The american devil
I just returned from a three week trip to Argentina, the land of my birth, I was both pleased and alarmed. Buenos Aires has all those things you hear about: The ever popular Evita, tango, Malbec wine, lots of grass fed beef, soccer fanatics, and wild traffic. I enjoyed it cafes, old architecture and watching its political process as elections were being held. The country suffers from chronic political and economic uncertainty while its people remain passionate about life. One of the things I love about the country is that BA’s neighborhoods are dotted with small family owned businesses that provide not only the day to day needs of the people but constitute the middle-class social network. Unlike the U.S., independent small scale manufacturing, grocers, bakers, fruit and vegetable vendors, and butchers still thrive. It was an opportunity to see once again something of what E. F. Schumacher wrote about in his 1973 book Small is Beautiful:Economics as if People Mattered.
Unfortunately what looms in the horizon and threatening the small business is Wallmart. As I said to one of my relatives, Wallmart is the devil dressed in American prosperity. Once the small businesses are out of business their former owners and employees will find themselves working for less not only economically but socially.Wallmart does not have a good track record when it comes to how it treats its employees. This state of affairs will only add to social and political unrest. The “American way of life” is not the answer for Argentina and other third world countries. Maintaining strong local networks must be a top priority on the road to prosperity and a working democracy. They don’t need our bulldozer.
Hi, I’m reading Eve’s Revenge, along with a handful of other books by women, about women, and for women. My sister lives in Carlos Paz, Argentina with her husband and daughter. I too lived in Argentina for about 9 months in Buenos Aires. I know what you mean about Walmart. I was shocked, but convicted about some assumptions I had. What I considered to be universally beneficial from the US many times is not Christian or biblical at all. It’s beautiful how despite much of the brokenness in Argentina, there are still customs and structures that can promote shalom. I’m not an expert, but I appreciate your thoughts and wanted to say how much I’m challenged and sharpened by your life, theology, and intellect. Thanks-