Last week I read a news item in elmundo.es about a how a statue of Hernan Cortes the man who led the invasion of Mexico in 1519, had been vandalized. The statue is located in the Spanish town of his birth. Red paint had been thrown at the statue.
The digital news item also contains a picture of the statue of Cortes showing what seems to be the head of an Aztec deity or warrior under one of his armored boots.
In the midst of the digital age, news items like this reach people in matter of seconds. The reaction of readers – including myself – is evident in the number of comments left in response.
Times have changed. What was thought to be culturally appropriate a hundred years ago or even ten years ago is now seen as utterly wrong when considered from the perspective of a world struggling to solve an immense quantity of economic, environmental and social issues. Minor issues as the one I’m talking about here only serve as an unwelcomed distraction.
On the other hand is really shameful that any society can tolerate that cultural stereotypes of the past can be allowed to continue to exist, defying current cultural and political values that try to encourage a more harmonious existence for everybody. The statue of Cortes in question is inappropriate because of this. It is not longer valid to hold views espousing cultural superiority of any kind. Statues or monuments depicting European invaders of the past as heroes are now seen as an anachronism. Their existence is interpreted as an insult by people from other regions of the world which were invaded or colonized by them.
Bearing in mind that the fifth centenary of the invasion of Mexico and Central America is quickly approaching, it may be good to see that as a reconciliation gesture to the native people of Mexico and Central America all the culturally inappropriate reminders of the past – such as the statue of Cortes – are quietly dismantled or hidden from public view.
Building cultural and social harmony is a task in which every citizen should play a part. We must not support anything that perpetuates oppression or promotes narrow views of humanity and the world.
