Until Death Do Us Part: My Struggle to Reclaim Colombia | 
| Author: Ingrid Betancourt
Publisher: Harper Perennial
Category: Book
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Sales Rank: 89522
Media: Paperback
Edition: Reprint
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Pages: 256
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Dimensions (in): 7.6 x 5.3 x 0.8
ISBN: 0060008911
Dewey Decimal Number: 320
EAN: 9780060008918
ASIN: 0060008911
Publication Date: September 1, 2008
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Product Description
In 2002, Colombian senator, anticorruption crusader, and presidential candidate Ingrid Betancourt was kidnapped by leftist guerrillas. She was their prisoner for more than six years. Until now. Until Death Do Us Part is the deeply personal autobiography of an extraordinary woman who gave up a life of comfort and safety to become a political leader in a country slowly being demolished by terrorism, violence, fear, and a pervasive sense of hopelessness. A memoir that reads like a fast-paced political thriller—at once poignant, chilling, and inspiring—it is a story of a reformer, a mother, a patriot whose love for her country and faith in democracy gave her the courage to stand up to the power that has subjugated, intimidated, or corrupted all those who opposed it . . . and ultimately paid an unimaginable price for her commitment.
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 The Crying Game of Democracy April 21, 2008
The Crying Game of Democracy
Review of Ingrid Betancourt's memoir Until Death Do Us Part, My Struggle to Reclaim Colombia
Author and politician Ingrid Betancourt's return to Colombia and involvement in politics was a selfless act of love. Unfortunately, her love and the magnitude of her offerings were not understood by her fellow countrymen. In her book Until Death Do Us Part, My Struggle to Reclaim Colombia (Harper Collins Publishers, Inc., 2002, 228pgs.) Betancourt's crusade, marked by being a woman in a male society, sets the tone for many of the difficulties she encountered along the way. Facing long separations from her children, barring by other politicians, frequent hostility of the press and threats against her and her family, she endured and overcame the obstacles one by one. Ingrid understood the price for her convictions. She embraced them and never let up the fight. This book is an amazing story of courage and her fight against corruption at the highest political levels.
The childhood of Betancourt was not that of a typical Colombian. Born in Bogota on December 25 1961. Betancourt's mom, Yolanda Pulecio is a former Miss Colombia, turned congress woman and social activist. Her father, Gabriel Betancourt, is a career diplomat who started as minister for the General Rojas Pinilla's dictatorship. The year she was born, her father was appointed to posts in Washington D.C. Later he was sent to Paris, and Bogota (Rank). Although Ingrid spent a large part of her childhood in Paris, she collected a vast cultural background from the places she lived and her social interaction with the literary and political elite. According to her memoirs, their house was frequently visited by leading Colombian personalities such as Carlos Lleras, Misael Pastrana,Virgilio Barco. All former Presidents of Colombia, and intellectuals like writer Gabriel Garcia Marquez, poet Pablo Neruda and painter / sculptor Fernando Botero. All of the people who came in contact with her inspired her to love the arts and politics. Betancourt attended the Institut d'Etudes Politiques in Paris (known as Sciences Po), an elite higher education institute. After graduating, she married a fellow student, Fabrice and they had two children, Melanie and Lorenzo. Since her husband was in the French diplomatic service, they continued to live in various places.
Until Death Do Us Part explains how Ingrid's passion for politics was born from listening to conversations her parents had with many of their prominent Colombian guests while in Paris. The discussions revolved around the troublesome situation of the country and the grim future they anticipated. Since Ingrid was too young to participate in these discussions, she frequently hid under their grand piano to listen. In her memoirs, Betancourt makes reference to the birth of her political vocation under the grand piano. "I often returned to my hiding place, under the piano, and sometimes emerge with my temples burning, my stomach in knots, ready to burst into tears-so awful truly terrifying, do I find my country's fate" (Betancourt). She recalls a desire ''to affect the destiny of Colombia." From this point on, her love for her countries people increased, even though she never shared in their suffering. Finally, Betancourt could stand it no longer; her heart ached to help Colombia. Betancourt makes a decision to leave her husband and children behind and "descend into the brutish world of Colombian politics" (Golden). She was determined to fight against corruption. During an interview, Betancourt told the Los Angeles Times, "Between the drug traffickers and the guerrillas, we have been made almost ashamed to be Colombian, and a country that is ashamed of itself is a country without a future. We have to reconstruct our hopes and dreams." Colombia mattered to Ingrid more than anything else and she wanted to restore the country's pride and the faith of the Colombian people.
