Críticas Magazine

Loida García-Febo

Ingrid Betancourt is Free
July 2, 2008

I was watching the news on the plane back to New York, after attending the ALA annual conference, when I learned that Ingrid Betancourt was free.

In 2002 Ingrid Betancourt was visiting a little town campaigning to become Colombia's President when she was kidnapped. That was the last thing the world knew about her. For many years people speculated about what had happened to Ingrid. She became a legend- a woman who gave her life for her country. Some people thought that she was alive, others that she no longer existed. Last year a video footage of Ingrid seating in the middle of the jungle and looking gaunt surfaced, and the world dared to be hopeful and wish for her to be free. Around the globe various politicians staged an aggressive campaign requesting Ingrid's freedom. Ingrid, who has dual Colombian/French citizenship, received massive support from both countries. 



Last February while in Paris, I saw numerous gigantic posters on the Metro requesting Ingrid's freedom (picture above). In April, I went to Colombia to present a workshop and had the opportunity to have interesting conversations with my Colombian colleagues about Ingrid. She embodied hope and change, and she was cut off from her people too abruptly. I learned of their hopes for Ingrid to be free and also how difficult they thought this was.

Today, after 6 years, the author of La Rabia en el Corazon and Until Death Do us Part was rescued by specialized soldiers.

This is a happy day. I have tears in my eyes because after so many years, Ingrid Betancourt, the legend, is free. Let's hope the world turns out to be a nicer place for her.

Posted by Loida García-Febo on July 2, 2008 | Comments (0)