Rigoberta Menchu as Candidate? · Global Voices
Renata Avila

In the early 20th century, the Mexican painter Frida Kahlo quit wearing her Western clothes to adopt a more indigenous appearance, showing her heritage with pride, not in the genetic sense, since she was not indigenous at all, but with the pride of being Mexican, and using her clothes and style as a way of self-expression; a way that men were not able to do as they were always wearing suits. Also, she made strong, visual statements through her paintings.
Western women using indigenous folkloric clothing was an interesting picture, but it was even more controversial when, at the end of the century, an indigenous woman without changing her clothes or identity, was honored with the Nobel Peace Prize. And now she dares to consider the idea of becoming a presidential candidate for 2008-2011 period.
All the politicians are surprised nowadays, because they never thought or even considered such a complex scenario. A left wing indigenous woman, to become the next Evo. It is important to bear in mind that she neither has a formal party yet, nor officially decided to become candidate, but every day a different columnist or article is seen criticizing or supporting her.
Jorge Cabrera thinks that such scenario might bring to the discussion many issues tagged as unmentionable in Guatemalan society, At CARPE DIEM [ES] he started the discussion with a picture of Menchu in the 80’s disqualifying her because of possible links with guerrillas… (what about army nexus with narcotics traffic of other candidates?). Alan Mills, a Guatemalan poet, argues that she is a clever woman, and contrasts her candidacy with the upcoming visits of Evo Morales and George W. Bush next March. In such a polarized society, people either love her or criticize and make racist jokes against her. Hunapu e Ixbalanque see it as part of a logical process and place her style of leadership in a left wing political party, but paradoxically, instead of joining efforts and support, those parties are still questioning her ideology.
She is definitely not Evo Morales. She has her own agenda and strategy. A strategy that seems to be working. Because, again, she is not a candidate yet. And everyone is talking about it. And we have unexpected visitors next march. Here is a woman of our times with her own voice in politics, with her own accomplishments that didn't come about by marrying a prestigious politician. Not changing, but wearing her own clothes