Posted on 12/07/2006 7:11:02 PM PST by paudio
Some descendants of the Maya tribes depicted in Mel Gibson's Apocalypto have denounced the movie as racist and not representative of their ancient culture. In an interview with Reuters, Ignacio Ochoa, director of the Nahual Foundation, said, "Gibson replays, in glorious big budget Technicolor, an offensive and racist notion that Maya people were brutal to one another long before the arrival of Europeans and thus they deserved, in fact, needed, rescue." Lucio Yaxon, described by Reuters as a 23-year-old Mayan human rights activist, added, "Basically, the director is saying the Mayans are savages." Today's (Thursday) Los Angeles Times noted that archaeologist Richard Hansen was on hand throughout the shooting of the film, lending his advice to the production team. Production designer Tom Sanders told the newspaper, "It was really fun to say [to Hansen], 'Is there any proof they didn't do this?' When he said, 'There is no proof they didn't do that, ' that gives you some license to play."
Some descendants of the Maya tribes wanted some attention and maybe even a buck or two.
I don't see Mel sweating the "Maya"!
I think they're taking those Geico commercials too seriously.
I wonder if "cultural activist" is listed in the U.S. Department of Commerce Employment Outlook Handbook of 2006 and what the going wages are.
I can't stand the Cave man in those commercials. Arrogant.
Human sacrifice=Savages
Mel ought to pimp slap this kid.....or pay him off!
I like your first suggestion-slap him. Please don't pay him off!!
Why am I thinking of the Geico "caveman" commercial ?
Reads like a script for a Geico's "cavemen" ad.
The "activist" is probably thrilled to get the publicity and can be counted on to milk it for everything he can get.
Darn, you beat me by seconds...
No, he's saying Mayans WERE savages.
I remember reading years ago about 1 mayan king that sacrificed 8000 innocents in 1 year to dedicate a single temple. They were precursors to TROP!!
"Basically, the director is saying the Mayans are savages."
Oh Mel, Mel, Mel. Next you'll be making a movie about Muslims that portrays them as savages, too. Rude.
(Or is it Incan?)
Many Europeans of the so-called pre-Columbian era were savages too. Human life in those times other than your own had little value to almost any culture.
For pete's sake they stuck thorns through their foreskins and drippled the blood for religious purposes.
In the end, a massive Bermuda High that lasted 300 years AND internecine warfare destroyed their civilization long before the arrival of any Europeans (other than the guys who came in 800 AD and passed along knowledge of the bow and arrow).
Mel: "Honestly, we didn't know you guys were still around."
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.