My experience with George W.

Hello Family and Friends,
I have not been in good health for the past week, so it has taken me a while to share with you my experience with George W. Bush during his recent visit to Panama.

As you know, after the summit in Argentina and a one-day visit with the president of Brazil, George W. and Laura arrived in Panama in the late evening hours of Sunday, November 6. President Torrijos had organized a round table encounter with several representatives of different sectors of the society, and I was asked to represent the West Indian community. There were about twenty four of us invited to participate, 4 ladies and 20 men. Besides myself, the other ladies were Nilda Quijano, the Head of the Colon Free Zone, a ngobe buglé Indian woman, and a distinguished high school student. I don't have the complete listing of all the men who were there so I will just name a few: Juan Carlos Navarro, Mayor of the City of Panama, Ira Rubinoff, head of the Smithsonian, a Kuna Indian, August Simmons, the head of the Chamber of Commerce, Valentín Montfort, the head of the Architects and Engineers, Stanley Motta (one of the wealthiest men of Panama), Jaime Arias, Julio Escobar from SENACYT (computer technology), Nicolas Gonzalez Revilla, Medcom (TV). The meeting was scheduled for about 11:00 a.m. in one of the rooms at the Miraflores Locks. I had come down with a cold days before this event, and Orville didn't think it was a good idea for me to go in the condition that I was, but I took medication and got up feeling better that morning, so I decided to go. (It is not everyday that one gets the opportunity to sit down at the same table with the President of the United States!) I went to Atlapa where a small Coaster bus, with special security clearance, picked us up to take us to the Miraflores Locks where the meeting was scheduled to be held. It is a good thing the Mayor was on the bus because we were stopped at several roadblocks and would only let us go when he identified himself and said it was all right. (The security measures taken in the City that day were incredible.)
We got to Miraflores by the way of the new Centennial Bridge, after driving through Paraiso and Pedro Miguel. The room was nicely set up, with each of us having our own microphone with facilities for simultaneous translation. We could speak in either English or Spanish, and a few of us chose to speak in English. A few minutes after 11:00 a.m., President Torrijos and his wife Vivian, President Bush and Laura walked in and we each had an opportunity to greet them personally. Then they allowed the press to come in and take pictures, and shortly after they were gently ushered out. (Several references in today's newspapers mentioned that it was unfortunate that the press was not allowed to cover this event.)

President Torrijos opened the encounter by saying a few words and encouraging each of us to say a few words (one or two minutes) about the group or organization that we represented. After each presentation, President Bush would respond with his own comments. I was the second to last person to speak, and I basically told him that I was a descendant of the thousands of West Indians who came to Panama to build the Canal and have now become an important segment of our Panamanian population. I told him that the emotions I feel at this experience reminds me of the poem by the African American writer Langston Hughes. At the time I couldn't remember the title of the poem, so I paraphrased it. I have since found the poem and will quote it here so that you get an idea of what I told him: The title is "I, Too." I, too, sing America. I am the darker brother. They send me to eat in the kitchen When company comes, But I laugh, And eat well, And grow strong.
Tomorrow, I'll be at the table When company comes. Nobody'll dare Say to me, "Eat in the kitchen," Then.
Besides, They'll see how beautiful I am And be ashamed--
I, too, am America.

I told him that our people had endured issues of discrimination, not only because of race but also because of language, but just like the blacks in the U.S. we are forging ahead and creating a better day for our nation. I told him that, like the speaker in the poem, the fact that I was sitting at the table today with the President of the United States shows that there has been progress. I also added words of commendation to President Torrijos for creating the Etnia Negra Commission to help to bring about better opportunities for our ethnic group.

Apparently my words created such an impact that several people came up to me afterwards to commend me, and there were those who said I brought tears to their eyes.

After it was over, I went up to George W. and told him that my mother, who died on May 30, was a great fan of his and had followed his campaign every night on T.V. I told him that wherever she is, she is most likely thrilled that I am having the opportunity to meet him. That was when he put his arm around me and kissed me on the forehead and told me to stand beside him for a photo. (We took several photos with other representatives at the table, so I may get ahold of one someday.) He told me that he is sorry Condoleeza couldn't have accompanied him because he is sure that I would have enjoyed meeting her. I told him that Mama also had a great deal of admiration for her.

That was the end of the round table meeting and my encounter with George W. They were subsequently whisked off for a specially prepared luncheon in the elegant Restaurant at the Miraflores Locks. Those of us who participated on the Round Table got back on our bus and were taken back to our cars that were parked at Atlapa.

Orville has since received a number of positive comments from President Torrijos and other members of his cabinet about my participation, so I hope it will do some good for our West Indian community here.

I spent the rest of the week working on my health, and after my visit to the doctor on Friday, I have been improving.

Best wishes, Melva