The View Descending into Quetzaltenango from the East
Guatemala is a country full of – acceptance.
Don’t get me wrong, a gay bar here in Xela was burned down less than a year ago amidst mysterious circumstances, but government officials embezzling more money than most Guatemalans would make in a hundred lifetimes (minimum wage is officially $7/day) – nobody bats an eyelash.
On an ambulance run we found a man drunk, passed out out on the sidewalk, lying in a puddle of liquor infused vomit that stretched from his head to his feet. When the man didn’t want to give his name for identification purposes, it was presumed he didn’t want to go to the hospital. We followed his implied wishes, and left him there in his own vomit in the late afternoon sun.
Don’t get me wrong, a gay bar here in Xela was burned down less than a year ago amidst mysterious circumstances, but government officials embezzling more money than most Guatemalans would make in a hundred lifetimes (minimum wage is officially $7/day) – nobody bats an eyelash.
On an ambulance run we found a man drunk, passed out out on the sidewalk, lying in a puddle of liquor infused vomit that stretched from his head to his feet. When the man didn’t want to give his name for identification purposes, it was presumed he didn’t want to go to the hospital. We followed his implied wishes, and left him there in his own vomit in the late afternoon sun.
Drunks are drunks – that’s what they do. They fall down, vomit all over themselves, and sleep strewn across the sidewalk.
In the nursery, I still can’t get over how the children use punches as slaps as non-verbal communication more regularly than shaking their head ‘yes’ or ‘no’. When someone catches another in possession of their pencil, ball, or personal space, there is generally a cry or shout, sometimes using recognizable words, and then a punch.
As much as this contributes to painting a picture of violence in the household, it pales in comparison to how the mothers talk to their children in the ‘Shelter for Victims of Domestic Violence’. You’ll hear mothers, who are their to escape the harsh beatings of their husbands, threatening their children with harsh beatings if they don’t conform to a particular desired behavior whether it be putting their shoes on or simply being quiet. Even more surprise than this, is how the workers in the shelter don’t even react! It’s never occurred to them that this isn’t an appropriate way to raise a child, or that perhaps there is at least an alternate way to parent.
As much as this contributes to painting a picture of violence in the household, it pales in comparison to how the mothers talk to their children in the ‘Shelter for Victims of Domestic Violence’. You’ll hear mothers, who are their to escape the harsh beatings of their husbands, threatening their children with harsh beatings if they don’t conform to a particular desired behavior whether it be putting their shoes on or simply being quiet. Even more surprise than this, is how the workers in the shelter don’t even react! It’s never occurred to them that this isn’t an appropriate way to raise a child, or that perhaps there is at least an alternate way to parent.
Violence is a part of life. Men hit women. Parents hit children. Everybody kicks dogs.
Today an old feeble man almost died. He has diabetes, hypertension, dementia, Parkinson’s, and god knows what other ailments eating away at his fragile frame.
On good days, you can find him slowly shuffling through the house behind his walker on his way down the stairs to the garden to bathe in the powerful rays of the sun in the cool mountain air. If his warm smile and greetings draw you over, you’ll be blessed with stories of history, politics, geography, science, metaphysics, medicine, alternative medicine, or even the birth of the cosmos. In bad times you’ll hear the nearly daily professions of desires to die and end his pain. A proud man who used to have family, friends, money, government position, health, even hair, now finds himself living in another family’s home, bald, unable to walk, broke, half estranged from his children – and dying.
On good days, you can find him slowly shuffling through the house behind his walker on his way down the stairs to the garden to bathe in the powerful rays of the sun in the cool mountain air. If his warm smile and greetings draw you over, you’ll be blessed with stories of history, politics, geography, science, metaphysics, medicine, alternative medicine, or even the birth of the cosmos. In bad times you’ll hear the nearly daily professions of desires to die and end his pain. A proud man who used to have family, friends, money, government position, health, even hair, now finds himself living in another family’s home, bald, unable to walk, broke, half estranged from his children – and dying.
When Tio’s blood pressure spiked, he faded in and out of consciousness and began vomiting with little relief. There was the send that this could be the beginning of the end. A doctor’s help was obviously needed. Comfort was given in ample amounts with love, but there was no hesitation or obvious dilemma in whether to take this man, who scolded the doctors the last time they saved his life, to the hospital for potentially simple, but life saving treatments.
This man will die – some day.
There was scurrying about the house and some heightened anxieties, but there was acceptance that death is imminent one way or another and if doctors are not appreciated, they won’t be called.
This man will die – some day.
There was scurrying about the house and some heightened anxieties, but there was acceptance that death is imminent one way or another and if doctors are not appreciated, they won’t be called.
We all die. There is nothing you can do to stop that inevitability. Let each arrive in their own way.
Every single day in the newspaper there is news of high government officials stealing public money.
Everyday there is news of innocent children being taken from life so early – killed by stray bullets in drug shootouts.
Everyday people live with the knowledge that a catastrophic earthquake may end life on a tragic scale in this little country whose trees and towers shake with tectonic activity on a weekly basis.
Everyday – life goes on, just as the day before.
Unacceptable is a relative term, something every person defines for themselves if they take the time to think about it.
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Below is an excerpt from Yesterday's Paper
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Everyday there is news of innocent children being taken from life so early – killed by stray bullets in drug shootouts.
Everyday people live with the knowledge that a catastrophic earthquake may end life on a tragic scale in this little country whose trees and towers shake with tectonic activity on a weekly basis.
Everyday – life goes on, just as the day before.
Unacceptable is a relative term, something every person defines for themselves if they take the time to think about it.
__________________________________________________
Below is an excerpt from Yesterday's Paper
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Click the photo to see a larger readable version of a section of Yesterday's newspaper
Below is an English translation
The Rise in Violence Worries the United Nations
- Homicides rose from 6,244 in 2008 to 6,498 in 2009
- Lynchings rose from 56 in 2008 to 119 in 2009
- There is one Police Officer for every 619 citizens
- The National Police had 5,000 vacancies nearly all 2009
- There are 174 armed private security companies
- There are an estimated 106,700 private armed security agents; 5 for every Police Officer
- The judicial system received 30,873 cases of violence against women, but only handed down 70 sentences
- Of 166 complaints of femicide, 10 sentences were issued
- There were 346 attacks on human rights defenders
- The special division of criminal investigation has 105 detectives and 400 vacancies
- Of 412 complaints of discrimination in 7 years, 4 have received sentences
- Guatemala is ranked 122nd of 182 on the Human Development Index
As I sit here in my secure home drinking a glass of Fl Blueberry wine and reading your blog for the third time I thank God for the U.S. and what we have been granted in this country. Take care Micheal and come back soon..we need young people like you...Love Aunt Bonnie.....
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