jfb, re salvador and mexico.
by the way i love salvador. san salvador is an incredible city. great place.
but in answer to your question. just because on has the smell of a pig, does not mean the other wears perfume. i am not concerned with mexico’s ethnocentrism. i do however know the the usa’s cultural blindness and pre-occupation with how great they are diminishes said greatness. great individuals, like great states do not need to mention it in every conversation.
all those languages you mention are fine. spanish however is the language of the majority of people in the americas. arabic is important, i think you would find much more value in farsi. in literature and cultural history, not so much for current use, farsi is the language of great poetry and literature not available to the west. unlike latin and attic greek, much of the persian tradition has not been translated. just as aside beside the point, but interesting to note. when i speak to iranian friends i am always left behind at the breadth of their knowledge of art, history and literature.
