Augusto Pinochet
Laura Owens
Profile
New policies were introduced under the name of the "Miracle of Chile". The policies included economic reform, such as currency stabilization, tariff cutting, global trade, restricted labor unions, privatizing social security, and the privatization of state-controlled industries. Though some believe this dramatically increased economic inequality instead of reducing it.
Song of Pinochet
Journal
It's been ten years since Pinochet took power. I can't remember the day, but I've been about it so many times. With the aid of the United States of America, Pinochet overthrew Allende. My mother told me that it was a glorious day, I don't know why though.
The day's now are long and hard and spent under a film of tension and distrust. I barely remember the first few years spent under Pinochet, but I think they were nice, comfortable. But now, now I can't even stand to go outside and feel the stares of the people. It's like they're waiting for me to blow up, just like my mother.
I barely go to school, my father barely gets out of his bed, and if he does, he only does it to drink another bottle of beer or whiskey or some other liquor. The picture of that dreaded man still hangs in our entry way, the glass shattered and water stains on his nasty face.
Sometimes I wish that my mother did succeed in whatever she was trying. To at least have that man out of power, the people safe from fear, me safe from the stares.
Sometimes I wish that I would take that leap, and take up what my mother did, even if I do fail, as she did, at least I would have tried and done something to stop this oppression. At least I would have tried.
And trying and failing is a lot better than doing nothing at all.