Irony

The whole time that I was reading this article, I kept thinking about how ironic it was to me that one of the main initial reasons that CDRO was appealing was because of its ancient origins and the Mayan culture that it portrayed. For example, at the Inter-American Conference of Mayors in Miami, Floride, Charles Reilly noted CDRO as the most promising example of local governance and the Guatemalan government recognized CDRO when CDRO was awarded the National Order of Guatemalan Patrimony Award. Because CDRO was appealing to people, it seemed beneficial for the Guatemalan government to recognize CDRO in this moment. This is interesting because it appears that the Mayan culture and people are seen as second best or part of a sub-class in the Guatemalan country; however, the Guatemalan government is more accepting of them when it is beneficial. When Charles Reilly used CDRO as an example to be followed--an example of progress, he shifted the Mayan role in that instant. The Mayan culture that was advantageous for CDRO was now positively associated with progress.

This contrasts with a previous reading that we read in class including Javier and the crossroads between ancient Mayan culture and what was considered more modern culture. The ancient Mayan culture in this crossroads carried with it the negative connotations of an antiquated culture that might hold one back. I got the sense from that reading that moving farther away from the traditional Mayan culture was beneficial and more positively associated with progress. In this reading, the Mayan culture is shown in a different light since it was what made CDRO appealing to others. Charles Reilly and the Guatemalan government recognized this.

The reversal of the Mayan role is further illustrated through CDRO's general advisor Benjamin Son Turnil's criticism of the Kaqchikel organization that took on more westernized strategies. Again, previous readings established the westernization or modernization as superior to anything associated with the ancient Maya; however, here this is not the case.

Overall, I think that this reading is an example of the idea that sadly the Maya culture is only appreciated for what it is when someone can directly benefit from it as CDRO and the people to which CDRO appealed do.