Why is Bolivia, Bolivia?

We have just visited an illustration of humanity's shame. It is the farm in Santa Marta where Simón Bolívar died in 1830. A Venezuelan, he had been influenced by the European enlightenment and against superior odds liberated Colombia, Venezuela, Ecuador, Peru and Bolivia from a domineering Spain.

But his generals did not share his idealism, fought amongst themselves for territories, assassinated his second in command, and finally the disillusioned Bolívar decided to leave the Americas for France. He only got as far as Santa Marta, where a farmer took in the penniless and sick liberator, who subsequently died of TB.

Today every Colombian city has as its centre point Plaza Bolívar, you can't help but meet him in Peru, and Bolivia wouldn't be called Bolivia without him.

There lies humanity´s shame: so many artists, philanthropists and pastors are only valued in retrospect. Even God's son wasn´t thought much of. It frightens me even to start to think of those I've not appreciated. Sorry.

Photo: At least they kept his hat safe


Comments

  1. Unknown8:37 am

    Nice to know a bit more about Bolivar - I had come across a couple of references to him in books I was reading recently and was thinking I ought to learn some more ;-)

    ReplyDelete
  2. David Ford6:14 pm

    Evidently when he was on his last journey and with effort putting his boots on, he commented, "Who would have thought so much glory would fit into this boot".

    ReplyDelete

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