A Sense of Guatemala

1. Fischer and Hendrickson speaks of the importance of indentity. Notice how the whole beginning speaks of the two major ethnic groups (Indians and ladinos).How do you think this notion will affect you when you're in Guatemala? Do you think this notion applies to your life in Hawaii?

I really dont think the ethnic groups being split will really affect us. We'll be lucky (or unlucky) to even see it happen. From my understanding, there wont be many ladinos where we'll be staying. There is some racism here in Hawaii. The whole "haole" thing. It's a lot like the Indian and Ladino issue, but it's no where near as severe and hate related.

2.) The authors articulate specific things that really begin to define who and what Guatemala is. What is your reaction to how they portray Guatemala? Would you have chosen something else? Why or why not?

The government of Guatemala is corrupt and money hungry. They force the natives poor living conditions with no way of advancing onto something greater. They take everything that defines the people as who they are and turn it into a get rich quick scam.

The government is so screwed up that I dont know if I would be able to. But I would try to equalize the classes and take away segregation, giving the native people a chance of becoming something greater.

3. What is your reaction to the U.S. involvement in the war?

I dont understand why we intervened. The US had no reason to. The Guatemalan government was already overpowering the guerrillas, there was no need for us to step in and provide the government with even more weapons and training. I think there was more behind it...

4. Do some research on Bishop Juan Geradi. Speak to what you know and understand about who he was and how he formed Guatemala.

Juan Jose Gerardi Conedera was a Guatemalan Roman Catholic bishop and human rights defender. At the age of 24 he became a priest and served in many rural areas around Guatemala. He later became a bishop and focused most of his work on the indigenous communities. What he's best known for is his contribution to the REMHI and their release of Guatemala: Nunca mas which was a report that carried statements of thousands of witnesses and victims of repression during the Civil War, placing most of the blame on the government and the army. Two days after the publication, Gerardi was murdered in his own garage by army officers.

The men were later convicted of murder and sentenced to 30-year prison terms. This was the first time members of the military had faced trial before civilian courts.