Thatch did at least win elections. Pinochet was never deposed, he negotiated a handover to civilian rule that left him and his cronies in a privileged position. That he ended his days being hounded by justice must give some pause to currently serving dictators. I gather they are cremating him, to prevent the existence of any grave that right-thinking people can piss on, which again might give pause to people taking tough measures in the hope of being hailed ultimately as national heroes.
I read In Patagonia recently (as it was the most recent choice for our book circle). In one chapter, Bruce Chatwin recounts the tale of a white farmer in Chile whose farm was handed over to the locals by the Allende regime. If the tale told was true, the new owners had no idea of how to run the farm, killed all the (dairy) cows for food, and then slaughtered and ate the prize bull shipped in from overseas too. It all sounded reminiscent of recent events in Zimbabwe.
Not that this justifies Pinochet's behaviour in any way but it was interesting to read another side of the story.
steve, I probly would say a similar thing when Thatcher pops her clogs, there are far far worse dictators and nation's leaders in the world today. Relics from the past, we can learn lessons from them and their actions, but pissing on people's graves doesn't solve anything
Cockfarmer Augusto Pinochet died today. I feel like the people at the beginning of Tilsammans. Party on!
Wasn't Pinochet deposed ages ago? Its the ones who are still in power whose death we should be welcoming
ReplyDeleteThatch did at least win elections. Pinochet was never deposed, he negotiated a handover to civilian rule that left him and his cronies in a privileged position. That he ended his days being hounded by justice must give some pause to currently serving dictators. I gather they are cremating him, to prevent the existence of any grave that right-thinking people can piss on, which again might give pause to people taking tough measures in the hope of being hailed ultimately as national heroes.
ReplyDeleteI read In Patagonia recently (as it was the most recent choice for our book circle). In one chapter, Bruce Chatwin recounts the tale of a white farmer in Chile whose farm was handed over to the locals by the Allende regime. If the tale told was true, the new owners had no idea of how to run the farm, killed all the (dairy) cows for food, and then slaughtered and ate the prize bull shipped in from overseas too. It all sounded reminiscent of recent events in Zimbabwe.
ReplyDeleteNot that this justifies Pinochet's behaviour in any way but it was interesting to read another side of the story.
steve, I probly would say a similar thing when Thatcher pops her clogs, there are far far worse dictators and nation's leaders in the world today. Relics from the past, we can learn lessons from them and their actions, but pissing on people's graves doesn't solve anything
ReplyDelete