In a real praiseworthy act the 34-year-old Charlie’s Angels actress Cameron Diaz has apologized for hurting the sentiments of Peru’s citizens.
The Golden Globe winner American actress had recently visited the Inca city of Machu Picchu in Peru’s Andes on June 22. She carried an olive green bag that had a red star and the words ‘Serve the People’ printed in Chinese, which incidentally also happens to be Mao Zedong’s most famous political slogan. Perhaps the mark evoked some people’s painful memories in Peru.
The bag, which the blonde carried, is sold as fashion accessories in some parts of the world. However its sight in Peru evoked memories of the Maoist Shining Path insurgency that fought against the government in the 1980s and early 1990s leaving nearly 70,000 people dead in the bloody war.
In an apology Diaz said:
I sincerely apologize to anyone I may have inadvertently offended. The bag was a purchase I made as a tourist in China and I did not realize the potentially hurtful nature of the slogan printed on it. I’m sorry for any people’s pain and suffering and it was certainly never my intention to reopen what I now know is a painful wound in this country’s history and wish for their continued healing.
On the same day of her visit one Peruvian human rights activist had commented on bag saying that she should have been more aware of local sensitivities when picking her accessories.
Later My Best Freind’s Wedding actress clarified that the sole purpose of her visit was to take part in a television show that celebrates Peru’s culture.
Cameron’s feature acting debut was in the 1994 when she starred in ‘The Mask’. Currently she has been in Peru as part of 4 REAL, a Canadian TV production that focuses on young community leaders around the world.
Source: Usatoday
