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Remembering the 11th of September

11th September 2007 in Politics

Surely, this will be the last opportunity for me to address you. The Air Force has bombed the antennas of Radio Magallanes. My words do not have bitterness but disappointment. May they be a moral punishment for those who have betrayed their oath: soldiers of Chile, titular commanders in chief, Admiral Merino, who has designated himself Commander of the Navy, and Mr. Mendoza, the despicable general who only yesterday pledged his fidelity and loyalty to the Government, and who also has appointed himself Chief of the Carabineros. Given these facts, the only thing left for me is to say to workers: I am not going to resign!

Placed in a historic transition, I will pay for loyalty to the people with my life. And I say to them that I am certain that the seeds which we have planted in the good conscience of thousands and thousands of Chileans will not be shriveled forever. They have force and will be able to dominate us, but social processes can be arrested by neither crime nor force. History is ours, and people make history.

Workers of my country: I want to thank you for the loyalty that you always had, the confidence that you deposited in a man who was only an interpreter of great yearnings for justice, who gave his word that he would respect the Constitution and the law and did just that. At this definitive moment, the last moment when I can address you, I wish you to take advantage of the lesson: foreign capital, imperialism, together with the reaction, created the climate in which the Armed Forces broke their tradition, the tradition taught by General Schneider and reaffirmed by Commander Araya, victims of the same social sector who today are hoping, with foreign assistance, to re-conquer the power to continue defending their profits and their privileges.

I address you, above all, the modest woman of our land, the campesina who believed in us, the mother who knew our concern for children. I address professionals of Chile, patriotic professionals who continued working against the sedition that was supported by professional associations, classist associations that also defended the interests of capitalist society.

I address the youth, those who sang and gave us their joy and their spirit of struggle. I address the man of Chile, the worker, the farmer, the intellectual, those who will be persecuted, because in our country fascism has been already present for many hours -- in terrorist attacks, blowing up the bridges, cutting the railroad tracks, destroying the oil and gas pipelines, in the face of the silence of those who had the obligation to act.

They were committed. History will judge them.

Surely, Radio Magallanes will be silenced, and the calm metal instrument of my voice will no longer reach you. It does not matter. You will continue hearing it. I will always be next to you. At least my memory will be that of a man of dignity who was loyal to his country.

The people must defend themselves, but they must not sacrifice themselves. The people must not let themselves be destroyed or riddled with bullets, but they cannot be humiliated either.

Workers of my country, I have faith in Chile and its destiny. Other men will overcome this dark and bitter moment when treason seeks to prevail. Keep in mind that, much sooner than later, great avenues will again be opened, through which will pass the free man, to construct a better society.

Long live Chile! Long live the people! Long live the workers!

These are my last words, and I am certain that my sacrifice will not be in vain, I am certain that, at the very least, it will be a moral lesson that will punish felony, cowardice, and treason.

Salvador Allende,
11 September 1973.

Tags: 9_11, chile, salvador allende, socialism
This entry was posted by Paul and is filed under Politics. Tags: 9_11, chile, salvador allende, socialism
12 comments »

12 comments

Comment from: Anthony Visitor

Anthony

The only reason he was overthrown was because of the economic instability he brought to the country. Although his socialistic ideas in principle where good his implementation was poor. At the time of the coup inflation had risen over 500% for the year. The people he had hoped to help could no longer purchase anything. There was even a 24 day general strike. Now did the coup restore any democratic freedom. No of course not. They didn't even have a democratic government for 17 years. But Pinochet's economic policies helped to spark the miracle of Chile. In 2007 Chile ranked 11th most free economy.

11th September 2007 @ 20:48 Reply to this comment

Comment from: Paul Member

What gives anybody the right to overthrow a government elected by the people?

Economic instability he brought? How dare you. Capitalists cause economic instability, in this case a Mr Nixon ordering the CIA to "make the economy scream" and to "unseat" Allende.

Your figures are wrong, in the first year inflation dropped from 34% to 22%, industrial growth rose 12% and the GDP increased 8% and unemployment dropped to 3.8%. The following year, after the United States initiated its economic war and the capitalists sabotaged the economy, inflation rose to 140%.

