Lessons From the Brits

In 1999, when the FARC made a series of attacks on urban populations, Silvana Paternostro called her father to see if everything was okay. She was amazed at her father’s indifference almost as much as he was amazed at her concern. This is probably because, as every other Colombian, Mr. Paternostro was used to violence.

I remember when living in the states that one day our school was closed down because there had been a suicide in another school down the block. Everyone was alarmed, the mood was quite tense, and I think it even made the news. No terrorism, no mass shootings, only someone taking their own life.

Here in Colombia, the complete opposite happens. When something that doesn’t directly relate to us happens, we move on with our daily lives. I saw this very clearly with the recent attacks against Fernando Londoño. Leaving two dead and forty-eight wounded, the attack was by all standards a massive one. However, most things went on as usual and few think about it anymore. Paternostro might say this is a bad thing, she might argue that the reason that Colombia has not overcome its problems is that most people don’t want to face them. In fact, I believe that she titled her book My Colombian War because of this, saying: “To them Colombia might not be at war. But I am at war with Colombia. I am going back because there is a war, brutal war, a war full of horror. I am going to tell them that each and everyone knows it, allows it, and hides it. Everyone has blood on their hands. I want everyone to plead guilty.”(p.40).

In this case, I disagree with Ms. Paternostro.

Terrorism is only successful when it produces fear and chaos. If people develop a resistance to fear, terrorists loose their teeth. I agree with the British national motto: keep calm and carry on, the idea of which has been “colombianized” to the popular phrase no hay que llorar por leche derramada (there shouldn’t be any crying for spilt milk).