Bezaleel means “under the shadow of God” and is the name of a school in Guatemala where Galen Lehman did volunteer work in July, 2008. #1 in a series of posts on what he learned there.
Our first stop in Guatemala was an orientation at the offices of the Mennonite Central Committee in Guatemala City.
There the whole group was stunned into silent attention by our local host, who announced with feeling, “Guatemala is a racist, sexist, classist society. You will see it everywhere you turn.”
Racist, she said, because while only about 30 percent of the population is “Ladino” (of Spanish descent), Ladinos control virtually everything. Guatemalans of indigenous descent (who North Americans would probably call “Indian”) can be easily identified by their non-European facial features. Generations of undernourishment have made them up to a foot shorter than everyone else in Guatemala. They are allowed to hold only low-paying manual labor and farming jobs. (The minimum wage in Guatemala is $4/day and is often ignored.)
Classist because just two percent of the population holds 92 percent of the land (and intends to keep it that way). We were told that there is virtually no middle class. The poor are very poor and have no way to advance. They have been pushed out of the fertile coastal plantation areas and onto the steep slopes of the central mountains. Higher education, freedom of choice and the ability to move on to better economic opportunities are severely limited.
Sexist because women are often treated like second-class citizens. Later, I noted that when we visited Guatemalan homes, the women were often invisible. They stayed in the kitchen or stood quietly around the edges of the common rooms where the men sat talking.
The very rich are usually the descendants of just 20 families. Our trainer rattled off several common surnames, but I was too slow in my note taking to write them down.
Meanwhile, nearly half the children have chronic malnourishment. 15 to 18 percent of the population is disabled, often from causes related to poverty or harsh manual labor. Most of the people are under 20, and we were told that they have only three choices:
1) Gangs
2) Suicide
3) Migration
This got me thinking. It sounds like those 20 families are pigs at the trough, and may be to blame for many of the problems in Guatemala. I wondered what life was like for them.
Based on my imagination and reading I’ve done since I returned, I think they lead lives of tremendous privilege. They live in the large air-conditioned homes I saw interspersed between the wood-and-tin shacks. They eat lunch at McDonalds (where the price of a Big Mac is about equal to the minimum daily wage). In a country where some people walk an hour to get to work, they drive expensive cars.
I imagine them glorifying a patriarchal family founder, who no doubt triumphed over incredible odds to build the foundation for a family dynasty. They see themselves as having earned the right to live their lives, which is what any of us would do if we were in their place.
They spent generations building their wealth. They want to believe they earned it by hard work, God’s blessing and wise decisions. No one wants to think, “I got ahead by crushing the poor and profiting from their misery.”
Anyone in a position of wealth and power would think exactly the same thing.
The problem is that with great gain comes great responsibility.
Here’s what really makes me uncomfortable. As a business owner, I know that the decisions I make influence the lives of employees, vendors and even customers. I want to do the best that I can to honor the responsibility that comes with it.
When I fail to act ethically or responsibly, please tell me. I want to be held accountable.
Next Week: Read about the other powerful group that is crushing the poor in Guatemala
Click here for more information on Bezaleel.
Learn more about Mennonite Central Committee, a non-profit relief organization.
This is very interesting to hear what is happening in Guatemala. It is sad that Guatemala is not alone in its unethical treatment of many of its citizens. These problems exist in many countries. We too, believe any of us who were blessed to be born in a free society have a responsibility to the less fortunate of the world.
It is commendable that the Mennonite Central Committee is doing so much to relieve the suffering of so many people in the world. As individuals we can all help in some way are fellow human beings.
We may not all have the means financially or physically to go to other countries. What we can do is donate money to help support those who can go. If we don’t have money to help others we can help anyone who comes our way that needs assistence.
I was taught by my Grandmother that God loves all people. God’s love is demostrated through those people who have the capacity to reach out and make the lives of others better and relieve their suffering. ” To whom much is given much is expected.”
God did not make the world the mess it is today. People under wrong influences of greed did that. But anyone with a moral conscience can start to make a difference to someone even in a small way. Change will come one person at a time.
” Verily I say unto you, In as much as you have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, you have done it unto me.”