Guatemala Elections:
Didn’t we already have someone to vote for?
by Karen Cancinos *
Life’s not fair, isn’t it? You see, she —yes, she—, Madame Mitterrand’s soul friend, Nobel Peace Prize 1992 winner, progressives’ icon and all sort of nostalgic-socialist-politically-correct-Europeans’ heroin… shall not be President of Guatemala, in spite of the so bragged electoral campaign’s launch many weeks ago: “We already have someone to vote for. Rigoberta Menchú, moral reference, first woman and first Indian running for presidency, is the one who will unite us. We already have someone to vote for. She shall bring together the people who coexist in this multicultural and multilingual country of ours. We already have someone to vote for. Tremble you oligarchy members, shake you vile historical oppressors of the good and noble Mayan descendants, for Rigoberta, granddaughter of those great fathers, will put you in the place you deserve. We already have someone to vote for.”
Well, the self called “Mayan’s Granddaughter”, according to independent vote intention surveys, is precariously placed in a fourth or fifth place, quite far from those who most will probably compete in the ballotage to be held the 4th of November. What happened? Didn’t we already have someone to vote for, in words of progressive columnists and politicians? Wasn’t she supposed to be the moral icon whom around the “good Guatemalans” were to be gathered, presenting a solid and supportive block against “exclusion”, “neo liberalism” and “racism”, gladly brandished for evil “whites” for as long as five centuries? Wouldn’t she make “international community” rush with even more “help” for us, poor Third World fellows who don’t want and anyway cannot rule ourselves?
Let me tell what I think explains why it all didn’t happen. Every politician, even someone claiming to be “Mayan’s Grandchild”, has to yield to the discourse that is possible. Most Guatemalans tend to be refractory to progressive speech despite the fuss made by strident feminist, indigenous and environmental isolated groups. So much noise they make, yes. But people here tend to conservatism and don’t aspire in any way to see recur in Guatemala what has happened in Bolivia, for instance.
Menchú tried to adapt her campaign speeches to the discourse mainly accepted. She clamorously failed. No wonder: a great number of Guatemalans are illiterate, but that in any way implies that fake and lack of integrity aren’t quickly recognized by them. Ineptitude and demagogy make themselves obvious everywhere, excepting of course some First World progressive editorials and universities.
* Karen Cancinos is a political scientist from Guatemala. She works in academia and publishing in the areas of political philosophy and political journalism. E-mail her: karencancinos@yahoo.com
(C) Hispanic American Center for Economic Research
All materials on this site are protected by United States copyright law and may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, displayed, or otherwise published without the prior written permission of HACER. You may not alter or remove any copyright or other notice.
|
