Chile: Division and protests

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Chile, South America

Story by Yessenia
Published on March 21, 2020. Reading time: 5 minutes



DIVISIÓN:

13 de Abril 1989:

Mi nombre es Yessenia, nací en un país llamado Chile. Nací en Dictadura y al año siguiente comenzó la Democracia, no soy comunista, ni socialista, ni facista.
Me encuentro dividida entre dos momentos que marcaron la historia de Chile, el fin de la Dictadura y el comienzo de la Democracia.

1973-1990:

Por suerte, no tengo memorias ni traumas por culpa de la Dictadura. Es un periodo muy oscuro para algunos y para otros el mejor tiempo de sus vidas. Muchos están marcados por la muerte y desaparición de sus familiares, los afortunados recuerdan los tiempos de gloria, cuando el sector rico de la sociedad, empresarios y gobierno tuvieron mucho dinero y poder, otros recuerdan que el que era pobre debía hacer filas interminables para poder comer y ocultarse en sus casas para no ser capturados, violados, torturados y desaparecidos por parte de los militares y carabineros en en el temido "toque de queda".

La gloria de algunos es la desgracia para otros...Un Dictador, la división del pueblo chileno, el odio entre hermanos por pensar distinto, codicia de querer progresar de forma desmedida y a costa de todo, por tener un "estatus", por ser diferente a los otros paises latinoamericanos, las ansias de ser "los gringos de Sudamérica", adquirir poder y dinero.

16 de Octubre 2019:

Estudiantes saltaban los torniquetes del metro de Santiago debido a la nueva alza del pasaje, intentando exigir un poco de dignidad para sus padres. A estos niños el gobierno los llamó "terroristas". Niños a los cuales sus padres deben pagarles su pasaje para poder asistir a clases y poder tener educación. !Terroristas! a niños no mayores de 18 años, ¡terroristas! a niños de escasos recursos. Terrorismo es tener que seguir exigiendo dignidad para quienes más lo necesitan, terrorismo es morir en una sala de espera de un hospital público, terrorismo es trabajar hasta morir y no poder usar tus ahorros porque empresarios los utilizan para sus negocios, terrorismo es no tener agua porque el gobierno vendió a empresas privadas los derechos de agua, terrorismo es pagar más de cuatro veces una carrera universitaria, terrorismo es golpear y disparar a niños por saltar un torniquete de metro...Terrorismo es ser pobre en un país rico.

18 de Octubre del 2019:

Ha ocurrido un estallido social en Chile.

Salgo de mi trabajo, vivo en el centro de Santiago, justo a la mitad, en la división de los ricos y los pobres. El punto dónde se llevan a cabo las más grandes manifestaciones por la dignidad del pueblo chileno.

Al llegar cerca de mi casa no podía respirar, mis ojos ardian, quería llorar de pánico, no entendía. ¿Eso era gas pimienta? Llegando a la puerta de mi edificio veo un "guanaco" atacar con agua mesclada con quimicos a gente que iba caminando a sus casas. Me dolió ver ese abuso, el pánico que querían crear.

Esa tarde mirando las manifestaciones desde mi ventana, conociendo la realidad, viendo las atrocidades ocurrir frente a mis ojos, decidí unirme a la marcha.

Dignidad arrebatada, 30 años y más...Contexto:

En Chile la salud pública es deplorable, gente muere esperando ser atendida, así de grave es. La educación pública es deplorable, si tus padres no tienen dinero no entrarás a un buen colegio donde te enseñen bien, donde salgas “preparado” para dar una prueba para entrar a la universidad, no tendrás beneficio a una beca y tendrás que optar a un crédito para pagar tus estudios, crédito que debes pagar por veinte años. Las pensiones son uno de los negocios redondos más grandes en Chile, el empresario puede invertir con tu dinero, dinero que ahorraste para tu vejez por el cual trabajaste en toda tu vida, el agua es privada y es utilizada por empresas chilenas y extranjeras de forma desmedida, los sueldos son mediocres, la vida es más cara que algunos paises del 1er mundo, existe un sistema llamado "Sename" que es como una cárcel para menores en riesgo social, muchos no sobreviven ahí o se vuelven delincuentes.

Los manifestantes no son comunista, ni socialista, es gente abusada por un sistema neoliberal, Chile es un experimento fallido, un sistema sin piedad, algún día lo entenderán.

Hoy es 18 de Febrero 2020:

El gobierno continúa ciego, sordo y con su mano de acero sobre el país y su dignidad...Alguien se suicidó el 14 de Febrero en el metro 19:00 hrs...
Yo escribo estas líneas...Cotinúan las manifestaciones en el centro de la ciudad.

 


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Yessenia

Yessenia

Hola! I am a 31-year-old Chilean woman. I live in Santiago de Chile. I'm a fashion designer and illustrator. I've been a vegetarian since I was 18 years old, because I really want to make a better world for everyone and that was my first step. I love my family, animals, nature, art, decoration and photography--everything that connects us as humans with ourselves and others and can make us better people. I live a simple life. I have always been interested in different societies, cultures, languages and the environment, and recently I’ve become interested in politics. I invite you to read my writing.

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