MariposaPaulette
  • Words About This Blog
  • The Blog
  • Trade and Sustainability Website

Enrty #6:  ¿Hay Comunidades en Los Estados Unidos?

11/8/2010

0 Comments

 
November 8, 2010
Picture
Entry #6

The Question:  ¿Hay Comunidades en Los Estados Unidos?  

Reflection: Luís Ortega, the young Mexican taxi driver, asked me this question as we descended from the mountains of Chiapas after visiting the community of Acteal, the Maya Vinic coffee cooperative, and driving through many comunidades that day. Literally, he asked:  “Are there communities in the United States?

I had several responses.  

First: If the question is, "Are there communities such as Acteal in the United States?", the answer is "No". The people of each community in the highlands of Chiapas have their own distinctive dress. This similar dress is an outward sign of community, common culture, and shared experience, but it is only an outward sign of deep bonds spanning generations. We have nothing like that deep bond in the United States.   

Second:  In another respect, the question might mean, do we have a sense of community and kinship with those around us?" My response is a mixed one: “yes and no,” but whatever we have, it is nothing so deep and encompassing as the bonds within a Chiapas community.  In the United States, some may feel that in our highly mobile and busy society we have lost a great deal of what it means to be a community. Sometimes even neighbors have no interaction with each other. This separateness is reinforced by our emphasis on individual rights instead of the collective good. There are exceptions, of course. Some groups of people who have come to the U.S. from other countries choose to live near each other, and they maintain cultural traditions. This is true among groups of Hmong, Italians, Mexicans, Cubans, and others in the United States. We also form a sense of community through groups of our choosing such as churches and social organizations. Yet, most of us long for community or, at least, more community. 

Third:  If the question is, "Do we use the word community in the United States?," my response is  “Yes.” We refer to the Michigan State University (MSU) community, the East Lansing community, and so on. But, as I told Luís, comunidad takes on its own meaning in Chiapas. 

The photo is of women of Acteal, Chiapas, with their distinctive “chales” (shawls). Their chales and huipiles (blouses) are unique to the comunidad. Similarly, the men have their own style of dress that differs from that of men of other comunidades.

Yes, I have just come back from a research trip to Chiapas.  It was amazing, and I learned so much!


copyright© 2010 by Paulette L. Stenzel for the photo and text. 


0 Comments



Leave a Reply.

    Picture

    Paulette L. Stenzel

     I am Professor Emerita of International Business Law and Sustainability at Michigan State University (MSU). I continue  to teach part time at MSU and  coordinate the Broad College Ethical Leadership program Additionally, I advise Spartan Global Development Fund, a student-driven microfinance organization, and serve on its non-profit 501(c)(3) Board of Directors.  . 

    ​
    I am also  a mom,  learner, writer,  violinist, environmentalist -in -process, traveler, and avid reader.  
      
    ​Through research, service, and public speaking, I share information and perspectives  on teaching, ethical leadership, and the pursuit of more sustainable ways of living and doing business. 


    Photo above:  Francisco Vinega, Jade Artist,  Guatemala, with Paulette Stenzel.  
    Contact me at [email protected].

    Archives

    August 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    April 2021
    November 2020
    October 2020
    July 2018
    April 2018
    October 2016
    July 2015
    November 2014
    October 2014
    November 2013
    June 2013
    March 2013
    November 2012
    July 2012
    November 2011
    October 2011
    September 2011
    June 2011
    March 2011
    February 2011
    January 2011
    December 2010
    November 2010
    October 2010

    RSS Feed

Proudly powered by Weebly