by Roberto Alvarez-Galloso

Created on: March 12, 2008

While Independence may not be an instant panacea, there are times when a region cannot survive living under an oppressive government or one that could care less about its interests. There are many examples of countries and regions that talk about independence such as Santa Cruz in Bolivia and different regions in the United States of America.

In the case of Bolivia under Evo Morales, there is a European Population in Santa Cruz that has felt threatened by the existing government. This is not the case of the poor stealing from the rich. This is the case of ethnic tensions already exacerbated by a government who has played the ethnic and class struggle card to attempt to consolidate his power. I remember seeing a segment of Bolivian Television in which a Constituent Assembly was elected in a small town. In the segment, one of the indigenous women saluted with a clenched fist to vote yes and taunted the opposition by calling them "white trash" even though those voting were indigenous. In La Paz, Bolivia; supporters of Evo Morales decapitated a dog in live television and stating: "This is how to deal with the white people". What is the response of Santa Cruz, instead of leaving Bolivia and going abroad; they decided to strike it out and launch their drive for independence. Santa Cruz has the right since they were independent briefly before being incorporated into Bolivia in 1825.

After talking about Bolivia, I want to talk about the United States of America. In an era where people are talking about Clinton, Obama, Mc Cain, and people are immigrating into the United States of America attracted by the promise of money growing in every corner, there are areas in the United States of America that are talking about secession or leaving the United States. Examples have been Vermont, Ohio, South Carolina, Texas, Hawaii, Alaska, Michigan, and even California. After careful studying about these independence movements, these regions would be better off if they started declaring their independence. These states are even working gradually towards independence by forming or recuperating their national identities. One region has gone further which is Lakota Oyate. After a century and a half of abuse and poverty, the Sioux Nation which comprises parts of North Dakota, South Dakota, Nebraska, and Wyoming have declared their independence from the United States under the name Lakota Oyate. It is surreal that the United States of America and the European Union have recognized the independence of Kosovo but does not recognize the independence of Lakota Oyate.

For those who say Independence is in the mind of the few, remember that the United States of America was the creation of the few Englishmen who dared to say enough is enough. Independence is a panacea that works gradually and as soon as there is a sense of national identity.

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