Some Developments

I came to Nicaragua with a sense of what "development" means: that we, as Americans, are part of the "developed" world. They, as the global poor, represent "underdeveloped," or "developing" people.

There are, of course, innate issues of political inequality that penetrate those ideas. I can't say I haven't stopped to think about them, but my life certainly hasn't changed because there are poor people in the world.

We offer sympathy, and money, to this other "world"..never stopping to think about what that means, or the framework in which we think that's okay.

I'm no expert. But living, working, and making memories here has completely reversed the way I see development.

I understand now, with all honesty, that we, as a country, are underdeveloped.

1. We are underdeveloped until we realize that America is not one country, but thirty-five. Not one language, but thousands.



2. We are underdeveloped until we read. Until we read and read and understand our history of imperialism.



3. We are underdeveloped until we see the fence we built from space.



4. We are underdeveloped until we take responsibility for our actions. Until we say no to the World Bank, and yes to harmony.



5. We are underdeveloped until a smile says we can listen.



If we can't look inwards--if we can't change the way we think about the world--then it's no wonder development is taking so long.