Entry # 1 March Againt Violence

I had a terrific experience this afternoon. The entire day was oriented towards this experience. The experience occurred at The National March for Colombian Peace which I attended in company of some family members and millions of Colombians. My family members were: my brother Sergio, my cousin Catalina, my dad Fernando Araújo, his girlfriend Adriana, and several bodyguards and friends.
The whole idea of this march was wonderful for me. The march claimed for Colombian Peace, rejected terrorists, rejected kidnaps, rejected criminals, claimed liberty of our hostages, and rejected the illegal armed group FARC. I feel much attached to these issues and movements since my dad was kidnapped for six years. I have felt the pain of the families who have kidnapped family members. I have felt the fear, the sadness, the anger, the desperation, the frustration, the weakness, the shame, and the despair.
I have seen the nightmare come to an end and felt all the feelings that these families dream, day after day, of feeling. These feelings I felt are the most profound and deep feelings there are. They are glory, happiness, shock, pride, tranquility, strength, euphoria, ecstasy, joy, excitement, and peace. The moment my dad stepped out of the helicopter, all of my family members and me were filled with these terrific feelings.
The experience I went through at the march was filled with emotion. What happened was that as we marched beside my dad, claiming for liberty, I remembered about a march claiming for my dad’s freedom, when I was only nine years old. I realized how inside me, the situation had completely changed. The confusion I felt in the march in 2001 contrasted with the clarity I felt today.
People in the march yelled my dad’s name. They said: “¡Que viva el Canciller!” They showed their appreciation for my dad’s work, for my dad’s commitment to the rest of the Colombians. They hugged my dad, kissed him, took pictures with him, took pictures of him, asked for autographs, and showed their love for him even though they do not know him. These people were completely committed to the march’s purpose and made me realize how my dad’s victory was considered as a victory for many Colombians, not only for me and my family. I feel the same as these people at the march. The freedom of another Colombian, like Clara Rojas or Pinchao, has also produced similar feelings inside me.
I am the proudest son, yes, but this is not the strongest feeling I felt today. That feeling was the strongest when my dad came back, or when my dad was named Minister, but not today. Today, what shocked me the most and what the experience is all about, is feeling how the Colombians at the march are tired, worn-out, exhausted, fatigued, and will no longer stand the FARC’s lies, terrorist attacks, kidnapping, and crimes. Today, I sensed the disgust produced by these terrorists in all Colombians. Today, I felt that these types of manifestations are the best way to get the rest of the word to see the reality. This is the best way to get this nightmare to end for the rest of the Colombians. Today I felt how we have made a great progress since several years ago. Today I felt something not easy to explain. I felt as if had a multiplied times millions strength. I felt that unity makes the force.