The Great Divide

Multiple story lines exploring the truly astounding feat of creating the Panama Canal. Some great character development and peek into multiple cultures. For many of the characters, there was a relatively happy ending. But I appreciate that there wasn't glossing over of the fact that sometimes communities still lose out to powerful forces. After all, the canal was built, towns were destroyed, tens of thousands of workers died, their political system was not their own, and their economy was forever changed. 

Some thoughts by theme:

Workers - The ones doing the real work, sometimes treated as slaves, came from far and wide as people around the world arrived to Panama to earn wages but also faced tremendous danger. Not just the back-breaking work of taking a pick axe to a mountain range -- literally -- but also for the dreaded mosquito sending people to death's door with a bite tinged with malaria. 

Displacement and Protest - Neighbors organize to stand their ground against a proposed dam that would destroy their town. At one point, the main organizer started to laugh at the realization that she and the lone police officer were shouting at each other in different languages and neither understood the other. It was a matter of recognition of the silliness of the situation. But her laughter sparked outrage in the officer - laughter by itself is not malicious, of course, but when someone thinks it's directed at them, embarrassment is a strong emotion. (I wonder why there aren't laughter brigades at protests. Seems like it would be a highly effective non-violent tactic to use.)

Pesticides and White Savior Complex- Reminded me of the lessons in Silent Earth of the unintended consequences of insect "control". Yes, there are many environmental impacts, but there are also immense social implications like when the white people come "knowing better" and tip a barrel's worth of water into the street to prevent mosquito breeding, leaving you without this critical resource during the dry season.

Consultants - Americans dragging out the canal project because they have fancy hotels and good pay - living like kings so they joke about dragging out the work to extend their stay and paychecks. This is a very real problem in today's public works projects too. And the more we rely on consultants (instead of accountable government employees), this will continue to cost taxpayers.

Mysticism - One character who was very cynical ultimately found that a little mysticism made him happy and feel closer to his lost loved ones. Is there harm in that? Something I've been thinking about for a while. I can still see some potential for harm in believing in fairies and angels and ghosts if that spurs harmful actions (or inaction) due to  over-reliance on unreal things. But if not or if on the whole it gives people comfort more than it harms, maybe just let it be.