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Signs of Crisis in a Gilded Age
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All the documents in this chapter were penned during the export boom. Each documents attempts to make sense of said boom in such way that it draws moral conclusions about the sort of political and economical transformations taking place in Latin America during that period of time. Even though all documents tackled the same issue, […] read full post >>
Chapter 5: Signs of a Gilded Age
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The first document, Dario's poem titled To Roosevelt is a extremely satisfying 'slap-in-the-face' against the might and will of the United States of America and then President Roosevelt himself. As President, Roosevelt represented continued ... read full post >>
Chapter 5: Signs of a Gilded Age
Posted by: feedwordpress
The first document, Dario's poem titled To Roosevelt is a extremely satisfying 'slap-in-the-face' against the might and will of the United States of America and then President Roosevelt himself. As President, Roosevelt represented continued incursions by US forces into Latin America. In 1903, Roosevelt justified and even supported the Revolution in Panama which resulted in the annexation of Panama Canal as a U.S. territory. In a testament to the Monroe Doctrine (a doctrine presented by President Monroe in 1823 that stated that any incursion into Latin America in the form of colonization or an attempt to interfere with any North or South American state would be seen as an act of aggression and would be met with deadly force), Roosevelt and the United States believed themselves to have a responsibility to act as the police officer for Latin America.
Dario's poem is a complete rejection of the 'supreme benevolence' that the United States assumed of itself at the time. Whilst Dario does reject the presence of U.S. forces he clearly speaks about the general view held by Latin Americans that the U.S. was a wealthy, progressive, powerful and democratic example to which many Latin American countries could look towards for guidance. Mid-way through the poem he says "If you clamor, it is heard like the roaring of a lion". I think this to be very potent image of what the United States mean in the early 1900s yet still relevant to the United States' position in international relations and Latin America specifically.
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Dario's poem is a complete rejection of the 'supreme benevolence' that the United States assumed of itself at the time. Whilst Dario does reject the presence of U.S. forces he clearly speaks about the general view held by Latin Americans that the U.S. was a wealthy, progressive, powerful and democratic example to which many Latin American countries could look towards for guidance. Mid-way through the poem he says "If you clamor, it is heard like the roaring of a lion". I think this to be very potent image of what the United States mean in the early 1900s yet still relevant to the United States' position in international relations and Latin America specifically.
His final free form stanza is a flowing piece of literary genius that creates a beautiful and striking image of Latin America and its 'soul'. Dario speaks of the history and deep connections to its ancient lands. He recognises the incursion by men such as Columbus and the Spanish (and other European powers) and the effect this had on the Latin American culture. He perfectly sums up Latin America towards the end of the poem when he says "And it dreams, And it loves, and it vibrates, and it is the daughter of the Sun. Be careful. Viva Spanish America!". He then goes onto potraty the strength of character and the might that the people hold as collective Latin Americans. He describes the people as a 'Thousand cubs loosed from the Spanish Lion". As a grandiose finale, one that would rival the concluding bars of Beethoven's great symphonies, he directly targets Roosevelt with a thinly veiled threat and maybe even a touch of 'just try us'.
The final sentence both signifies the solid religious foundation in Latin America (one that continues to this day) and clearly states that the U.S.A does not have god on it side rather Latin America does.
I am extremely glad that I got to read this poem as it could have been written by hundreds of different poems from hundreds of different countries throughout the United States' tenure as the global leviathan and it would have had the same effect.
