Various Colombian political and academic sectors On Wednesday they rejected the words of the Minister of Culture, Arts and Knowledge of Colombia, Juan David Correa, in which he stated: “Civilization did not enter through Santa Marta, nor was religion a good for the country, nor was the Spanish language a good for the country.”
In this sense, the Magdalena History Academy indicated in a statement its rejection “in an energetic, categorical and resounding manner” to the statements Correa made at a commemorative event for the 500th anniversary of the founding of the city of Santa Marta.
“For us, civilization did not come through Santa Marta, nor was religion a good for the country, nor was the Spanish language a good for the country”said the minister, adding: “For us, what is going to happen is not a celebration (…) There was a confrontation and a colonization, and that makes us think about the people who were in the territory before those others arrived.”
“This Academy will celebrate Hispanic heritage and continue to highlight the city’s history, its important role as the main port for the exploration and conquest of internal territories and what it historically represented for the Kingdom of Spain.”added the document of that organization.
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Santa Marta
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These achievements, they listed, were: the first city officially founded through capitulation in South America; the first existing city founded in the New Kingdom of Granadaand the first port city on the Tierra Firme coast of the New Kingdom of Granada, among others.
“Now the Minister of Culture is attacking the Spanish language and the Quixote of Justice, righter of wrongs, is determined to do the opposite, to offend everyone. It is as if they wanted to show that democracy has only an entertainment value.”wrote former Health Minister Alejandro Gaviria on his X account.
The mayor of Santa Marta, Carlos Pinedo, also rejected “firmly condemn the unfortunate statements” of Correa, who showed “a serious lack of respect towards our city, its history and its people.”
“Disregarding the historical aspects of our foundation is an offense not only to the people of Santa Marta, but to all Colombians”said.
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Pinedo added: “It is unacceptable that the Ministry of Culture, in charge of coordinating this celebration under Law 2058 of 2020, is led by someone who clearly does not respect or value our historical legacy. We demand rectification, as well as a genuine commitment to the dignity of our history and culture.”
After the controversy, Correa defended in an interview with La Libertad radio that “It is important to recognize that before the arrival of the colonizers, there already existed a significant indigenous civilization in the region, such as the Tayrona, who fervently resisted the conquest.”
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