CHILE

The next stop on our South American journey was Santiago, Chile. Waking up in this city, we saw the evident development and industrialization of this modern, forward-looking nation. The city almost seemed like it could blend in with those of Europe. The city even had its own metro system as a efficient public transportation system. In addition, Santiago is home to the tallest building in South America, Gran Torre Santiago, which has a total of 70 floors and a height of 300 meters (compared to the 828 meters of Burj Khalifa, the tallest building in the world). The country has had a consistent, steady growth in GDP and an overall good management of assets. This wealth is largely due to the copper industry, which comprises one third of all copper production in the world. In addition, economists educated at University of Chicago and Harvard have pushed the country into a more capitalist economic model. Through privatization they have greatly improved Chile's economy.

Like many neighboring South American countries (e.g. Brazil and Argentina), Chile has a female president, Michelle Bachelet, who served her first term in 2006. Bachelet has done a lot of work helping the Chilean people find the truth and take steps towards reconciling what happened during the 1973 Coup d'etat. Bachelet has created a museum to "raise awareness of the human rights violations committed by the State of Chile between 1973 and 1990, to dignify the victims and their families, and to stimulate reflection and discussion on the importance of respect and tolerance, so that these events never recur" (according to their website). We visited El Museo de la Memoria y los Derechos Humanos, which resembled all the other genocide or Holocaust museums I have seen around the world. This reminded me that history really does repeat itself. Here is a brief history of what was covered in the museum:

In September 1973, the democratically elected left-ist president Salvador Allende was overthrown by a military coup. The coup was lead by Augusto Pinochet, who ended up taking over the country, kicking Allende, who later committed suicide, out of office. These are President Allende's last words:

My friends,

Surely this will be the last opportunity for me to address you. The Air Force has bombed the towers of Radio Portales and Radio Corporación.

My words do not have bitterness but disappointment. May they be a moral punishment for those who have betrayed their oath: soldiers of Chile, titular commanders in chief, Admiral Merino, who has designated himself Commander of the Navy, and Mr. Mendoza, the despicable general who only yesterday pledged his fidelity and loyalty to the Government, and who also has appointed himself Chief of the Carabineros [national police].

Given these facts, the only thing left for me is to say to workers: I am not going to resign! 

Placed in a historic transition, I will pay for loyalty to the people with my life. And I say to them that I am certain that the seed which we have planted in the good conscience of thousands and thousands of Chileans will not be shriveled forever.

They have strength and will be able to dominate us, but social processes can be arrested neither by crime nor force. History is ours, and people make history.

Workers of my country: I want to thank you for the loyalty that you always had, the confidence that you deposited in a man who was only an interpreter of great yearnings for justice, who gave his word that he would respect the Constitution and the law and did just that. At this definitive moment, the last moment when I can address you, I wish you to take advantage of the lesson: foreign capital, imperialism, together with the reaction, created the climate in which the Armed Forces broke their tradition, the tradition taught by General Schneider and reaffirmed by Commander Araya, victims of the same social sector which will today be in their homes hoping, with foreign assistance, to retake power to continue defending their profits and their privileges.

I address, above all, the modest woman of our land, the campesina who believed in us, the worker who labored more, the mother who knew our concern for children. I address professionals of Chile, patriotic professionals, those who days ago continued working against the sedition sponsored by professional associations, class-based associations that also defended the advantages which a capitalist society grants to a few.  

I address the youth, those who sang and gave us their joy and their spirit of struggle. I address the man of Chile, the worker, the farmer, the intellectual, those who will be persecuted, because in our country fascism has been already present for many hours -- in terrorist attacks, blowing up the bridges, cutting the railroad tracks, destroying the oil and gas pipelines, in the face of the silence of those who had the obligation to protect them.  They were committed. History will judge them.

Surely Radio Magallanes will be silenced, and the calm metal instrument of my voice will no longer reach you. It does not matter. You will continue hearing it. I will always be next to you. At least my memory will be that of a man of dignity who was loyal to [inaudible] the workers.

The people must defend themselves, but they must not sacrifice themselves. The people must not let themselves be destroyed or riddled with bullets, but they cannot be humiliated either.

Workers of my country, I have faith in Chile and its destiny. Other men will overcome this dark and bitter moment when treason seeks to prevail. Go forward knowing that, sooner rather than later, the great avenues will open again where free men will walk to build a better society.

Long live Chile! Long live the people! Long live the workers!

These are my last words, and I am certain that my sacrifice will not be in vain, I am certain that, at the very least, it will be a moral lesson that will punish felony, cowardice, and treason.

Santiago de Chile, 11 September 1973

This coup was influenced by president Nixon of the United States who did not want there to be another "Cuba" or communist country neighboring America. This exemplifies how fear of communism during the Cold War pushed America to support dictatorships in South America. What followed were 8 years of terror where Pinochet killed anyone who disagreed with him. From mass killings, to torture, to labor camps, Pinochet did it all. The sheer fear imposed on all citizens and the increasing number of refugees, woke up the international community. They eventually pushed Pinochet to call a referendum, the YES option keeping the dictator and NO making him step down. Ultimately in 1988 he was denied a second term and the country worked its way back to freedom of speech, press, and towards a free market economy.

While Chile has the tallest building in South America, it is also the longest country in the world. Stretching almost the entire length of the continent of South America, it is home to the driest dessert in the world, beautiful snow covered mountains in Patagonia, and the world wonder of Easter Island. Chile is not only a progressive economic and political nation but also such a geographical natural beauty. I can't wait to visit again and see all the natural wonders I missed this trip:) 

There are so many mysteries that I have yet to uncover: why is the country so long, how did it get this shape, how does the government manage with such a spread out country? From being in other countries I know that the smaller the country, the easier it is to manage. This is especially evident in the highly fractioned United States. I plan on continuing studying government in my future years in school and I will continue to pursue these mysteries.