According to her memoir, Betancourt begins her political combat against corruption, aware of the political turmoil in Colombia. She has a strong desire to fight for what is right. Her weapons are honesty, truth and the strong desire to help Colombia to succeed. The murder of Luis Carlos Galan in August of 1989, a candidate for the Colombian Presidency running on an anti-drug-trafficking platform, was the straw that broke the camel's back. Ingrid returnes to Colombia and starts her political career with her first appointment at the Ministry of Finance. In her post, Betancourt determines how much "politicians lack in ideals and integrity and realizes that they are only interested in power and money" (Golden). Feeling like an outsider, but knowing "something has to be done", Betancourt decides to run for a seat in the senate. During her first campaign Ingrid and her staff distributed condoms, with the motto "I'll be like a condom against corruption." Betancourt has been elected as a representative confirming that the attention of enough Colombians had been captivated by this political novice.
The road to a Congresswoman was not an easy one, according to the author. Like many countries, in spite of the rich natural resources and vast cultural offerings, Colombia finds itself prisoner of political and economic greed. The price paid in the currency of, what the politicians, drug lords, and the militia considers disposable lives. Committed to the political struggle, Betancourt shares her many adventures as she sets up her headquarters in a fixer upper mansion. This time to run for a seat in the legislature. Betancourt's message is heard by people in need of hope. The same message is quoted by Juan Forero of The New York Times ''Corruption is not abstract; it has a face, and it has a name and we have to say it,'' said Ms. Betancourt, who wears well-tailored business suits and appears a decade younger than her age. ''Corruption must be consciously confronted, and has to be on the conscience of all Colombians so that we cannot be manipulated.'' A powerful message, shared during the same interview, reassuring the Colombian people that she is on their side. She is willing to fight their biggest oppressor.
After only after a week in office, Ingrid is invited by one of the most corrupt politicians to write a code of ethics. The code is successfully passed as the code for the liberal party. The same party under which Betancourt ran her campaign for congress. Ingrid confronted politicians in a very unique `in your face manner.' At a speech given to the legislature, she wore a T-Shirt that read `Only the Truth!' During her time as a congress woman, she initiated a hunger strike in the name of honesty. For the majority of the population, the idea of a crusader coming form another country and from a privileged background is distant and unreal. However, no one can question Ingrid's determination, courage or the commitment to her ideals.
The book outlines Betancourt's many political struggles to fight corruption wherever she found it. As a representative, "she was not afraid to ruffle the feathers of her fellow congress members." Demonstrated during "the campaign against a government arms contract to purchase outdated weapons" (Rank). Ingrid's honesty shines during this scandal (named the Galil scandal after the manufacturer of the guns). Shortly after, a second controversy emerges linking then President, Ernesto Samper, to drug money. The investigation of the President was launched after evidence became known that he had taken campaign donations from the heads of the Cali cocaine cartel. Betancourt was one of the few politicians who challenged him. Betancourt wanted to give the Colombian people a chance to breathe clean politics. Struggling to break the mold, Betancourt launched a new political party, the Liberal Oxygen Party, in 1997. "It was an effort to offer a choice outside of the traditional Liberal and Conservative parties" (Rank). Throughout the book she gives detailed accounts of the times when she found herself nearly alone in unmasking the enemies of the Colombian democracy.
