My Ignorant D.R. Political Post.
I figured I’d wait til it was 3am one day after the insomnia kicked in (like right now) to actually post this b/c when I debate about it in the daytime when I’m wide awake I always convince myself not to b/c I’ll come off ignorant as shit…and I will be the first to admit that when it comes to most things D.R. I am (since I’m not a hick…see…ignorance kicking in). But ladies and gentlemen of the Washington Heights/Inwood area (Mi gente del Alto Manhattan) …
Doing this shit in the middle of the daytime isn’t getting anybody elected any quicker, its just making traffic slower. I’m the first to admit that for someone who is very into this years political race for president this year, I’ve yet to ever give a shit about the race for president in my native country of the Dominican Republic. And why should I? Better yet…why should YOU! Last time I checked, we’re here…not there. Yes, don’t be fooled. Bodegas here, bodegas there, but you can’t bring your bottles back over here and get a new one for a peso.
Now that might sound very douchebagish like that douchebag from philly with the english speaking sign. Fuck him. Anyway, I say this because either way…Dominican Politics has never been a thing that has been honest since the jump. Yes, I didn’t go into this blindly like Balaguer (zzzzing) I hit up Wikipedia after this spectacle on the corner jumped off and I saw a bulletin from a friend on myspace telling people to support the same candidate (I see you Natalie).
So I figured before I let the ignorance out, I might as well educate myself on the topic correct? Pretty much…Batista (Do your homework on dude, I’m not explaining it. Too long) had an protegé (the aformentioned Balaguer) who went on to become president for a while (I’m giving you the 3 am version, bare with me) and pretty much…he sucked at his job. Was mad corrupt. Yadda Yadda Yadda, the beloved (in washington heights at least) Leonel was president after Balaguer got bagged riggin the election and only after teaming up with Balaguer’s side…pretty much…everything is alllll fucked with their politics. I really don’t feel like explaining this at the moment.
Anyway, the point I’m trying to get to is, why are people over here (Dominican people) so concerned with the politics over there and not concerned enough with the politics here where they live? I know thats their native land and they’re mostly all born there, grew up there, come from there, so I understand being interested in the politics but I don’t understand why it matters so much over here since 1. You probably can’t vote since you live over here now, and 2. You live over here now, what the hell does it matter?
Thats how I’ve always looked at it at least. As long as I can go back and visit and not get fucked with whenever I want to, as long as it doesn’t turn into a communist state like Cuba, and my people over there are good to do what they want…why should I, living in the USA, give a shit who is elected the next president over there?
Unless one of them is going to break that cycle of corruption which is highly doubtful and unless one of them is going to uplift the country and bring it better infrastructure and education and electricity that lasts 24/7…what does it matter? It’s going to always be the same shit. Beautiful place to visit, but can never see myself living there.
Don’t get me wrong, I love it to death and all my people there and everybody in general. I love the fact that the people here care so much and are so passionate about it and thats why the follow the elections…BUT…shouldn’t they be more focused and just as equally passionate about the elections here? Because I don’t think they are…and thats why we get brand names like Clinton and Bush elected b/c the mindset they have over here is “thats the name I’m firmiliar with, don’t know much about them but I’ve heard that name before, lets go with it” regardless of the bad political decisions of the person running.
I don’t know…this is just my ignorant poitical rant and I was wondering if any of you ign’ant fucks out there reading this feel the same way or ever had the same shit cross your mind when you see the same shit pictured above happening. Let me know.
Also…I would like to know what Lil Wayne’s lolipop blaring at 100 decibles out the back of a minivan with speakers equipped in the back, with flags on the car, and posters of the politician…has to do with D.R. Politics as well. I don’t know…that just happened to cross my mind as well. Smh.
May 15, 2008 at 11:56 am
Ahhh Dominican Politics. Everywhere we walk from 145th to 207th street you cant escape it. That huge purple ass draping they finally took off above Las Taxistas barbershop on 207th and Nagle besides the 1 train was so unnecessary. I was on 168th and Broadway stuck in traffic while these payasos were shouting and hollering for Batista. Took like 30 minutes to get home cause of that nonsense. Then when I get to Dyckman, about 30 mins later….here they come again right outside my window. Pure comedy.
But to the issue at hand which is Dominican Politics. It has to rank up there with the top countries when it comes to corruption. It’s corrupt as hell and at times stupid. Corruption Example #1: Pena Gomez defeats Leonel in the general election to become President of DR. Balaguer finishes in 3rd and ain’t having it because he isn’t having a “Dark-Skin Dominican” run the country. He teams up with Leonel and they combine to beat Gomez on percentage points. #2 Everything Hipolito Mejia did. #3 Leonel building a Metro train in La Capital with only 2 cars. LOL. What’s the point of building a train with 2 cars and furthering the country in the deep debt its in. Then throw in the fact that the light still goes out at anytime of the day as the majority of the people in the country are poor. Why not use the money and reform alot of the problems in this country? But why would i be stupid enough to believe our leaders would ever use money for a necessity and not a non necessity.
