Interesting picture about Huaraz. But you should be very careful when you write about things that you know superficially. The supposed "new social divide" that you claim can be seen as nothing new in fact: Peru has had many different kind of divisions since civilization came into existence, just as in any other place in the planet.
I don't know from where are you but imagine that I go to your country and picture the things I see creating more divisions between your connationals and contributing to the fostering of stereotypes abroad.
For example, I could go to some parts of NY and describe pictures of bus strikes, drug abuse, rapes, crimes and so on, would NY like it? Of course not, I have to tell also about the good things to be found in NY to be politically correct and not appear prejudiced. You have much to learn as a writer: more research and open-mindedness, are only two of them.
ok, Canadian journal and possibly a potential Canadian apprentice of a writer... so if you spent a summer in Huaraz, why dont you mention that half of those protests and half of those growing divisions come from the presence of two Canadian mines? Why? Why? Why?
I wonder - does Jan's editor think this is a credible article? In my opinion, it's really slanted towards the dramatic. To describe Huaraz, even partially, as "a city of potholed streets lined with drab buildings" shows the author's skills clearly. As an example of the careless writing, the article begins by telling us about the 1970 earthquake that "leveled" the city - but yet the Plaza de Armas survived? Folks, there was NOTHING about the Plaza de Armas in Huaraz that survived that earthquake. Jan, do you think that maybe the earthquake and the incomprehensible destruction that resulted has maybe a little something to do with the basic, non-ornamental construction style that you deride? Tens of thousands of people needed shelter - the Peruvian military as well as volunteers from all over the globe came and rebuilt the main structure of the city (along with the rest of the callejon de Huaylas)in a very "workmanlike" style - unadorned. Not cute, but at least the town got back on track. This is a non-credible article in many important ways - too bad it was "published" - even in this simple manner.
All these comments in the one day - we must all be following the same link of Facebook. I have never been to Huaraz, so I can't say how true to life the article is, but I think the writers point is exactly that as the city "got back on track" it developed an increasing rich vs. poor and city vs. country inequality. While I think the article might be a bit dramatic, it's pretty grim and I think the writer isn't trying to insult Huaraz, but rather show the problems affecting the city. Just my two cents. Oh, and Chris, this article WAS published in the magazine - this is an excerpt from the January 2008 issue.
Peru has always been divided first by its challenging terrain; costa, sierra, selva. From that perspective you can look at its different cultures and how they have evolved. The politics is local, regional, national and international just like any nationalized culture.
Huaraz has always been isolated in many ways- mostly because of its geographic location. In peru in general there is an opportunism that exists and it is not the fault of any one person or subculture- it is what is left over from the paternalistic spaniards who tried to conquer the incas. I don't think they succeeded completely.
It's quite obvious in the sierre and selva that traditions still exist and that their is much to learn from and respect about what is still preserved from these cultures that are not Peruvian. They are Andean and Amazonian and we shouldn't confuse them with Lima's politics first of all.
And what is poor by the standards of first world people, require years of observation so that you can appreciate how a POOR man feels and how a RICH man feels respectively.
In peru- just shut up and watch what happens and don't jump to conclusions. Be relative and phenomenological and if your really bored read Cien Siglos de Pan by Fernando Cabieses
