Break another yoke

We are living at the end of a cycle. Where what we knew is not dying, and what is coming, the new, does not dare to be born. It is like giving birth, uncertain, confusing, distressing. But ultimately we are living the struggle of something ending and the beginning of something new.

In the 19th century in Bolivia, anyone who wanted to build a future had to go to Sucre. In the 20th century, to La Paz. Now, in the 21st century, anyone who wants to progress comes to Santa Cruz. This marks the direction of the future.

A large part of Bolivia has been taking refuge in Santa Cruz for years. And those who are not there look to Santa Cruz with hope. Therefore, it is not a question of whether it is easy or difficult to be Bolivian while being from Santa Cruz. The question is something else. In this 21st century, Bolivian identity is being redefined in Santa Cruz. And Santa Cruz is not only part of Bolivia, but Santa Cruz is the new Bolivia.

Bolivia is not an enemy of Santa Cruz. Those who constantly attack it to isolate it and set it against the rest of the country are others. The enemy is not the colla. The best response of Santa Cruz against the permanent siege of its enemies is not to react against “Bolivia” (which is exactly what those enemies want). The best response of Santa Cruz is to embrace Bolivia, to lead it. Because autonomy, federalism, or whatever you want to call the self-determination of Santa Cruz, will come from building national political power. Not from declaiming the virtues of the Santa Cruz model to the oppressor, or worse, from whining and pleading.

Another yoke must be broken this September 24th, or any other 24th of any year. What was done in the past is no longer enough to conquer the future. Producing fatter cows or twice as much soy will not change our fate. The development of Santa Cruz in the 21st century will only be possible by taking control of our destiny, by giving of ourselves. By ceasing to reject Bolivia. By leading Bolivia.

Let’s get out of the mess. The struggle of Santa Cruz is not only of Santa Cruz. Not even of Bolivia. It is the real battle at the heart of the world in this 21st century; the struggle for life in freedom, for the possibility of prospering through one’s own efforts. The conflict between right and left is a thing of the past. Today in the 21st century what is at stake is democracy, attacked from several sides by a global block that wants to destroy it in order to build a league of autocracies on its ruins. Our challenges are not, as some believe, local. They are global.

But for that, first, we must realize it. And stop with so much pettiness and meanness. Stop with so much division, which is also sown by other interests, for the convenience of other interests that are not those of Santa Cruz.

Then we must free ourselves from the mentality of productive slaves, from the malignant influence of influence peddlers turned businessmen, and stop looking for any way and at any cost to accommodate ourselves with whoever is in charge in Bolivia. The conditions are there. History, demographics and the economy are on our side. Let us give hope back to the people, let us build the future that Santa Cruz and Bolivia need. Let us be that new thing that is being born.