And Why Nebaj
Trip Start
Oct 10, 2007
1
22
43
Trip End
May 15, 2008
Nebaj,
Guatemala
Thursday, December 27, 2007
mostly Nazi sympathetic population living there that the U.S kicked out
during WWII for purely economic interests, to a rather nasty stint with
the United Fruit Company, to a 30 year civil war that the US helped
fund, the birth of the revolutionary mind of Che Guevara, to the
current CAFTA to help all those poor Central Americans become poorer.
The Maya make up to 70% of the Guatemalan population. 21 different Mayan languages are spoken here and each culture has its own stories woven into the colors and fabrics of the traditional clothing
A Brief Brake
. Tikal is only one representation of the strength of this society at one time. Yet, since the arrival of the Spanish, the Maya have had to fight to keep every bit of history, culture and life they have left. The history of The Mayan people IS the history of Guatemala.During the Civil War, Nebaj and the surrounding areas were most gravely effected. Being a strong minded community the military went in and wiped
out entire towns and populations of people. It was a clear genocide
and anyone who survived flew into Mexico or the mountains. As of today there are still people returning home after 20 years. Families have been pulled apart and no one knows who is in what mass grave, grave or if their loved ones are even put in a grave. Discrimination against the Mayan people runs rampant even today, some things have improved such as Mayan people now have the right to vote and Rigoberta Menchu, despite surrounding controversy, has opened the door for a strong Mayan political presence. In addition, many communities have begun reuniting with there cultural history.
I find Nebaj, and the surrounding pueblos, exceptionally interesting, tragic, and strong as they represent the present day genocide recovery and cultural stronghold of the Maya.
