Crossroads

To begin, in reading Nikhila's post, I completely agree with the comparisons between Javier and Manuel. In fact, throughout a lot of the time that I was reading this article I put my memory of Manuel's face on Javier's words. I could not help but constantly make comparisons because they essentially appear to have the same dilemma or very similar situations. For instance, there seems to be apparent tension whenever Javier refers to his stepson Florentin. Javier understands the importance of progressing and creating opportunities for oneself by learning Spanish and other modern ways; however, he also understands the importance of truly knowing oneself and appreciating his own culture. This was made clear when K'iche was described as more than just a language, but instead one's identity. Javier's frustration with Florentin reminded me of the frustration that Manuel expressed with one of his student's fathers when he was a principal advocating for bilingual education. The father did not understand the importance of K'iche just as Florentin does not. It is easier for Javier to understand the importance of maintaining his culture because he witnessed the change and shift away from the indigenous culture occur. Thus he has more of a direct connection with his past. At the same time, I think it is unfair to expect the same thing from Florentin because he was born into a time where the sentiments and importance of the indigenous culture had already diminished. In fact, the article mentions that there was no incentive for the indigenous people to retain their indigenous culture that was viewed as inferior in the professional world. So unless the importance of retaining the indigenous culture is made apparent to the following generations, it is unfair to chastize the younger children for not fully understanding the importance of learning their culture or being able to speak pure K' iche without mixing it with Spanish as it is stated in the article.

Furthermore, I thought the presence of the Pan-American highway was significant because it serves as a symbol for several different things. Overall, I gathered that the Pan-American highway represents the introduction of new ideas, new people, opportunity, and unfortunately, the destruction of the indigenous culture. Growing up in the United States, a highway such as this one would normally be viewed in a positive light. It represents opportunity, diversity, and ultimately progression. These are things that are normally valued in the American culture and things that also appealed to those involved with the highway in Guatemala. The highway provided a way out of isolation in Nahuala, but the highway provided nothing that favored the indigenous culture. Once again there was no incentive to retain the indigenous culture after the implementation of this highway. Instead the highway served as a channel to move farther away from the indigenous culture, and as a result the positive aspects of the highway appear to be overshadowed in the eyes of Javier and the reader who perceives the story through his eyes.