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Are we ready for the next encounter of cultures?

Last week I had the opportunity of visiting several cities in New Mexico, a state that is truly a “land of enchantment.” When I learned about the history of New Mexico, I realized there are several lessons for the past we need to learn because we may need to use them sooner than we imagine.

New Mexico was the land of many tribes. Later, it became part of Spain, and even later was part of Mexico. For a short time it was part of Texas, and eventually it became part of the United States, except during a short time during the Civil War.

New Mexico is a place of cultural encounters and clashes between Spaniards, Mexicans, Natives, and Americas. It is also the birthplace of the atomic bombs that in August 1945 changed the history of World War II and the history of the world.

I learned many facts about the history of New Mexico during my visit to that state, but I think one of the most important lessons is related to the arrival of Spaniards and Mexicans to Santa Fe in 1610. From that year and for several decades, Spaniards treated Natives with cruelty. Eventually there was a Native revolt, and the Spaniards were forced to leave the area.

Years later, Spaniards, Mexicans, and their Native allies, returned to Santa Fe. There were some skirmishes, but the Spaniards came with a different attitude, seeking reconciliation and peace, without the violence and arrogance of the past.

The result was a fruitful cultural exchange between Hispanics and Natives that lasted for more than 150 years, until 1850, when the whole territory changed hands after the Mexican-American War and become part of the United States.

History is filled with cultural clashes, from the “Barbarian” invasions of Europe at the time of the Roman Empire, to the expansion of Islam in Asia, Africa, and Europe, to the arrival of Europeans to America and to Africa.

Can we anticipate the next encounter of cultures? If current demographic and social projections are true, the next encounter of cultures could be the arrival of millions and millions of well-educated, wealthy Asian to the United States in a few years, precisely when Latinos will assume new and greater responsibilities in this country.

How we or our children are are going to react when we face a wave of Asian immigrants who do not speak our language or share our culture or traditions?

Are we going to learn from the past? Will we make some of the same mistakes our ancestors made? I hope we will not discriminate others as we were sometimes discriminated.  That cycle has to end.

New Mexico is also a place for other potential contacts. Roswell is in New Mexico, and this state already has a spaceport. Who can anticipate what other cultures are we going to meet in the near future?

Perhaps the 400-year old Governor’s Palace in Santa Fe and the 1,200-year old Taos Pueblo still have important lessons for us.

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