‘Sensitivity, respect and awareness is what I am trying to promote — not hate’

It is important that everyone who reads anything I write does not misinterpret what I am trying to say.

In receiving messages from some people within our community, I realize some individuals are unaware that it is a legal human right to reply to a written document or anything published. My “My Turn” [Nov. 23, 2016] was simply my reply to a previous opinion published Oct. 27, 2016 — written by one man. Again, it was simply a reply/response/answer meant for Pavel Lukes. It was not meant to be a blanket statement for anyone other than he.

I find it interesting that there are individuals who want to advocate for tolerance, yet have no tolerance for a people who have a historic legacy here and who are losing a cherished way of life. These folks are not equipped to deal with the economic earthquake coming. Too many will not be able to financially compete. Land and home prices are skyrocketing, and only those within large income brackets will eventually be capable of continuing to live in Taos. Subsidized rent can be a wonderful thing, yet it undermines the self-determination of an agricultural legacy whose folks built those adobe homes they no longer own, that now sell for outrageous prices.

These changes have come fast and furious. Ask yourselves: what did people see when they first came to, and fell in love with Taos? How is what originally drew people here changing? Have you noticed the changes? I would like to hear from people about how much Taos has changed, if anyone has the time or desire to share.

Taos once had a simpler existence. It did not necessarily require one to be rich to live here. True wealth came from social interactions and self-determination.

Customs of consumerism have not yet completely assimilated into many realities. Displacement will lessen the value of experiencing the Taos that charmed so many who relocated here in the first place.

I have been given permission to speak for those silent ones who think like me, and who have asked me to be their voice. People that are proud of our historic heritage, whose heart, mind, body and soul do not know how to be disconnected from this, our beloved homeland. How is it possible that this is not understood, valued or appreciated?

Sensitivity, respect and awareness is what I am trying to promote — not a message of hate. Those who want to see my message different than that of compassion may be unreasonably projecting their own individual dysfunctional feelings. Theirs may be a need to reflect more inwardly. However, a confusion can also occur with the improper awareness of the word “tolerance.”

Here in New Mexico, so much is being lost. Languages are dying, and with the death of languages comes the deaths of cultures. Spanish spoken here is an archaic dialect of Spanish that originally stems from an area in Spain where the language no longer exists. It is an ancient language that has become extinct there. It is reason enough that it should be protected here. Interestingly, every indigenous language in New Mexico is also endangered: Tewa, Jicarilla Apache, Towa, Keresan, Tiwa, Navajo Athabaskan and Zuni. Lipan Apache once spoken in New Mexico is officially extinct. Should everyone hurrah this? People all around the world are losing their languages and cultures. Are we supposed to be forced to tolerate this?

Is tolerance something any endangered culture should have when their homeland is being designed as an investor’s dream for financial gain? Is everyone supposed to love the idea of becoming a recreational consumer’s market, promoted as a fantasy resort town for entertainment value dollars and second homes? Are Taoseños supposed to tolerate the effects it will have on multigenerational indigenous people here?

Culture breakdown brings many complications to people living within those cultures that are crumbling. Isn’t tolerance supposed to mean that right for all cultures to be able to continue to be, and where diversity is supported and appreciated? Exploitation is nowhere in that definition. Does an individual’s worth only depend on a credit score encouraging consumerism? And does it outweigh the beauty to thrive as unique heritages? How many losses of cultures should humanity tolerate? How much insensitivity should people accept? Preservation deserves encouragement. We need to establish balance.

Cantu is a town of Taos councilwoman.