Perhaps, if the deplorable spectacle that the former UDI councillor gave by Viña del Mar, Mr. Tito Moggia, is the best example of Chile that we must change. Indeed, for too long now, this feeling has been being installed in our country, that feeling in some (few) of feeling like the owners of this country and in most of us, to believe it. Thus, we have changed the pattern of yesteryear, to the “gentleman” of today, a definition in which, by the way, everything from scoundrels to criminals, to those who hold these airs of “greatness” come to less.
It is true that economic concentration, favored by this exclusive economic model, has allowed this departure from the extremes of our society, where the few are already so, but so far away, that they find it difficult to imagine even the many others; to the precarious way and overcrowding in which they live. It is also true, that the attempt to “humanize” the model, to make it “fairer”, was either impossible or we did not know how to do it. The concrete is that we couldn’t handle the Concertation first, and the New Majority later, change it. It must have been our daughters and sons, the same ones that Carlos Peña in the wake of the 18O no one, those who moved the frontier of the possible and have given us, perhaps as a gift for our lost dreams, the possibility of recovering 32 years later, in another October, the hope of that Chile better.
Because it was necessary to check the system to force it to change, because it is clear that it would not do so on its own. The list of former centre and left authorities lining up, which ceases before an AFC, waiting for a place in some company directory of some AFP, or the irregular financing that all Chilean policy had (and surely still has on the part of the business), are the best examples of the almost structural difficulty of modifying a coma of this economic model from within , since all or almost everyone who has some power, also have interests in this not changing, in not losing the crumbs that from time to time, they are dropped like pigeons from any square.
I remember in the mid-90s, reading an article from El País, seeing how we were portrayed outside; as a country that was growing steadily, however, it did not develop in the same way and proof of it, it was the image of arrogance that we gave as passengers on international flights, or the classism that denoted our conversations and manners. That’s right, that was our exterior image; jaguars but no manners. A quarter of a century later, Mr Moggia comes to show us that we continue where we are, despising our neighbour just because we feel it inferior or, rather, of feeling superior. But superiors, by the way of what…?, the truth, for nothing. Being overbearing and arribistic, believing that you can be above others and others by last name, by contacts, by your balance in the current account, your home or the car you drive, is in a developed society, the maximum sample of ordinariez; Sever it, it horrific. But Chile is managed with other indicators or criteria, and it seems that few are willing to change them.
Indeed, with the exception of Mayor Reginato, I have not heard voices condemning the fact; or on the right, the center or the left. Nor the CUT, less than the company of these workers. Probably their guildmates, but they matter as little as the offended. The press has been limited, for the mostity, to showing the fact; such as time or sports. Anyway, that it was worth mothers what happened on Sunday, that not even to draw lessons served, recognizing the offender’s apology.
It will not be easy for generations to come to rebuild Chile; there is a lot of pain, a lot of mistrust, a lot of unmet need, a lot of abuse with impunity and a lot of accumulated rage. Examples are left over and last October is still in the retina. It won’t be easy, because there’s a lot of bad and little of the good. However, I am optimistic. I have faith in youth, for they are light and life, for they have grown freer than we have; without dogmas, ideologies, gods or sins, without prejudice. It is that light that Leonard Cohen refers to, in one of his songs: “That bend the bells that can still ring, forget your perfect offer. There’s a crack, there’s a crack in everything. This is how the light comes in, this is how the light comes in…”, that the light of hope, would add.
The content poured into this opinion column is the sole responsibility of its author, and does not necessarily reflect the editorial line or position of El Mostrador.
