SPAN 3302
Monday, February 5, 2007
The process of Transculturation through the lenses of injustice
“Men are so simple that…one who deceives will always find those who allow themselves to be deceived”
—Niccolo Macchiavelli
“We know what justice is when we feel the wounds of injustice “
—Aristotle
Aristotle could not be more correct. The concept of human rights is at the center of the idea of justice. On page 161, we learn that “annoyances and great disputes” developed between the Spaniards and Cabeza de Vaca regarding whether or not Indians should be enslaved.
In addition, this particular passage is really interesting considering the fact that it was written to the King of Spain in order to convince him to let Cabexa de Vaca return to the New World. Cabeza de Vaca is actually advocating a new form of “Conquista.” The fact that Cabeza de Vaca writes to the King to tell him that he sides with the Indians on numerous occasions on pages 161 and 162 is particularly interesting. At the same time, on page 162, Cabeza de Vaca gives us the way Conquistadores are seen by the natives. The natives do not fear the Spaniards or the Conquistadores anymore. Cabeza de Vaca has a hard time convincing the Indians that the Spaniards were as much Christians as him.
The framework of Cabeza de Vaca Chicano’s identity is exemplified on page 162.
For 9 years, Cabeza de Vaca experienced a form of syncretism that mixed his Christians beliefs with shamanism in his healing type of ministry among the natives. But the process of transculturation does not end here since an entirely new identity is formed, one which would transcend the Spaniard and the Native one.
The Chicano’s identity of Cabeza de Vaca is certainly experienced when Indians tell him that he is a different Christian than the Spaniards, even though he tries to convince them that they share the same faith. The natives make him realize that he is naked and barefoot but not the Spaniards, that he is a healer but the Spaniards are killers, that Cabeza de Vaca did not covet anything but Spaniards do.
Such honesty in Cabeza de Vaca’s letter to the King of Spain is intriguing. Should the King send back to the New World someone who does not fit into the Spaniard identity? I still wonder why the King of Spain agreed to allow Cabeza de Vaca to return to the New World in the position of governor since he does not exemplify the Spaniard identity.
—Niccolo Macchiavelli
“We know what justice is when we feel the wounds of injustice “
—Aristotle
Aristotle could not be more correct. The concept of human rights is at the center of the idea of justice. On page 161, we learn that “annoyances and great disputes” developed between the Spaniards and Cabeza de Vaca regarding whether or not Indians should be enslaved.
In addition, this particular passage is really interesting considering the fact that it was written to the King of Spain in order to convince him to let Cabexa de Vaca return to the New World. Cabeza de Vaca is actually advocating a new form of “Conquista.” The fact that Cabeza de Vaca writes to the King to tell him that he sides with the Indians on numerous occasions on pages 161 and 162 is particularly interesting. At the same time, on page 162, Cabeza de Vaca gives us the way Conquistadores are seen by the natives. The natives do not fear the Spaniards or the Conquistadores anymore. Cabeza de Vaca has a hard time convincing the Indians that the Spaniards were as much Christians as him.
The framework of Cabeza de Vaca Chicano’s identity is exemplified on page 162.
For 9 years, Cabeza de Vaca experienced a form of syncretism that mixed his Christians beliefs with shamanism in his healing type of ministry among the natives. But the process of transculturation does not end here since an entirely new identity is formed, one which would transcend the Spaniard and the Native one.
The Chicano’s identity of Cabeza de Vaca is certainly experienced when Indians tell him that he is a different Christian than the Spaniards, even though he tries to convince them that they share the same faith. The natives make him realize that he is naked and barefoot but not the Spaniards, that he is a healer but the Spaniards are killers, that Cabeza de Vaca did not covet anything but Spaniards do.
Such honesty in Cabeza de Vaca’s letter to the King of Spain is intriguing. Should the King send back to the New World someone who does not fit into the Spaniard identity? I still wonder why the King of Spain agreed to allow Cabeza de Vaca to return to the New World in the position of governor since he does not exemplify the Spaniard identity.
posted by Nicolau Pereira at 7:40 PM
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