I received several e-mails from readers who took issue with my characterization of Hispanics as "Westerners" in my Oct. 5 piece on Latinos. Obviously the cultures in Latin America do not exactly resemble societies in Europe. The use of the term merely reflects the similarities found between the two regions and is no different than using the word "Arab" to describe such distinct regions as Salalah and Tripolitania. My view that Hispanic societies ultimately fall into the category of "Western" is shared by numerous historians and political scientists.
I concede that I downplayed the impact of Amerindians in shaping modern Latin America. Even today, pockets exist in the Andean region as well as in remote areas of Central America and Amazonia where Amerindian languages and religions still survive. One can observe elements of pre-Columbian societies in religious ceremonies, music and architecture, which is remarkable when considering the trauma caused by the arrival of the Iberians.
Most of us today fail to fully appreciate the devastation wrought by the conquistadores. A combination of warfare, famine and disease reduced Amerindian populations by up to 90 percent. Countless cultures vanished overnight. Many of the surviving Amerindians in territories seized by Spanish or Portuguese colonizers found themselves relocated to settlements more accessible to missionaries and tax collectors. The individuals responsible for the preservation of intricate oral histories and traditions were frequently burned at the stake. The Catholic Iberians had as little respect for indigenous cultures as did the English and did everything in their power to stamp out most traces of pre-Columbian religious and social practices.
How did the surviving Amerindians interpret this jarring chain of events? Alas, there exist few accounts of the Iberian conquests from the perspective of the vanquished. It appears, though, that the European invasions left many Amerindians, at least initially, in a state of complete shock and bewilderment. The capture and garroting of the supposedly divine Inca Atahualpa by Francisco Pizzaro so demoralized the Quechuan speakers of Tahuantisuyo that the Spaniards had little difficulty in subjugating most of Peru with a mere handful of troops. To the decimated and newly enslaved Amerindians, it must have seemed that the old gods had failed spectacularly.
Certainly not all Amerindian tribes rolled over. The Tupi in Brazil and the Mapuche in southern Chilewere but two of the indigenous peoples who fiercely opposed Iberian encroachment. Those under European control often resisted through non-violent means. On occasion, discontent of Iberian rule flared into open revolt. Ultimately though, the socially fragmented world faced by surviving Amerindians made it next to impossible for them to sustain their complex cultures.
Therefore, they adopted very early on during the Iberian exploration of Latin America the cultures of their Western conquistadores. Though much of their history and culture was wiped out by the resulting devastation, and despite their efforts to retain their heritage, they ultimately adopted and evolved into "Western" cultures.
Michael Baca '06E
College lives up to social expectations
I've written so many times in this space criticizing the College for policies and actions taken. For once, I'm actually very proud of what Amherst has done. In the wake of Katrina, Amherst has responded in a matter befitting the dignity of a prestigious college.
President Marx has talked about social responsibility and the role Amherst should play in the world endlessly, but up to this point, I've seen very little. It has been very hard to motivate Amherst students to get involved in different social causes as well, ranging from Darfur to the tsunami. In response to Katrina, however, Amherst has welcomed with open arms students from Xavier and Tulane Universities, among other Gulf Coast colleges.
Students at the College responded initially to the hurricane with fundraising drives and Project Backpack. Our response has not stopped there. We have now adopted D'Iberville Middle School in Mississippi, and there are events planned throughout the semester to continue raising money for the victims of the hurricane. Amherst has truly stepped up to the plate and embraced its role as a socially responsible college. Way to go Amherst!
Melissa Sidman '06