The Top 10 News Stories of My Life
By Jorge Ramos
The Terrorist Attacks of September 11,
2001
I never thought I would experience something like this in my life. It
was worse than any of the five wars I have covered. When I got to New
York, after driving for 24 hours, I could not believe what I saw. It
wasn’t until a few days later that I was able to cry. For several
days, I blocked myself emotionally to be able to do my job as a journalist.
I have never seen anything like it.
The Fall of The Berlin Wall
I arrived to winter in Germany without a coat because the news caught
me in Miami and I had to take the first flight to Europe. It was one
of those times when history literally changed before my eyes, blow by
blow. With each stone that fell from the wall, the communist system
in Europe was ending.
The Iraq War
This is this most important war in which the United States has participated
since Vietnam and where the position of the country as the only superpower
was put to the test. I was able to enter Iraq in the second week of
the war and it was one of the most intense and difficult experiences
I have had as a journalist.
The War in Afghanistan
One of the three guerrillas was was supposed to take care of me told
me he was a follower of Osama bin Laden and he pointed his rifle at
my face, like he was joking. I said: "if you take care of me, I’ll
take care of you," and I gave him 15 dollars in one dollar bills.
He let me go.
The Arrival of Democracy to Mexico
On July 2, 2000, the Mexican people chose a president democratically—for
the first time in the history of the country. This ended 71 years of
government by the Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI). It was very
important for me because I always thought I would die with the PRI in
power. Fortunately, this did not happen.
Pope John Paul II’s Visit to Cuba
For 12 days I had the opportunity to see the fear and repression in
which the 11 million Cubans on the island live. During my reports, I
spoke with political dissidents and independent journalists. Two government
functionaries came to visit me at the hotel and they warned me that
if I kept talking to people who opposed the dictator Fidel Castro I
would never again be able to enter Cuba. They kept their word. I have
not been able to go back.
Drug Trafficking in Colombia
President Ernesto Samper attained the presidency of Colombia thanks
to six million dollars he received from drug trafficking. When I confronted
President Samper with this information, he denied it. The day after
my interview with Samper in Bogota, I received two death threats and
had to leave Colombia. I have not returned since then. Despite the accusations
and loss of prestige, Samper was able to finish his presidency.
The Coup d’État in Venezuela
In April, 2001, a popular movement removed Hugo Chavez from power, after
people associated with his government fired on a group of peaceful demonstrators.
I arrived in Caracas thinking I was going to see the beginning of a
new government. But because of errors made by the interim government
and Chavez’s shrewdness, Chavez returned to power 47 hours after
being overthrown. Nobody imagined that something like this could happen
in Venezuela.
Visits to The U.S./Mexico Border
One of the most dangerous areas in the world is at the border of these
two countries. I have visited several times, and the immigrants who
risk everything, even death, to be able to enter the United States to
work never cease to surprise me. When the border is more closely guarded,
the immigrants have to take more dangerous routes crossing the dessert,
facing the cold of the night, swimming across the Rio Grande. When I
am there I never forget that I too am an immigrant. I entered legally,
but I will always continue to feel like an immigrant.
Hong Kong, Before and After Being
Transferred to China
One of my most interesting experiences as a journalist was to be able
to compare life in Hong Kong before and after this British protectorate
passed into Chinese hands. There are few cities as vibrant as Hong Kong.
There, like in New York, life never stops.
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