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Costa Rican People
It is almost
impossible to describe a people without succumbing to generalities
and omissions; nonetheless a perusal of certain statistics and
common values can help begin the lifelong process of getting to
know a people.
Ethnically
Costa Rica has one of the most homogeneous populations in all
of Latin America. Ninety-seven percent is mestizo (of mixed blood,
generally Spanish with Native American) or of direct European
descent. Of the mestizos, the vast majority have a much higher
percentage of European blood and thus are considerably fair skinned.
Afro-Caribbean natives represent approximately 2% of the population.
They did not arrive in Costa Rica as slaves, as in most other
regions of the New World, but as migrant labor in the 1870's.
They had been hired from a host of Caribbean islands in order
to help construct a railroad that would run from San José
down to the Atlantic coast near Limon. Of the original denizens
of this land, the Native Americans, only about 30,000 remain.
They represent less than 1% of the total.
The indigenous
population exists in the present as eight separate communities.
Six native languages have survived the ravages of time, and are
now encouraged by government legislation that allows for bilingual
education. The majority of the indigenous groups are located in
the south of the country; the two largest groups being the Cabecares
and the Bribris. A 1977 Indigenous Bill established the right
to land reserves as well as creating programs to preserve and
stimulate native culture. The government has actually followed
through with these initiatives, but has simultaneously failed
to help protect the land rights versus the incursions of mining
and squatting interests. The indigenous people only earned their
right to vote in 1994.
International
standards would rank Costa Rica amongst those nations with high
literacy rates. Although the government's claim of a 93% literacy
rate is considered to be inflated, the great majority of its people
can read and write. Education up to the sixth grade is obligatory
and the network of public schools is dispersed into the far corners
of the land. The country is now home to a handful of well regarded
Universities such as the National University and the University
of Costa Rica.
The country's
population is believed to have surpassed the 3 million mark in
the last couple of years. Family size is declining steadily with
parents who are now in their thirties having only 2 or 3 children,
whereas they themselves come from families of 8 or 9. It would
not be at all uncommon for their grandparents to have 12 or 14
siblings. The annual population growth rate is now at 2.3 percent.
Another major factor adding to the steady increase of the population
has been a regular stream of illegal immigrants from Nicaragua,
which has extremely high unemployment.
A people may
best be understood by values they hold dear. Foremost amongst
Costa Rican sources of pride are its democratic tradition and
its peace ethic. In a region plagued by civil wars, human rights
abuses, and until recently dictatorships, Costa Rica stands out
as an exception. Since 1949, when the army was abolished, the
country has had a fairly stable democracy. The new Constitution
of 1949 included a progressive labor code, upheld a system of
social security, and contained a set of social guarantees( such
as a minimum wage), that gave the average citizen rights that
were ahead of their time. In many ways this diminished the disparity
between the upper and lower classes and thus was conducive to
cooperation and the resolution of conflicts in a democratic forum.
The government, albeit plagued by problems over the decades, has
shown a commitment to broad social welfare. This commitment coupled
with a strong support of public education and public health has
helped create a mature populace that has learned how to solve
problems without resorting to armed conflict.
Children are
exposed to the "rights" that they have as citizens in
the public school system. The National Anthem includes the line,
"let work and peace always live." In 1987 the country's
president, Oscar Arias, won the Nobel Peace Prize for his work
on Esquipulas II, a plan to bring peace to Central America. Internationally
the country receives much praise for its abolishment of the army
and its comparative political stability for almost half a century.
The average Costa Rican, if questioned about his/her opinion,
will most often concur that peace is a noble and worthwhile aspiration,
as well as a condition to be treasured. Their closest neighbor,
Nicaragua, stands as a clear reminder of the hardships of a people
living in a state of war, since this nation experienced a revolution
in 1979, and continued armed struggle well into the 1980's.
A second,
younger ethic that grows in the nation's citizenry is environmental
protection. Costa Rica stands out in the world with over 20% of
its national territory in national parks, wildlife refuges, and
forest reserves. Another 10% is also bound by various restrictions
in land use, and ecotourism has become the nation's largest source
of economic revenue. Conservation organizations worldwide look
upon Costa Rica as a model to be emulated. Even in the 1990's
the conservation frontier expands, despite illegal logging, squatting,
and bureaucratic corruption. Government sponsored advertisements
on television espousing the protection of natural resources are
fairly common, and a new generation of Costa Rican biologists
have emerged as staunch supporters of conservation. Some statistics
have claimed that the country may hold over 5 percent of the world's
species. The present generation of teenagers cannot help but become
aware of environmental issues. A growing sense of pride is developing
amongst Costa Ricans, in that they stand in the forefront of the
conservation movement. Once again international acclaim only serves
to further entrench this environmental ethic. This nation stands
as a shining example of what can be done to preserve the world's
biodiversity.
A third aspect
of Costa Rica is simply the hospitality of its people. Despite
a growth in crime and drug problems, on average, the country is
a remarkably friendly environment. In the countryside there is
always a warm pot of coffee on the wood stove, ready to be served
to the unexpected visitor. The people are polite, curious, and
inclined to smile. The tourism of the last decade has brought
with it an assortment of con-artists, hustlers, and entrepreneurs,
but nonetheless almost all travelers are made to feel welcome.
Of course
one cannot describe the people of a nation without mentioning
their religion. Costa Rica is a Catholic land, like most of Latin
America. A host of evangelical churches emerged in the 1970's
and have become well established, but nearly 80% of the population
remains Catholic. However, only about 20% of the Catholics attend
mass regularly. Holy Week is the time of year when there is the
most pronounced expression of the faith and the nation comes to
a standstill during this holiday.
This coastal
area of Costa Rica extends from Puntarenas in the north to Quepos-Manuel
Antonio area in the south and includes expansive, semi-deserted
beaches such as Playa Hermosa and Esterillos known to surfers
around the globe, as well as Jaco Beach, Costa Rica’s most
popular beach resort with both locals and tourists for over 20
years and Herradura beach which is home to the World Class Marriott-Los
Sueños Resort and residential development with its outstanding
marina and golf course.
At the northern
end is the town of Puntarenas with its new Sea Aquarium and a
popular stop for many cruise ships and at the southern end is
the sport fishing town of Quepos and its adjoining neighbor, the
extremely popular Manuel Antonio National Park.
Costa Ricans
are also a people in the making. As the world becomes more interconnected,
the Ticos, as they call themselves, will be exposed to new ideas,
cultures, and technologies, and will thus have to forge a new
and dynamic identity.
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