No gabinete atapetado de Wall Street no 100.0 andar,
(a estátua da liberdade ao fundo, acendendo com seu isqueiro
o charuto da burguesia),
James Monroe à parede (a América para os americanos),
ar refrigerado, coca-cola,
filantrópicos senhores, doadores, benfeitores, investidores,
(exportadores,
estão em torno de uma mesa baralhando cifrões...
Será poquer? Canastra? Bridg ? Buraco?
Ou algum jogo clandestino?
Nada disto:
entre cálculos de bilhões
e baforadas de " havana"
jogam apenas o destino
de alguma republiqueta sul-americana...
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Translation:
Game
Carpeted office on Wall Street, 100th floor
(the statue of liberty in the background, lighting
its bourgeoisie cigar),
James Monroe on the wall ( America for the Americans),
air conditioner, coca-cola,
philanthropic gentlemen, benefactors, investors,
exporters,
are around a table shuffling money ...
Is it poker? Canasta? Bridge?
Or any illegal game?
None of this:
between calculations of billions
and smoke of "havana",
they just play the destiny
of some South American republic ...
Notes
Translated by Mariza Góes
This translation is not by the original author but it is an honest attempt to convey the meaning and thoughts of the original writing.
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Comments
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for many decades US banks and then the IMF dominated and oppressed economies of Latin American countries with debt and interest, controlled access to capital needed for industrial and commercial growth. The depressed economies then became places for cheap labor and undervalued imports, for so many decades...and this writer was one of many strong voices to help educate and encourage resistance to the economic exploitation. I think his popularity among common people was fueled by his appeal to national pride an determination to overcome the structural barriers. In recent years, economic growth has been the hallmark of Latin America and now rising to leadership in the hemisphere, but during the dark and powerless era there were voices of courage like Jorge.... wonderful translation to show the depth and irony of the situation... PK
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"America for the Americans"
That is the Monroe Doctrine and though it was meant with the most noble of reasons (I assume)it been used to assert dominance in the region, and not always with noble intentions.
I know there are two sides to a story and this is just one, but I also my county and understand its sometimes overbearing ways.
Those in control have different motives than those under the yoke.
Thank you again to Mariza Góes for the translation of an author I knew nothing about until now.
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