Día nacional de la Memoria por la verdad y la Justicia

Today is the National Day of Memory for Truth and Justice here in Argentina. It marks the date, 34 years ago (I think...1976) that the most brutal military dictatorship overthrew the civilian government, destroyed all institutions (courts and congress), abolished political parties, abolished freedom of speech and of press, all in the name of combatting terrorism and leftist ideology. The military government, through means of torture, "disappearing," and murder, sought to systematically remove all who opposed the dictatorship or expressed any radical leftist views. During the 8 years that the dictatorship was in power up to 30,000 people were "disappeared," that is, likely killed, but few bodies have been found.

There were concentration camps set up around the city where dissidents were held, tortured, and killed. Many were pushed out of planes into the ocean where they either died from the fall or from drowning. And thousands of children were taken from their mothers when they were born. The children were given away to supporters of the military regimes. The mothers were killed.

It was a dark, obviously, period in Argentine history. A period that most here don't want to talk about because it lives freshly in their memory. I think most of the older generation here know many that were tortured, killed, or disappeared and would rather not have to remember those horrible experiences.

ANYWAYS, on a lighter note, today I am attending a march of millions of people that gather on this day in Congress square to march 15 blocks from Congress down to the Casa Rosada (the head of the executive branch...the pink house... that is pink incidentally because white paint used to be mixed with ox blood to give it some color and thin it out). I am going to march with some friends from FLACSO who are going with their families to honor those who disappeared during this time period. Afterwards, in the Plaza de Mayo, in front of the Casa Rosada, there are going to be big concerts and traditional dance shows. It should be very exciting. I will post pictures when I return.