Modernizing Mayan Culture

I enjoyed the readings this week. Partly because they painted a picture for me about what to expect while living in Guatemala. The first chapter had so many details that I feel as though I am more prepared and have a better understanding of daily life in Guatemala. My main points of reflection though are on the issue of modernization and how that might affect the communities in Guatemala.

In the discussion of Gini Index in the second chapter of Tecpán Guatemala I found it particularly unsettling that Guatemala’s score had risen in the past 50years. It seems this is directly related to the modernization of larger cities while the countryside remains entrenched in a more traditional existence. When comparing the Gini Index with the GNP of Guatemala, it becomes even more apparent that the country’s poverty is related more to inequality than wealth. We have discussed the question of how to redistribute this wealth in class, but have yet to come up with a definitive answer. I don’t believe there is one and so I think it is most important for us, as a group, to simply recognize this and take it for what it is.

The division of wealth was also related in the chapter to an ethnic division. Although the point was made that many ladinos are poor as well, the overall stereotype is that ladinos hold the majority of the wealth while the Indians, who make up the majority of the population, are in the minority when it comes to the distribution of wealth.

As Guatemala’s cities begin to incorporate the luxuries of modern technology and then become more active in the global scene, the disparity between the cities and the countryside becomes even more pronounced. Manuel talked with us last week about families expressing concern for the push towards bilingual education. I definitely see the concern these parents had for their children and I think that will continue to be a problem as cities being to further modernize. The question then becomes what will happen to the rural, countryside areas? It seems that they may be forced to modernize as well. If they do not does it not stand to reason that they will be forced into even greater poverty as the Gini Index trend has previously indicated?

The next concern I see is for the individual Mayan languages and dialects. It seems that they may be left in the past as areas begin to modernize. Manuel had a great point in his talk last week when he talked about the importance of knowing ones cultural background. I think that modernization will come but, that it should be accompanied by an influence on learning the language and history of ones community. Guatemala’s cultural history is what makes it so unique and just as in the US we are required to learn the history of our country so too should Guatemalan communities learn the history of their community. By learning to read and write their dialect and by also learning the historical events of their community I think younger and future generations will realize the pride that they may take in their heritage.