More thoughts on Guate and Racism
Arriving in Guatemala City, or Guate as its called, we we had an experience which struck me very strongly at our hotel. We were talking to the dueña, or owner, of our hotel, and she lacked onto the idea that we were (she had to search for this word in Spanish) “hippies.” After a protracted discussion about some “hippies”staying in a hostel of hers who were trying to cheat her out of some payment, she then said that these “hippies” had no right to come to Guatemala and fight for the rights of indigenous people, who of course have rights just like her. She compared the indigenous of Guatemala to the Indians in the US, who “have rights too!” “And I´m not in the states fighting for THEIR rights, am I?” She ended the conversation by saying to me “Yo no era racista, pero SOY racista.” Which translates to “I wasn´t racist in the past, but I AM racist now.” I understand that her perspective comes from the 35 year civil war Guatemala just went through, and probably stems from some small concessions afforded the indigenous at the end of the war. And I do appreciate her honesty in perspective, as many people just wouldn´t admit the things she said to me. However, the experience struck me strongly, mostly because I am here now working with indigenous communities and it makes me sad to hear ignorant attitudes such as hers.
Since then, I have read a book called Silence on the Mountain which details life on Guatemala´s coffee plantations before and during the civil war. Its been quite amazing slowly getting to know the culture here, and seeing the effects that that protracted war has had on the culture. Its really possible to see that the culture is recovering from a long hard period, both in the attitudes of the people and the level of infrastructural development in the country. I´ve been in a bit of a daze trying to incorporate what I´ve read into my daily thoughts and interactions. This culture can be so frustrating sometimes, in the lackadaisical attitudes about punctuality, efficiency and cleanliness for example. I´ve been trying to have a meeting all week with some phone company folks regarding DSL for schools, and everyday they say, more or less (in Spanish), “we´ll be there right now” then never show up. Its amazing to me that business gets done here sometimes.
bg says:
good stuff man. keep up the living learning travelling vibe-it does a body(and mind) good.
February 2nd, 2008 at 6:12 pm
Sergio Villatoro says:
I am agree with you. Understand how the things are going here in Guatemala is not easy. I think its complicated to have a right perspective about that, sometimes I try to do in diferent ways, but I cant. The bad time with the woman in Guatemala city I tink was a moment to show how angry she was, and she did with you, I am sure you know its an excepcion, normaly people is tipicaly quiet and friendly, but maybe that doesnt mean honest. At less she was clear about her fellings. How she made her conclusion is not a real sentence from someone whos think what is saying. I reconigze this kind of expressions that people here just receive from the culture and makes own. Is like “yo era buena onda pero ahora soy pura mierda” you know. IS normal here follow and not think, as better you follow good person you are. Same world system I guess, but strong here, especially if people has less ways to choice, or has nothing.
Is complicated, personally I dont trust my life to how we learn to live here, people believe that is normal but is not, always waiting that the country change first and then we will change. Try to change for your self is against everything you learned, and you are alone, and no one likes that, but I think is the only way to see that could be different in order to your own agrees about what is life.
Saludos,
February 2nd, 2008 at 8:41 pm