Not real Mayans.
What’s worse that someone who thought the world was going to end last week? A tourist who thought the world was going to end. Tourists who flocked to Tikal, Guatemala the largest archeological site and urban centre of the Mayan civilisation for “end of the world” parties have damaged an ancient stone temple.
The tourists, most likely hippies and trustifarians with nothing better to do, descended on the World Heritage site and caused havoc climbing all over the temple while probably not having a clue about the actual Mayan celebrations. The Telegraph spoke to an official at the site:
‘Sadly, many tourists climbed Temple II and caused damage,’ said Osvaldo Gomez, a technical adviser at the site, which is located some 550 kilometres (340 miles) north of Guatemala City.
‘We are fine with the celebration, but (the tourists) should be more aware because this is a (UNESCO) World Heritage Site,’ he told local media.
It gets worse for the Mayans. Not only did the whole world misunderstand their calandar, come and foul up their temple, but their priests were barred from using ceremonial places for the festivities. The ceremonies and festivities centered around the the 13 Baktun – the last cycle of the Mayan calendar, due to end on Friday, December 21, 2012. Global Voices explains how the Mayans, which make up 42% of the population of Guatemala face heavy racism. Even on a day when the whole world was talking about the Mayans, it was non-indigenous peoples performing the ceremonies.
On stage, non-indigenous peoples were wearing indigenous clothes in a folklore show while non-indigenous attendees from the Guatemalan elites were in the most important ceremonial Mayan center, Tikal, waiting for the new era to arrive. Indigenous peoples were left outside, were they were demonstrating, playing the traditional instrument marimba. . .
Racism is rampant in Guatemala State – institutionally, interpersonally, and structurally. And it adopts new forms, such as the exclusion reflected in the new Mayan era celebrations. Let’s hope the Mayan priests will be allowed in and celebrate according to their traditions and beliefs in the following days, as the festivities end on December 30 and that their voices and demands are finally heard by the international community.
What a joke.
[Source: The Telegraph, Global Voices]
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