SEPTEMBER 11, 1973…SALVADOR ALLENDE

…Queridos, these are the times I miss my books and media the most of all.

I know the history of Salvador Allende.

…Of his friend, Pablo Neruda – himself a vibrant Life.

When I was about to post an article on the events of that time, from Al Jazeera (which is quite credible most of the time – and YES – I do know the backgrounds of all the news media I choose to read, so…gracias.)

When I noticed that there was no mention of El Gran Hermano to the north of Chile and its heavy role in the facilitation of President Allende’s death – “Suicide.”

Allende was a thorn in Big Brother’s side.

He was democratically elected.

The people loved him – as much as they loved Pablo Neruda, un gran poeta.

He was a (ooooh…appropriate inhales of being aghast go here) Socialist.

Now…

Lest anyone launch right into a debate about evil everything but what we believe, practice, and elect –

Think for yourselves.

In our country…

Do we want who we elected to actually SERVE?

Do we want them NOT to be killed

Because our neighbors don’t like them?

Wait!

This is a sovereign nation

And we voted!

WTF is going on?!

How dare you come here to the U.S.

And tell us what to do?

(in fact, think about what’s happening right now…)

Right here…and there.

The people of Chile elected Salvador Allende president

In a democratically held election.

Yo. Bro!!! The dude won fair and square, but you didn’t like it!

Because it wasn’t the Democracy YOU had to have –

You know – the kind where YOU call all the shots

(Primarily on behalf of Power Over and Resources – oh – and Corporations)

And you little guys do what we say or we will

Assassinate you

Disappear you

Employ others so it looks like we’re not in the background.

Smear you at the very least

Employ the words, the Spin, and the Tweak

Propagandapersuasion

He had to be taken out.

And he was.

Suicide my ass.

The U.S. installed Pinochet – a brutal dictator – so many killed.

But hey – now it was the Democracy Big Bro wanted, yeah?

The people – distraught – their presidente – muerto.

But

El pueblo was not allowed to mourn.

FORBIDDEN.

They were ordered to stay in their houses.

The Darkest of Times was taking Shape.

Twelve days later, Pablo Neruda died.

Now there was no stopping the people.

El pueblo flooded into the streets.

Their voces raised:  “Comandante Neruda!”

Wailing and shouting, they could not be held back.

And gradually…

You began to also hear the cries and the mourning

For President Allende…and it could not be stopped

Until it was.

As to the U.S.?  Well, we went on to other things…

And in Chile, WE had brought the Night.

If you’ve never experienced getting wet via a fire plug, well you have, indeed, missed one of the best summertime, beat-the-heart-if-your-neighbor-has-a-wrench moments.

 

It’s not the same now…or here.  I’m out in the country…most of us are on well water (either via ground water or deep aquifer.)  There are no kids around – the ones who are, are either teenagers on ATVs or little ones who stick pretty close to their parents and on their own property.  It’s quiet here, for the most part; and yet…

Summer’s memory calls.  C’mon!  Remember when even the cops might turn it o
n, if none of the busybody old ladies were watching him do it?  Yep. And the kid (or sometimes a willing adult) with an ample behind would back up against the fire hydrant and the water would arc and spray up over us…and we’d dance…and laugh…and try to throw some water at one another as the flow cascaded down.

Every city neighborhood did pretty much the same thing.  Summer in the the city was Continue reading “Summer’s Coming…Got a Wrench?” →