Tuesday, March 20, 2007
discomfort
Today there was a small demonstration by a small pueblo involved in a land dispute with another pueblo. It just happened to go off right outside the school. They chose the spot because it´s on Chapultapec, one of the busiest main streets in town.
Normally, protestors who have a beef or a demand block off a busy street, thus creating major traffic heachaches in other parts of town, and getting lots of attention. This demonstration seemed to be following the usual protocol. It went on for hours and, for reasons I still don´t understand, the school made us go out the back door at lunch time and kept the front gate closed all day. They also refused to tell us anything about the protest, though, on reflection, they may honestly not have known...My intercambio Ita, and Teresa, another woman at the school for Intercambio, both had no idea. And lots of folks here seem to try to go about their business ignoring things like this.
Our salsa class is outdoors, on a patio just beyond graceful arches climbing with bougainvillea, and behind a gazebo made of natural vines and flowers. It´s a beautiful place to dance. But today we felt very white, priviledged and uncomfortable, dancing away behind our gate, the music competing with a protester leading chants over a loudspeaker, and the hundreds of people sitting on the ground against the walls outside the school, waiting for buses that couldn´t make it past the blockade.
Normally, protestors who have a beef or a demand block off a busy street, thus creating major traffic heachaches in other parts of town, and getting lots of attention. This demonstration seemed to be following the usual protocol. It went on for hours and, for reasons I still don´t understand, the school made us go out the back door at lunch time and kept the front gate closed all day. They also refused to tell us anything about the protest, though, on reflection, they may honestly not have known...My intercambio Ita, and Teresa, another woman at the school for Intercambio, both had no idea. And lots of folks here seem to try to go about their business ignoring things like this.
Our salsa class is outdoors, on a patio just beyond graceful arches climbing with bougainvillea, and behind a gazebo made of natural vines and flowers. It´s a beautiful place to dance. But today we felt very white, priviledged and uncomfortable, dancing away behind our gate, the music competing with a protester leading chants over a loudspeaker, and the hundreds of people sitting on the ground against the walls outside the school, waiting for buses that couldn´t make it past the blockade.
# posted by Anne @ 6:36 PM 
