Out of Sync

The idea of syncretism has played a huge role throughout this semester with our many discussions on the development, culture, and society in Guatemala. We always seem to end discussions with very difficult questions to answer. How can the indigenous peoples of Guatemala maintain their individual culture and customs when Western ideas are constantly flowing in? Is there not a reasonable balance that can be reached between traditional and new ideas in order to better many different aspects of society? Is there a right way to achieving development and could that possibly be the way of the West?

These Western ideas, in the context of economic development, religion, and healthcare, often seem to be perceived as a threat (Harris 27). Often times when I am reading the selections, I wonder why there is such a strong opposition to the ideas of the Western world. I believe being a citizen of the United States for my entire life certainly gives me a very different outlook on mixing of cultures. With the United States being the mixing pot that it is, it only seems natural or commonplace that new ideas are taken from one culture or another in most processes of development in this country. The Mayas of Guatemala are in a very different situation. They are all they have of their culture and obviously they feel if they allow new and foreign ideas to penetrate their society, their ways and customs will surely vanish. This mindset is somewhat difficult to work with is areas such as health and disease. The lack of belief of modern thoughts on disease that Harris discovered in Santa Catarina may seem very ignorant to us, but makes sense to them and has suited them for a very long time. The fusion or acceptance, however, of some ideas such as the contagion theory would no doubt benefit the community. Harris's host father mentions how it is mostly the older generation who opposes the new ideas because their time old traditions have worked just fine for them (31). The barrier between the fusing of new and old ideas appears to be simply the opposition to change.

In terms of pregnancy in Guatemala, the idea of syncretism is such a practical approach. Before I considered all of the difficulties of merging the midwifery system and the hospital for childbirth, a mixture of the two systems seemed like the obvious answer. Midwives could provide the sincere, individual care that women prefered. Hospitals could provide the security that husbands hoped for their wife and children (137). When you look at the lack of literacy and the language barrier between midwives and hospital staff, it becomes a little clearer why such a merge is a slightly unmanageable task. As was the case with the idea of disease, there are traditions the some of the older people refuse to let go of. The old midwives have had their practices for so long and it has for the most part worked for them.

In both situations, I believe it would be a lovely thing if both schools of thoughts, ideas, and practices could be brought to the table and fashioned in such a way that the overall health of the people is improved. Syncretism seems like such a great idea to my Western mind, however, the thought of losing tradition is certainly a threat to the indigenous people of Guatemala. Unfortunately these mindsets are just out of sync.