Psychologists for peace in Colombia
I was disappointed in your March article, "Colombian and U.S. Researchers Partner to Foster Healing," which unfortunately only portrayed a tiny fraction of what psychologists do and have done toward peace in Colombia for more than 20 years.
Psychologists have worked with communities enmeshed in war, and deployed into combat zones as part of NGOs such as Médecins Sans Frontieres; they have participated in victims' organizations working for human rights; and have even given their lives in many community projects in conflict zones. They have been active in government agencies, such as the Victims Unit, the Colombian Agency for Reintegration, the National Centre for Historical Memory, the Ministry of Health and in many different universities that have started initiatives to assist communities in the most vulnerable regions of Colombia. This consistent and committed work has helped restrain violent processes and has made a lasting contribution to the peace process in Colombia.
We certainly appreciate the efforts and solidarity of eminent psychologists from abroad who come to visit and share their knowledge with us. I thank and appreciate the support and understanding of APA to publish this reply that presents a broader perspective on the issue. For more information on the work of psychologists in Colombia, please visit https://colpsic.org.co/aym_image/files/SEPARATA_COLPSIC_
ASCOFAPSI_TRABAJANDO_POR_LA_PAZ_Y_RECONCILIACION.pdfopens in new window
Wilson López López, PhD
Pontificia Universidad Javeriana, Bogotá, Colombia
Embracing our age
Thank you for the excellent article, "Age-Defying Athletes" in the April Monitor. An element of senior athletics that deserves additional mention is the five-year competition age groupings, which is reflected in most senior or masters sports. A major impetus in competing is knowing that you are on the starting block with athletes of your age and ability level. That is, we are all aging and the expectation is that we accept this inevitability of the maturing process and its side effect of reduced performance. Aging athletes who cannot embrace this reality generally stop competing. A second factor is that "aging up" to the next competition age division allows the senior athlete to anticipate aging in a way that is difficult for many nonathletes. Accepting/embracing our ages and anticipating our birthdays is simply more fun and arguably healthier, psychologically, than fighting it.
Rolffs Pinkerton, PhD
Chapel Hill, North Carolina
Please send letters to APA Monitor on Psychology Editor Sara Martin at smartin@apa.org. Letters should be limited to 175 words and may be edited for space and clarity.
