Anti-Bush purification rite (spam on subject, only)

[fable]

Yes, this is serious, and it's from the Associated Press. Read on:

UAN CARLOS LLORCA | AP | March 9, 2007 12:20 AM EST

GUATEMALA CITY — Mayan priests will purify a sacred archaeological site to eliminate "bad spirits" after President Bush visits next week, an official with close ties to the group said Thursday.

"That a person like (Bush), with the persecution of our migrant brothers in the United States, with the wars he has provoked, is going to walk in our sacred lands, is an offense for the Mayan people and their culture," Juan Tiney, the director of a Mayan nongovernmental organization with close ties to Mayan religious and political leaders, said Thursday.

Bush's seven-day tour of Latin America includes a stopover beginning late Sunday in Guatemala. On Monday morning he is scheduled to visit the archaeological site Iximche on the high western plateau in a region of the Central American country populated mostly by Mayans. Tiney said the "spirit guides of the Mayan community" decided it would be necessary to cleanse the sacred site of "bad spirits" after Bush's visit so that their ancestors could rest in peace. He also said the rites _ which entail chanting and burning incense, herbs and candles _ would prepare the site for the third summit of Latin American Indians March 26-30.

Bush's trip has already has sparked protests elsewhere in Latin America, including protests and clashes with police in Brazil hours before his arrival. In Bogota, Colombia, which Bush will visit on Sunday, 200 masked students battled 300 riot police with rocks and small homemade explosives.

The tour is aimed at challenging a widespread perception that the United States has neglected the region and at combatting the rising influence of Venezuelan leftist President Hugo Chavez, who has called Bush "history's greatest killer" and "the devil."

Iximche, 30 miles west of the capital of Guatemala City, was founded as the capital of the Kaqchiqueles kingdom before the Spanish conquest in 1524.

It's not really a very good job of reporting, but that's to be expected. For one thing, it would have been nice to have some other source responses to the Mayan priests' news, as well as more detail into what the priests intend to actually do. And whether Bush's trip is intended to counter Chavez's influence--which is highly unlikely, since Bush is only going to three countries that are close trading partners--the comment about it is pure supposition on the writer's part.

That said, I do like the idea of a purification ritual against Bush. The problem I could see for working one up here in the US, is that his influence is all encompassing through a much extended, extremely loyal federal and state government. Too much area to purify, in other words. Though it could be done locally, on small areas, provided all the ingredients of the ritual (including the officiating priests/priestesses) in turn were purified ahead of time. That's not a big deal. Though, from a standpoint as a fellow professional, I'm curious how those priests will word the ritual, and what they will emphasize.

Over to you.

[VonDondu]

From what I gleaned from the article, the rituals are suitable for specific local areas (rather than being beneficial over a large area) because they have two purposes. First of all, the rituals will calm the spirits of the dead at that sacred archaeological site after Bush's presence has irritated them. I suppose that similar rituals could be performed in other specific places where Bush has raised the ire of the dead. Second of all, a site has been chosen for the summit of Latin American Indians, and the rituals will prepare that site for the upcoming event. Again, I suppose that similar rituals could be used to prepare other sites that will host such events. Therefore, even though Bush has left much of the world in need of purification, it's not so difficult to determine where these rituals might do the most good. That's how I read it, anyway.

[fable]

Originally Posted by VonDondu

From what I gleaned from the article, the rituals are suitable for specific local areas (rather than being beneficial over a large area) because they have two purposes. First of all, the rituals will calm the spirits of the dead at that sacred archaeological site after Bush's presence has irritated them. I suppose that similar rituals could be performed in other specific places where Bush has raised the ire of the dead. Second of all, a site has been chosen for the summit of Latin American Indians, and the rituals will prepare that site for the upcoming event. Again, I suppose that similar rituals could be used to prepare other sites that will host such events. Therefore, even though Bush has left much of the world in need of purification, it's not so difficult to determine where these rituals might do the most good. That's how I read it, anyway.

Depends on the ritual system in use. Many involve otherworldly hierarchies of beings (for lack of a better term), so the best methof of purifying a larger area would be to contact beings involved with the "ancestors" at a higher level. And I don't mean angelic/demonic, either, though that's an option if you go the kabbalistic route. Less effective, though, because with a larger, non-religious area, you're dealing with something that's going to be open to all sorts of influences, anyway. In other words, it's easier to keep Bush out of a burial zone than it is out of a park where his appointee in charge of the Forrestry Department is a former lobbyist for the lumber industry.

[Avane]

Boils down to, "Ohio, what were you thinking?" Please vote Democrat next time...will save the globe a whole lot of angst. Sorry that was a bit flippant, so to address the news article properly, it takes one tiny little comparison: does anyone think that this reaction would have been provoked by a visit by President Clinton?