www.CostaRicaTicas.com

TW,
Don't just take ID's word on it. Which countries were or were not included in CAFTA (or any other international agreements) has as much to do with local politics as it does anything else. CR itself almost didn't sign on. If they hadn't, would that have meant they weren't part of CA either? Belize never signed on to CAFTA either but is part of CARICOM, so I guess that makes them a Caribbean Island. OTOH, the Dominican Republic IS part of CAFTA but is NOT a member of CARICOM (nor, for that matter is Cuba) so I guess that means the DR must be part of Central America. Switzerland is not part of the EU, so I guess that means they're not in Europe. And Panama is not a member of USAN, so I guess that means they're not part of S. America either and thus don't really belong to any region.

Actually, almost 2 years ago, Panama signed and ratified a BILATERAL trade agreement with the US (known as TLC in Panama) which is still waiting to be ratified in the US. No, its not part of CAFTA, but its not part of any multilateral trade agreement with the US that is limited to S. American countries EITHER and that doesn't at all mean that the US considers them part of S. America rather than CA. In fact, the US State Department website includes this:
I'm not sure where ID gets that CR doesn't consider Panama part of Central America, but if that's the case they probably don't consider Belize to be part of CA either just because it doesn't share the historical ties of the 5 countries that were part of the Federal Republic of Central America way back in the early 1800's. For that matter, it wouldn't surprise me if some people in Colombia still consider Panama to be part of Colombia, not just S. America, since it USED to be part of that country as "recently" as 1903 (then called "New Granada"). And Colombia has similar but ongoing territorial disputes with Venezuela and Ecuador. What ever boundaries individual countries may place on their regions means little compared to what is recognized by the international community and I believe the international community considers Panama to be part of Central America NOT S. America.

I prefer to rely on geographers and cartographers in that international community for questions such as this. Consider these sources:

Worldatlas.com CA map
Maps.com CA map
Factmonster.com CA map (uses Map.com map)
Infoplease.com CA map (uses Map.com map)
Mapquest.com S. America map
Holt Reinhart Winston SA map (uses Mapquest map)
http://geography.about.com/library/maps/blrsouthamerica.htm Note which country is NOT on their list
http://www.world-atlas.us/south-america.htm Note which country is NOT on their list
http://www.sitesatlas.com/ Note which countries turn red when you mouse over each region.

And then there is the opening line from the Wikipedia article on Panama:

And the location description from the CIA World Fact Book:
In fact, I'm not sure who the "most people" are that ID is talking about either. I've yet to find even one verifiable source that I can cite that can definitively refute the mountain of support that I've provided above.

There are 21 countries in Latin America--including Spanish, Portuguese, French, English and Dutch (these last 3 being mainly Creole variants) speaking entities. Any other divisions concern me almost as much as how many angels can dance on the head of a pin. If the mutual bitch-slapping has ended, can we get that high-powered intellectual energy to work on more substantive, relevant topics? Thank you.

_________________
"A man accustomed to hear only the echo of his own sentiments, soon bars all the common avenues of delight, and has no part in the general gratification of mankind"--Dr. Johnson
"Amen, brother"-ED

I would appreciate it if you did not confuse me with the facts.

_________________
Pura Vida
Only Irish coffee provides in a single glass all four
essential food groups:
alcohol, caffeine, sugar and fat.
Alex Levine

Sorry we offended you. I think the thread has been a discussion that was carried out without insults, harsh words or assassination of character. Some valuable information has disseminated during the discussion which stands in stark contrast to some of the threads that now seem so popular here.

Given your attitude toward this thread I was surprised to see you participated in this thread:

https://costaricaticas.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=28362

_________________
Pura Vida
Only Irish coffee provides in a single glass all four
essential food groups:
alcohol, caffeine, sugar and fat.
Alex Levine

The Thread was the plight of "Perpetual Tourists" and the story of 2 guys who ran afoul of CR laws and regulations. That much was interesting. Yes, there was other valuable info given but through the dim haze of 2 guys ongoing low-intensity conflict. That was enjoyed not so much.

_________________
"A man accustomed to hear only the echo of his own sentiments, soon bars all the common avenues of delight, and has no part in the general gratification of mankind"--Dr. Johnson
"Amen, brother"-ED

I really do think that ID has a mental issue JazzboCR. He's got to keep that post count going. He says, I'm not goin to respond to that, but 10 post later its still goin on and on and on, kinda like a Tica that won't shut up.

_________________
"You can only keep a secret between two people if the other one is dead." Ben Franklin

It's not my post count I'm talking about it's yours, but again YOU have missed the point. NEXT!!! Come on you know you want to respond. The keyboard is talking to ya.

