Something that's been bugging me...

Mood: Frustrated/Sad
Music: Flogging Molly - Rebels of the Sacred Heart

"Es solo una india, no le haga caso."

That statement has been bugging me all weekend. See, on Saturday, we were out shopping for a Mother's Day present, and we passed a homeless lady on the street, begging for spare change. Nothing unusual, right? What caught my eye was that she had on the most beautiful dress - it was dirty, but undeniably beautiful, with no holes or threads out of place. She was barefoot, and didn't even have a cup to beg with - she was just putting the change into a pocket in her dress. I mentioned to Sofia that in the US, the homeless are generally more... well, tattered, and often somewhat crazy... and that it was something unusual for me to see someone begging in such pretty clothes. And Sofia responded "She's just an indian, don't pay attention to her."

Really?

I keep trying to write some kind of deep commentary on the social situation in Costa Rica, and how it's completely unjust that the indigenous populations here are so discriminated against, but I can't seem to find the right words. All I know is that those thirty seconds of my life really, really upset me, and I know I'm never going to forget that woman's face.

-Sarah