No menu items!

COSTA RICA'S LEADING ENGLISH LANGUAGE NEWSPAPER

HomeArchive‘¡Vivamos la Democracia!’ a crash course in civic pride

‘¡Vivamos la Democracia!’ a crash course in civic pride

In the back corner of “¡Vivamos la Democracia!” paper cutouts line the wall, portraying dutiful citizens lining up to vote. They look happy and proud. They live in Costa Rica, a democratic country, and every ballot counts. Literally, the exhibit’s title translates to “Let’s live the democracy!” But by the time you reach the colorful cutouts, you may think, “Viva democracy!” Period.

At face value, the new exhibit at the National Museum should bore us to tears. “Vivamos” is a crash-course in civics combined with a chronology of Costa Rican governance, a middle school textbook in three dimensions, the dullest of the dull. Because the country has no bloody wars or saber-wielding heroes to liven things up, this history lacks overt drama. Without a Gettysburg or Berlin Wall or Ho Chi Minh, how could any body politic be interesting? Bring on the guillotines and toppled statues! Countries must be forged in blood. Let the rest eat cake.

But the truth is that “Vivamos” is a painfully beautiful exhibit, and everyone – from proud Ticos to disaffected expats – should spend a half-hour within its two quiet rooms. The beauty of “Vivamos” is its pure ideals and plainspoken history lessons; we read about slavery, women’s suffrage, electoral trends, courts, communists, and even the National Registry. Who knew that Costa Rican elections were once three-day fiestas, with tallied votes posted at the end of each day, like World Series stats? Who knew how difficult it was to actually document every citizen in the republic? Who knew that women weren’t allowed to vote until 1949 – long after, say, Thailand or Turkey? Not this amateur historian.

What’s startling about “Vivamos” is its subtlety, and by extension, the subtle evolution of Costa Rican political life. The exhibit foregoes triumphant marches into burning capitals; instead there are legal documents and vintage photographs, painted portraits and explanatory plaques. You can see a facsimile of a typewriter that produced important manifestoes, cameras that took important photographs, ballots and IDs and personal histories. The walls are covered in quotes by wise statesmen about the virtues of democracy. If you have the faintest interest in municipal life, you may walk away from the National Museum with a burning desire to write your legislative deputy.

Meanwhile, the curatorship is strangely intimate: Many texts are bilingual, but others are written only in Spanish. One section, “The First Electoral Processes,” makes reference to “nuestros antepasados,” or “our forefathers.” Ticos are meant to take ownership of this history; foreigners, having no native forefathers, can only appreciate from a distance.

Yet the exhibit is also painful, because history is still being written, and we live in a difficult chapter. “Vivimos” began showing last week, between Independence Day and San José’s Bicentennial, and patriotic feelings could be strong. But government approval ratings have slumped, corruption dogs the current administration, and a brutal election looms. There is a great chasm between political philosophy and actual politics, and “Vivamos” celebrates mostly the good parts – great ideals, progressive legislation and civic successes. We must remember that Costa Rica did endure a civil war, albeit a small one, and not every couple can legally marry, and no matter how forward thinking the culture, politicians will always be politicians. No matter where or when you live, some part of government is always going wrong.

“Vivimos” is a reminder and a rallying cry, and it could not be better timed. In the noise and confusion of daily headlines, it’s easy to forget what a nation-state is for. Within the soothing white walls of the National Museum, you may be surprised to remember: It’s for you.

Trending Now

Empty Stadiums and Inequality Mar Women’s Copa América

Nearly empty stadiums, players' criticism of the organization, and demands for equality in South American football have marked the 2025 Women's Copa América in...

Megan Fox and Machine Gun Kelly Vacation in Costa Rica with Baby

Megan Fox and Machine Gun Kelly touched down in Costa Rica for a family getaway with their three-month-old daughter, Saga Blade Fox-Baker. Photographers caught...

Costa Rica Surpasses 500 Homicides as Gang Violence Escalates

Costa Rica has officially surpassed 500 homicides so far this year, according to figures released Monday by the Judicial Investigation Agency (OIJ). As of...

Why Prisma Dental Is Costa Rica’s Top Clinic According to ChatGPT’s AI Analysis

When it comes to choosing the best dental clinic in Costa Rica, international patients are facedwith an abundance of options. But with the help...

Keylor Navas Leads Pumas to Victory in His Liga MX Debut

Keylor Navas kicked off his Mexican league journey with Pumas UNAM in style, leading the team to a 2–0 win over Querétaro at Estadio...

Guatemala’s Gang War Funeral Attack Leaves 7 Dead and 13 Injured

At least seven people were killed and 13 wounded in an armed attack Tuesday night at a funeral in downtown Guatemala City, which authorities...
spot_img
Costa Rica Coffee Maker Chorreador
Costa Rica Coffee Maker Chorreador
Costa Rica Travel Insurance
Costa Rica Rocking Chait
Costa Rica Travel

Latest News from Costa Rica