TEGUCIGALPA
Corrupt Politician for Tegucigalpa
Tortilla Selling Woman, Pirate Movie Selling Man,
Taxi Drivers playing in the roads;
Aggressive, dangerous, pathetic,
City of cagadales:
They tell me you are hungry and I believe them, for
I have seen starving kids eating frijoles with tortilla and salt.
And they tell me you are assassins and kidnappers and I answer: OF COURSE,
EL Heraldo announced over 11 kidnappings in 59 days.
And they tell me you are brainless indios and my reply is: On the
Face of Mel Zelaya I have seen the evidence of human stupidity.
And having answered so I turn once more to those who sneer at this my country, and I give them back the sneer and say to them:
Come and show me another city with survivors
So proud to have endured the Guerra de las 100 horas, Hurricane Mitch, the Golpe de Estado, corruption, and endless poverty,
So determined to climb that great big hill of hope for a destination.
Fierce as Gloria Gaynor signing “I Will Survive”,
Strong as Rocky Balboa boxing,
Barefooted,
Working,
Kicking asses,
Surrounded by death like a Cemetery Caretaker,
Under the smog, with their heads standing tall, feeling proud to be a Honduran,
Under all misfortunes, feeling a high sense of patriotism.
Yelling, “Yo prefiero morir firme que arrodillado ante esta dictadura!”
Yelling, “Tortillas, tortillas, tortillas!”
Yelling, “Películas pirateadas a precios bajos!”
Yelling, “Mejor callate si no queres que me baje a golpearte pendejo!”
Yelling the aggressive, dangerous, pathetic,
Corrupt Politician,
Tortilla Selling Woman,
Pirate Movie Selling Man,
Manudo Taxi Driver.
Think about complaints outsiders have of the city. Are they valid?
Outsiders complain about the insecurity in Tegucigalpa. They claim it is not a safe place to live in; you cannot walk because you get assaulted. You cannot open the window of your car because they threaten to kill you only to steal your phone. Also, the city is not clean and it is ruined because of vandalism. Honduras’ natural resources are plunder, and many of the outsiders come here to visit Honduras’ exotic beauties, but they feel disappointed. The complaints are totally valid. They are supposed to feel safe in their new home, but instead they have to be alert because they can be killed any minute. Tegucigalpa is also polluted (its rivers, the streets, and the atmosphere). There is no excuse for it. We could worry more about our country and take care of it.
How do you feel about your city?
I love my city. However, Tegucigalpa could improve. I believe Tegucigalpa is not the problem, but the people in it. WE are responsible for the problems and the disgraces our country has undergone. We complain about everything, but we do not realize it is all in our hands. We are the corrupt people who ruin our country and do not do anything about it.
How do you feel when other people talk badly about your city? How do answer them?
When other people talk badly about my city, I feel ashamed. But then I tell them the good aspects of Tegucigalpa so they realize Tegucigalpa is not just based on bad things. I tell them all the beauty Tegucigalpa has, and how they have missed it because of focusing on the bad things of it. Every city has its issues, not just us.
