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the \u2018social resentment\u2019 of the indigenous people demonstrates that they \u2018do not contribute to the development\u2019 of the country. According to them the indigenous people \u2018contribute only partially, because they cannot wait for solutions\u2019. They \u2018want things to change by force\u2019. Their \u2018racism and disorganization do not help development\u2019. These perceptions leave to one side the history of marginalization of the indigenous people who fight for their vindication and social, economic and political development.\u000AOthers said that the indigenous people who arrive in Guatemala City \u2018do not contribute because they soil the city, squat in slums, and do not worry about education\u2019 (L4IFG), \u2018preventing development through ignorance\u2019. Obviously the fact is that young indigenous people do not study because they must work from very early in life or because the parents cannot maintain their studies. Another informant said that \u2018they contribute very little. It would be better if they kept outside. They make almost no contributions. It is sad to see so much potential and so little fruit. The indigenous town must change their mentality of poverty and paternalism\u2019 (L3EHS).\u000ASome lay people commented that the indigenous people \u2018do contribute to development\u2019, but \u2018their protests do not help\u2019. Some commented that \u2018to be a multilingual country divides us too much\u2019. At the heart of this idea lies the thought that it would be better to assimilate the indigenous people into the Spanish speaking culture to integrate their development. In general, the pastors expressed open rejection of their pagan customs because they are distant from the Christian message.\u000AThese opinions do not take into account the good things that come from indigenous culture and communities, nor the lack of economic opportunities, resources and land which many indigenous people suffer. Without trying to generalize, these opinions do seem to reflect the unpleasant ways of the traditional elite of the country. According to Casaus Arz\u00FA \u2018The stereotype of the \u201CIndian\u201D of the present oligarchy does not differ much from that of colonial times\u2019 (1995: 206-207). Severo Mart\u00EDnez (1973) says that this attitude is not only to be found among the elite, but within the ladino population in general.\u000A294\u000A


































































































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