Freedom of speech and the threat of possible eternal damnation!

No not another religious procession!

Students generally think that Guatamalan justice is ******

Guatemala in 2010 was the 92nd most corrupt country out of 180

In all the melee of Easter, I forgot to write about a very significant day in Gautemala  - well in the Capital.    April 1^st is the “Huelga des Dolores” (the strike of sadness)  this year it was transferred to Friday30 March. The idea dates back to 1898, but has gone through periods of extreme repression with dire consequences for participants. It is a day (well morning) when students from Guatemala's oldest university (De San Carlos) have the right to process on the streets of the capital and are free to criticize and lampoon anybody in authority.  The President, Senators, Politicians, the Police chief, the church. Nothing so odd about that you might think except that this is Guatemala and not so many years ago participating in such a protest necessitated you wearing masks and running the risk of being arrested by police, or special agents, and possibly disappearing.  Your body turning up on one of the cities vast rubbish dumps the next day.

Bystander being taken hostage

But for one day you can say what you like, display your displeasure at the corruption, lassitude and general hypocrisy of the government and religious leaders more or less without let or hindrance.  This procession passes right through the centre of the city, passed the ministerial buildings, the presidential palace and terminates with a rally in a square just next to the seat of power.   

A willing hostage- extra points for bagging a foreigner!

Local preacher the source of much scorn!

Bystanders are “taken hostage”  (in memory of the fact that once upon a time to even watch this procession you risked being taken away) and “encouraged” to participate – and I was very happy to oblige, bagging a foreigner was highly prized!  I got given some paper money for my troubles which featured the picture of the Pastor of Guatemala’s biggest evangelical temple – given the number 666 for some reason. He (feels he) is so important that he ONLY travels by helicopter – he was certainly coming in for much criticism regarding the actual destainhe has for the people who support his “ministry”. Overall the whole thing was all very good natured, sadly, nearly every float carried the names of students who had been murdered and/or disappeared for participating in years past.   The struggle for freedom of speech continues! Again one has to remeber that the civil war ended on some16 years ago.

It is also important to remember that in Guatemala carrying arms is not an offence, and many people do. This is not a country to pick a fight with another motorist for “cutting you up” you might just end up in a box!  Outside of the towns and cities, the rule of law is an occasional visit from a patrol car but is more likely to be some form of summary justice carried out by the local inhabitants with the police turning a very blind eye.  

Some suggestions being pinned to the doors of the Justive Ministry

Fundraiser.

The sombre facts - the columns surrounding the national cathedral are covered in the names of the murdered and disappeared from the civil war.  Even today mass graves of mayan communities are being discovered, and there are war crimes trials of ex-military in progress.

All these things area constant reminders of living in a developing country.  Of course if you are in Guatemala City or here in Central Antigua things on the surface all seem pretty normal and “western” but even 10 minutes drive outside of Antigua to, say, Santiago Zamora, takes you to a place where Spanish is not the first language, the people are subsistence farmers and go around on horseback, wearing “cowboy” hats and carrying guns!  And probably believe in the old ways of settling disputes and continue to follow traditional beliefs whilst doffing the cowboy hat to the (RC) Church. Lynching is not unkown.

On the bus to church!   One of Jossefet's many cousins.

Mass indoctrination in progress - the newly saved go forward.

The joy of the party was cut short by the message of eternal damnation!

I am just back from spending Saturday/Sunday in Guatemala city and staying with Jossefet’s family. We went to the city to visit the museums but they were shut for lunch!  So we went into the centre and did some shopping for future projects for the children of El Plan Infinito.  Jossefet lives in the municipality of Mixco just outside the city. It is the largest municipality in Guatemala. Jossefet’s family live close to one another in one of the less well off parts of Mixco, basic housing, water for only 2 hours a day and a temperamental supply of electricity.  However, the welcome I received was very warm and I had a great time, especially enjoying his Grandmother's cooking.  Jossefet has about 50 relatives living within 100 yards of each other, including many aunts as his mother is one of seven. He great grandmother is also alive at 108, and living in San Marcos.

Today (Sunday) I went to "church" with them. Not really keen to go but felt I should.  The family hire a bus every Sunday to ferry them to church – an evangelical church, the5th largest church building in Guatemala.  Today was there festival “Abrir sus ojos” – (Open your eyes)- basically a day when all church members are encouraged to bring new people into the fold!   

The church seats about 4000 and today there were 5 services, each one packed. Normally there are 3services on a Sunday for around 12,000 people. Well, I have to say that 90 minutes of being told I would go to hell if I didn’t open my eyes and accept JC into my life~ was hardly conducive to me changing my views on religion.  We were bombarded with every conceivable verse from the bible that told me I was a miserable sinner and certain to go to hell (and apparently according to the “Church Apostle” Hell is real place and exists in the centre of the planet and there are lots of flames and it is very hot and, oh yes, there is no way out! Well despite kindly not accepting the invitation to “Abrir mi ojos”, I am still here and writing the blog.  I really find this kind of tub thumping Evangelicism a very strange way to demonstrate the love of God – fear and preying (pun intended) on people insecurities is not clever in my book.  Anyways, nobody mentioned the church once we were back on the bus (Jossefet said that all his family were very disappointed with the service ……. )      The wonderfully contemplative worship of the russian orthodox seemed to belong to another age, another planet and possibly another God.  I didn't recognise the vengeful God of these evangelicals.

And, the thing that really upsets me about these evangelical missionary sects is that they are answerable to nobody and worse, they are fairly consistent in forcing the Maya people to give up not only their beliefs but their cultural heritage ~ as it is obviously of the devil because it is not founded on Christianity!   At least the Catholic church is a little more enlightened (now) and at best ambivalent, and at best finds space for Mayan tradition and Catholic faith to co-exist turning the blind eye.  The thing I find tough is why it is so important to convert people ~ who are perfectly happy with their beliefs and culture in the first place.  

And people have a hard enough time simply surviving without being told about what could possibly await them in the afterlife  - and it aint a bunch of Roses (unless of course you toe the line)!

And why are these poor people notasking how their pastor can be driving around in a Porsche?

Part of Mixco, Guatemala

A typical street scene

Finally another sobering fact, many people in Guatemala who are perfectly respectable and hard working have to live in the worst of conditions because there simply is not enough adequate housing.  Jossefets family live in a perfectly good community, perched on the side of a steep hill, with it's own problems. 

No tipping of dead animals - please!

There was once a river here, long gone. And probably in the next few years this will be covered in houses.

Rubbish is a terrible problem.

I was rather ashamed by the outcry from Lord Carey, that Christians were being persecuted in the UK, after hundreds of years of the church persecuting anybody or anything with which it failed to agree!  Why do these people think they speak for the nation and that they know best what is good for us …………… such hypocrisy. Its enough to make a Saint weep!  When you see life in a developing country such "bleating" is all rather pathetic!OK rant over.  I never warmed to George Carey.   Now, Michael Ramsey...........

I find it hard to believe I shall be in Brazil on Thursday and back in Guatemala by Monday morning!  My route is Guatemala – Panama – San Paolo – Florianopolis about 12 hours flying, 14 hours journeying. About 6 of which is simply flying the length of Brazil!

Talk about chalk and cheese!

Must pack my shorts! 

Hasta Luego Amigos.