Comparison of Testimonies on Latin American Guerrilla Experiences

Type :

Presentation

Pages :

3 pages

Format :

.doc

Published date :

06/11/2008

Category :

Arts & media

Sub category :

Journalism

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Summary :

While the governments of Colombia and Mexico both repressed citizens from voicing differing political opinions, the roots of the repression were different.
Ulloa Bornemann, on the other hand, had parents who were not particularly supportive of revolutionary political ideals.
When Vasquez Perdomo and Ulloa Bornemann joined the guerrilla movements in their countries, they participated in many of the same types of training and missions.
Like many guerrillas who fight against repression in their governments, both Vasquez Perdomo and Ulloa Bornemann were eventually arrested and served time in prison for political subversion.
Ulloa Borneman was captured by the Mexican military with stolen arms in his vehicle. His imprisonment was considerably more harsh than that of Vasquez Perdomo.
Vasquez Perdomo and Ulloa Bornemann both turned their life stories into priceless testimonies of Latin American history.

Abstract

There is no better way to learn about historical experiences of others than to hear about them through the actors' own words. In latin America, there is a continuing history of political upheaval. In many countries, ordinary citizens are repressed by the elite government, and there exists an intricate system of guerrilla rebellion to injustice. Political "subversives" are treated as common criminals, and an ideological war confronts anyone who wishes to publicly hold a view different from the national government. Fortunately, there are brave citizens who choose to fight for their beliefs and braver ones still who write about it so the world may know. Maria Eugenia Vasquez Perdomo of Colombia has done this with My Life as a Colombian Revolutionary: Reflections of a Former Guerrillera. And Alberto Ulloa Bornemann has done this with Surviving Mexico's Dirty War: A Political Prisoner's Memoir. These two autobiographies/memoirs have provided insight into each country's struggle for and against freedom, and what it may have been like to be on the front lines of this conflict.