Racism and Other Prejudices
By the time I came to Panama in August 1975, I had spent 14
years in the US Army, and lived in Germany for 5 years, Viet Nam for
one, and Thailand for one. I had had enough exposure to the beautiful
rainbow of human color to realize that everyone who is different from
me is still just folks. I had rid myself of the racial prejudices that
had infected me from growing up in 1950's East Texas. Still, I don't
think anyone was more surprised than me when I found myself head over
heels in love with a beautiful half Chinese half Black Woman whom I met
on a blind date. We've now been together more than 34 years, and have
two children and two grand children.
I was surprised and delighted to learn that racial prejudice is not a
big deal in Panama. To be sure, there is an undercurrent of racism in
Panamanian society, but it is not so noticeable in everyday life. Yes,
it is more difficult for a Black or Mestizo child to get a quality
education and a good job, but economics plays a large factor, perhaps
more so than prejudice.
What I noticed 34 years ago was that Nora's mostly black circle of
friends and family accepted me and welcomed me as one of their own when
we got married. One of her friends who worked in the Labor Ministry
helped me immensely in getting work permits. In fact, most of the help
I have received over the years came from black Panamanians.
Our circle of friends has widened considerably in the last few years,
and now includes many expatriates who are recent arrivals, at least
from my perspective of having lived in Panama more than half my adult
life. Within that circle, we have both been introduced to, and become
friends with, yet another group of people for whom many still have
prejudices, and discovered that they too, are just folks. Panama has
not always been tolerant of gays, and to some degree and within certain
levels of society, still is not, but I see a shift toward tolerance
within Panamanian society in general and acceptance in particular
within the expat community. It is a welcome change.
As I have progressed from the Redneck Bubba who left home at 17 to join
the Army to the social liberal I have become, at each step along the
way new experiences, friends, and adventures have opened to me. My life
is much richer for the understanding that has come from those
experiences.
That's just one of the reasons I love Panama.
Hey Dude! Where's my Money? Update
Today is December 14th and still no sign of the money I
deposited in our local account on December 1st. Since the bank says
that it takes 15 working days and does not count holidays nor
Saturdays, we might see the money in our account a couple of days
before Christmas. Something to bear in mind if you want to deposit a
foreign check in a Panama bank.
Cadena Nacional
Among the many strange (to Expats) customs of Panama was a TV
practice called “Cadena Nacional”. The idea was that if TV viewers have
only one show to watch, they would watch that show. Before Cable (BC),
it was particularly annoying, though English speakers who lived in
viewing range could switch to SCN, the Armed Forces Radio and
Television Network, with transmitters on Ancon Hill, and watch some of
last year's US shows.
In the BC days, Panamanians were treated to several hours of
simultaneous religious and patriotic broadcasts on all local channels
every Sunday morning. Of course, any time the military rulers of the
country wanted to address the people, up popped a cadena nacional.
That all became irrelevant once cable TV became widespread, and I doubt
many were sad to see it go.