Priests to Purify Site After Bush Visit

By JUAN CARLOS LLORCA
The Associated Press
Friday, March 9, 2007; 12:20 AM

GUATEMALA CITY -- Mayan priests will purify a sacred archaeological site to eliminate "bad spirits" after President Bush visits next week, an official with close ties to the group said Thursday.

"That a person like (Bush), with the persecution of our migrant brothers in the United States, with the wars he has provoked, is going to walk in our sacred lands, is an offense for the Mayan people and their culture," Juan Tiney, the director of a Mayan nongovernmental organization with close ties to Mayan religious and political leaders, said Thursday.

Bush's seven-day tour of Latin America includes a stopover beginning late Sunday in Guatemala. On Monday morning he is scheduled to visit the archaeological site Iximche on the high western plateau in a region of the Central American country populated mostly by Mayans.

Tiney said the "spirit guides of the Mayan community" decided it would be necessary to cleanse the sacred site of "bad spirits" after Bush's visit so that their ancestors could rest in peace. He also said the rites _ which entail chanting and burning incense, herbs and candles _ would prepare the site for the third summit of Latin American Indians March 26-30.

Bush's trip has already has sparked protests elsewhere in Latin America, including protests and clashes with police in Brazil hours before his arrival. In Bogota, Colombia, which Bush will visit on Sunday, 200 masked students battled 300 riot police with rocks and small homemade explosives.

The tour is aimed at challenging a widespread perception that the United States has neglected the region and at combatting the rising influence of Venezuelan leftist President Hugo Chavez, who has called Bush "history's greatest killer" and "the devil."

Iximche, 30 miles west of the capital of Guatemala City, was founded as the capital of the Kaqchiqueles kingdom before the Spanish conquest in 1524.

So wacky fundamentalism is not the sole province of the right-wingers!! Somehow, though, I'm not comforted.

Bush in a disgrace to the United States, NOT IMHO, only the other nine tenths of the planet.

Love it! (you knew that had to be edited out!!)

Does this "purification" ritual involve human sacrifices like in the old days? Just wondering. Go Hugo, you are the light of the world.

ahh, since our Guatemalan brothers are persecuted when they come here, I propose we stop letting them in. I would hate for them to be invited to such an evil place that treats them so poorly.

I'm so ashamed.

On another note, I love how leftists protest things by burning and looting. That is so cool! Makes me and others sympathetic to their cause.

When Hugo leaves do the crop dusters fly over the archaeologogical sites and spray Clorox?
Pi** on the opinion of the other 9/10's!

I hear it is an absolute b**ch of a trip through Mexico. but, I don't blame them, that whole Mayan problem was all Bush's fault to begin with.

Some stuff's just plain funny.

CatMo, so true. Funny reading, Colly!

I'm with Otteralum, time we stop supporting those that think we and our officials are less than the dirt they stand on!They seem to like our money, time we cut it all off!!

Please explain how the Maya of Guatemala get any US$$. They don't seem to get anything from anyone.

Jesse. The reference is to those who come to the U.S. for work and social services and then call it oppression when we consider tighter border security and harsher punishment for those that break our laws. Otherwise, you are correct.

Oh sorry, I was focused on the topic of this thread.

Let me see, my brother-in-law has been to Guat twice in the last 18 months, assisting the locals with stringing power lines. My sister-in-law and niece spent 10 days down there last year with a church group building houses. We are all such nasty self serving folk.

Wonder if they would go to the trouble of "Purification" following an Osama Bin Ladin visit?
Sorry, maybe i'm to focused on the topic!

"Let me see, my brother-in-law has been to Guat twice in the last 18 months, assisting the locals with stringing power lines. My sister-in-law and niece spent 10 days down there last year with a church group building houses. We are all such nasty self serving folk. "


Using our social services. the nerve of them.

Why are they so poor , can't you feed them cake ?

Ahh, Frenchie -- we missed you!

Two different issues here. You quoted Bobber. Your issue with his statement is what exactly?

Next, your statement. Those in need should receive help. Those who wish legally and peacefully add the the wealth of The U.S. while providing for themselves and their family should do it! God bless them all.

However, to then turn around and call that relationship "persecution" is just slightly ignorant and self-serving.

OK, Marty you can start purifying this thread NOW!

What the Guatemalans consider "persecution" is the US backing of a extremist right wing regime that overthrew a democratically elected leader(Arbenz) which resulted in 30 years of war and the deaths of over 100,000 innocent civilians.

Woh, woh, woh. Let's not change the subject here. Uncle Buck, that is NOT what the original article stated. Don't quote my opinion on one topic, then comment on something completely different. If you want to debate U.S. intervention in Latin American politics, start another thread. You may actually find me supporting your views.

republican reaction to a maya cleansing the area ,after a bush visit, is very predictable.

this is also why so many prisons are built and so many police hired. to protect the "haves" from the "have nots"..

