South American Journal

May Day parade in La Paz, Bolivia. AP photo. Thanks to Eduardo Avila.

Many years ago, I concocted a beautiful Fidel Castro Halloween costume, complete with fatigues, beard, 60s-era horn-rimmed glasses and cigar. When I arrived at the party in Northeast Minneapolis, I was greeted by shouts of "Hey, Saddam!"

Groan.

When it comes to third-world leaders, there's a strange math that many Americans do in their heads and it goes something like this:


However, the scene above tells me that we're not the only ones who would put revolutionary leaders, tyrants and political cranks in the same boat. I suppose that's how it works when you're staring down the business end of globalization. Anyone who gives the bird to the world powers (and gets away with it) is indeed a hero.