An Invincible Hope

From the first moment you arrive in El Salvador, it is clear politics are in the forefront of the public's mind. All you need to do is to drive down the Pan-American Highway, the main highway in Central America, to see each light post covered in flyers and paint for either ARENA or the FMLN. While this may or may not accurately represent each region's political views, it does show how deeply polarized the country is. 

If you are of a rightist political persuasion, you ultimately have three choices. You may choose from the National Reconciliation Party (PCN), Christian Democrats (CD), or the ARENA Party. The PCN is a moderate right group that has an influential voting bloc in the coalition-style Legislature. The CD is a satellite party of ARENA with a few legislative seats. ARENA is the main right-wing party that is based off of and is more conservative than our Republican Party and is the only one that fields a serious presidential candidate. If you are of a leftist political persuasion, you have one option, the FMLN. The FMLN, the former umbrella guerilla group, became a legitimate party.

 

            On the first night we arrived in the campo it was clear not only how politically active the people are, but how they have so much hope in President Mauricio Funes and the FMLN. From the first conversations with Danny and my host father in La Hacienda there was an underlying theme which was soon repeated in the rest of the trip. 

The FMLN is the only political option they have and they have no other option besides a political one. Our host father often talked about how the banks do not lend to small farmers like him. The loan he tried to get was for seed and fertilizer. This is while living under decades of conservative ARENA leadership who supposedly believe in the free-market individualism. This was the reason for the community based microcredit committee. With the banks repulsing any attempt to get a loan, the people themselves are trying to break out of the economic box they are in. While this program may help, to achieve this, it is primarily to make ends meet as soaring fertilizer costs and lower crop prices are making it difficult simply to survive. This is why there is such a hope in the new government. While here in the United States many have hope in Obama that he will fix the economy, stabilize markets, and once again make the US as the pride of the free world, people believe in Funes, "The Obama of El Salvador," for a more essential change. While we wish for that extra money to take a vacation to Hawaii, they hope for extra money so their children can get more than an eighth grade education. 

While they believe in Funes' message and his ability to get things done, it is not a radical message they support. Since Funes' inauguration there has not been a massive seizure of individual wealth, the press has not been censored, and flags picturing VI Lenin have not been flown. It is a very moderate change that is believed in, as just very simple changes will go a long way. It for this reason that we stood in line for tens of thousands of people at Cuscatlán soccer stadium. It is for this reason there was an energized happiness shown in the waving flags, the clapping, the cheering from the people in the stadium. They do not believe in the theoretical platform, but in the actual, real, and tangible progress that will come. 

Speaking with representatives from both parties, there at least exists a promise from both that will cooperate on a moderate platform for progress. It is for this reason that they believe so strongly in Funes. It is because they believe his promise of change is the only realistic option for a better life.