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Maya demand an end to doomsday myth
Phys.Org ^ | October 25, 2012 | Staff

Posted on 10/29/2012 1:59:47 PM PDT by Red Badger

Guatemala's Mayan people accused the government and tour groups on Wednesday of perpetuating the myth that their calendar foresees the imminent end of the world for monetary gain.

"We are speaking out against deceit, lies and twisting of the truth, and turning us into folklore-for-profit. They are not telling the truth about time cycles," charged Felipe Gomez, leader of the Maya alliance Oxlaljuj Ajpop. Several films and documentaries have promoted the idea that the ancient Mayan calendar predicts that doomsday is less than two months away, on December 21, 2012. The Culture Ministry is hosting a massive event in Guatemala City—which as many as 90,000 people are expected to attend—just in case the world actually does end, while tour groups are promoting doomsday-themed getaways.

Maya leader Gomez urged the Tourism Institute to rethink the doomsday celebration, which he criticized as a "show" that was disrespectful to Mayan culture. Experts say that for the Maya, all that ends in 2012 is one of their calendar cycles, not the world.

Gomez's group issued a statement saying that the new Maya time cycle simply "means there will be big changes on the personal, family and community level, so that there is harmony and balance between mankind and nature." Oxlajuj Ajpop is holding events it considers sacred in five cities to mark the event and Gomez said the Culture Ministry would be wise to throw its support behind their real celebrations. More than half of Guatemala's population of nearly 15 million are from indigenous groups of Mayan descent. The Mayan calendar has 18 months of 20 days each plus a sacred month, "Wayeb," of five days. "B'aktun" is the larget unit in the time cycle system, and is about 400 years. The broader era spans 13 B'aktun, or about 5,200 years. The Mayan culture enjoyed a golden age between 250 AD and 900 AD.


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Mexico
KEYWORDS: guatemala; maya
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To: Red Badger

I wonder how many idiots will commit suicide on December 20, 2012 simply because of all this.


21 posted on 10/29/2012 3:46:10 PM PDT by Epsdude
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To: Epsdude

I wonder how many idiots will max out their credit cards with the hope they will never have to repay them.


22 posted on 10/29/2012 4:31:08 PM PDT by Petruchio (I Think . . . Therefor I FReep.)
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To: Epsdude
I wonder how many idiots will commit suicide on December 20, 2012 simply because of all this.

Not just this, but also the fact that the elections didn't go the way one expected. The combination of the two might just do the trick.

23 posted on 10/29/2012 7:11:54 PM PDT by MeneMeneTekelUpharsin (Freedom is the freedom to discipline yourself so others don't have to do it for you.)
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To: cripplecreek

You'll all look just darling.

24 posted on 10/29/2012 8:26:36 PM PDT by Slings and Arrows (You can't have IngSoc without an Emmanuel Goldstein.)
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To: Slings and Arrows

LOL


25 posted on 10/29/2012 8:30:29 PM PDT by cripplecreek (What does it profit a man if he gains the whole world but loses his soul?)
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To: Slings and Arrows
Just watch out for these guys.


26 posted on 10/29/2012 8:58:40 PM PDT by uglybiker (nuh-nuh-nuh-nuh-nuh-nuh-nuh-nuh-nuh-nuh-nuh-nuh-nuh-nuh-nuh-nuh-BATMAN!)
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To: uglybiker

*rimshot*


27 posted on 10/29/2012 10:43:30 PM PDT by Slings and Arrows (You can't have IngSoc without an Emmanuel Goldstein.)
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To: Red Badger

Obviously, the Mayan people need to get in touch with a competent consulting firm to set their mind at rest about 2012+. I would suggest they contact 617-572-2000.


28 posted on 10/29/2012 10:58:34 PM PDT by cynwoody
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To: Epsdude

CLEANING OUT THE GENE POOL............


29 posted on 10/30/2012 6:09:42 AM PDT by Red Badger (Why yes, that was crude and uncalled for......That's why I said it..............)
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To: OneWingedShark

LOL


30 posted on 10/30/2012 8:21:15 AM PDT by SoldierDad (Proud dad of an Army Soldier who has survived 24 months of Combat deployment.)
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