"I leave here as president or they take me out as a corpse."
Ecuadorean president Rafael Correa
Since researching into American politics for my dissertation you get bombarded by fake, glossy passion and caring, in contrast British politics always seems to missing that real conviction and belief. South America on the other hand is where politics is still alive...
Yesterday when Ecuadorian police forces took strike action President Rafael Correa went to a regimental barracks to try to negotiate but was surrounded, punched, doused with hot water and almost blinded with teargas. After being taken to hospital police sieged the building and tried to get into his room by force. On state TV he announced "They're trying to get into my room, maybe to attack me. I don't know. But, forget it. I won't relent. They are a bunch of ungrateful bandits."
As news spread his supporters gathered outside the hospital and which prompting Correa to address them from his hospital window where he ripped his tie loose and shouted "If they want me, here I am, I leave here as president or they take me out as a corpse."
Whether he was right or wrong, and ignoring the reasonings behind the coup I can't help but admire a politician who's that blazon and that passionate.
I can't imagine in my lifetime that I'll ever see or hear a British politician speak with even half of that conviction but I can hope.