It does not need to be argued , likely the majority of democrats fall right in line with the repubs..


Like a suicide bomber, in their mind ,they have nothing to lose , because the "haves" have no ability to encompass the human population, unless it is by their rules, which means you have to have...

The maya cleansing is merely showing they "have nothing" to lose

So the indigenous Maya are just like militant Islamic fundamentalists? Damn, you're funny.

Feeding Time is Over!!!!!!!!

(By the way, O, I think woh is whoa. Woh is Chinese meaning "hold onto honorable jewels", while whoa is English for "hold your a** there, partner" JMHO).

point taken.

And keep goin there JP, got lots more of those insults in your native tongue!?!! ;-)

i am completely fascinated by the whole "have and have not" argument. Seems "haves" are those that are not victims? isnt it possible, according to everything i know and love about the US, that any "have not" can become a "have"? um....think Oprah. The quintisencial (sp) have not becoming the one of the worlds biggest "haves".

the "haves" often worked their arses off to get what they 'have'. its not a freakin disease, and it doesnt make them bad people. work hard, and you too can become a 'have'. God Bless America!

besides, technically, if you have the means to have a computer, go online, post your opinions, YOU are a HAVE. perhaps we should all sell everything and become socialist so that EVERYONE has Nothing!

oh, and i gotta say, i absolutely positively LOVE the intelligent argument that prisons and police are just to protect the haves from the have nots. REALLY BRILLIANT! I mean it...seriously High IQ at work here. wow.

seriously, i mean it. i think we should get rid of the police, we should tear down all the prisons. those poor have nots, they should all be set free...after all, its not their fault they are in prison! its the 'haves' fault... i mean, damn, if all those 'haves' would just stop getting so pissed when they get robbed, raped, and killed....those damn 'haves'...so uppity when it comes to civil liberties. those poor poor have nots...they had NO choice but to chose a life of crime...i mean, its all the 'haves' fault after all...they had no choice but to chose crime.

jees...talk about stereotypes...talk about creating a victimized society....talk about silly!

Lara, long and loud applause. We will always have "haves and have-nots" The haves usually have to work hard at it (and some, like Paris Hilton, not so hard). The have-nots may be that way through a number of reasons. Lack of opportunity, lack of talent or intelligence, lack of education, or lack of will. Police do not cause crime, firemen do not cause fires, garbagemen (garbage-persons) do not cause garbage.
Might it be considered that the people in some of the Latin American countries are victims of their own governments, and not the nasty Americans? Just my 2.586 cents worth.

Lara, I am a "have" and I feel just terrible about it. I didn't realize that my owning a DVD player was hurting Mayans in Guatemala. I never knew that my tax $$ were building prisons to house innocent "have-nots" whose only crime is that I own a car that they wanted.

I am wracked with guilt. Can you help me?

Republican reaction to the cleansing is predictable? Indeed it is. Yawn, snicker.

Very Good, Lara.
I'm a have not. Had to steal this computer from the orphanage.
Please send donation checks to: PO Box 53 Brielle, NJ 08730 (just make out to cash - not tax deductible) Thanks!

I have no guilt, I'm just a Victim! ;-)

KC, to assuage your guilt, i have two suggestions. First, it seems Rykat is a lowly "have not" who really is in need! i would suggest then, when you come back down, you should leave your doors unlocked, and put a sign out saying you're not home so Rykat can come and steal all your stuff! then, Rykat, in a very robin-hood-esque sorta way, can take the stuff, think about sharing it, but then....AWWW SH*T! He's a HAVE now! F*ck! How's this gonna work....

oh, i know! KC, now that you are properly victimized, you now have the RIGHT to rob Rykat, cause now he's a "have", since he has your stuff!

k, first suggestion doesnt seem to be going so well...

so, second suggestion....BELIKIN! belikin is the worlds great equalizer. Drink beer. Feel no guilt!

Lara, you are a wise woman. Perhaps you were a Mayan priestess in an earlier life. (see how neatly I returned us to the thread!)

Let's not forget the Guatamalen children that are stolen from the poor becuase they percieve that since they can't "properly" care for them, they must not be loved...... Since when does poverty make one incapable of love? They are sold to adoption agencies which are largely supported by Americans desperate for children. BIG business. It's disgusting. And we wonder why they hate us?

Sad Debbie. It's unfortunate that the Guatemalan government doesn't control this. Of course we could simply outlaw Americans adopting the orphaned. Is that what you are advocating? Not being combative, I'm just intrigued at how Americans can be blamed for the Guatemalan government allowing stolen babies to be sold -- to anyone!

Back on subject to all, especially those delicate about those critical with the United States.