_________________
"You can only keep a secret between two people if the other one is dead." Ben Franklin

I agree with ID. I think we had a very civil discussion between us. We agreed on some of things and disagreed on others but never with any animosity. I, for one, appreciate his knowledge and insight on this subject (and others). Obviously, I still disagree with him on some points, but his arguments actually got me to amend or soften my position on other points. The digression may not be particularly interesting to everyone else, but I think we made clear from our very first sentences what our posts would be about and no one was forced to read them.

Just be happy that ID and I can get along so well now and have come to an appreciation for the other's point of view. We weren't always so appreciative of or civil towards each other.

21 countries in Latin America....I think not. You left out FLORIDA....the Northern most Latin country......

_________________
"Actual happiness always looks pretty squalid in comparison with the over-compensations for misery. And, of course, stability isn't nearly so spectacular as instability. And being contented has none of the glamour of a good fight against misfortune, none of the picturesqueness of a struggle with temptation, or a fatal overthrow by passion or doubt. Happiness is never grand."
- Aldous Huxley, Brave New World, Ch. 16

It's not my post count I'm talking about it's yours, but again YOU have missed the point. NEXT!!!

Even you do not believe, assuming you can read and comprehend, that I made any reference to YOUR post count.

_________________
Pura Vida
Only Irish coffee provides in a single glass all four
essential food groups:
alcohol, caffeine, sugar and fat.
Alex Levine

You mean a thread was actually hijacked on CRT. I have never heard of such a thing. Have you sent a PM to Admin reporting this transgression Thanks for discovering this horrible situation and bringing it to the attention of the membership.

_________________
Pura Vida
Only Irish coffee provides in a single glass all four
essential food groups:
alcohol, caffeine, sugar and fat.
Alex Levine

I have taken Threads and conversations on wildly divergent tangents for a seemingly endless time. The point is, I endeavor to bring them back to the original topic when my blather is finished.
The Northernmost Latin "country" is waaay north of Florida--try the middle or upper Texas or California, both of which were stolen or bludgeoned from Mexico, and which they seem to be getting back by non-warfare means. Some call them "Illegal Aliens"; I call them "Perpetual Tourists". See what I mean in paragraph 1?

_________________
"A man accustomed to hear only the echo of his own sentiments, soon bars all the common avenues of delight, and has no part in the general gratification of mankind"--Dr. Johnson
"Amen, brother"-ED

Good point, JB. Many Gringos complain that the flood of illegal aliens in the SW and elsewhere in the US is essentially usurping "our" land from its rightful Anglo owners, but from a Mexican perspective the land was essentially stolen first by Anglos FROM Mexicans.

Some Chicano nationalists and Mexican-American activists in the controversial La Raza and Aztlan movements actually call for the return of formerly Mexican-dominated lands in the SW US back to Mexico after the US annexed lands in the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo to become the present-day states of California, Texas, Arizona, New Mexico; and parts of Colorado, Nevada and Utah.



Basically, the US failed blatantly to adhere to the provisions of the treaty in much the same way we cheated the Native Americans in our treaties with them. There is enough to this claim that there have been several attempts in recent years to address this injustice by the US itself, including House Resolution 2538 in 1997 which sought to create a presidential commission to study the issue. But who really thinks the US can or would do anything significant at this point to right those wrongs?

If anybody is interested they can read more about this at http://academic.udayton.edu/race/02rights/guadalu7.htm. My point was that there are many examples of such irredentism around the world (Palestine, Punjab, the Falklands, Cyprus, etc.). And bringing this back around to the original topic, like JB said, how you view certain things often depends on which side of the border you stand. One man's illegal alien is another's perpetual tourist. CR may see more gringos coming to CR as undesirable, or at least the ones making anything less than 4 times the typical tico income. While those gringos who are left out probably see themselves as people who have more than enough to support themselves and not be a drain on tico society.

Gee, I sure would like to know if crossing the border will suffice as opposed to the three day out rule. Guess there is not much chance of that on a thread about having to leave the country for three days. Too bad I guess...

_________________
"Your love gives me such a thrill
but your love don't pay my bills,
I NEED THE MONEY!" - John Lee Hooker

Disclaimer: The above is merely the opinion of the author unless specific scientific data is included.
Your mileage may vary. https://costaricaticas.com/phpBB2/viewto ... 978#206978

Well, I can understand that. Who doesn't want to live in the Ukraine? They have to be very strict to keep the place from overflowing with ex-pats.

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"The only normal people are those you don't know very well." Joe Ancis