Blog 2- Halloween

Dado que todo en lo que puedo pensar ahora mismo es la comida ... comida yum ... decidí buscar "comida" en un par de sitios web de noticias de Guatemala. El rango de resultados que he encontrado es, de verdad increíble. ¿Cómo podemos vivir en un mundo tan complejo ... o complejo, por lo menos a mi lógica. Permítanme explicar. Los resultados en las noticias sobre "comida" de un solo país incluyen una serie de titulos como "¿Hambre? Pero si heno Comida en la casa "(El Periódico), " Arte vs Comida "(El Periódico), " Bon Gourmet Chef Comida Lista Para Llevar "(El Periódico), " Evo Morales Almuerzo Con Minero Que sobrevivio en Chile "(La Prensa Libre), con artículos sobre la utilidad del dinero por la ayuda internacional y si en realidad ayuda a las personas que tienen hambre en Guatemala o no ...hasta " de Halloween, Culto Stanico"(La Prensa Libre). Es apropiado creo, que ahorita es de Halloween y supongo que todos estamos esperandolo para ... adorar a Satanás??!**

I should have guessed that some of the more serious religious folk in Guatemala could take this stance when it came to Halloween, but it still surprises me. According to the author, it is essential that we (the reader) do not fall into the trap of Halloween and participate in satanic worship because “son abominaciones bíblicas que acarrean maldición a gente, naciones y negocios”.

However, aside form all the scare mongering about Halloween, the author eludes to some serious points for discussion. These are issues that, in the past when immersed in Latin American culture, I have really struggled with – the relationship between (not Satan) rates of violent crime (and poverty) and the widespread faith in Catholicism. Maybe it is “la voluntad de Satanás” like the author says, but if not, it strikes me as a very bizarre contradiction, especially as the author also states, “mucho screen que [esa’ violencia y muerte sucede porque es la voluntad de Dios”. I mean I realize that crime, poverty, etc. are complex issues and a discussion of religion alone may not be. Is not sufficient to explain why they are such endemic issues. But where does religion stand on this? Beyond the ‘Satan worshipping Halloween revelers’, does (the Catholic) religion promote an apathetic ‘it is the will of God’ view of crime, or does it provide an outlet for compassion and active caring for fellow human beings or WHAT?

Interestingly, the only mention of food (what I was originally set to write about) in this article is this: “La fiesta, disfraces de brujas, demonios, animales y duendes, el ayote o calabaza como sonriente calavera con su candelita adentro, niños tocando las puertas pidiendo dulcitos y dinero”.

http://www.prensalibre.com/opinion/Halloween-culto-satanico_0_358764208.html

**Since all I can think about right now is food…YUM FOOD…I decided to search “comida” on a couple of the Guatemalan news websites. The range of results that I found was, honestly mind-boggling. How can we live in such a complex world…or complex at least to my logic. Let me explain. New results about “comida” from just one country include a range of headlines such as “¿Hambre? Pero si hay comida en la casa” (El Periodico), to “Arte vs Comida” (El Periodico), TO “Bon Chef Comida Gourmet Lista Para Llevar” (El Periodico), to “Evo Morales Almuerzo con Minero que Sobrevivio en Chile” (La Prensa Libre), to articles about the usefulness of international aid money in actually helping the many hungry people in Guatemala to …”Halloween, Culto Stanico” (La Prensa Libre). It is fitting I think since Halloween is just around the corner and I assume we are all looking forward to…worshipping Satan??!