This past week, national leaders from around Latin America and the Caribbean descended on the country of Mexico in the hopes of forming a new alliance.
However, Canada and the United States were not invited to the conference.
This is a large step away from the traditional international politics of Latin America, where the U.
S.
has played the supreme role for the last 60 years.
Mexico and Brazil really pushed for this decision and made a call for the nations to join together.
Though I may sound more Costa Rican than American when I say this, I think this is a very good move for a whole number of reasons.
First of all, it puts the power to make critical decisions about conflicts in Latin America in the hands of the countries of Latin America.
This could help reduce a lot of conflict in the region.
If you are not familiar with the history of the United States and Latin America in the last 60 years, all you need to know is that it has not always been just, whether it was Ronald Reagan's Iran-Contra Scandal, the CIA support in helping support the right-wing dictator Pinochet, or the use of torture and oppression against the poor and labor groups with support from the CIA.
The mere mention of the name of the U.
S.
in much of Latin America brings conflict.
Though not all of it is deserved, it is the reality none the less.
Conflicts between countries such as Columbia and Venezuela or Chile and Bolivia are much more likely to going to be resolved peacefully if the U.
S.
does not get involved.
This alliance also helps curbs some of the U.
S.
commercial interests in the country.
Though fair and positive trade is important, completely free trade tends to benefit the rich and wealthy and punish the poor and worker.
If Latin American countries don't start standing up and put limitations on these companies, the gap between the rich and poor will continue to skyrocket.
I hope in this new alliance there will be a focus on human rights and justice and not merely commercial growth.
Though this may make me sound unpatriotic, I think there is something much more important than country or nationality.
Peace and Justice should be our concern more than anything.
In many ways the U.
S.
has participated in this, and in many ways they have not.
I hope this new alliance will help be a springboard for these values to be realized I am starting to feel like I am part of this country (Costa Rica), and I am glad some independence from the United States is happening.
In the end this will be better for everyone: The United States, Costa Rica, and all Latin America.