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Chapter 5
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This Chapter began by discussing the negative findings which can often be found even in the most seemingly positive things. "One persons boom was always another persons crisis" (141) is a quote that shows this outlook. This attitude is heavily drawn upon during the export boom, specifically the construction of the railroad in Mexico in rural areas, as people were not as obedient as was hoped by the people in charge. Though a change as dramatic as a railroad, which would bring many positive effects such as the ability to trade and communicate throughout the country, there were also the negative effects which came with it, drawing back to the theme of the good being equally distributed with the bad. People with seemingly more power began to take advantage of the citizens in rural areas by not only forcing them to do work, but also to give up their land, which actually resulted in violent uprising by these citizens. I found it interesting when it drew back to he interview with President Diaz, and that after he declared Mexico was ready for Democracy, and that people became extremely exited. However, he also contradicted himself by saying that the people are not educated enough to make informed to make important political decisions, which would make Mexico not ready for Democracy. The first reading, 5.1, is a poem from Ruben Dario about the United States of America. This poem starts off with explaining the attitude of the country, stating that they are dominant in terms of power, but finishes by sating that the one thing they lack is God. He also points out the lack f culture they have, and gives the impression that all the USA has is power and they are only driven by it, weather they have earned the right to it or not. "you are the United States, future invader of our naïve America with it Indian blood, an America that still prays to Christ and still speaks Spanish."(153) Though this my come across as admitting to being inferior and perhaps even shameful, it is also showing the value to tradition and heritage in Latin America, which their Northern neighbors have lost in the power ride. read full post >>
Chapter 5: Signs of a Gilded Age
Posted by: feedwordpress
The first document, Dario's poem titled To Roosevelt is a extremely satisfying 'slap-in-the-face' against the might and will of the United States of America and then President Roosevelt himself. As President, Roosevelt represented continued ... read full post >>
Chapter 5
Posted by: feedwordpress
This Chapter began by discussing the negative findings which can often be found even in the most seemingly positive things. "One persons boom was always another persons crisis" (141) is a quote that shows this outlook. This attitude is heavily drawn upon during the export boom, specifically the construction of the railroad in Mexico in rural areas, as people were not as obedient as was hoped by the people in charge. Though a change as dramatic as a railroad, which would bring many positive effects such as the ability to trade and communicate throughout the country, there were also the negative effects which came with it, drawing back to the theme of the good being equally distributed with the bad. People with seemingly more power began to take advantage of the citizens in rural areas by not only forcing them to do work, but also to give up their land, which actually resulted in violent uprising by these citizens. I found it interesting when it drew back to he interview with President Diaz, and that after he declared Mexico was ready for Democracy, and that people became extremely exited. However, he also contradicted himself by saying that the people are not educated enough to make informed to make important political decisions, which would make Mexico not ready for Democracy. The first reading, 5.1, is a poem from Ruben Dario about the United States of America. This poem starts off with explaining the attitude of the country, stating that they are dominant in terms of power, but finishes by sating that the one thing they lack is God. He also points out the lack f culture they have, and gives the impression that all the USA has is power and they are only driven by it, weather they have earned the right to it or not. "you are the United States, future invader of our naïve America with it Indian blood, an America that still prays to Christ and still speaks Spanish."(153) Though this my come across as admitting to being inferior and perhaps even shameful, it is also showing the value to tradition and heritage in Latin America, which their Northern neighbors have lost in the power ride. read full post >>
Signs of Crisis in the Gilded Age
Posted by: feedwordpress
Reading chapter five the Signs of Crisis in the Gilded Age was an interesting insight to affiliations that are often made with a crisis. The first connection I noticed was that people were associating growth in industry with conflict. It talks about how in Mexico the railway construction was always accompanied by minor conflict, specifically […] read full post >>
Signs of Crisis in the Gilded Age
Posted by: feedwordpress
Reading chapter five the Signs of Crisis in the Gilded Age was an interesting insight to affiliations that are often made with a crisis. The first connection I noticed was that people were associating growth in industry with conflict. It talks about how in Mexico the railway construction was always accompanied by minor conflict, specifically […] read full post >>
Signs of Crisis in a Gilded Age
Posted by: feedwordpress
Rubén Darío’s short poem, “To Roosevelt,” written in 1904 is a rejection of US power over the entire Americas. Darío wrote this poem after the US intervention with the Panama Canal, and is making a point that the power and greatness of the US does not have the complete authority in which they believe.
He begins the poem by explaining the attitude of the US; one of which is egocentric, great, and at the same time quite simple minded. The US is pushed by its motto of liberty but this does not justify its control over other nations. “You think that life is a fire” he explains to Roosevelt; meaning that there is limitless expansion, limitless power. But Darío states this as a huge misconception, as the US does not see the entire picture.
Darío is able to express the spirit of latin america by reference to culture and history before colonialism. He also expresses the adaptaton after colonialism which included now the prideful Spanish Language and Catholic religion. The closing words of the poem really drive home Daríos primary message; despite the power and pull that the US possesses they will not be able to conquer Latin America, “Roosevelt, you must become, by God’s own will, the deadly Rifleman and the dreadful Hunter before you can clutch us in your iron claws. And though you have everything you are lacking one thing: God!”
