Óscar Romero

For theologian Juan Luis Segundo, the problem of analyzing the relationship between Christianity and violence in Latin America is it is often perceived to be easily solved. To genially understand the problem of violence in Latin America, Segundo rejects Christians supporting change but not revolution, and the state of the poor justifies whatever violence is done by or for them, which are often the easy route out of this controversial topic. Once these two solutions to the problem have been…

The Conquest The history of El Salvador begins with the time period in which indigenous people resided in the country. According to Roy Boland, in Culture and Customs of El Salvador, The Spanish conquered El Salvador in 1524; the spanish found the country was divided into three states (13). The spaniards hegemonic influence finally converted El Salvador into a Spanish colony after twenty six years of indigenous resistance(Boland 14). Such conquest brought violence, diseases, and poverty to the…

This semester, I have learned plenty of concepts and material that have shaped my teaching methods. Our class has helped to develop a strong curriculum, but also, to understand the needs and reality of every student. Also, the lectures, reading, guest professors and our visits to DCP have helped to understand why I want to be a teacher. I have learned and realized that as a future teacher, I am not going to be able to take care or help every single student, but I will do my best to assist them…

Radical Two millennia ago, a poor Jew who espoused a philosophy of loving enemies, elevating the lowly, and suffering with the oppressed could not be tolerated by the political authority of his day. He was put to death by Roman officials because of his worldview, but rather than extinguishing a flame, Jesus’ momentous act of solidarity forever lit the world on fire. This paschal mystery was a symbol, not of martyred pride, but humble prostration to assume the sins of humanity. The Christian…

Oscar Romero’s murder drew international media attention to the human rights abuses occurring in El Salvador. His actions and teachings were highly publicized worldwide, but never received any credit. The Salvadoran government claimed that many of the mass…

raiding the Stonewall Inn and unjustly arresting people. This started what later became known as the Stonewall Riots, which many people consider to be the very beginning of the gay rights movement in America. Years later, in 1980 in El Salvador, Oscar Arnulfo Romero, the archbishop of San Salvador was assassinated while celebrating mass. He was killed by the right-wing militia because he often called the government's corrupt practices which promoted social inequality that benefited the…

Volf, in the introduction his book, A Public Faith, asks some questions such as, should religion stay out of politics or should religion brings its vision of what it means to have a good life into politics? (x). My position is yes, religion should bring its vision of what it means to have a good life into politics, but not totalitarianism; instead pluralism in all societies. Actually, in the USA people are blessed to freely exercise their religion, but not impose it to others, according to the…

The United States had a great fear for communism during the time of El Salvador’s civil war. Ronald Reagan said this in regard to why the United States decided to support the government of El Salvador "to halt the infiltration into the Americas, by terrorists and by outside interference, and those who aren't just aiming at El Salvador but, I think, are aiming at the whole of Central and possibly later South America and, I'm sure, eventually North America."(Blum). Keep in mind the Soviet Union…

An Oblivious Awakening We walk past them weekly. We see their stories in the media. We read about them in magazines. However, we don’t know that we are contributing to the pain and suffering they experience. “They” are the victims of poverty. With more than 2.2 million Australians living in poverty, we should be ashamed of this increasing figure. Poverty is a relative concept used to describe the people in a society that cannot afford the essentials that others take for granted. People living…

The film Sin Nombre depicts the issues that currently plague Central America. Gang affiliation and the increasing violence that is taking hold of the communities as well as migration out of Central America. The increase insecurity and violence has propelled many to head to the United States in search of a safe and prosperous future, as was the case of Sayra and her family. Benito or “Smiley” introduced to the gang as the gang acts as a source of order in the town that appears to have been…