On Tuesday, September 15, five Central American countries, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua celebrate their independence from Spain in 1821. A torch relay, representing the message of freedom beginning in Guatemala City, the former capital of the Central America, traveled the Pan American Highway and crossed into Costa Rica yesterday. At intersections along the highway, the flame is passed to torches carried by runners who then shuttle the flame up the main roads into each town. Schools play an important role in carrying the torches and marching in Tuesday’s parades.
Today, I arrived at school knowing that there would be a little morning ceremony to welcome the independence torch, or antorcha de independencia. I soon realized that I would be joining the 7th and 8th graders, not in my classroom, but rapidly walking to Cerro Plano, the next town to the north. There, we waited for the high school students, some of whom had stayed up the entire night shuttling the torch up the mountain from the Pan American Highway. First hearing some cheers and then catching sight of a group running toward us from around the corner, our group let out a collective cheer. The excitement peaked as the torch reached us and we all picked up our feet and joined the run to school about three kilometers uphill. The torch passed from person to person and all attention was on the moment, cars and trucks had to pull over as our group passed. We collected more students and parents as we reached the rocky road at Monteverde. I decided to sprint ahead of the group to take advantage of photo opportunities. Passing near our house, I waved to Sally and the boys as they came running down the pasture cheering us on. Dodging potholes, passing the cheese factory and grazing cows, we finally arrived at school to deliver the torch to the field.
All gathered in a great circle to sing songs of peace and liberty from war. I looked around and thought about the reason why so many families moved and stayed here. The people here believe in and practice a life of peace and love. Quakers, non-quakers, Ticos and Gringos, spiritual and non-spiritual, children and adults singing about peace, flowers and justice (yes, social justice). So, this is how we celebrate Independence Day at Monteverde Friends School.
I could not help but be reminded of my Catholic grade school days when we sang songs about peace and how it begins with me. Maybe that is why I feel very comfortable here: the values in this community of peace and love fuse with primary lessons from my Catholic upbringing. The stories and teachings of Jesus were centered on peace and love, and turn the other cheek, and remove the log from your own eye first. Things change. In most of my world after eighth grade, talk about peace and love were reserved for a spiritual retreat or conversation with mom. In many circles, I could have exposed myself as being ‘whimpy’ or ‘naïve’ or ‘high’ for thinking about peace with the Red Russians, the Commy Chinese, or the Palestinians. Discussions about peace became much more challenging early this decade, and unfortunately, songs like If I Had a Hammer did not get much airtime on our radio waves. Approaching the end of this decade, I continue to hope for peace and will gladly sing Independence Day celebration songs about flowers and liberty, that is the liberty from war liberty.
Tomorrow is a national holiday and we will take the boys to Cerro Plano at 7:30AM for their first Costa Rican desfile or parade. So, more tomorrow. Peace and Love, signed M.
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