Sept 11th

I found 9/11 to be very interesting this year. In the U.S., people spend the day remembering the attacks on the Twin Towers. It's a peaceful, rather somber day, as the nation pays homage to the lives that were lost back in 2001.

In Chile however, 9.11 holds a different meaning and a different attitude altogether. In 1973, Pinochet led a military coup overthrowing the democratically elected Allende, thus beginning his 17 year reign. We received emails from work, warning us that this day is traditionally not the most peaceful-for obvious reasons. Protest groups often turn violent, so we were cautioned to stay away from any demonstrations. As I went out for my morning jog, police were stationed on every street corner, ready for whatever protests/trouble this year might hold. The day was gray, and knowing how tear gas-happy the police are here, I didn't see any need to venture out unnecessarily. Unfortunately, one of my friends had to work, and on her way home, she was attacked by 4 men in altered states. {Luckily, she thought quickly & was able to escape the situation unharmed (apart from psychological trauma) with the help of a good samaritan.} While I can't say whether these men were fucked up because of the date, or just by mere coincidence, this incident doesn't help refute the bad reputation that this day holds here in Chile.

It's strange because both countries have experienced these emotionally charged tragedies but their ways of coping with them are so diabolically different. It was just really fascinating to compare how these two nations, who have struggled with coming to terms of what has happened to them, have dealt with their situations, and just how different their paths of reconciliation have (or haven't) been.