This week in Global we read more of “The Chile Reader” and the poems “Chile Stadium,” “September 11,” “The City,” and “Victor Jara.” The topics we read in “The Chile Reader” included the election of Salvador Allende, the Chilean revolution in one year, and the Pinochet dictatorship. It was very different to read about the U.S government’s intervention from the point of view of Chile. I’d heard of it vaguely before in classes, but it is different when I’m actively reading and learning about Chile and know that I’m going to travel to this country in a few weeks. Reading about the Chilean revolution was also more emotional now that I’ve been spending weeks getting to know the history. Allende’s last words as the armed forces attacked his hiding place was chilling, especially the words, “history is made by the people.” Learning about the Pinochet dictatorship was very dark, and brutal. Chile’s democracy fell victim to a military coup, and Pinochet’s dictatorship was infamous for its brutality, human rights abuses, and evisceration of democratic norms. The poems that we read took place in this time period, and reflect this brutality. There’s a line from “Chile Stadium,” that talks about the military, “blood for them are medals.” It paints a very clear picture. There was a lot of history this week, and most of it was dark and violent, but I think it is important to know the history of a country before you travel, so I am glad that I am learning this.
Image: Mural of Victor Jara, Wikimedia Commons
