We want to grow as if the Conquest never happened. Atleast 1/2 of our identity, if not more is because we live on this Continent. So its history prior to the world discovery of it, seems highly important at some point. Perhaps at first for the Colonist, (uniquely called that by USA and perhaps Canada, and called Conqueror by the rest of America) it seemed unimportant . It might have even seemed intimidating, given that it was a war between the factions to gain the land and wealth. But now that we have entered into an era of relative peace, we have liberated blacks from slavery, we have become to think the natives are cute and we have them on postcards . We do ethnic things. Whatever that means., But we, as humans, are worth more than that. And the day we all value ourselves more, we will look into history and value it. Perhaps it is seeing different combination. New complexities. I personally think that Mexico would do well to finally move away from the shadow, the doubts, the superiority complex of the European Conquerors. They will never be free truly on their own land unless they do that. And since the White man is here to stay, it would be incumbent on him and quite nice for the rest of the world, if this identity became finally a part of the Continent.
The ethnic people of Mexico, (which is basically everyone, and simply some ends of the spectrum are more native and more in touch with those native ways), are not of European values in everything. Thus when the US and Europe make comments like ¨ Islam and the West¨ for example, I cringe at how they get this leverage at using this entire Continent to back up their value system. Come on. Just go to Mexico. Just learn any basic history and you know , the US and thus Europe, has very few similar values to Mexico or anyone from this Contintent. In fact, the history of the US National Interest, is to be just that , concerned only for themselves on this continent, and at times at the expense of the good livelihood of others. It´s not a pretty picture. Also, its always been a war of values between Europe adnthe natives here. So hwy this ¨west¨terminology as to value systems. I take offense that a Mexicans view shoudl be lumped into a USA ers whiois jsut a European immigrant value system mindste here on American soil. It´s not merica. Nor is it the saem values as Europe.
I cry when I think of how the US has treated many nations here in Latin America. And what is interesting is that what truly differentiates us is not which European language came here , (thus calling us latin because of Spanish) but that we here have native blood which has nothing to do with Spanish. So actually USA people who have no heritage here are more Latin american because they have latin in the language English, and they are English. Some. Many.More than the people they call latin americans. They are mexicas, zapotecas , mayans, not latins. The native languages have nothign to do with latin. So basically the term latin america is yet another way to just keep things on the superfical note. Thinking of America only as in prior to the Conquest.
Frida Kahlo and Diego Rivera represent a time when the return to appreciating the native aspects of life took on more force. That was awhile back. So you can imagine how things have snowballed. Temazcales (sweat lodges), traditional medicine, and other things typical to the natives are coming back in full force. So is history. (it´s funny how it always does).When people grow organically by pulling up from their roots, what will the US do? And how will they do what all continents and the globe is doing, which is organizing ourselves more, as in continents and systems? The US seems to think people organize themselves based on ideas, because that is what they have done so far . However they fail to realize that in nature people also have an organization based on geographical needs and just obvious community.
However the US is aloof to the community of America. They have chosen to always think Europe is better, and thus their national interest is based on this. Also their policies and laws have always been as if they were better, and not in humble coordination with America. How are we supposed to do this In America if we are having a member of the continent so unpliable to the whole?
How does this affect the world sense of wholeness as well?
Let´s admit it. For whatever purposes, (Manifest Destiny) (or whatever grand plan) the US developed faster without having to bring the natives along into the fold. (obviously this helped their rapid growth). However now they are facing the reality that as well sort of come together as a community, all of its neighbors did!!! it´s like oops! Surprise! We didn´t have to eliminate them to grow. So now, yes mexico and other countries want to compete with the world. Yet the world never l really got to know Mexico did it? Nor did it get to know Peru or Columbia,. It´s all been about the US getting involved in European commerce and finance, without any values or perspective on America, and just making THE USA marketing, resource wealthy tool for Europe. Obvioulsy, only the elite of Latin American countries did this. (All tying into a European value structure). (Let´s remember Europeans brought over the value of the institiutions that run America such as education models, financial institutions and government.
All of the other people were worried about attending to things that were always of concern here. Prior to the Conquest. So we have gotten away from ourselves. Wasn´t, and isn´t it important now? Aren´t we glad we didn´t abort all of the natives? Now we see that in the US and thereby Europé´s quest for gold and dignity and pomp and circumstance, using America for such ends, they now have no soul? Whereas Mexico and other countries who spent so much time out of Wall Street and in their homes making altars to the dead and picking fruit and taking care not to waste lights or water...shouldn´t the ¨development¨ of that culture mean something to us today? Shoudn´t we the US finally adapt to the land we came to? It didnt´come to us. We act so entitled to it. We would never walk into China, take land, expect the people to just quit their culture and do what we do, would we? Andthen call theri contintal value system teh same as ours. islam adn the WEst. What a joke. Yes emrica was conquered by Europeans. That in no way means we think the same or feel the same about values. That is just ghastly to even think of.
Yet, that is what we continue to be on this Contintent. To all people and countries who have any involvement with natives which almost all of America except Canada and the US. Relegated to seomthing less. So honestly , those two countires are in the vast minority on this continent. Their identity no longer needs to be fought for in a cowboy and indian kind of way. We need to get away from those paradigms so we can have true peace and prosperity on this land.
And if you think Some US laws and involvement in Latinamerica don´t sometimes cock block their true economic development, think again. But that is zero sum game mentality. Hillary Clinton talks a bit or a lot about zero sum game. Why doesnt´she or anyone for that matter apply it to the US in America? hahah funny huh howa s aworld we still haven´t fully perceived America. We still have nebulous ideas about what the people of here are really about. It´s time . It´s time to get to know. And let them be free. When they have given us so much freedom with their amazing ways of living, then we can atleast give the people who taught us freedom on this land,(just by living here!) to be able to be free coexisting with us. (That means repecting their ways).
The least we can do, is no longer give them an inferiority complex, by learning to live with class. Class meaning, we can coexist with different traditions. And then maybe we can do that with the rest of the countries of the world. The US is so proud of its different traditions, but that is all play. Let´s do it in the real world. Not just upon US playground where really everything is still dominated by European values. Let´s treat natives, and arabs, and blacks and chinese and all the people the US claims to be so equal to, let´s do that in the real world. Playing with continents, and organic structures. Not under the controlled system that is the US.
So we look at Frida Kahlo art, so we listen to Andean music ahahahahahahahaha!
Let´s do everyone a favor and get real.
However, I do realize it´s compicated. But let´s atleast be there. Be there in the idea. Arrive. Don´t holdback. Be bold. Boldness has genius, magic and power.
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