Stereotypes

One thing I have noticed in Costa Rica that is very curious to me, is the sentiments between Costa Ricans and Nicaraguans. I don't know what it is. It reminds me somewhat of the stories of Whites and Blacks in the U.S. Even in some areas of the U.S., some people still believe that what color you are makes you different and even better than another person. I hate this about human nature. We are constantly comparing ourselves to others. I have noticed that here in Costa Rica there are people who really dislike Nicaraguans. There are many jokes that are told in Costa Rica about Nicaraguans similar to those jokes that Virginians tell about West Virginians. Only, these jokes have a more racist slant to them. Coming from the U.S., where we so often just throw everyone from Central or South America into the same pile, it's almost hilarious to hear that someone in this part of the world would distinguish themselves so differently that they think themselves better than another. I used to think of everyone as the same whether they came from Mexico, Costa Rica, Colombia, or Argentina. Living here, I've discovered that there are huge differences even between places like Nicaragua and Costa Rica. And Costa Ricans do consider themselves to be very different from Nicaraguans or Ecuadorians.
But for some Costa Ricans, they not only think they are different than Nicaraguans, but they are better than Nicaraguans. In the U.S. this would probably be better compared to the difference between people from the U.S. and Mexicans trying to cross the border. Or anyone from a poor Central American country. They are NOT ALL Mexicans! So don't call them that. But just as people try to cross into the U.S. to make money for their families, many Nicaraguans cross into Costa Rica because the standards of living are higher and income is better here than there. And, in general, Nicaraguans living in Costa Rica still live at a lower standard than Costa Ricans, but they are still better off here than there. So they work for lower wages, but what makes them different or beneath another person? I am completely confused by this sentiment among Costa Ricans. What saddens me, is that I have heard it even from some of my Christian friends here. Sometimes it is just in the way people lower their voices when talking about someone who is from Nicaragua. One time I even heard that it would be offensive to a Costa Rican girl if a guy she liked dated a girl from Nicaragua. I can't stand things like that. And while I can say that this is just a problem here in Costa Rica, I can't just write it off, because I know that it still exists in many places. As followers of Christ, this should make us sick. We have no right to think of ourselves better than anyone else. Even if you're not a believer in Christ, you still have no right to say that. Yes, you may have been more fortunate than someone else or were born into better circumstances, but you have no control over that. A Costa Rican may say, well, I've known some Nicaraguans, and they weren't exactly the best people I've met. (And I have heard this). So you know that those Nicaraguans aren't great people, but there are several million people in Nicaragua. How can you possibly know all of them? You're stereotyping. Hey I do it all the time unfortunately. But it gives me no right to say that I'm better than someone else. This is why much of the world hates Christians. They've known a few people who called themselves "Christian" and then went on living their lives as if Christ never existed. Why does the world, and even Christians ourselves, go by stereotypes to gain an understanding of who Jesus Christ was. Why can't we just look at Jesus Christ? A Christian is an image of Christ not other Christians, although it SHOULD be the same thing. If you want to know what a real Christian looks like, study the life of Jesus. If you aren't a Christian, please don't stereotype us by the people who call themselves Christian and then ignore the founder, Jesus Christ. If you are a Christian, please realize, that everyone in the world does stereotype others. It's a natural reaction, but it's a way that the enemy tries to defeat us. As Christians, let's make sure our stereotype matches Jesus Christ. I'll need help as much as you.

On a lighter note. I was walking through Heredia, the city where I attend language classes. Back home in the U.S. I love to shop at thrift stores, cause you can find some really cheap t-shirts, and they are usually the funniest t-shirts you've ever seen. So I found a thrift store in Heredia this past week and I was really excited. In Costa Rica, they are sometimes called Ropa Americana. Which means American clothes. Of all the types of clothes sent to Costa Rica from the U.S., how did our second hand/used clothes get labeled as American clothes? Maybe Costa Ricans feel that Americans are cheap and like used clothes. Maybe it doesn't mean anything, except that it came from America. I don't know, it doesn't bother me, I just thought it was something interesting to think about on this topic of stereotypes.

The cool part about the Ropa Americana store is that I found a George Mason t-shirt, a Virginia Tech t-shirt, and a kid's soccer jersey all from places within about a 1-2 hour drive from where I live in Virginia. How crazy is it that I could find clothes in Costa Rica, from my home in Virginia? Wild.