The next document I would like to touch on is José Carlos Mariátegui’s, “The Problem of the Indian,” 1928. Taking a Marxist approach, Mariátegui addresses the problem that the Peruvian Indigenous face. He explains the complexity of the past approaches-- Legislation, laws, and politics have not been taking the right measures to secure Indian protection. He explains that the written law does not protect the people as it is disregarded regularly. The various theoretical, ideological and political approaches of the past have mistakenly interpreted the Indigenous protection as a quick legislative fix. Mariátegui proposes that the land tenure system of the economy should be focal point. He explains that the communist indigenous working mechanisms will be able to defeat capitalism in Peru.
Decolonization and the Fear of Re-colonization
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Many of these articles try to formulate a tactic for unraveling colonialism. Rubén Darío in "To Roosevelt" denounces the Americans for their imperialist motives over Latin America. He makes it a point that Americans use violence to dominate and to dictate the path in which progress must take in Latin America. Rubén fights this imperialism by enumerating the greats of Latin America, suggesting that progress can come from places other than the United States. He also mentions that Latin America has yet to have finished decolonizing after independence from Spain when already they have the states breathing down their necks. He writes, "You are the United States, / future invader of our naive land / with its Indian blood, an America / that still prays to Christ and still speaks Spanish". José Vasconcelos tackles the race problem very differently. For Vasconcelos, rising above the imperial impact of colonization means rising above the race problem. His solution is to create the fifth race, the cosmic race (a mixed, interracial race in which the best qualities of every race create a superior being) by following three laws. He suggests that Latin America can be great, no, they can be the new imperial power if those who have abandoned their lower appetites (of material, physicality), elevated their interests to that of the higher appetites of intellect and politics (of the mind), then those fit will indulge naturally in procreation dictated by taste. Those who are to low and ugly will naturally be weeded out of the process since this framework is one based on aesthetic and not race. Vasconcelos attempts to rid Latin America of the race problem by creating an equally problematic issue based on aesthetics! He still uses the science he distastes in its use for race, condones eugenics, and believes in the manufacturing of a superior race.
Emiliano Zapata "The Plan of Ayala" and José Carlos Mariátegui in "The Problem of the Indian" take a different approach to decolonization. Their focus is driven by internal conflicts of colonization instead of the fear of an imperial Other. Zapata is angry in his piece because the promises of the 1910 revolution have not been met. He accuses Madero of manipulation of the rural class to gain popularity and rise to power and breaking his promises and turning his back on the principles of the revolution. Zapata finds his actions unacceptable because they enslave the campesina population and reduce them to a state of poverty and displacement a the hands of modernity. Their support of Madero was given that he could overturn the damages of Díaz in his three decade reign over Mexico. His regime lead to the colonization of campesina land through privatization pushing the people out and into more impoverished areas. Mariátegui in many ways follows along this discussion by calling out every scholar and politician that has attempted to construct the Indian problem as purely a social and political problem. He makes clear that the Indian problem is an economic one that is deeply embedded in land tenure. The displacement of the people and the laws of the leadership have made Indian life impossible. It excludes them from legal and political participation and constructs their social disadvantages. All in all, these articles are in their own way a call for decolonization in order to better the state of Latin America.
Emiliano Zapata "The Plan of Ayala" and José Carlos Mariátegui in "The Problem of the Indian" take a different approach to decolonization. Their focus is driven by internal conflicts of colonization instead of the fear of an imperial Other. Zapata is angry in his piece because the promises of the 1910 revolution have not been met. He accuses Madero of manipulation of the rural class to gain popularity and rise to power and breaking his promises and turning his back on the principles of the revolution. Zapata finds his actions unacceptable because they enslave the campesina population and reduce them to a state of poverty and displacement a the hands of modernity. Their support of Madero was given that he could overturn the damages of Díaz in his three decade reign over Mexico. His regime lead to the colonization of campesina land through privatization pushing the people out and into more impoverished areas. Mariátegui in many ways follows along this discussion by calling out every scholar and politician that has attempted to construct the Indian problem as purely a social and political problem. He makes clear that the Indian problem is an economic one that is deeply embedded in land tenure. The displacement of the people and the laws of the leadership have made Indian life impossible. It excludes them from legal and political participation and constructs their social disadvantages. All in all, these articles are in their own way a call for decolonization in order to better the state of Latin America.
