Until death do us part, my struggle to reclaim colombia - A review

Momentary passions being the reason, I cannot forget a good article easily if I read it, there was one such article which made me buy the book.
Until Death do us part, My struggle to reclaim Colombia.

INGRID BETANCOURT, a Colombian by descent and by choice.

In 22 chapters she writes about her life and colombia, how she chose to go back to Colombia from France, where her Dad (a diplomat) and her Mom (ex-miss colombia) lived a luxurious life. Her struggle is motivating, so many emotional moments in the book, from the time her mother starts an orphanage kind of insitituion for young Colombians, the country itself is deepy rooted in drug business, cartels running goverment, politicians financed by drug lords, republican guerillas fighting, corruption and what not. One woman fights it all, struggling to maintain her family life and balancing her dedication for her country. The way she was selected into the senate with the highest number of votes ever in colombian history is touching. Everything helps, especially her parents contacts with every colombian and the support they naturally get from every Colombian. Her mistakes in politics, the murky world of politics itself (for once, Indian politicans fare better in my eyes, so you understand Colombian politics now).

Simplicity - Campaigning with condoms. Stating that she's "like a condom against corruption", embarassing maybe, simple yet strong. The idea gets through to every common man. From being ridiculed by her opponents and the president himself, her victory is a point in history.
A party named "oxygen" (oxygeno) claiming it to be the savior against pollution (which is corruption), that has made it very hard for the colombians to breathe.

Integrity - The only political party in colombia in 1998 not to use contraband chinese T-shirts (contraband in Colombia), even though 'Made in Colombia' T-shirts were costlier and she knew she couldn't get more than 2000 shirts (Others had 50,000 at least) and sticking to honesty.

Strength - No matter where and to whom, she talked, and she gave them hell if she knew they were corrupt. 2 weeks of hunger strike in the parliament, while her opponents published pictures of trays full of chickn dishes seen in the parliament (But not she eating it), yet she continued, and claimed all the respect from Colombians she so rightfully deserved. 2 weeks till her body gave up (not her mind though), she recovered in hospital later just in time to know her claims were given due recognition and consideration in parliament.

Mistakes - To err is human, she paid the price for her mistakes too, forgetting to pay a supporter for a banner design, because of some communication problems caused the supporter to provide a misleading picture to her opponents that would question her honesty, she comes through brillinatly. In another case, a small note that her mother has kept with her for more than a decade help her battle against false court case.

Irony - The 22nd chapter is philosophical, she dreams of a democratic Colombia, where she can live and grow old, where she can bring back her children to Colombia and be with them (they are in france and later in bulgaria , because of death threats made agianst her and her children). Ironically, she mentions FARC ( a guerilla army in colombia) in the 22nd chapter, this book was published in 2002. A few months before she was kidnapped by FARC, as of today, she's still a hostage (wikipedia).

The hope that Colombians saw was brief, but it still lives on. I think she'll come back, so will Colombia rise.

Not a great translation, it's not a thriller or a mystery, plain life as it is. A text book for young politicians probably, who would want to know what to expect or what not to 'unexpect'.
1500 days of captivity probably have taught her more than anything she would have learned in her life, from what I percieve about her from the book, her iron will is just magnified by each problem she faces.

Ingrid Betancourt's, Until death do us part, probably a bible for every Colombian and her life, a lesson for every leader who has it in him or her.