One of the books that I read for the Hispanic Heritage Month two years ago was What You Have Heard is True by Carolyn Forché.
That recounts experiences that Forché had in El Salvador when Leonel Gomez Vides (a political activist, but that is such an understatement) showed up at her door in 1977. He needed a poet to bear witness to what was happening.
It sounds like a such a strange idea, but it was a fascinating story and I felt like I wanted to know more.
I think it was also influenced by that being around the time I watched Machuca (2004). Father McEnroe's story was based on that of Father Gerardo Whelan. While his story is different, learning about him and about El Salvador combined to make me think of Archbishop Oscar Romero.
I started thinking I should watch the Romero (1989) movie. What You Have Heard mentioned a documentary that had to be The Houses Are Full of Smoke (1987). Then I thought I could read more of Forché's poetry and try and learn more about Vides.
Most searches on Leonel Gomez Vides bring up stories focusing on Carolyn Forché, but I did find an interview with him from 2003:
https://dc.suffolk.edu/moh/21/
When initially reading What You Have Heard, I remember being sure his work would get him killed. He was interviewed in 2003. While he did not create a perfect situation, there were accomplishments in El Salvador.
That in itself is amazing.
For Forché herself, I read four of her poetry books and a collection of photographs from El Salvador that she had worked on, showing the reality of the conflict there.
Gathering the Tribes 1976
The Country Between Us 1981
Blue Hour 2003
In the Lateness of the World 2020
El Salvador: Work of Thirty Photographers 1983
I have put them in chronological order, though that was not the order in which I read them.
While there are some themes and language usage in Gathering the Tribes that carry through, I feel like her work got better -- maybe it is more accurate to say deeper -- after the time she spent in El Salvador.
Shouldn't something like that change us?
My thoughts at this point may appear a bit random.
One thing that struck me was a story of ears that had been cut off and they were dried up, but at least one was put in water and unfolded. It was an act of intimidation. I was told the story in around 6th grade, I think, but I remembered it as being from Cambodia. It was mentioned in at least one of Forché's books, happening in El Salvardor.
Did I remember wrong, did the teller tell it wrong, or did it happen more than once? I have no idea.
As hard as it is to make good changes, there are times when it happens. One person can do significant good, but they generally need some help. Vides' interview is interesting for that as he gives credit to other people who were helpful, and those who weren't.
Then, about The Houses Are Full of Smoke...
First of all, I had not realized that when I was looking for it and saw three parts, those parts were each different countries. There are also parts on Guatemala and Nicaragua, but I only watched the part on El Salvador.
It is old and out of print, so I was watching a not great copy. A lot of the information has been known for a while now, where it probably would have been shocking then.
I'd almost say it doesn't matter now, except the thing that struck me is how easily some people lie.
Well, I still see that, except they do it with a lot more smirking now.
https://sporkful.blogspot.com/2023/02/hispanic-heritage-reading-catching-up.html
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