Stereotypes should open discussions rather than make us dumb judges. That is, they can join us instead of dividing us, if we want to.
Because, you know, they are not exactly lies, but rather a hyperbolized idea of one aspect of anything, like a culture, for example. Thus, if outsiders are willing to ask and so are you to tell, stereotypes can be a great source of profound questions and answers, realizations, and discoveries about other countries.
Some days ago, someone asked me what kind of stereotypes people had about my country. Well, I have never lived or been abroad for a long time, and though, the answer came quickly to my mind. I'm Colombian. The heaviest stereotype about us is that we are whether cocaine consumers or cocaine dealers (or both, but no none).
It's heavy. Yes, it is. Even if, in this case, of course, this stereotype is a lie: not all Colombians are cocaine lovers, for sure, but as I said before, it does show a disturbing reality in Colombia, a fact that should not be muted by saying "no, it's only a stereotype."
Colombia has carried that weight for almost one hundred years when European ships brought illicit drugs to this continent. Before that time (1930's), coke leaves (not cocaine) were already a very popular consumer item in these lands, so to speak. However, its use was (is) way too different from that of cocaine.
Native communities have been using coke leaves for millennia in the form of hayo* or mambe** as to obtain extra energy, counteract the altitude sicknes, listen to their elders with sharpen ears, etc.
In this fashion, when cocaine traffickers started using colombian ports as stopovers in order to reach Northamerican ports, they made a huge discovery. Colombia had the perfect climate and soil so as to grow the plant.
With these two conditios met (a blooming drug trafficking business + a proper soil to grow coke) it was only needed one third condition to be met: a corrupted state that allowed the business to flourish. And we did have it!... In short, Colombia met all requirements as to become the worldwide capital of cocaine, which is different from all Colombians love cocaine.
The outlook is not very encouraging. As I hinted above, cocaine traffic is pretty much the most profitable business of the Colombian authorities, and one of the biggest ones of the USA, after weapons, wars, and who knows what else. The best we, ordinary citizens can do, is not to get trapped in stereotypes, and get to know each other before uttering any judgement.
*you call hayo to the dried coke leaves for consumption
**you call mambe to the dried coke leaves made powder and mixed with yarumo leaf ashes, for consumption
The two graphic works I used to accompany this article were made by Juan Andrés Botero, a great artist, friend and cousin from Quindío, Colombia.
What kind of stereotypes do people have about your country?I wrote this article in response of @whatamidoing 's question in the Cross Culture Community
Fantastic intro! I feel the same way. Stereotypes aren’t a problem as long as they are flexible and nuanced and always evolving. And also it’s best to make stereotypes with some input from people who understand the place or people better than you.
I didn’t really have this image, but then again I don’t watch many Hollywood movies or pay attention to drug news. My image of Colombia is more like a jungle with a few friendly cities, maybe not super rich and maybe not safe for naive North Americans but with a lot of really beautiful peaceful and natural people. I guess my first thought when I think of Colombia is “aren’t they one of the countries that got fucked by my home country?”
I want to learn more about the real Colombia from you!
You do not watch too much mainstream media, indeed, if you don't match Colombia with cocaine. In my brainstorming, I also included the one you mentioned: Colombia as a big forest, along with violence (but it's a reality rather than a stereotype), superficial women, etc... In the end, I chose the harshest one and focused only on that one.
Yes, Colombia has a ridiculously huge debt with the IMF, and the USA, and perhaps with the EU, and the rest of the alphabet... It's a paradox since capitalism got stronger thanks to the gold and silver of these lands. However, Colombia is one of the richest countries!!! I mean, not economically speaking, but countries like China, Canada, and Spain know that, and now they are buying our rivers, mountains, and forests... and yes, Colombia is also in the loooong list of countries being fucked by the USA.
This world is a mess!
I send loooove to you, thanks for dropping your comment :)... For sure, I´ll coninue making posts about Kolombia since I realized it's kind of a therapeutic exercise.
However slow it might feel sometime, I think we are all waking up, one by one, to the fact that we are one big family and need to start acting like it. The people at the top will be the last ones to figure it out, and by then they will already be irrelevant. <3
Hey, amazing outlook on the Colombian reality. Many avoid or deflect the harsh realities of their countries, and even less take a critical historical look at why things are the way they are. A very thought provocative piece.
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