Now that we’ve gotten the language straighten out, it’s time
for another clarification. Strikes here are a bit different that the typical
strike in the United States. In the States I think--School unions, labor
unions. Maybe some signs in car windows about teacher contacts. A few picket
signs on the side of the road, people not coming into work, workers wanting
better contracts. Honestly, I never thought much about strikes in the States.
Strikes are different in other countries. Truckers blocked
miles of road at an international border. Stones, rocks, and burning tires
thrown into the streets is pretty common. Transportation strike: public taxi
companies aren’t open. Commerce strike: businesses closed. These are all strikes that I’ve experienced.
Sitting on the Nicaragua-Costa Rica border for 8 or so hours was exactly
something I’d care to repeat but it has certainly made a good memory. Burning tires make for a good reason to
cancel school. (We don’t get snow days here!)
And a commerce strike is basically non-existent if you didn’t have plans
to go to the store.
From what I’ve experienced, these strikes are meant to be an
inconvenience not violence. Burning
tires smoke and smell, effective toward the most basic goal—stop traffic. Rocks or semi-trucks are also effective in
this. This also creates a situation that has the potential for violence,
especially when we remember a lone individual or group can start something else
such as an explosion or riot. That being said, I won’t voluntarily want to be
around one, but neither do I feel threatened or unsafe.
So, why huelgas?
Huelgas give people a voice.
People need to be heard. They need to have a voice. So often
the huelgas I’ve witnessed result from people feeling as if they have no other
voice. The community by my school has been promised a sewage system from the government
but that hasn’t happened. Sometimes I
wonder how effective these huelgas are; I can’t imagine them achieving much
progress. If they did, that community would have had it sewage system a long
time ago. So why continue? My conclusion is that most huelgas result
when the people feel they have no other voice.
“Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, for the
rights of all who are destitute. Speak up and judge fairly, defend the rights
of the poor and needy.”
These words from Proverbs 31: 8-9 show that God not only cares
about those without a voice but has a plan to do something about it. While this
is just two verses, this is a theme I see carried throughout Scripture. Christ
stepped in and took our place when we had not voice, when our righteousness was
like filthy rags. This is the command we’ve been given.
This is the opportunity we’ve been given. The community huelgas disrupt school and can
cause general chaos among students. The huelgas also created the opportunity for
several SCS staff member to meet with the leaders of the community. We can’t build the sewage system they need,
but we can begin to build a relationship with and discover other needs that we
may be capable of meeting.