In the book, Until Death Do Us Part, the thirst for power inducts almost every politician into corruption. But Betancourt steers away from corruption, while navigating through temptations and threats. She never gives up on her ideals of honesty and truth. A clear example of gross ambition as mentioned by Betancourt in her book is the prosecutor that led the investigation of Samper's misconduct she describes him as ''moved by his own presidential ambitions.'' In her memoir Ingrid writes ''Is it ridiculous to play the democracy game all by myself?" Her story seems unbelievable at times. However it is sad and accurate. Betancourt has been one of the closest chances Colombia has had to feel true democratic freedom. This book is an insight into the corrupt government machine that runs Colombia. Betancourt relays the tragedies of the Colombian civil war through her own perspective. She, herself became a victim of the civil war she was trying to end. The guerrillas kidnapped Betancourt on Feb. 23, as she traveled into their former stronghold to show support for a local leader of her independent political party.
By the time Betancourt was kidnapped by the FARC guerrillas (Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia), she had become a prominent figure of Colombian politics. Although the approach of truth and honesty made many of her fellow politicians uncomfortable, Betancourt was elected to the Senate in 1994. Her campaign was and example of her courage to fight corruption. Betancourt went on to attain a seat in the congress two years later. She received more votes than any other candidate. When Ingrid was kidnapped, she was running as a presidential contender. Again, her campaign denounced the corruption of the political elite and prioritized the defense of the country she loves with all her heart. Until Death Do Us Part is a fascinating and enlightening. The book brings to light the many hardships a political leader faces, more so if it is a woman. The book provides a detail account of Betancourt's life of dedication, honesty and courage.
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 Liberate all that are held hostage by The FARC! December 31, 2007
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
Que puedo decir, (What can I say)? We need more international pressure on this issue. Ingrid along with Luis Carlos Galan, who was assasinated in front of a large crowd of supporters in the late 80's in cold blood have been the only ones willing to step up to the plate. They grew some balls and went against the world on this issue. Yes, it's all about the $600 million dollar industry which ruins everything that is beautiful in Colombia. The main importer the United States, who has also turned a blind eye to their own U.S. citizens captured ( Howes, Stansell, and Gonsalves) in the Colombian jungle since 2003. Do I recommend this book? Heck yeah! Ingrid is one of those few people in life and the world that make the changes or at least start to make the changes that we want to see in the world. I must also mention she uncovered alot of high ranking politicians who were being paid under the table from the Narcs, so why wouldn't you want to read this book it's intriguing. May I also mention that there is a documentary on this women called, "The Disappearance of Ingrid Betancourt", & I believe the producers are Karin Hayes and Victoria Bruce. The producers have also won several international prizes for this just one simple lady you see on the cover of this book. Te admiro Ingrid Betancourt. Viva Colombia. Liberen a los Rehenes.
An exciting life September 24, 2004
3 out of 4 found this review helpful
Ingrid Betancourt is a rare person -- who puts her courage, brains, and energy to work in an effort to improve her country.
This is not a boring political bio. It's an exciting story of a great person who moves from one adventure to the next, eventually putting her life in great danger.
And it happened. After this book was published, Betancourt ran for president of Colombia. She was kidnapped by gorillas and at this writing, is still being held hostage somewhere in the mountains of her beautiful country.
Here's wishing Betancourt the best. You are an inspiration to me and to all who will read this book. I am eager to read your next book.
Stuggle is the key word! June 8, 2004
3 out of 4 found this review helpful
This book was awesome. I loved it. I could not put it down. The story was told in terms that everyone could understand. The book follows wonderfully.
If you are looking for a book that deals with women's rights and the struggles that they must endure, this is a good one to pick. I had to read this book for a history of Latin American class. It really helped us as atudents understand the situation that Ms. Betancourt was facing in Columbia. As well as, understand some of the choices she made.
As a female reader it stirred my emotions. I highly suggest ths book as an educational read, or just a for the fun of it read.
VIVA BETANCOURT! June 12, 2003
4 out of 5 found this review helpful
This book reads not only as an autobiography, but also as a political testament from a truly courageous woman. No matter what your political leanings or philosophy may be, you have to be impressed with Betancourt's integrity and character. Reading this book has given me an interest into why Colombia is in the dire straits that it's in today. Ingrid Betancourt's quest for a peaceful, reformed Colombia may seem quixotic. But it is reassuring to know that there are politicians like her in the world. Let us hope that she will be freed unharmed so that she can again stand up for what Colombia needs today: peace, stability, progress, and social justice.
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