ECUADOR TODAY THE LIGHT OF THE THOUGHT OF BISHOP PROAÑO BISHOP OF THE INDIAN (Part I)
François Houtart
is a privilege to be in this place where Monsignor Proaño acted as the "Bishop of Indians "and to participate in the tribute to this pastor and prophet I've known and admired.
To begin addressing the topic chosen for a brief remembrance of the method used by Bishop Proaño and then will address the situation in Ecuador, in light of his thought.
- See, judge, act:
In an essay on the subject, he explained this approach: "To see the reality in-depth analysis of possible consequences ... asking the judge that reality in the light of what should be ... make commitments to change "(Bellini, 96). All his life as an educator was based on this method, inherited from the JOC (Young Christian Workers). His second priority was the perspective of Paulo Freire: "Education is a mutual learning ... share with the peasant, the indigenous, the worker "(ibid.). It is "a process of awareness" (Bellini, 99). The liberation of his people was his primary concern.
- A current reading:
was very clear to Bishop Proaño the situation in the country he knew was characterized by a state of "social sin" (Gavilanes del Castillo, 284), ie the exploitation of workers , including indigenous ranch (Gavilanes del Castillo, 285), and imperial domination of big business, particularly North American (Bellini, 96). A release process necessary. As a Christian and a bishop, he defined his position within a theology of liberation, ie a reading of reality through the eyes of faith. Following the method see, judge, act, we address the current situation in Ecuador, especially with the events of Sept. 30.
In recent years, Ecuador was established in a new situation, initiated by the popular resistance that led to real social progress and transformation process, characterized both by improving the lives of the most vulnerable in society, as the assertion of national sovereignty. The expression of this realization was Constitution, with fundamental orientations of social justice, national diversity and environment protection of mother earth.
citizen Revolution scored important achievements, which explains why right-wing forces, inside and outside, want to stop, however, is only the beginning. Like all social and political process, it is done in a dialectical and nonlinear, ie, fitfully, with changes in socially unacceptable situations and also with the construction of new contradictions. This is a long and difficult journey and not a given paradise. Therefore, the September events offer an opportunity to rethink the objectives citizen of the Revolution, to critically review the methods and redefine the way forward.
- 1. Rethinking the objectives
Humanizing capitalism is an illusion, as evidenced by the multitude of crises that we live today. It is not just a financial crisis that also affects the fundamentals of the economy, employment, resource pricing, trade, but also a food crisis, energy, climate. All have a common origin, the dogma of the capitalist market with its two principles: the rate of profit and the accumulation of capital as drivers of economic and ignorance of externalities ie it does not enter into economic calculation, the ecological and social damage, which are paid by the company or by individuals, but not the capital.
speeches that President Rafael Correa spoke at the United Nations and several universities are clear in this regard: to build "socialism of the XXI century" means changing the system and propose reforms not only superficial. However, the road is long. Is why a reflection elaborate. Leave the logic of capitalism means more than the re-appropriation of natural resources, even if it is an indispensable step. That means a reorientation of the economy in terms local needs (favoring the use value of the exchange value). Requires a different attitude towards nature, from the farm to respect. Calls for a broad democratization of all social relations and a participatory state. There can be no cross-cultural, involving the participation of all cultures, ideas, religions, in the process.
Certain objectives of public revolution is close to what Monsignor Proaño called liberation. But you can not compromise on its purpose. Instead, the discussion must deepen and concrete achievements must correspond to compliance. Inside the mind of the bishop of the Indians, that is a requirement values \u200b\u200bof the Kingdom of God, justice, equality among human beings, love. He also stated that the objectives can not be "prefabricated" (Bellini, 98), because all human beings are actors (Gavilanes del Castillo, 290). Therefore, for the liberating education was central "to build a new nation with all their children" (Bellini 172), which leads us to approach the media.
2. Critically review media
is obvious that several important steps were made in Ecuador to meet those objectives. The Revolution citizen has an impressive series of achievements but also failures and contradictions to be analyzed so as not to lose sight of the construction of goals.
1. In addition to the direct dialogue with the people unorganized, as Boaventura de Souza Santos says it is necessary to revive and broaden the dialogue with the organized, ie organizations and social movements. Indeed they have their weaknesses and ambiguities, but there are legitimate and have a political weight that the right is not ignored. So it takes advantage of internal tensions and conflicts with the political sector.
Indeed, unions tend to be corporatist, is a social law, but they do not develop a social policy. The indigenous movement, which has played a historic role in recent years, he was politically naive and sometimes even wrong, but embodies fundamental values \u200b\u200bin the struggle against capitalism and the construction of post-capitalism: the "good life" as a definition of the goal of the economy, Mother Earth and symbiosis with nature, culture as a central factor of social construction. If several members of indigenous communities were influenced by neo-liberalism and if others took a speech that only looks to the past, that corresponds to the reality of all social processes, which are never linear. However, in Ecuador, no political future release may be made without them, and less still against them.
Environmental movements easily adopt unique positions because they are aware of the environmental catastrophe that threatens the planet, but their contributions are essential today, as many living species disappear, the glacial decrease rapidly in size, water and soil are contaminated. The political contribution of this sector has been of great value, as seen in the case of Yasuni, Ecuador has placed at the top of climate protection. Leftist intellectuals often develop theoretical thinking, social baseless and politically irresponsible, but their analysis are essential to avoid the excesses of social processes and political.
After the events of September 2010, will obviously be difficult to establish a dialogue with political groups and the radical left who actually joined the coup attempt. Maybe it is time to think them to recognize their political blunder. However, with the other, a contact mechanism is necessary. Despise them or promoting parallel bodies does not lead to popular social dynamics necessary to achieve the objectives.
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