Elton John concert to go ahead despite Mayan anger

[Derechos]

MERIDA, Mexico (AFP) – Organizers said a concert by Elton John in the ruins of Chichen Itza would go ahead Saturday even after the stage collapsed injuring three workers and complaints from indigenous Mayans it was irreverent and out of place.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/entertainmentmexicomusiceltonjohncultnative

[Judi Lynn]

1. Wow. This is wrong in so many ways. Colossal ego running amock.

From the article:

~snip~
Chichen Itza "is no scenery for an artist to show off, for the enjoyment of an elite or for the political and economic benefit of a small group of people, as well as powerful multinationals," wrote the scientists.

The concert venue near Merida has a 6,000-seat capacity that is 90 percent booked, with ticket prices ranging from 80 to 800 dollars -- putting it clearly out of range of the local Maya population.

Valerio Canche, a Mayan priest who heads the "Mayao'b" religious group, told AFP he regretted "the great discrimination the authorities are inflicting on our brothers of the Maya race."

Meanwhile, local authorities earlier this week announced they had purchased the land on which the Chichen Itza ruins stand from private individuals for 17.6 million dollars.

And without missing a beat, they announced that former Beatle Paul McCartney was next in line to hold a concert at the Mayan ruins.

Who would expect the Mexican government to do something which will live on as a total repudiation of an amazing, towering historic era, and the people who created it, and their descendants. After all, everyone needs to remember it's only the European descended people who matter, apparently. :sarcasm: What a shame.

http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk.nyud.net:8090/media/images/42477000/jpg/_42477054_chichenitza_ap_416.jpg http://www.d.umn.edu.nyud.net:8090/cla/faculty/troufs/anth3618/images/Chichen_Itza1.jpg

For a hefty price, Calderon's government will allow you, too, to use
this ancient, sacred site as a backdrop to your own personal backdrop.

Recommending.

[naaman fletcher]

2. I don't know how I feel about this..

One the one hand, I don't like elitist douches who run around paying 800 dollars for tickets in some historical place so that they can feel like they are cultured. On the other hand, they are religious ruins and I have no more respect for that than I do the bricks and mortar that the Israelis and muslims kill each other over.

So count me in as "meh".

[Peace Patriot]

3. There is no reason that a big concert can't be done right, with respect to the Mayans' religion and

benefit to local people. I hope that that is the upshot of these complaints. I don't know about Elton John, but Sir Paul has been a MAJOR contributor to VERY good causes--anti-war and environmental causes. He has the capacity to listen and I hope he does.

In truth, I think all religions should open themselves up to the most sacred music of all: rock 'n' roll!

:hippie: :hippie: :bounce: :grouphug: :bounce: :hippie: :hippie: