November 5th: A Day of Fog, Shadows, and Reflections

November 5th: A Day of Fog, Shadows, and Reflections

October 6, 2024

Today feels like a foggy day in every sense of the word. It's November 5th—Election Day in the U.S.—and for those following along, it’s hard to avoid the swirl of thoughts and anticipations. Tomorrow is “The Day After,” when the impact of decisions and directions will start to reveal themselves. Maybe that’s partly why the brain fog hangs over me as I try to gather my thoughts.

On top of that, tomorrow, I’ll be explaining the intricacies of Cura-?ao to a group of eight people in just two hours, no less. How does one even begin to distill the essence of this island in such a short time? The rich culture, layers of history, pressing issues, and everyday realities—Cura?ao is a complex place, and capturing that in a couple of hours is almost impossible. And yet, the need to explain it, to translate a sense of this place to others, looms over me.

Then there’s today’s news. A member of the island’s parliament was questioned about allegations of money laundering. It’s the latest in a series of disappointments and frustrations. Meanwhile, it was also reported that more concrete will soon be poured at Jan Thiel, an area already seeing significant development. I haven’t had the energy to react, but it’s just another piece in a larger pattern.

And then there’s the longstanding issue of unpaid sales taxes. Certain business owners have reportedly been evading these payments since 2015, yet the public is only now becoming aware. While many look at the business owners suspiciously, I question the government offices responsible for enforcing these taxes. How long did it take them to realize this was happening? And why are they only acting on it nearly a decade later?

The island has been under gray skies for nearly two days, with a midday temperature of 34 degrees and an almost oppressively warm cloud cover. I can’t help but feel that even the weather has a message for us, that the dark clouds are signaling something beneath the surface.

Am I feeling somber? Maybe. It’s a heaviness that feels tied to the larger environment, the mix of political, environmental, and social challenges that feel incredibly close today. But as overwhelming as it may be, I am trying to stay grounded, to keep my mind clear despite the literal and figurative fog surrounding us.

Miguel Goede