Creole Democracy

I. Synopsis

“Creole Democracy” is a clear presentation of one fundamental defect from of government.

Democracy is based on the concept of the rule “of the people, by the people, for the people.”
The success of a democratic form of government is based on the nature and condition of the
electorate--- that they are literate enough to express their will in the ballot, that they have
sufficient education to understand and analyze and decide on vital issues, and that they can
impose discipline on their emotions and themselves. To meet these requirements of
democracy, Fambona tells us, most developing countries are still incapable. So the story
ends in tragedy and death with the participants not really knowing it is all about.

II. Commentary

According to Edward Brathwaite, “creolization” 'is a cultural process—'material,

psychological and spiritual—based upon the stimulus/ response of individuals within the society
to their [new] environment and to each other'—it is a 'reciprocal activity, a process of
intermixture and enrichment, each to each.” Generally, we use the term "creole" to refer to "new
world" societies like the Caribbean and South America, as well as those postcolonial societies
that have been made racially diverse through the convulsions of European colonization. Those
countries who has such creole democracy need to embrace, mixture of people, making a new
community where there is co-existence of diverse races and culture.

Creole democracy have two political parties rely on having the majority of votes on their
side: “the efforts of the party leaders were directed toward herding the largest possible number
of men.” One party is the government and the other one are rebels. Both of them in competition:
“the bosses of each side would spy upon each other to see how many voters were being added
to their rival's forces.” The voters are uneducated about how they will vote and are just merely
instructed by their chosen party: “party hacks were going from group to group explaining the
procedure of the morrow's election.” The voters already have a foresight that there will be
war that will happen in this kind election and begin to show mistrust on the electorates:
“`Elections!` scoffed one vaquero. `Before long we'll be hearing Pum! Pum! And then, ho,
for stabbing hides!'”

War is not new anymore to them because it happened before, especially during elections:
“to this bit of grim humor in the face of possible tragedy.” and “this was a slogan familiar to
everybody, and many smiled bitterly at the memories it awoke.” It is not impossible for this to
happen because of the competition and influence of both parties. In war, the revolutionary
officers have machetes while the rebels have guns on their hands. Both have a advantages and
disadvantages: “for in a hand-on-hand struggle a heavy gun is a hindrance rather than a help.”
Both parties are keeping a secret on the public: “they don't tell the truth. If we're going to war,
let's go but let them not hide from us.”

The story reveals the role of women. Men compare them to hens and portray them as
weak beings: “They're not afraid that well run off into hiding like so many hens or women...”
The party leaders don't care much about the safety of their people: “Be sure to cry out loud ,
now, when you want us to come to your help.” sending the vaquero to spy on the other party.. In
this scene, it shows that women in that time are used as a shield: “Here's a woman to go along
and keep you company.”The vaquero acted arrogant and fearless as he go along and thought of
his leader belittling him: “They think i'm afraid.” The young vaquero didn't think of any elderly
respect for the old man as he killed him defenseless. But when he killed the old man he was
scared but proud of what he did: “the youth run off at one at his leader and not without a certain
boastfulness told, in the presence of all, just what had occurred.”An women was again
portrayed as rather someone to be killed even an elderly one: “Kill and old man!...Why not an
old woman” Realizing that the other group will hunt down the vaquero, he was just asked to
hide or he'll die, receiving no help from the leader who used him: “I can't do a thing. Quick! Off
to the mountains!” The vaquero didn't know that what he did was a crime as a sign of an
uneducated man who just his leader: “Then it is true that this was a crime?” All that he thought
was to kill the other party with one reason at all. That he is an enemy. Realizing his mistake he
turned himself to justice. Having regrets of his ignorance and still confused: “But weren't we
supposed to conquer them? Weren't they our enemies?”

The people of Camoruco is not yet ready for democratic changes. For them to have a
successful democracy, the public and the electorates should be first educated about the meaning
of democracy. The story proved that uneducation of people and the leaders will only turn into
chaos. The leaders should not think about themselves and be selfish but rather to put into mind
that democracy is “of the people, by the people and for the people”. Each of the public should
have a contribution for the success of the country not just merely being influenced by powerful
leaders. The leaders of both party in the story don't have a clear goal of what they will do in
their country, can't even notice the issues they are facing and discipline themselves rather all
they want is to be in power.