Myths of Latin America

The Encounters

Contrary to popular belief:

CORTES did not "discover" the Aztecs; they were never lost.
COCA is not a drug, it must be processed to have the effects of
cocaine, just as a poppy is not a drug until it is processed into
opium.
SHUAR warriors were not cold blooded savages; they formed a noble
Amazonian community.
AZTECS did not offer humans maliciously; they sacrificed with blood to
please their gods.
LA VIRGEN DE GUADALUPE first appeared in Latin America to an
indigenous man and her importance as a symbol of hope has endured
throughout time.
LA LLORONA has existed in varying forms since Aztec times and has
evolved from a negative figure highlighting female wrongdoings into a
positive symbol of strength and resistance.

Many misconceptions about Latin America that we hold today stem from
incidences of "encounters". Whether due to indifference or just plain
fear of the unknown, many of the newly arrived Europeans didn't bother
to explore beyond their first impression. These poor understandings of
new people, places, and cultures led to hundreds of years of bad
reputations, failing intercultural relationships, and cultural
ignorance.

Cortes and Monteczuma Dicovering Myths of Characters and
Nations