The Mayan cleansed the sacred sites due to a particular person visiting these sites, namely, George Bush. In no way are they hostile to Americans or in no means do they clense their sacred sites after a group of American tourists visit their numerous sites. I would go out on a limb here and guess the Mayans may have a bit more wisdom then ole' Georgy Boy from Maine (he is not from Texas). They only came up with the concept of zero after all.

George Bush in their eyes is a mass murderer. If you choose to see it otherwise, than good for you, write Guatemala off you choices for relocation. Too easy. But guess what, they are not the only folks with this opinion, many right at home in the US see Bush as a liar and murderer of his own nation's young children, canon foder. Are we now going to apply the same rationale against Americans as was presented against the Guatemalan people above.

I thought it nice that he is touring the area as the region feels like they have been neglected. Yeah, that's a good thing, maybe we are hiding and afraid of him or both. Oh, I forgot, the other reason was to combat the popularity of Chavez in the region. Oooohhhh, must be a threat now then, doubt it though. Perhaps Ven is on the list too?

So lets go stand on someone's ancestor's grave site to spread your politics in the region. Dumb ass, did he forget nobody voted for him there. You wonder why they got upset? How dare they!

What if Chavez stood in Arlington Cemetery to combat the popularity of George Bush in the area? (not that he would need to). Agression should be focused towards him and not the country he represents and the many good people who may reside in it. I bet they wouldn't even let him do it to begin with.

America is full of great, very charitable people doing great things for the world. Look at Bill Gates and Oprah. True compasion is given without condition or prejudice.

This advice is even biblical, remove the rafter from your own eye before you remove the splinter from your brother's. Clean your own filthy house first George, before you try to remodel others. You have your own batch of problems and are not a role model for the world. Stay out of our's cause' that shit is contagious. Contrary to what you may think, the earth does not revolve on US aid to foreign countries.


SIN

What was the Monroe Doctrine all about anyway?

So did anybody mail Rykat that special present to his PO Box yet? Hopefully they'll just think its baby powder or something legal.

It just wiped out a sniffer dog in the mail center.

i notice he switched from BIG BABY picture to south american suicide kool-aid.

BUT WAIT !! Super sizer's! theres more!!!!!

"Primero existi un hombre que fue hecho de lodo, despus, uno que fue de madera que no tena corazn ni entendimiento y, despus, los dioses hicieron uno de maz, con cuerpo, mente y corazn... Esto es lo que descubre Sofa cuando lee el Popol Vuh y decide bajar al inframundo, al reino de Xibalb, para obtener con ello algunas respuestas en torno al misterio de la vida."



What? Bub, what does your comment have to do with either the topic or your Spanish quote. Also source for quote please?

Translation of Spanish quote above...

First existed a man that was done of mud, after, one that was of wood that do not have neither heart or understanding and, after, the God did one of corn, with body, mind and heart... This is what Sofa discovers when reads the Popol Vuh and decides to descend to underworld, to the kingdom of Xibalba, to obtain some answers in around the mystery of the life.

SIN, you are reasonable most of the time and I tend to agree with you on this. I am no fan of W and agree this is more about him than anything.

However, the original article was NOT just about him. The repression of Guatemalan migrant workers?? This now moves from an indictment of Georgie Boy to an indictment of socio-economic policy. This is what got me going.

The poll you cite scares me more than anything. I agree George has done little to help the situation, but regardless, Chavez is leading Latin America to more poverty, not less.

Frenchie, per usual, I have no idea what the hell you are saying.

one that was of wood that do not have neither heart or understanding

When data processing moved to the Caribbean, manufacturing is outsourced to China and you call India now to work out a bug in your computer, of course you need to crack down on "illegal aliens". Americans may have to start picking their own strawberry's pretty soon or learn Chinese. The US was built on migrant labor, or so the Native Americans say. What's good for the goose?

You better not shout, better not pout, cause' CAFTA is coming to town.

SIN

Talking about the Maya, who knows the Serpentine Prophecy?

Beat that dead horse!

Like Michael Jackson, just beat it?

I fear I may regret this but....

I am genuinely curious SIN -- what are your thoughts regarding how Latin American nations should position their economy vis-a-vis the U.S. in order to maximize their long-term propserity?

I'm an intellectually curious type interested in your thoughts, not looking for a fight.

I'll fight ya, SIN!! :P

Otter, how are you? Missing you and the Mrs.!

www.anarchistnews.org (got great message boards there too, take frenchie with ya and turn out the lights).

Ok Rykat? Time for your meds now. (whoa)

Otter, I totally agree, I enjoy learning others views and ideas.

I'm no expert in macro economics, but this mess will take decades to fix.

We can start on new thread on it though.

SIN

TQ, darlin, miss you too. Damn that was fun!