| This past week, national leaders from around Latin | | | | less. Conflicts between countries such as Columbia |
| America and the Caribbean descended on the country | | | | and Venezuela or Chile and Bolivia are much more |
| of Mexico in the hopes of forming a new alliance. | | | | likely to going to be resolved peacefully if the U.S. does |
| However, Canada and the United States were not | | | | not get involved. |
| invited to the conference. This is a large step away | | | | This alliance also helps curbs some of the U.S. |
| from the traditional international politics of Latin | | | | commercial interests in the country. Though fair and |
| America, where the U.S. has played the supreme role | | | | positive trade is important, completely free trade tends |
| for the last 60 years. Mexico and Brazil really pushed | | | | to benefit the rich and wealthy and punish the poor |
| for this decision and made a call for the nations to join | | | | and worker. If Latin American countries don't start |
| together. | | | | standing up and put limitations on these companies, the |
| Though I may sound more Costa Rican than American | | | | gap between the rich and poor will continue to |
| when I say this, I think this is a very good move for a | | | | skyrocket. I hope in this new alliance there will be a |
| whole number of reasons. First of all, it puts the power | | | | focus on human rights and justice and not merely |
| to make critical decisions about conflicts in Latin | | | | commercial growth. |
| America in the hands of the countries of Latin | | | | Though this may make me sound unpatriotic, I think |
| America. This could help reduce a lot of conflict in the | | | | there is something much more important than country |
| region. If you are not familiar with the history of the | | | | or nationality. Peace and Justice should be our concern |
| United States and Latin America in the last 60 years, | | | | more than anything. In many ways the U.S. has |
| all you need to know is that it has not always been | | | | participated in this, and in many ways they have not. I |
| just, whether it was Ronald Reagan's Iran-Contra | | | | hope this new alliance will help be a springboard for |
| Scandal, the CIA support in helping support the | | | | these values to be realized I am starting to feel like I |
| right-wing dictator Pinochet, or the use of torture and | | | | am part of this country (Costa Rica), and I am glad |
| oppression against the poor and labor groups with | | | | some independence from the United States is |
| support from the CIA. The mere mention of the name | | | | happening. In the end this will be better for everyone: |
| of the U.S. in much of Latin America brings conflict. | | | | The United States, Costa Rica, and all Latin America. |
| Though not all of it is deserved, it is the reality none the | | | | |