#8 There is a lot more to this than meets the eye.
Traditional Shaman are a very interesting group of people, because before the arrival of European medicine, they held the same position in society that today we hold doctors and similar professionals. So often the same degree of intellect and group cultural rules apply to both groups.
At some point, for example, in the 1950s or '60s, someone of influence persuaded them as a group as to the value of antibiotics, which they have seamlessly integrated into their practices in a pragmatic way. This also meant that they had to learn to recognize bacterial disease, as such. Again, no problem.
Now, such people also understand the importance of politics, and know that Chavez probably doesn't believe in what they do, and is doing this just to court the opinion of those Venezuelans that do. They also know that if they don't play ball, he could come down on their people like a ton of bricks.
So they will give him his little dog & pony show. And if he demands that they use magic so that he will be able to eat candy and poop emeralds, they will play along with that, too.
What he won't get, however, is what they really do, and why even with the advent of modern medicine they are still popular.
It is also why Shaman deserve some respect, because if you think about it, if you get a group of highly intelligent people working on finding solutions for 500 or more years, you are going to get something out of the deal. What it is may not be exactly clear, but you are going to get something. |
Shamans from tribes in Venezuela's Amazon jungle held a ceremony at the Miraflores presidential palace Saturday to help Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez recover from his cancer treatment.