"The miracle of Chile" doesn't exist, just today thousands of people were out on strike demanding better working and living conditions, dozens were injured in the clashes with the government forces.

Allende's mistake was trying to be nice, giving the capitalists some room, allowing them to continue to exist. This is something many on the left are guilty of accepting. When the workers' take power the capitalists must be stripped of their property immediately. Capitalism has shown it won't accept even a few percent of its profits reduced, it'll gladly trade 20 years of fascism to keep the people down, and their profits up.

11th September 2007 @ 23:37 Reply to this comment

Comment from: Anthony Visitor

Anthony

The people where not happy at the time of the coup. He was elected by the congress anyway. They voted him into office. The legality of the coup is in question. And I agree according to Chile law he should not have overthrown.

By September, high inflation (508% for the entire year) and shortages had plunged the country into near-chaos. (Flores, 1997)

As I said Pinochet's economic reforms led to what is known as the Miracle of Chile. Chile is one of the best economic successes of all Latin America. The fact that workers are striking for better conditions does not surprise me. Thousands of people strike in the US all the time. Thats what having a union is for. (I couldn't find your source for dozens being injured)

Chile today is as I said before the 11th most free economy. The ability of the people to have success is tremendous. The people have the power of the government. The people are better off today than they where when Allende took office. And they are better off today then their neighbors.

12th September 2007 @ 13:05 Reply to this comment

Comment from: Paul Member

I don't know why you seem to think having a "free" economy is a good thing. The more free an economy the greater the division between rich and poor, and all the social ills that go with.

Go to Chile, once you go past the fancy hotels for foreigners ask the people about the "miracle".

12th September 2007 @ 13:13 Reply to this comment

Comment from: Anthony Visitor

Anthony

With a free economy the potential for a person to succeed is there. I don't know why your so down on Chile they do have a poverty level of 18%. Thats only 1.2% more than the UK. Its not like its Venezuela with 38%.

12th September 2007 @ 20:05 Reply to this comment

Comment from: Paul Member

You cannot have people at the top without weight at the bottom. Potential for a person to succeed is just that, potential for a single or small number of individuals to succeed, usually at the expensive of the rest of society.

A rich person cannot be rich without first plundering the poor.

13th September 2007 @ 19:01 Reply to this comment

Comment from: Anthony Visitor

Anthony

Now we both know thats not true. Considering many people who now become wealthy do so through the service industry. If you work through a service industry there is no plundering going on.

I understand your point though. There will always be people who are better off than others. The difference being in (currently) the poverty level is lower than nearly every one of its neighbors. This I believe is an accomplishment considering the level of indigenous tribes that still inhabit the nation.

14th September 2007 @ 13:38 Reply to this comment

Comment from: Paul Member

Hang on Anthony, why is the service industry different to any other industry? Workers get paid for selling their labour time, yet another person or group of persons profit from their work by not paying them the full value of their labour. That is theft.

14th September 2007 @ 13:47 Reply to this comment

Comment from: Anthony Visitor

Anthony

Not sure I agree with you Paul. In the service industry the workers are given the opportunity to work for the wage they seek. In my industry the profit margin is a mere 2% as the industry standard. The reason for this is the employees reap most of the profits. As the company makes more money so do they. And because when you work in the service industry your overhead is generally only your workers pay. You can see they are not getting the shaft.

17th September 2007 @ 12:39 You are currently replying to this comment

Comment from: Paul Member

For the wage they seek? Don't be ridiculous, they get whatever the going rate is as it exists on a market.

17th September 2007 @ 12:44 Reply to this comment

Comment from: Anthony Visitor

Anthony

We hire people based on their negotiated rate. Also due to the need for employees the wage rate is nearly 3 times (entry level) the federal minimum (considering you don't need a high school education thats a fine wage). In addition to this the employees share the profits. As we make more money it is then passed on to the employees. This helps to promote employee retention. And we all know it is much cheaper to give your employees a raise than to try and hire a new person and train them.

17th September 2007 @ 20:54 Reply to this comment

Comment from: Paul Member

Fantasy land mate.

17th September 2007 @ 21:02 Reply to this comment


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