Bolivia's Worst Ambassador

What is the biggest misconception about your country (Bolivia)?

Faced with that question during an official interview, where a candidate’s personality is supposed to shine through, Gabriela Oviedo, Bolivia’s representative to the Miss Universe pageant replied:

"Well unfortunately people that don't know Bolivia very much, think that we are all just Indian people from the west side of the country. It's La Paz and all the image that we reflect is that poor people and very short people and Indian people.

I'm from the other side of the country, the East side, and its not cold, it's very hot. We are tall and we are white people and we know English. So all that misconception that Bolivia is only an Andean country is wrong. Bolivia has a lot to offer and that's my job as an ambassador of my country to let people know how much diversity we have."

Underneath the ignorance shown by this Santa Cruz resident, there is a point that cannot be disputed. The average person around the world without much in-depth knowledge of most countries, latches on to the most commonly used scene, most newsworthy or most famous tourist attraction for that country's image. La Paz is such a unique city sitting inside a giant crater with Mt. Illimani overlooking the city’s skyline. Tourists, when limited to one destination in Bolivia overwhelmingly choose the capital. But why make this point using such racist and ignorant statements?

Yes, Bolivia’s very diverse with 39 ethnic groups. After adding immigrants from Japan, Yugoslavia, Germany, African slaves from Senegal and Spanish colonizers, etc., then the richness of this diversity becomes even more vivid. As each group adds distinct customs, music, and foods, the richness of this diversity can only make our country even more appealing. Yes, Bolivia is much more than just La Paz and the Andes.

However, her blatant disdain for those on the other side of the country erased any credibility that she had. Her naïve generalizations of people both in the Occident and the Orient proved that she truly was living outside of reality. If she would venture further away from her Department’s capital, I’m positive she would encounter very large numbers of poor people and very short people and Indian people.

When asked about the biggest tourist attraction in Bolivia, she never mentioned Lake Titicaca (the highest navigable lake in the world) or the Salar de Uyuni (an incredibly unique salt plain). Once again, her blinders only allowed her to mention some unnamed national parks for eco-adventures on “her side of the country.”

She was one of the few Latin American candidates who replied in English. Do you think she was misquoted?

Believe me; I had to endure replaying her answer over and over in order to transcribe it. It was crystal clear, because the people from the west side of the country speak English.

Well, maybe she was nervous and everything came out wrong.

Another interview in the magazine La Epoca , she displayed many of the same worrisome tendencies. Here, she praised and self-identified herself with the Nacion Camba, an ultra-right populist organization that is laced with racist overtones. Unfortunately it’s ironic that she’s supposed to be representing the entire country, but all of her statements make it clear that she is only representing herself.

Generalizations are very dangerous and reveal the lack of any sense of cultural understanding, but maybe she enjoys using them in her everyday language.

How about this generalization, Srta. Oviedo?

Models are dumb.

Doesn’t quite feel so good, does it?







Note:If you want to see the complete video see here.

(Also posted on Living in Latin America http://www.livinginlatinamerica.com/archives/000252.html)