Andean Worldviews

The collective portion of the Andean Worldview where the benefit of the group was more important than the individual. Which would make the most sense because it helps to insure survival of the species. The book mentions the fact that the "Inca's who numbered around 100,000 made over ten million people their subjects."(pg 15) I found that to be interesting because although the idea of making other cultures your subjects is not a new idea throughout cultures across the world, but because they controlling culture was such a small number. Usually its the many who are the more powerful and able to dominate. I found the collectivity portion to where the individual is still not important but more so what they create is. I found the view of reciprocity to be similar to the thinking behind some of the larger religions still practiced today, such as Christianity. Such as heaven and hell, light and dark, good and evil. I think as humans it is not uncommon for us to think in this essence. It is in our very nature to group things into categories to better understand our world. I found the "essence over appearance" to be a very interesting concept. I think that at least here in the US we are the complete opposite of that line of thinking. Its not about what we are or what we do its all about what we have, a constant competition. Perhaps this view was also a survival mechanism originally much like the other mentioned worldviews above. We can interpret this view in the Andean art, for instance with the hidden statues placed inside the temples away from public eyes. But I wonder religiously and socially how this worldview played itself out in the Andean's daily lives.

The masks we wear

I think from a metaphorical perspective as humans we wear masks to disguise ourselves from those around us. Perhaps it is to prevent others from seeing us for what we truly are. I personally think that as humans we tend to worry too much about what others think of us, and are afraid that others won't accept who we are. So we wear masks to disguise our emotions. We smile to hide the fact that we are sad. For instance when we go to our jobs we are told to leave personal problems aside and be happy, energetic, and charismatic. I think as we all know life happens and sometimes that is not the easiest thing to do. I found the mask of the mask of the Tezcatlipoca to be one of the most interesting. I have read some of the Toltec wisdom books, and the term smoking mirrors was used to describe how we view the world not as it actually is but through smoke which is through our own perception thus the "smoking mirror". Unable to get a clear image or view of what your seeing. The term also was meant to be used as we are all the same, even though the smoke some how messes up the translation of that. I found that the way that a decomposing human skull was used for the base was interesting. But I would have to wonder why. It almost seems rather foreboding, almost as if this is what is potential lying underneath our own skin, maybe as a warning? I am not sure though. I guess his name smoky mirror is in relation to the obsidian used to create him, which is also apparently what people of Mesoamerica used to make mirrors.

Mayan People today

In today's world the Mayan people still suffer many of the same cruelties as they did after the Spanish Conquest. They suffer poverty, racism, and the loss of their culture through violence and and nonviolent means. These people mystify me and make my heart soar, because even though they suffer much they still persist on. I was looking at the wonderful clothing that the women in these communities wear, the bright colors and amazing detail in the designs. I was saddened to read that they men do not wear their traditional dress for the most part because it is dangerous for them to be recognized as Mayan. I think that as a human population we do not learn from our own histories, or perhaps it is because there are too few in power to create change. When I read about their current suffering at the hands of the Mexican government and hostile para militia groups, as well as what missionaries are doing to these people; I am reminded of how here in the U.S. we did much the same to our Native American tribes. Missionaries for instance set out to educate these tribes in Catholicism, and forced their own religious and cultural traditions to cease. Just as the Spanish Conquest took place in Meso-America, the English took land that didn't belong to them just because they were the more powerful force, or more of an unlimited supply of people. The Native tribes were forced onto reservations that offered ill agricultural opportunities and overcrowding conditions, in the threat of complete extinction as the alternative. In our society today they are still viewed by many with racist contempt, much as the Mayan's are in their own communities. In the destruction of the rainforest the small community of Lacandon which are also Mayan are having their very way of life and resources destroyed. I think that in this the deforestation of the rain forest is dangerous for all man kind as well. Ironically enough new diseases are springing up that have never been seen as the deforestation occurs, perhaps Mother Nature's way of telling us were going to far for big business and capitalism?
I found the attempt by Rigoberto Menchua's heart felt plea for peace and to help our fellow man instead of solely ourselves to be very moving. I haven't read very much into the criticism and controversy she received over her book, but I wonder how many of these scholars that are offering judgment were actually present during the events that she describes. Although memory can be tainted with emotion, I wonder how much of it was an attempt to silence her pleas as to not show what is really occurring.

My experience with Mexico,Guatemala,Belize,Honduras

I have never been to any other country but the U.S.
I did have a project in my Spanish class that was on the Aztec culture. I learned some pretty cool things about their culture, and belief system. The most interesting for me was their calender system. When I think of these areas I think about the rain forest, I have heard some of the beaches are absolutely amazing like Cancun. My mother went to Honduras when I was a kid, she said that it was amazing. But being that it is a poor country when it rained trash would flow out of the mountains.I also think about the pyramids that are still standing. I would love to travel and experience the cultures. So someday I will, but I need to finish school first!