The following entry is taken from the blog I kept during my study abroad experience in Chile. As I observe the ninth anniversary of our own September 11th tragedy I am stunned by how "normal" and safe this day feels. Other than a brief mention of the anniversary on the radio in between Top 40 songs, today seems to be a day like any other.
I feel lucky to live in a country where bombs are not a normal part of daily life. But why should I be so lucky when so many young people my age are not afforded the liberties and freedoms I too often take for granted? As I forge my own path in this world I hope to bring many along with me. I was appalled by the prejudice and hypocrisy that provoked a Florida pastor to plan a burning of the Q'uran in protest of Islam. I hold dearly the freedoms of expression and belief (whether religious, political, or otherwise) afforded us in the United States but I am too often underwhelmed by the response of my fellow citizens in the face of ignorance.
The problems of violence that plague much of the world are a direct result of economic disparity. The Middle East, for example, is a region made up largely of young males with few economic opportunities, making them easy recruits for militant organizations like Al Qaeda. Until the economic conditions of warring nations improves, our advancements against violence and terrorism will not be long lasting.
But before I take up this post talking about the economics of peace (save it for another day), here are my reflections on Chile's own 9/11:
On September 11, 1973 Chile's Presidential Palace was bombed and overtaken by the right-wing Junta government of Pinochet which would rule until 1980. In the days after the coup, Allende supporters and leftist activists were taken to the Estadio Nacional (national soccer stadium) which was temporarily converted into a detention and torture center. Men and women were tortured, raped and killed in the same stadium where, last night, the Chilean soccer team defeated Colombia 4-0 in a world cup qualifying match. Abandoning political and religious divisions Chilean soccer fans poured into the bleachers en masse and filled the stadium with chants of nationalist fervor and pride. During the game, Chileans were everything but divided. But Chile's history is a complicated one, as are its present day manifestations.
The meaning of September 11 and the memory of the coup is different for every Chilean. For some, it is a day of mourning and remembrance of the leftist popular movement and those disappeared, tortured and murdered during the Pinochet dictatorship. Many Chileans believe the coup "put right" the Chile which had been torn apart by the socialist economic policies of Allende's government and saved the country from civil war. Still others feel that everyone should get over what happened during those years--that every war, every movement, has its share of torture, death, and the oppression of innocent people. That happened thirty-five years ago, let's stop the fuss.
I have no grasp of what today feels like for the average Chilean. It's odd for me to be outside of my country as we mark the seventh anniversary of our own September 11. It is hard for me to draw comparisons between the two dates. Chile's 9/11 was an attack of the Chilean military against the Chilean government: Chileans vs. Chileans. On September 11, 2001 and outside force attacked the United States. The strongest comparison can be made in the fallout of each day. Both dates left their countries shaken, scarred, and polarized. Chile is still deeply divided politically.
Today raises many powerful questions. Who owns the memory of September 11? What does that day mean for our nation or to you and I as individual citizens? These questions hold true for both Chileans and U.S. citizens alike.
i dont know if you mention it, but chile's 9/11 was provoked directly by the intromission of your "land of the free"..
ReplyDeletedon't be naive, USA is not a saint country, au contraire, it has provoked more deaths and problems in other countries in the last 50 years than any other country..
when i start reading your entry, i almost vomit when you talk about "freedom i take for gran ted"... of freedom little, and that freedom cost many lifes in other countries...
We looked at Chile in my Revolutions in Modern Latin American class; we read "Remembering Pinochet's Chile," which gives a really interesting look at the dirty war. It presents opinions of those who were for the bombing (it describes a scene where a wealthy couple toast with champagne on the roof of their building as planes fly over head at the palace)as well as those who were against it.
ReplyDeleteIt should be on my bookshelf and I can have my mama find it for you if you want to borrow it :)
Gary, thank you for reading and thanks for your comment. I did not state and do not believe that the United States is a saint country. The U.S. did have a determined role in the coup of '73, one of our many forceful interferences into Latin American political life.
ReplyDeleteHowever, I as a citizen of this nation I enjoy many freedoms - such as the right to vote as a woman - that I do not believe should be taken for granted. It is true that some of my economic freedoms come at the expense of others' economic freedom in different parts of the world. This is something that troubles me deeply and one of my motivations for becoming a more conscious consumer and continuing my studies in economics.
I noted that I will save the conversation about the economics of peace for a later date. I hope you keep reading.