The indignation generated by these acts is understandable and should not be confused with censorship. This is not about art or critical expression, but about the instrumentalization of young people who, under global slogans, end up attacking their own heritage. The challenge is not to justify anger, but to understand how misinformation and ideological manipulation turn public space into a stage for confrontation.

Historic centers are living documents that condense the history and identity of communities. Turning them into surfaces for decontextualized protest does not raise awareness, it erases it. If young people do not recognize themselves in their surroundings, it is because the connection between education, memory, and urban space has weakened.

Popayán therefore faces a dual task: to sanction material damage and to rebuild civic awareness. The city that once rose from the earthquake can do so again, but this time through intelligence and collective responsibility.

The walls of Santo Domingo have been cleaned once more, but the true restoration will be that of awareness. Heritage is not an obstacle to change nor a symbol of power; it is a mirror through which we can look at our history, with its lights and shadows, and learn from it. Defending it is not only a conservative act, but an exercise in cultural responsibility.

Only by understanding the past can we build a future capable of engaging with it, without denying or destroying it.