Political and Miscellaneous Articles by: Dennis L. Siluk

Here are Dennis' views on the political scene, along with other issues, be looking for them in the future, they will be coming off and on; along with guest articles, for those who wish to share their opinions, simply email Dennis at dlsiluk@msn.com, and he will select those he likes and put them on his site. see site: http://dennissiluk.tripod.com

Sunday, October 22, 2006

The Youth of Peru (Confused or Torn?)

Peru—a country with many rules mostly unenforced and a lot of rights, again mostly overlooked and unenforced when sought after. The youth of Peru are confused, if not down right torn between these dilemmas, adult behaviour (social comparison), and on what they should do. I’ve been asked the question by students from Radio Stations in Huancayo, to University Students at Saint Martin, in Lima. I think they want to do what is right, they need leadership, and they are influenced by adult actions, expectations, but what is right and wrong? A simple question, with many variables for them, I do believe. Let me give you an example:
The taxi, in Lima or the Andean city of Huancayo, there are many of them, and many have holy items in their taxis; perhaps hoping the saints will keep them safe, while at the same time speeding through town, and running over pedestrians; not purposely of course, but if you don’t move, you could be crippled or killed, or maimed somehow. I don’t believe the question comes up enough: who has the right away. Or perhaps, no one cares. In most cities the pedestrians do, in Peru, it’s in the air. Thus, every traffic rule is broken, or the police are paid off to be quiet: the justification for the police is: we don’t make much money. The question is: what is wrong with bribing, it helps pay the police. If you’ve worked for the police for over ten years, you might be making 900 soles a month, less than $300-dollars. Not a lot of money in any country. But is it justification, and the right thing to do, to show your youth?
Everyone, or most everyone knows, Peru is a Christian society, and mostly Catholic, and you will see the churches filled on Sunday, and on Monday, some of those same folks will be searching out the parks to still a bag, and think it was fate that brought them to that moment. And this is what the youth see on a large scale.
In many of the parks young females rent babies to carry around, and/or kids, holding their hands, and they walk the streets begging for money from the tourists. There are many now, tourists and beggars, much more than there were several years ago when I first came to Peru. When asked why they are not working, they insult you, curse you, and stick their noses in the air as if you owed them a free ride. This is learned behaviour, and reinforced by the same society that condemns it.
So what do I say to a youth from collage or radio station that wants an honest statement from you, for them? I mean they already feel caught in-between. I can tell them (and I have) Peru is the most beautiful country in South America, and its culture is excellent, and that they have the best food in the world, and the Mantaro Valley has the best weather in the world, and it is an ideal place to retire financially, but that is not exactly what they want to hear. So what can I tell them, perhaps a simple statement will do: You are not tied to anyone, do what is right, and things will change.

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