X-is-for-Xiomara: People Want Change

X-is-for-Xiomara: Libre Party for the people of Honduras. Iris Xiomara Castro de Zelaya is a Honduran Politician. Most just use her second name. When someone is talking about politics and mentions Xiomara they all know where the conversation is going.

This past November (2013) was election year here. The hope by many was that Xiomara would win. She is the wife of former President Manuel (Mel) Zelaya that was forced out of term prematurely in 2009. In fact I moved here 2 weeks after that happened. My moved had been planned for 6 months.

I really don’t get involved too much in politics. I have my own thoughts but don’t feel comfortable talking about them. I like to keep my ears open and my mouth shut (unless I feel real strongly about something). Even though I feel as if I am Honduran I am not so sure I can hold my own about politics.

My husband on the other hand is now a die hard Libre Party supporter. He did vote for Xiomara and is still upset that she lost. I was able to go with him when he voted, but I was not allowed to cast my own ballot. Voting was fascinating. Everyone went to where they were registered. They showed their ID. They were given the ballots which had pictures of all the candidates along with their names. They placed an X to mark their vote. Each ballot (3-4 in total) is folded twice and placed in the correct box. Before leaving each voter has to have their hand stamped. Lastly they picked up their cell phones that are left at the entrance.

Ballots are counted manually. The election of 2013 is said to be a huge upset. Many, including my husband, believe it was rigged. The current President Juan Orlando Hernández is said to have forced himself into office. Many Hondurans believe that real change would happen if Xiomara had won. The rumor is she will run again in 4 years. We will have to wait and see.

I am not sure what kind of changes would have happened. I am not even sure if things would have been any better. What is evident – people want change. They deserve it! It seems that change will not truly happen through government but by the people who say – NO MORE!!