On his last days Luis Carlos Galan Sarmiento had the appearance of a martyr, of somebody who knew that the imminent shadow of death had casted over him. His intimate friends and family noticed that he seemed much worried, thoughtful and distant. But his reaction is just logical, as he had been notified that his life and his family’s was endangered by, among other forces, the most obscure and dangerous mafia that Colombia has ever had: the mafia of Pablo Escobar. One might think that in such situations the best thing to do is to follow the most basic of your self-preservation instincts and flee, but if you think so you didn’t know Luis Carlos Galan, this one man was different. He walked straight to his fatal destiny with the firm convictions that his ideals were enough reason to risk his life in the service of Colombian society.It was the year of 1989 and by this time Luis Carlos Galan was a brilliant Senator and candidate for the Liberal party for the presidential elections of 1990; a real leader followed by millions of people, whose speeches were as inspiring, passionate and visionary as those given by Jorge Eliecer Gaitan; a person who understood that the way of the arms is not the way to reach the peace but a radical change of our society over the legitimate and sincere basis of Democracy. Under all perspectives, Luis Carlos Galan was predestined to be the next president of Colombia.
The history of Colombia was drastically changed, as he was shot to death during a speech in the main square of Soacha, near Bogota. The whole country was paralyzed in disbelief and drawn in tears of sadness. The ambition of a small group of people was more important than the transcendental change he would have given to the country. Further investigations have shown that behind his death was a powerful complot of politics, mafia, paramilitary and state agents. Unbelievably, 20 years later, his crime still in impunity.
Unfortunately scenes where a life is truncated with such an easy, gives the impression that the value of life in Colombia is nearly null. This is consequence of the ingrained idolatry for money of our society, the indifference and the fear to the powerful. Unfortunately stories like this aren’t strange to out history, and even so, and despite all the atrocities our history has suffered, we haven’t given up hope. What is important in the chapter that Luis Carlos Galan Sarmiento’s life has written in Colombian’s history is that his legacy will remain, that men might die but ideas will forever live.
Galán Vive!
The history of Colombia was drastically changed, as he was shot to death during a speech in the main square of Soacha, near Bogota. The whole country was paralyzed in disbelief and drawn in tears of sadness. The ambition of a small group of people was more important than the transcendental change he would have given to the country. Further investigations have shown that behind his death was a powerful complot of politics, mafia, paramilitary and state agents. Unbelievably, 20 years later, his crime still in impunity.
Unfortunately scenes where a life is truncated with such an easy, gives the impression that the value of life in Colombia is nearly null. This is consequence of the ingrained idolatry for money of our society, the indifference and the fear to the powerful. Unfortunately stories like this aren’t strange to out history, and even so, and despite all the atrocities our history has suffered, we haven’t given up hope. What is important in the chapter that Luis Carlos Galan Sarmiento’s life has written in Colombian’s history is that his legacy will remain, that men might die but ideas will forever live.
Galán Vive!
