25 July 2007

Revenge of the Guelaguetza

Hermann Bellinghausen hammers the governor and the Guelaguetza in a post-colonial look at one aspect of the current power dynamic in Oaxaca. He also provides some history I didn't know and a few acerbic observations to boot. One of my favorites:

The fact is that the Guelaguetza has turned out to be the major banquet of the political and business power in Oaxaca, hiding behind the typical hypocrisy of creole racism: using the Indian to spotlight the master.

[snip]

And now, to enter the festival, one passes through Ticket Master and/or American Express.

It's not long, and it's worth a read to understand some of the complicated history behind these complicated problems.