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Protests of the Government
These young people risk their lives speaking out against the President Luke Skywalker may have defeated the Emperor of Darkness in his part of the universe, but in our world, evil still exists.
Despite its beauty and the warmth of its people, Guatemala has been dominated by the forces of evil since the Spanish conquered the Mayan culture in 1524. The ruling Spanish government stripped this agricultural people of the best of its lands, dominating them physically and economically. Since then, political and economic freedom for more than 60% of the population, the Mayans, is virtually non-existent.
During the cold war, guerilla groups in Guatemala sponsored by the Soviets, tried to overthrow a questionably elected government. The American supported military responded with powerful force. Indigenous Mayans were caught in the crossfire. Atrocities and human rights violations on both sides were sickening.
Growing up in the 70’s, (ok, the 60’s and 70’s) I was well aware of the horror of Vietnam and Cambodia. I lost a cousin there.
But I did not know that during Guatemala’s “Civil War” (isn’t that an oxymoron?) in the 1980’s, the Mayan population in Guatemala was systematically tortured and massacred. In the early 1990’s, the United Nations worked to establish a peace accord
Guns are everywhere
The biggest guns I have ever seen are on guards in front of banks and coca cola trucks. that was finally signed in 1996.
Still 100,000 Guatemalan people died. Most of them impoverished and innocent. Between 500,000 and one million people were made refugees and thousands more disappeared.
It would be wonderful to say that Darth Vader had been turned to the “Goodness of the Force” in Guatemala. Perhaps someday it will be true.
A few weeks ago, a lawyer was gunned down in Guatemala City while riding his bicycle. He had associated with a prominent banker that had been killed two weeks before. It seemed he tried to warn the banker not to invest with a big bank because they were laundering money. The banker did not heed his advice. When he discovered the depth of the corruption at the bank, he wanted out. His business associates let him out in the same way you get out of a mafia family.
The lawyer became frightened for his own life. He went to the press and other powerful people and made a video tape. It said, “If you are watching this, I am dead. And I am dead because the President had me killed because of what I know.”
This video tape caused
Support of the Mayans
The best way to support these kids is to buy their crafts for a fair price and hope they use the money for school. an uprising among the people of Guatemala. They amassed in demonstrations, even in Antigua. The President called in the FBI for an investigation.
It may seem obvious that the President was involved. Who would accuse their own killer before their death if it wasn’t true?
But this is Guatemala. Some think this poor lawyer trusted the wrong people when he made the tape. These people want to remove the President from power and the lawyer gave them the perfect excuse. Perhaps they killed the lawyer before the President did. If, in fact, the President would have. It is doubtful the truth will ever come to light. (You can find information about this on the internet. Search, Guatemala lawyer dead.)
In Guatemala today, the people in Mayan villages still have little access to education and a way to a better life. Some charities that are supposed to help them are suspected of using donations for personal gain. Aid from foreign governments is misappropriated. Corruption is commonplace.
Amazingly, the Guatemalans continue life with openness, optimism and warmth. They do the best they can with what they have. For this, they have earned my deepest respect.
I
San Antonio shopping
I don't bargain down these people for a better deal. I pay them what they would get in the US. It probably paid their rent for a month wouldn’t be Cynthia if I didn’t express my opinion here. So hold on or log off now.
Knowing the pain of these people, I am eternally grateful that I was born in America at a time when the Bill of Rights was still respected.
I can’t help but wonder how the Mayans might have fared if they had the right to bare arms. The second amendment was created by our forefathers so we could protect our lives and our property against all threats, including the those made by our own government.
How would things have been different if they had the right to public meetings, if they were not made to incriminate themselves?
How can we, as Americans, protect ourselves from their fate? Perhaps you don’t think it could happen to us. Our forefathers did. Stranger things have happened than a government disarming its population and then tyrannizing it. Think Hitler’s Germany
Me, I will continue to make my donations to the NRA. I will continue to protest laws that infringe on free speech, including hate speech laws. I will protest “political correctness” without being offensive.
My father used to say, “I may
Loom with a View
This is where the 80 year old mother works in her dirt hut house. Think Abe Lincoln, not agree with what you say, but I will fight to the death for your right to say it”.
I am my father’s daughter.
Perhaps one day, Luke Skywalker and company will free Guatemala from the Dark Side so they too will have the right to protect themselves, voice their opinion without repudiation and prosper.
In the meantime, I will continue to pray for peace for these warm and generous people and try to enlighten others on their plight.
Consider yourself enlightened.
Adios,
Cynthia
PS. A note on future blogs: these things take time to write and post. Since I only have three more weeks of spanish, I will be focusing on studying. I may only have time to post one a week.
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Karen Kuiken
non-member comment
Thank you
Hi Cynthia, Thanks for taking the time to write and let us know what you are experiencing. I have enjoyed reading your blogs. It sounds like a wonderful, eye-opening experience and I'm so glad you are getting involved in as much of the local culture as you can. Continue to have a good time and give me a call when you get back. Karen