"Chiapas" means nothing

[valis <valis@xxxxxxxxxx>]

Many years ago, when I self-consciously waltzed around Mexico as
a young dickhead with traveler's cheques, it never occurred to me that
some palpable connection might exist between the archaeological marvels
I ogled and the quiet servants, etc, at my beck and call.
Time seemed past, and that was that.
Now I see those days through all-transforming spectacles, of course,
yet I wonder just how much use a bunch of Abe Lincoln Brigade types
could truly be until we understand that Chiapas is nothing, that only
the Maya is real - notwithstanding the same word's meaning in Sanskrit -
and we simply don't know what that reality is.

Distribution maps of Central America show a submerged nation every bit
as threatening as Kurdistan, even to the involvement of a rich oil
region (Tabasco), antiquarian bonanzas (the yuppie tourist paradises
of Yucatan, Belize and Cozumel), and, yup, count 'em, the territories
of five sovereign states.  In an international climate where an inch
can lead to a mile, everything may be acknowledged while nothing is
recognized.  Yes, you're special, but still very much a part of _us_.

Whatever we grant the brief of Russell Means can only go double
for the Mayans, who were already producing exquisite and enigmatic
artifacts nearly 3000 years ago, and starting to develop the most
elaborate script in this hemisphere.  Thanks to and aside from the
pyrotechnic ministrations of the Church, not much is popularly known.
In order to give them genuine help, a lot of research must be done
very quickly and honestly; they can be our concern, but they must
never be our projection.

                                                              valis