What do think about the Maya people.....well....sounds to me like the Maya are getting (and have been getting it much longer) the same short end of the stick that the indigenous people of North America have received. Foreigners come in and strip the native people, whom I might add have been doing just fine on their own, of their land, their customs and in alot of cases their liveihood and lives. and it's not that this has only occurred one time, but it is a vicious cycle that continues to this day. The Maya people today are dealing with some of the same issues that thier ancestors did also. Treated as the lower class and are discriminated against continually. I find it sad that such a strong race of people have been made to suffer the atrocites that they have.
What else do I think.....Rigoberta Menchu stated that there needs to balance in life. Espeically balance in regards to material possessions. She also stated that the Maya live their lives today in the Maya way. They have been taught, from generation to generation, to take only what they need, use only what you need and to not long for things that are immaterial. Apparently they are choosing to live the way the do....using the wisdom of their ancestors, they are able to enjoy the little things that life has to offer because they are not scambling around in the rat race that most individuals call 'life'. They are called 'lazy' but I do not believe that is the term I would use. I would say that they are 'smart' to not be caught up in the day to day life of 'keeping up with the Jones'. I think I would enjoy kicking back with some friends sitting around a table while sharing good food and meaningful conversation or maybe I could be lounging around with some family while tilting one back and listening to my children laugh as they play. The Maya take what they need and enjoy life as the should, as they have been doing for hundreds of years, its really too bad that they have to dodge bullets, criminals, criticism and racism just to survive.
Rigoberta Menchu stated many things in her speech and it was nice to hear from the Maya point of view. I agree it is nice to hear from someone who just wants to take what they need and not over use. I wish that more people in the world would have the same thoughts as she does. It is just sad that these poor civil people have to deal with these issues.
ReplyDeleteI really like that you noted that racial inferiority is a vicious cycle. I believe that a reason we cannot get past it is because many people refuse to admit that the poor treatment of minorities comes at our own doing. It is because cultures like the Mayans have such a small voice and too few people have fought for their justice that they are continually subjected to the scrutiny of outside groups. I believe it is our duty as educated peoples to inform the world of what is going on today in Mayan civilization and urge that people do their part to help. I know that before I took this class I probably would have never discovered how Mayans are suffering today which I know plays a major role in why things are not changing for the better for them.
ReplyDeleteThese blogs and comments have really been wonderful to read.
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