Borders
Borders are concepts which encompass and exclude. They exist everywhere. Some are literal visible physical lines whereas others go beyond sight and exist in terms of characteristics such as monetary wealth, or even humanity. Over time these boundaries are redefined and in turn change the flow of daily life for the individuals they effect. In many cases it is the powerful governments which are in control of the pen which outline these symbolic and physical lines. However as history can prove even though it is these powerful governments which give definition to these borders, it is very often them (the governmental officials) who are the ones who cross them. This hypocritical characteristic is blatantly apparent in regards to Central America. Both the ruling elite and the United States government has infringed upon the many levels of borders which exist in this part of the world. Numerous atrocities have been committed, thousands of lives have been shattered, countless victims have suffered all due to lack of respect for the borders which exist. All levels have been touched; political, economic, and even human. No outline is safe from being infringed upon or even shattered in Central America.
Their reason for getting involved was their initial crossing of economic borders in Central America. Our country has numerous economic interests in regards to investments and supplies of raw materials in this section of the world. In Central America there existed $9 billion of private United States investments, as well as countless trade relations that were in jeopardy. Our government entered Guatemala for example do to "the need to protect our resources (as George Kennan put it, referring to what is rightfully ours though by irrelevant accident beyond our borders) but also with our concern to encourage a climate conducive to private investment and in the case of foreign capital to repatriate a reasonable return" (Chomsky 5). If the people in Central America were to gain power or were able to better their living conditions, the elite and investors would no longer be in control. Thus our investments were severely threatened by nationalism. For this reason we entered these foreign lands and engaged in surpassing the final border; the border of humanity. We all are human and should all fall in the same sphere of classification. However, the United States government and the elite in Central America tried to redefine these borders of humanity and classified the masses into a different level (one that it is okay to torture and brutally murder). According to Chomsky, "over 440 villages were demolished, huge areas of the highlands were destroyed in a frenzy of possibility irreversible environmental devastation and well over 100,000 civilians were killed or 'disappeared' up to 150,000 according to the Churc
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Approximate Word count = 1094
Approximate Pages = 4 (250 words per page double spaced)
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