[Aztlan] "Teotihuacan In Danger"

[Marcos Villaseñor]

I respectfully disagree. Teotihuacan is the most important  
archaeological site in the Estate of Mexico and perhaps in the entire  
country. Having grown up in Mexico and witnessed the lack of respect  
that governments show towards the past, I find that to my dismay,  
that Teotihuacan is now used as an ideological battle ground for neo- 
liberals to pursue their "pan y circo" policies.

To make Teotihuacan into a disco light show is demeaning to us all,  
if Teo needs help then it is the obligation of the governor Peña  
Nieto to do his best to bring real jobs to Teo, but to bank on a  
light show, specially after the construction of a wallmart within the  
site, when all it does is mar the view of this magnificent site is  
folly Mexican style.

Marcos Villasenor



On Jan 16, 2009, at 2:23 PM, kim Goldsmith wrote:

> Contrary to "amarillista" press, the Teotihuacan Archaeological  
> Zone is NOT in danger.  As decided by the Mexican Government and  
> agreed upon by the Consejo Arqueológico (INAH), "Resplandor  
> Teotihuacan" (a sort of light show with an informational script  
> that is read along with it) is being carried out.
>
> Any "damage" to the monuments was actually a series of lightly- 
> intrusive bolts that were anchored in the modern cement on the  
> monuments - - in NO WAY affecting the pre-hispanic architecture.   
> Nonetheless, after protests by some investigators, alternative  
> lighting methods were agreed upon and are now being set in place.
>
> This is not the first time Teotihuacan has had a "light and sound  
> show", and it is not the only large cultural monument (either in  
> Mexico or other parts of the world) to have such an attraction.
>
> "Resplandor" is meant as an attraction that will increment jobs in  
> all the seven municipios around the site.  It is part of a larger  
> "Tourist Corridor" (in an area that is far enough away from San  
> Juan that it is not anywhere near the old prehispanic city  
> boundaries) that is meant to bring more visitors to the area, hence  
> more jobs for the local citizens.
>
> One of the biggest problems in tourism at Teotihuacan is that  
> people use Mexico City as a base, come out during the day, visit  
> only the site (NOT the neighboring towns), and then go back to the  
> D.F. to spend the night.  Now with something to actually DO at  
> night, more people will spend at least one night in the neighboring  
> towns, incrementing the need for different services that only the  
> creation of new jobs can fulfill.
>
> "Resplandor Teotihuacan" is NOT damaging anything.  It will be a  
> powerful force in economically lifting the surrounding areas.  As  
> an archaeologist myself, I believe that often times we are guilty  
> in our zeal of wanting to keep everyone and everything stagnant in  
> time.  As an Anthropologist, I realize that there are living  
> cultures that need to be heeded and nourished.  "Resplandor" is a  
> program that will accomplish just that.
>
> KIM
>
> Kim C. Goldsmith, Ph.D.
> Archaeologist and Member of the Teo. Community for 28 years
> Teotihuacan
>   MEXICO
>
>
>
>
>
>
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