Thread by @mariliacout

1/ Your daily educational tip to have a glimpse on what the Latin American scene is made of. Today, I introduce you to the #Whiphala

"The Wiphala (Quechua pronunciation: [wɪˈpʰala], Spanish: [wi.ˈpa.la]) is a square emblem, commonly used as a flag...

2/... The Wiphala (Quechua pronunciation: [wɪˈpʰala], Spanish: [wi.ˈpa.la]) is a square emblem, commonly used as a flag, representing some native peoples of the Andes that include today's Bolivia, Peru, Ecuador and parts of Argentina, Chile and Colombia."

3/ That was from wikipedia: easy-peasy, right?

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wiphala

4/ Here is a more thorough work about the meaning, origins and political significance of the #Whipala:

"Este trabajo fue, como fruto de una investigación profunda, realizado en las mismas
comunidad y Ayllus del área Andina"

katari.org/pdf/wiphala

5/ This is another report resulting from the academic and activist efforts of Andean groups:

web.archive.org/web/2009031501…

6/ And here is a decent English explanation of the Whipala:

chiletoday.cl/site/the-wipha…

7/ It is not surprising that in Bolivia, where there are only 5% white people and less than 10% evangelicals, the righ-wing extremists who seized power and disrespected the Whipala are not welcome by at least 75% of the people.

theguardian.com/world/2019/nov…

8/ Bolivian demographic is approximately this (check all the sources, there's little variation):
20% indigenous
50-60% "mestizo" (predominantly indigenous but mixed)
5% white
About 80% are "syncretic Catholic" (as most of us in LA).

9/ No, you can't burn the Whipala. Evangelicals are attempting to finish the job the Spaniards and Portuguese started in the XVIth century and complete the indigenous genocide. Something tells me they will fail.

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