In a country where journalists have been killed every year for saying the wrong thing, putting pen to paper is a dangerous proposition. Strangely enough, the things they kill American journalists for such as natural medicine, and revolutionary ideas like Libertarianism and Anarchy - are completely permitted, and even overlooked in Colombia.

The same country that has suppressed the freedom of speech of people who rat out dirty politicians, actually doesn't care about Libertarianism and Anarchist ideas - it's kinda weird.

Dear Diary - Strangely Enough Colombia Has a Lot of Press Freedom, and I plan to use it!

When I was with my sons father, he used to always say that if someone comes after me he will take our son and go hide at his mommy's farm out in the Colombian conflict zone. He has always been a total coward. This is a country that makes the weak, weaker and the strong, stronger.

Prior to the "Peace Agreement" which was signed in 2016, you could go to the conflict zone and interview people about the guerrilla stories. Now, after the so-called peace, it is actually much more dangerous to poke around in these places for two reasons. One, the war never really ended, and two, the smaller groups are now being threatened and have had to run for the hills and keep their operations much tighter.

Colombia has such strange contrasts compared to my own culture. Here are a few...

1. You can promote campaigns to #BuyLocal, #EatLocal and #SupportLocal - I once appeared on regional TV speaking emphatically on the importance of NOT supporting large corporations and ALWAYS supporting the small businesses.
2. You can get in hot water (or cemeteries) for messing with, or even exposing corrupt politicians, but if you wage false propaganda wars against sexual tourism - you might actually make a difference. True story.
3. You can promote political beliefs outside the normal "right/left" paradigm, but engaging in communist groups means you are supporting the guerrillas, and supporting conservative politics means you are a fascist in favor of paramilitaries.
4. Colombians cherish and value animals (animalistas), they can't even wrap their brains around the concept of hunting game - unless you are an indigenous tribe hunting jungle rats, in which case they simply have no opinion.
5. You can be wealthy and addicted to cocaine and/or alcohol, but you WILL be shunned and looked down on if you use Cannabis.

Unfortunately, the Colombian government has an Ace up their sleeve - which is widespread ignorance and lack of technology. There is no real tradition related to reading to children, yet some of the brightest intellectual minds are born here which usually end up leaving the country in order to find jobs and wages which match their abilities.

Those who can read, and who take the time to learn English, have a fighting chance of making their lives better in so may ways. We have some incredible writers here to - both Colombian and Foreign. Yet, they are not the majority or even a big enough segment to create widespread change. Most people still rely on their television sets to program them about how they should live their lives and think about their world, which usually means alcohol, hookers and football.

All these strange confluences of conditions are what makes Colombia an ideal place for intellectuals who write about Libertarian Anarcho-Capitalism. However, the increasing growth of social-communist belief structures also means we run a huge risk of electing a communist ex-guerilla in the next election. It's so bizarre.

I have a friend who used to work (or works?) for the government press corps and I asked him why a certain foreign Anarchist-Communist self-proclaimed journalist who openly criticizes the government, has been allowed to write so freely. To which he replied, that when they did their investigation he simply didn't have a big enough influence to be a threat.

As things continue to heat up for journalists in the US who write about Natural Health, Libertarianism and Anarcho-Capitalism, Colombia could actually be a good place for these people to go to where they won't be pursued. On the other hand, you MUST have enough resources to set up your own private security because the CIA/American Military is permitted free rein to do pretty much whatever they want.

Finally, I want to tell a final story, about how the Pen is Mightier Than the Sword, and the Tongue.

Yesterday, I woke up once again single - and ok with it. But prior to laying down that night I felt possessed to write about our conflict. This story is now my #1 most popular article on Steemit currently - because it truly came from my heart.

Anything is possible for those who love God. And that is what I am going to rely on. If you are a Bible believing Christian, help me by praying for us to find our way through the storm. And, if one day God brings me the right one, I will praise Him and continue to live my life full steem ahead knowing in my heart that good things happen to those who love Him.

Thank you for reading my wild and wonderful stories of life in Colombia for #the100daysofsteem. Warm blessings to @AgoDaniel32, @Steemitblog and all the @Steemcurators who are a part of #thediarygame. A neighborly greeting to @marita52 - who is in Venezuela making the best of a difficult place. @cryptokannon - thank you for your warm encouragement. Hugs all around to this community where I am finding a happy home for my writing and friendship!

As always...

If you feel a kindred spirit in my diary about times of coronavirus, pressure and overcoming - then do your part to help a neighbor get through to the other side by upvoting and/or giving me a resteem of this post. Tell a friend - and join #thediarygame so we can all bring home the rewards of high quality content curation on the @SteemitBlog ecosystem.