Posted on 01/29/2008 6:32:20 AM PST by maica
Memo From Colombia: So much for anti-Americanism.
Condoleezza Rice went to Medellin last week to support free trade, and people unexpectedly lined the streets to applaud.
Can it be that free trade appeals to ordinary people? You wouldn't know it from reading media reports about the secretary of state's two-day visit to the city once ruled by fearsome drug lords.
But a funny thing happened on the way to the hotel last Thursday. As Rice's automotive entourage of eight Democratic lawmakers filed through the vast industrial city, outpost soldiers started saluting the VIP caravan. As if in chain reaction, civilians gathered along the streets.
Some came down from hillsides, and others stood at attention from gas stations. Some waved from cars that had been jammed in traffic.
They smiled, waved, applauded and saluted — from poor people in front of brick shanties to richer ones from office balconies. Arriving at the Intercontinental Hotel, still more people applauded.
What was behind it? It was spontaneous, and maybe some were just gawkers. But there was no mistaking the happiness people showed that the American Congress was coming to see their city, and would perhaps hear their pleas for free trade.
(Excerpt) Read more at ibdeditorials.com ...
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How many Americans know that this happened? Thank goodness one reporter decided to share her observations..
Did I miss hearing about this demonstration, or was it considered not worthy of sharing with “the American people?”
Anyway, an interesting and unexpected reception for Rice.
Could it also be that with the serious help America has contributed there to stop the drug cartels from ruining so many lives in Colombia, that Americans are being appreciated by the average Colombian. We will never hear that from Big Media either.
Colombia is one of the friendliest countries you can find anywhere. They also love the USA.
Astounding. I did not see or hear one word about this. Spontaneous support and appreciation for the United States.
We must not be allowed to know about it.
Thanks so much for the ping, maica.
The lib press lies, nothing new there. The fact is that most of the world gets on quite well with Americans, the main exceptions (my experiance) are libs from failed empires (England, France, Germany, etc.) where they still think they've got something they want to prove.
I have always thought so, too.
I am as anti Globalist as they come, but Columbia really does deserve a Trade Pact with the US.
If such a deal improved living conditions for the Average Columbian the Commie FARC and Hugo Chavez their main backer would take a serious hit in public perception, and Columbia has been a stable Democracy for a very long time.
A pact with Columbia would benefit both countries and pressure Venezuela.
It really is a great deal for the U.S. and Colombia.
I hope we can help our Colombian friends (and U.S. businesses) take advantage of open markets.
And, if you haven’t, take a trip to Cartagena. Awesome.
I am alllll for free trade so long as the fine print does not make ‘humanity’ (slave labor) part of their deals.
Everyone wants to trade with Uncle Sap.
THANK YOU for the ping . . . I understand why the MSM ignores such news; what I don’t understand is why our ‘bloviating’ rightwing talkers and pundits rarely manage to find and disseminate such information.
[I’ve concluded that their research amounts to cherry picking articles linked on the drudgereport, period!]
So are these people slaves, or devious individuals wishing to take advantage of us? I can see someone arguing the latter . . . but people wishing to become slaves is a stretch.
It makes you wonder how many other things are hidden from even those of us who try to be informed. Most people only hear what the DBM decides to give the 24 (or 48 for radio)/3 coverage.
The Democrats of today don’t respect or support democracy. This is just more proof.
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Sadly this is really the bottom line. I wonder if the consciences of the dems who accompanied Rice are resting easy, or if they are actually considering supporting the FTA.
Are you saying that you have outsourced the making of your clothes and shoes? What a concept! Isn’t your wife home at the loom making linen cloth, so she can sew it, wash it, dry it, iron it, in order for her family not to go nekkid?
In case anyone wonders, the above is sarcasm. America was founded as a nation because the people who lived on this side of the Atlantic did not want politicians on the other side of the Atlantic telling us what we could and could not sell to them, and buy from them.
We are a trading nation.
It's true. Some on FR think that makes me dependent on China. As if they are the only possible source for shoes and clothes.
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