up, are only $1.

this weekend we took a trip to otavalo. we first went to an indigenous center and watched some dancing and heard a talk on indigenous spirituality and life perspective. we learned how generally, things are perceived more with the heart than the head. and how the trees, lakes and mountains are people too, and how we lack peace unless we converse with them. and how, on another level of consciousness, they are constantly responding. and how we are all connected. and for this, the life of an ant and the life of a human value the same. and how a person from the city would not know this, but a person from the campo would.
then we hiked down to a waterfall for a cleansing ceremony. they asked for three volunteers, and i was able to be one of them. i took off my shoes, walked onto the pad of grass, was blessed with incense over my limbs and core, and then my whole body was brushed with a special type of leaves. it was so peaceful and beautiful and energizing, and i am so constantly amazed in the way God is present in every situation, and in every form of spirituality.

then we went to the artesian market in otavalo, one that is world-famous. although indigenous people have had a difficult time in all of ecuador, the otavalenos have managed to be pretty successful in their artesian-tourism industry. many a gift for family and friends were purchased, and a few too many things for myself as well...

thursday we leave for a five day trip to the gallapagos islands! i can't wait! take care, friends!