Friday, December 23, 2005
Heart
In a way, it is like the use of "soul" in some black communities. Most white people simply don't get it, nor are they expected to. Similarity is also noted in frequency of "corazón" in lyrics of Mexican music, which may put gringos to thinking there is a national obsession with cardiology. Many times when referring to the "movement", I've been asked, usually in an implied attack mode "What do you mean by that?". The only honest answer to one not a part if it is "You wouldn't understand".
It is fruitless trying to explain the meaning of heart to minds cemented in a heartless society. But there may be a few neighbors among them who are unusually perceptive and have feelings of such disgust with their binding status that they are ready to reach out and seek change to what they are. It is those and only those for which a suitable explanation of the meaning of "heart" might lend guidance.
I am not sure it can be perfectly put in words for it is not a thing of intellect. It would be a difficult if not impossible task for myself. The best attempt I've seen was written by yabasta. She posted it on her La Zatikia blog and it is linked here. Her words are worth reading. Rather, it would be better that they were studied and absorbed by all capable of doing so.
The best I can say to those who cannot is that they are in the wrong place.
Zatikia and Pocho,
This week, we are on vacation here in Merida visiting the town and the nearby Mayan ruins and wildlife parks. We skipped going to Cancun. It's just Miami South. After spending our third day here, it's painfully obvious that the United States of North America has sold an interesting bill of goods to its people - things can make you happy. I'm sure you've heard the expression the one with the most toys wins.
When walking downtown, there are street peddlers selling various kinds of curios - hammocks, jewlery, wooden snakes, dancing chickens... But they were only being sold to tourists, the people with a need for things.
When taking the city tour here, the bus tour drives by many churches and huge opulent, lifeless mansions belonging to families of slave owners. It was interesting to note that many of the mansions were no longer privately owned, but belonged to the government, insurance companies and banks. All along the tour, there were kids sitting outside talking with their friends, sharing bicycles, just having a good time. In the downtown square, there was a huge public gathering in the main square with music and dance.
At the beginning of the tour, the driver excused himself in that he would be telling a few jokes that would not easily translate into English and asked us not to be offended if the english part of the tour was a bit shorter than the spanish. After listening to the jokes, it was clear most Americans would not get them anyway.
To me, the culmination of the city tour here was where the bus stopped at the children's park for fifteen minutes. Kids were outside playing after dinner and their parents gathered to talk and be with each other. At the park there was food and drink for sale, but interestingly enough no things for sale. I believe the point of the rest stop was to create a moment of being together.
HiTekVagabond
Good to see you've reached civilization Hitek.
Here is a joke you could have told your bus driver though he probably already heard it anyway. It was told to me by a Mexican friend after we encountered and said just two not so nice words to a gringo who complained about our dogs.
A Mexican and a US dog are crossing the border to enter the other's country. The US dog asks the Mexican "Why you come to the USA", and the response is "Well, you have nice restaurants, museums, and besides, my owners relatives work there for money to send home. Why do you want to come to Mexico?" The US dog answers "So I can bark".
