I lived in Santiago for a few months about a year ago, and what I remember sensing was that social and policital society there was changing in leaps and bounds.  To illustrate how the social boundaries that Marc talks about are being “unpinched,” I remember a Chilean friend of mine described to me how when reknowned photographer Spencer Tunick organized a nude photo shoot near the presidential palace a couple of years ago, hoping to get a few hundred participants, 400 people showed up to protest, and over 4,500 showed up to participate (including her).  This was, for her and others, a realization of how strong Chile’s desire is for a more liberated, progressive society.  It was a strange juxtaposition for me, because while most of my other Chilean friends held similar views, I was living with a well-to-do family in the wealthy Providencia neighborhood, and my Chilean parents were supporters of Pinochet.  The mother, particularly, deemed anyone and anything that was slighly progressive “communista.”

I wonder if this article is translated into Spanish anywhere (sadly my own translation skills are quite lacking).  I’d like to send it to a few Chilean friends to see what they think ...

... “signals, without doubt, a potentially exhilarating cultural breakthrough for what is an oddly and unusually conservative country”.  Well, couldn’t the same have been said after the election of Salvador Allende?  I think it should be allowed that the Chilean nation seems quite prepared to experiment, more than most, with its election of a President - a fact which wasn’t lost at all on the (unelected) Generals.  And one which also caught out Pinochet at the end of his imposed presidency.

Thank you, Brad, for the perspective somewhat lacking in Marc’s short piece.  Bachelet has a very immediate test of “what side is she on”—will she recall Chilean troops from service to U.S., Canadian, and French elites in Haiti, or at the very least relieve the former Pinochet associate General Aldunate Herman of his new burden of leadership of the UN military force in Haiti?

I must say that being an expat from the US here in Chile, I could not have chosen any other place in the world that I would rather have been this sunday when she was elected. Being here and seeing the remnants of the Pinochet regime and how they have played out in this election was very interesting. 

I must debate some of the implications in this article.  They simply are not accurate.  Stating the “novelty of her gender” is only painting US views onto this huge cultural shift. I do not believe that she was elected for novelty at all.  In fact, she received more votes from men than from women. 

As I was on the streets recording video after she was named President a woman walked by and screamed, “Film the liberty!”  That is the feeling on the street here.  Liberty.  Now a President that is willing to address the problems that are actually going on without bowing to the church or to big business. Obviously. She has already broken all the norms just by being who she is.

I certainly feel that looking at where Chile was 15 years ago compared to where it is today, and looking at the US and where it was 15 years ago and where it is today… Chile is progressing in leaps and bounds.  It is thrilling to see a country that is basically completely religious, over 70% is Catholic alone, reject what the church says and to go with what is is best for the country. I wish that the citizens of the US had that sensibility.  Perhaps it comes from the years of struggle.

Maybe the US would only elect a woman President out of novelty, but it certainly may not be the case for the rest of the world.

Just when I’m losing hope for the world a story from, of all places, Chile, bringing news of change.  An educated, intellegent woman taking the reins of leadership. Made my day!!!

Marc,

I know we don’t get along well, but I was wondering if you would give me permission to post this little piece about Bachelet on my blog.  I would, of course, provide the Truthdig link.  I thought this was a good piece.