Our struggle with World Views

This post was difficult for me to write and I'm still not sure if it's coming across correctly, but here it goes...

Justo Gonzalez is a Latin American theologian who has written extensively on the history of theological movements in Latin America. His book, Manana, Christian Theology from a Hispanic Perspective, draws a few distinctions between the West and the Hispanic world, which may in part add to the discussion in previous post.

One primary aspect of difference between the US and Hispanic culture is probably not so surprising to most of us, autonomous identity versus communal identity. Guess who is autonomous? Yes…wealthy Westerners…We do reflect the best hopes of our Founders who were all reading the same enlightenment philosophers way back when…Descarte, Locke and Hobbes.

Men like Jefferson and Madison believed that rights (personal and autonomous rights) to a large extent existed as a means of preserving a private sphere where men (and women…eventually) could enrich themselves and satisfy the desiring parts of their souls. Hegel, in response to this view of autonomy took that further in the next century. He saw rights as ends in themselves, because what truly satisfies human beings is not so much material prosperity as recognition of their status and dignity– the struggle for recognition.

Hispanic individuals, for the most part, do not think of themselves as autonomous beings. They’re not trying to preserve a “private sphere” where they can achieve “self actualization”. They are communal. Identity is defined within the community, the pueblo, the church, the family. Moreover, responsibility is to the community.

One reality that flows from autonomy is the ability for one person to distance himself from the sins of the fathers. What do I mean? Simply this: Does a Swede (Do I) feel shame and disgrace over the death and destruction wrecked in Europe by the Vikings? Many innocent victims came back into Scandinavia as slaves, those that weren’t murdered. Also, monetary wealth flowed into Norway, Sweden and Denmark as a result of Viking piracy and marauding. True, my recent ancestors were extremely poor, the underclass in a country that had little wealth during the 1700s and 1800s. So, why feel any guilt?

What about the more recent past? Do I feel shame over my country’s role in WWII? The Norweigians haven’t forgotten that their neighbor, in an attempt to save itself, cut a deal with Hitler that allowed him access to oil-rich Norway. Sweden stayed neutral in the war and true, many Jews were funneled into Sweden and saved by compassionate individuals in that country, but it is also true that oil from Norway prolonged the war and cost many many lives. Some historians say Sweden had no choice, but it's messy, isn't it? It's not a clean history. You can look past the feo to the bonito, but to deny that ugliness exists is dishonest.

We Americans have our own mess to contend with...Slavery, displacement of the native people's, injustice, broken treaties...

In Mexico, Mestizo identity does not allow for denial. Mexicans are European and Native. They are mixed up in the same person...an identity which is mostly celebrated, but sometimes mourned. The story of Mexico is messy. Blood is on all hands. This is one of Gonzalez’ main points in his book. Hispanic individuals live with a connection to their history in their very person, such that denial is an impossibility.

As Jason and I have contemplated looking past the “feo” to see the “bonito”, we wonder if is more difficult for us in the West to live in the mess that may be our marriage, our job, or our community, than it is for our Mexican neighbors.

It may seem easier and less painful to bring closure to the marraige, change jobs, or move away from our community, to wipe away the feo and put away the problem forever. This raises the question, can you really get rid of the mess that easily? If the mess is "out there", this strategy should work wonderfully, but if not...if the mess in "in here" as well as out there, then the strategy will fail.

From what we can tell, Biblical wisdom favors the Mestizo world view. It is possible, as our Mexican friends are showing us, to live without denying that the feo exists and see past it, appreciate and receive as a gift, the bonito.