I totally agree on your viewpoint of Dominican people and their interest in politics overseas more than here. First off, I know Dominicans who been here 50 years and still can’t speak English. That’s unacceptable man. The power of both languages is something in demand in this country so I don’t understand why people wouldn’t try to learn it and improve their job opportunities in life. Then you got plenty of local Dominican politicians who are running for congressional spots who barely get a vote from their own people because they are uninformed. Then you got the “familiarity” trend with Dominicans. I’ve asked plenty why are you voting for Hillary. “Porque Bill era bueno” Motherfuckers this has nothing to do with Bill. Just because Bill was good doesnt mean she will be. They cant tell you 1 Hillary or Barack issue. They just know Hillary more so they feel more comfortable. It cannot be that way. It goes the same for Leonel and Batista. I’ve heard people say “I don’t know anything about Batista. I hate Leonel, but im familiar with him.” Well, why dont you try learning something about the candidates and then make your decisions. Sheesh! Then they’ll tell you they care about the country. You can’t care if your voting uninformed.
Sometimes I hate saying this but I think it’s going to be a long time before Dominicans can become a solid force in this country because we are too concerned with what’s overseas and not here. I’m not saying we have to assimilate and change from Dominican culture to US culture, but we can atleast embrace American culture a bit more. You got Dominicans who come over here in their 30’s, 40’s, and on and just want to get by instead of trying to really make something of themselves.
Sidebar: What the fuck is up with everyone opening the same stores in the Heights? That’s another reason I say we are far away from advancing. Its either a womans boutique, a barbershop, a cell phone store, or a restaurant. There must be atleast 50 restaurants between Dyckman and 207. It’s ridiculous. We got to become a bit more creative.
Back to politics, the country and the peoples minds are in a time warp like I previously said. We have poverty, crime, human rights issues, racism, everything. Alot of countries have those problems, but we focusing on DR for now. You got Haitians who are comparable to Mexicans here basically working slave labor and sometimes not getting paid and getting deported for no reason also. You got dark-skin Dominicans who can’t get into clubs over there because of racism and this thing that Dominicans think their white for some strange reason when 80 percent of the country has African ancestry in them. But you cant tell a Dominican he got black in them despite how big his nose or lips may be. That’s like telling one Manny Ramirez sucks. You in for a war. Then you got one of the top 5 highest aids rates in the world. It’s a mess out there. Seriously is.
All i’m saying is that the people gotta stop looking at the poly’s like they gonna make the change. Change starts from the bottom plain and simple…
May 15, 2008 at 12:03 pm
1 last thing…lf you Dominican, you Dominican plain and simple. You could wear baggy jeans or tighter jeans. You can wear Dunks or you can wear Bally’s. You can listen to Hov or Fernandito. I’m sick of hearing people say you gotta be 1 thing. I don’t need to listen to bachata all day and talk about basball and play Domino’s and then go to Melodia to show you I could walk around with my Dominican card. Just had to say that. Chuuuch.
May 15, 2008 at 2:39 pm
Agree’d!
I counted 10 Barbershops and 6 restaurants on 207 alone.
700 Million for a 2 car subway in a country that has issues with electricity instead of using that money for education and health issues is an injustice.
So is building a Christopher Columbus Museum that serves as a light house that will beam light for tens…yes…tens not hundreds or thousands…tens…of miles in a country that has electricity issues and can never even use it….when you could use that money for education and health related issues is an injustice.
I really don’t understand why most Dominican elders leave there to come here, get established, have kids and go back. For what. I can understand visiting but why would you want to move back into that?
I don’t know…Like I said in the post, until someone breaks that cycle of corruption which is very highly unlikely no matter what party they’re affiliated with, it will never change and I will continue to not give a shit about their politics over there.
They really need to focus on the politics where they’re sleeping.
Dominicans also need to get over that ‘Holier than thou’ shit as well. We’re not white like El Ranchero said. Our shit does stink like everyone elses. But I bet come November, those same dark skinned Dominicans are going to say Vote McCain instead of Obama b/c he’s black and Hillary isn’t in there. God forbid a Black man run the country right.
And the issue of Real vs. Fake Dominican comes down to simply Hicks Vs. Cultured. I’d rather not be a hick and live a stereotypical life myself. Waking up and eating an english muffin instead of eating Mangu for breakfast doesn’t make me less Dominican, neither does not buying a 96 Honda civic and hooking it up and knowing mechanic stuff or Being at Mamajuana Sunday nights then hitting up The Chimi truck and getting Nutcrackers. Smh. If thats being a REAL Dominican, I’m good.
May 16, 2008 at 7:33 am
Yo klep I got a 97 civic -_-
And here in corona u could get a fade, manicure ANDDD get diesel jeans for 20 bucks and for the final touch un polo sport ahi po quince pesito and theeeennn after you leave the barbershop you could go next door and get una libra de chicharon for 7 bucks and pay 2 bucks for a “balie” with 1 of the finest meseras you could find in corona o_O
May 21, 2008 at 2:56 am
lmao.
same shit is going on in new jersey.
and its driving me insane! i cant go into a bodega in paterson trying to buy something w/o hearing them talk about it!
May 22, 2008 at 4:06 pm
“you can’t bring your bottles back over here and get a new one for a peso” classic. The sad part about hicks in the u.s is that now we got other nationalities trying to act like hicks. The word “dique” has been used by pretty much every other country in n.y. lol its a compliment i guess….l love my dominican culture but seeing us act uncivilzed and ignorant is really a set back on a country that has achieved so much. Dont get me started on the baseball players salary compared to the poverty in d.r. & the dominican gangs killing each other uptown….that a whole other article