The man who made the trip possible was Grahame Russell. Without his contacts, experience and insights...the trip could not have come together so seamlessly. Graham has been tirelessly dedicating himself to struggles throughout Latin America and Canada, investing his energy, sweat, blood, hopes and dreams in the mutual liberation and empowerment of marginalized persons since the early eighties.
To find out more about his work, visit: http://www.rightsaction.org/
I've been reading two books that Grahame has written, and they have been helping me process and reflect on the experience traveling around Guatemala. I want to share two passages that have stood out from his second book, Code Z59.5...
"The tears of the people are marvelous, showing that they are alive and recovering. Similarly, when the witnesses re-tell their stories and cry again, they again open their enlightening wounds." (Masacres de la Selva, by recardo Falla)
and...
"In the worst days of repression in El Salvador and Guatemala, a person could be killed or disappeared for crying.
The logic: if you mourn the death of a murdered or disappeared person, you knew them, and therefore are an enemy, and therefore you're dead. Think, feel, suffer, OK...but don't cry.
Tears = Subversion = Death Warrant
Literally, you could cry yourself to death."
"The tears of the people are marvelous, showing that they are alive and recovering. Similarly, when the witnesses re-tell their stories and cry again, they again open their enlightening wounds." (Masacres de la Selva, by recardo Falla)
and...
"In the worst days of repression in El Salvador and Guatemala, a person could be killed or disappeared for crying.
The logic: if you mourn the death of a murdered or disappeared person, you knew them, and therefore are an enemy, and therefore you're dead. Think, feel, suffer, OK...but don't cry.
Tears = Subversion = Death Warrant
Literally, you could cry yourself to death."
Just some food for thought.
A post on El Estor and Lote Ocho coming tomorrow....
No comments:
Post a Comment