The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #76479   Message #1357536
Posted By: Maryrrf
15-Dec-04 - 09:14 AM
Thread Name: BS: Hey Mr. Pinochet ...
Subject: RE: BS: Hey Mr. Pinochet ...
No need to apologize, Brucie - no offense taken. All that is long in the past, but still I'm glad people still remember that there was another September 11th - the day a democratically elected government in Chile was violently overthrown with a great deal of collaboration from the United States government. Allende was treacherously murdered in the Presidential Palace and the aftermath was horrendous. When I was touring in Scotland in 2003 there was a lad at the Falkirk Folk Club who was the opening act. He apologized to me before he started saying he had prepared a song that dealt with Henry Kissinger and his role in the Chilean coup d'etat - said he didn't realize I was American. Not only was I not offended, I was so glad to know that it is still remembered even by people who weren't even born when it happened.   This led to my singing several Victor Jara songs that evening. As many of you may know, poet, singer and political activist Victor Jara was murdered in the National Soccer Stadium, which was turned into a slaughterhouse in the days after the coup. He was tortured and hands were cut off out of spite, because he had played his guitar at so many political rallys. Those were bad years, and the reign of terror lasted a long time. I'm sure none of the Americans who participated in this conspiracy will be prosecuted, and Pinochet is so old he probably hardly realizes what's going on, but better late than never.