Traditional games against technology – El Sol de Zacatecas

Who among us does not remember the games of his childhood? Those days when we played marbles, bebeleche or spinning tops, and at the same time, we lived with our neighbors, with our brothers. A lot of time has passed and a lot has changed since then. Every day we see fewer children on the streets, every day we see that the use of tablets or mobile phones seems to have come to replace the healthy recreation that our traditional games gave us.

It is unfortunate that many children and young people today have the goal or greater aspiration of being famous on social networks, today they spend a good part of their time on Tiktok, on YouTube, on Instagram, on Facebook. Today, digital platforms have taken precedence over reality, over personal human relationships. And that seems to be the trend in our society, to dehumanize, depersonalize, understand relationships through a screen.

This is why I was very happy to welcome Gerardo Montero to Fresnillo, a young man from Veracruz known to be the international champion of the spinning top and who promotes values ​​through the practice of traditional games. I decided to invite him and the Fresnillenses left with a good taste in their mouths, especially the girls and boys from public and private schools, which he attended to present their workshops and exhibitions.

Gerardo Montero, as a reference, has been present on international programs, in exclusive interviews. He even participated in the well-known mshow, El Hormiguero, from Spain; to Tengo Talento, Mucho Talento, Sabadazo, among others, sharing his experience, his learning, and the triumphs and satisfaction that has come from dedicating his life to this noble work. I take this opportunity, dear reader, to thank you, from this space, for your kind visit to the municipality of Fresnillo.

And it is that I agree with his vision, traditional games are just that, the ideal way to generate bonds, friendship, a healthy coexistence. They are a means of discovering the diversity and cultural richness of the countries they have visited, and of being able to compare how, in the particular case of the spinning top, it has imposed itself on all the continents of the world. According to Gerardo, this same game has been played in Mexico as well as Turkey, Italy, Germany, USA, Russia, to name a few.

But having the international champion spinning top on this earth is not just a matter of mere spectacle, but also helps us preserve history and memory. I am aware that we cannot eliminate technological progress, much less take it away from children. Technology is not necessarily a bad thing, but I also know that as a society we cannot ignore the responsibility of training new generations and giving validity to our traditions.

There will probably be those who will say that traditions are not important, and yet just a few days ago we saw how hundreds of families gathered around the celebration of the cry of independence, we consider these celebrations, these games, this coexistence as something fundamental for the basis of society which is the family.

Shawn Jacobs

"Incurable alcohol evangelist. Unapologetic pop culture scholar. Subtly charming webaholic."

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