Free Yourself

I find it interesting that some of the very same things that we discussed last week as we talked about development as freedom popped up in the readings for this week. I guess there is actually some method to the madness. Having read Development as Freedom, I feel as if I have my eye out for excuses to change a people. During the the 1500's when the Spaniard were trying to enforce their ways of life on the native Mayans, they claimed many of the things they implemented was for the benefit of the natives. They wanted to bring them from the scattered highlands to a congregacion where they could convert the Mayans to Christianity or better control them. Encomiendas were systems in which a certain person was given responsibility to protect or better exploit those under his rule. The reasons the Spaniards had for their many reforms sounded pretty good until it seemed as if each had a very distinct and selfish motive behind it. One great example of "development as freedom" was the thought or belief of two Spaniards, Cardenas and Torres, working to construct successful congregacion. They compare the Indians to children and decide on their behalf that "one must not do what most pleases them but what is best for them." I get the feeling the Cardenas and Torres have the notion that they know what is best for the people who have been living peaceful lives prior to the their intrusion. Amazingly, Cardenas and Torres seem to understand why the Indians would not want to leave their homes and deep rooted history behind. Although they are able to comprehend these things, as I pointed out last week, they are seeing this picture from a different perspective.

Whether the intentions are genuine or not, it is difficult to know what is best for a group of people when you yourself have not lived their experiences. The freedom that the Spaniards tried to force on the people such as freedom from their uncivilized lives, appeared to simply hinder personal expression. What was clear about the natives, however, was their fighting spirit. Although outsiders had come to alter their way of life, they fought to maintain their lifestyles and in essence remain free.