Rigoberta Menchú: Tragedy and Discomfort

This story serves as a crucial representation and example to draw from on the historical treatment of the Indigenous. Menchú’s work experiences and loss of those closest showed the dynamic of the Quiché being positioned as second class citizens. Mother’s would work harsh conditions and minimal pay. Children would become malnourished due to the lack of nutrition available to them. It is disgusting to realize soldiers not raping “women of [their] races finest sons” was considered an act of nobility. Imagine expecting gratitude because you chose to limit those you would rape, it is appalling.  After reading the experiences of those working on the fincas and the abuse of women young and old, I wanted to bring back a discussion we had on when it is okay to feel uncomfortable in the classroom. We previously discussed content so I wanted to revisit this area as it was something I thought about while reading this story. Only in this case it pertains to one’s comfort level with the readings before class.


There was an expectation of the content in Rigoberta Menchú’s story being the type that requires an advisory or warning, but the descriptions of murder are that concocted in fictional Horror films. The death of Doña Petrona Chona, a friend of Menchú’s who worked for little to no compensation at the Garcia’s finca, made me question my own comfort with certain content. Carlos Garcia would sexually harass the poor woman until he orchestrated her death in the most gruesome manner. A gunshot would seem a quick and painless death in comparison as instead he sent one of his bodyguards, with machete in hand, to dismember her into twenty five pieces. Adding to the display by chopping off her baby’s fingers in the process. After collecting my thoughts I ask this question which I do not have a full answer to, maybe I never will. There is learning about certain topics and there is feeling for certain events. Do the feelings (specifically at an emotional level) that come with learning about Indigenous history contribute to truly understanding the importance? To rephrase for potential discussion in class, Do the feelings that arise reading this piece of Quiché history contribute or halt a true understanding of its importance? Does the true story that contains graphic content make us not want to learn? Is there such a thing as being uncomfortable to the extent this history will be tolerated and viewed as something you hear but never again? Does Rigoberta Menchú’s story become harder to comprehend because of the graphic language used?

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Who is Subcomandante Marcos?

  As a political and revolutionary piece, the title matches what Subcomandante Marcos plausibly intends. It informs the reader of the struggles endured by the Indigenous in Mexico, using his personal and informed accounts to weaponize the book against the regime. Whether it is intended by Marcos to specifically  galvanize Mexicans across the country and/or bring International discourse on the situation. He highlights the capitalist system as a means to reduce Indigenous value and prolong despicable actions, detailing accounts against the Mayan population in Chiapas. This bodes well in Marcos effectively positioning himself as an indigenous voice to bring all concerns into a collective front. The Mexican government viewed Chiapas as very profitable due to the resources within it. Uranium, oil reserves, and lumber were in their eyes blocked by merely Indigenous will. He presents this information on the Zapatista National Liberation Army as the primary solution for all within Mex...
Read more

Our Word is our Weapon Part 2: Controversial with Intent

  My reactions to the second half of “Our word is our weapon” shared similarities from the initial pages read. We got a continuation of Marcos projecting himself amongst the greatest writers of Latin America, narcissism to the highest degree, and a splash of propaganda for the resistance. The only difference is whereas the introduction to this dilemma and Marcos raised eyebrows about what his true intentions are, the second half almost exposes his intentional form of writing to coerce others . “Do words know to fall silent when they can’t find the time or place for which they’re called…And the mouth does it know how to die?” (pg.258). This is a quote used by Marcos from Eduardo Galeano’s book “Las Palabras Andantes” which really made me think about the psychology of Marcos and his Zapatista efforts. In his letter to Eduardo and some tales, the form of his writing produces consequences, some of which we discussed in class.  First, his introduction to Galeano is a means to asse...
Read more

The First New Chronicle and Good Government: First half Thoughts

  As a text filled with intricate imagery, a balance of position, and religious promotion, the Poma De Ayala is a very interesting piece of literature that tells a tale of conquest and history. From initial interpretation, the book contains origin stories and brings forth a certain dynamic from one that shares a link with both Indigenous and European by blood. The author asserts an opposing view to the occupation initiated by the Spaniards over the Inca in Peru, while (maybe unintentionally) pushing the narrative of Christianity in the account of history.  What caught my attention was the story of the Wari Wiracocha Runa. It depicts this first generation of the Indies population, identifying them as Spaniards and “the ones who left Noah’s ark following the flood” (p.25). From these people who were unable to increase the population for more than 800 years, came the Wari Wiracocha Runa. These are the Indigenous that stem from Spaniards and were able to as the text says forever m...
Read more