For instance, when I visited the rural town of Santa Cruz del Quiché during their political elections, I found a different perspective. I met two brothers, Carlos and Juan, who were very enthusiastic about running for the office of town mayor. These men wanted to fix the local government and to make the lives of the citizens better. This example shows that you should not trust stereotypes absolutely. In some Guatemalan towns, local mayors sponsor community events to bring people together. For example, just recently the mayor in San Cristobal Verapaz hosted a 10-kilometer marathon. This marathon brought old and young Guatemalans together to share their passion for running. This just goes to show there are good people working in the politial system and not just corrupt ones!
A final stereotype is the idea that Guatemalans do not care about their history. It is true that many people do not want to remember the history of events like the war in the 1980s. Many people in the Guatemalan government and military do not want to remember this war because they do not want to admit their past mistakes and crimes. However, this assumption that everyone here wants to deny the war is only a part of this story: for example, I found a great passion and vigor for history in many Guatemalans. Students, scholars, human rights workers and lawyers all want to learn about their country's history and to commemorate the victims of the war. Many Guatemalans even make a career out of studying the past. I was most surprised by the energy of young people in this regard! Compared to the young people in the United States, the youth in Guatemala seem much more passionate about doing activities to help remember the past.
