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In the case of my country, Guatemala, 65% of the inhabitants are indigenous. The constitution speaks of protection for the indigenous. Who authorized a minority to protect an immense majority? It is not only political, cultural and economic marginalization, it is an attempt against the dignity of the majority of the population.

Rigoberta Menchu

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Rigoberta Menchu
Age: 65
Born: 1959
Born: January 9
Activist
Autobiographer
Human Rights Activist
Politician
Writer
Protect
Cultural
Guatemala
Cases
Attempt
Authorized
Economic
Protection
Inhabitants
Speak
Population
Indigenous
Political
Dignity
Minority
Country
Majority
Minorities
Case
Immense
Constitution
Speaks

More quotes by Rigoberta Menchu

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I resolutely believe that respect for diversity is a fundamental pillar in the eradication of racism, xenophobia and intolerance. There is no excuse for evading the responsibility of finding the most suitable path toward the elimination of any expression of discrimination against indigenous peoples.
Rigoberta Menchu
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The people are the only ones capable of transforming society.
Rigoberta Menchu
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In Guatemala, the gap between rich and poor must be eliminated, or we will continue to be the example of conflict in America.
Rigoberta Menchu
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The Bible has been used as a way of making us accept our situation, and not to bring enlightenment to the poor.
Rigoberta Menchu
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... together we can build the people's Church, a true Church. Not just a hierarchy, or a building, but a real change inside people.
Rigoberta Menchu
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We say no to the peace that keeps us on our knees, no to the peace that keeps us in chains, no to the false peace that denies the values and contributions of our peoples.
Rigoberta Menchu
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In my opinion, peace has not come to America, to Nicaragua, or to El Salvador. A hungry people is a people without peace. If the demands of the people are not met, what kind of peace are we talking about?
Rigoberta Menchu
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No less characteristic in a democracy is social justice. This demands a solution to the frightening indexes of infant mortality, of malnutrition, lack of education illiteracy, wages not sufficient to sustain life
Rigoberta Menchu
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I wasn't the only orphan in Guatemala. There are many others, and it's not my grief alone, it's the grief of a whole people.
Rigoberta Menchu
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Impunity should be condemned in any corner of the world.
Rigoberta Menchu
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The problem in Guatemala is that there is no solution to the issue of human rights. The problem is militarization, it is the injust distribution of wealth. It is intolerance of the indigenous, it is discrimination and marginalization.
Rigoberta Menchu
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I am like a drop of water on a rock. After drip, drip, dripping in the same place, I begin to leave a mark, and I leave my mark in many people's hearts.
Rigoberta Menchu
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I think that if one's role doesn't correspond to what one says, if one's life doesn't correspond to what one preaches, if one is not true to one's people, someone else will come as a substitute.
Rigoberta Menchu
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To be a light to others you will need a good dose of the spiritual life. Because as my mother used to say, if you are in a good place, then you can help others but if you're not well, then go look for somebody who is in a good place who can help you.
Rigoberta Menchu
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I wish that a conscious sense of peace and a feeling of human solidarity would develop in all peoples.
Rigoberta Menchu
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It is said that our indigenous ancestors, Mayas and Aztecs, made human sacrifices to their gods. It occurs to me to ask: How many humans have been sacrificed to the gods of Capital in the last five hundred years?
Rigoberta Menchu
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Today the governments of Latin America should be ashamed of not havingexterminated the indigenous, at the end of the twentieth century, because weexist at the end of this century. We are not myths of the past, ruins in thejungle, or zoos. We are people and we want to be respected, not to be victims ofintolerance and racism.
Rigoberta Menchu
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The human being is to be respected and defended, not protected like a bird or a river.
Rigoberta Menchu
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We are not myths of the past, ruins in the jungle, or zoos. We are people and we want to be respected, not to be victims of intolerance and racism.
Rigoberta Menchu
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... only those of us who carry our cause in our hearts are willing to run the risks.
Rigoberta Menchu