Cameron Diaz is making headlines on her recent trip to Peru, and fortunately they have nothing to do with Justin or Jessica, but unfortunately they have to do with her insensitiveness and/or ignorance to the Peruvian people.

While exploring the Inca city of Machu Picchu high in Peru’s Andes, Diaz wore an olive green over the shoulder bag with a red star and the words “serve the people” on it in Chinese. “Serve the people” is a slogan from China’s communist lead Mao’s reign. Perhaps what Diaz didn’t know is that the Maoist Shining Path insurgency killed 70,000 people in Peru during the late 80’s and early 90’s through assassinations, bombings and massacres.

Cameron’s bag sells at trendy stores, but the significance of her bag in Peru is certainly more than the significance of it in LA, for example.

Yahoo has this quote from a Peruvian humanitarian:

“It alludes to a concept that did so much damage to Peru, that brought about so many victims” said Pablo Rojas about the bag’s slogan. “I don’t think she should have used that bag where the followers of that ideology” did so much damage.”

I feel this was an honest mistake on Cameron’s part, but one that could have easily been avoided. It is important as a traveler to take into account the history and culture of any place you are visiting, as it is insensitive and can be considered downright rude as in Cameron’s case, to do otherwise.