Chile demands dignity

Since the return to democracy, individualism and consumerism have separated us as a society. They taught us to be afraid to go outside, not to trust anyone, to aspire to go up in social class. They told us that commodities made a difference, that you worth what you have, that it is better to go to the mall than the park because there is none, and if there is it is dangerous for you.

They taught us to judge citizens by how they talk and dress, to separate and hate each other. They made us ignorant, cheap labor. They convinced us that with effort and facing the greatest difficulties, we will get ahead. We believed it. We trusted the politicians; it was the left against the right, the rich against the poor and those of provinces against those in the capital. But we said enough.

In recent years, the abuse was increasingly evident. The people are drowning in debt and struggling to survive in an obsolete system that only helps oppressive wealthy businesspeople. But today, citizens access modern tools that facilitate change. The Internet and social networks enhance direct access to information and points of view that are overlooked by traditional channels.

The new generations of professionals and students are not afraid like the older adults who lived the military dictatorship. The youth is not afraid to go outside to demand just demands because they know that change is possible, and that brought courage back to the elder’s generations. It is there in the social meeting where the citizens joined together, talking we realized that we are suffering from the same problems, that together we are stronger.

Amid the protests that began on October 18 and with the beginning of demonstrations in other cities of the country, the official information began to run through Instagram stories, posts on Facebook and the particular independent media. While the TV showed delinquents destroying things, the Internet was filled with real videos of peaceful and danceable marches, of the police abusing their power, burning things to then lie telling that it was the protesters.

But the fakes and frames are no longer believed by the people. Anonymous professionals share information in their area of expertise on what to do, where to go, and how to read between the lines of official information from the State. The president declared war on people, while regular citizens protested banging pots and pans, the police and military used firearms and violated human rights.

This is the time to build a better country, with a better perspective of the future, rowing all in the same direction. All nations have their problems, nobody believes that their government is doing well, we must not be excited by a party or a person, no longer utopian tales, not just copy foreign models. In developed countries such as Denmark, there are fundamental differences between political parties and is not a perfect country, but certain basic aspects are not discussed. Nobody opposes high taxes (36% is the minimum.) nobody would dare to change the baseline in education and health or lower standards in housing and transportation, and as soon as a political threat is seen people do something. Instead, Chile thinks that is top in Latin America, but not even the baseline in key aspects has dignity and equality.

This is the key moment in our history to rebuild a damaged nation, let’s be strong, let’s stop to reflect on what we want for future generations so that today’s changes will endure. When we face natural disasters, communities get together, there is support among neighbors, regions help each other, volunteers go out to help.

The raw material in this new stage must be that, so that the sense of community, human support, of trusting and acting with love towards the other compatriot won’t be forgotten when the protests end; that this internal change, that each one of those who rise in the face of injustice is experiencing, it will last in time and be strengthened when the waters calm. Just acting in this way, leaving individualism aside will allow us to move forward as a nation.

They try to deprived supplies from us. They inspire terror by violence, economic crises and lack of products. Now is when we open our eyes and realize that our happiness and status are not based on how much we can have, that our human relationships, being heard and living with dignity is the most important, and it is not the last iPhone or brand clothes that fill that existential void. That the neoliberal model imposed on us does not re-determine our priorities, let us listen carefully, strengthen our networks of friends, that is what will keep us healthy and united when the storm passes.

As a nation, this is the time to conceive something new. We must build upon what history portrays and not make the same mistakes of the past. Perhaps, the 18 million Chileans are called to invent an innovative system that responds to our needs, arising from us, for us.

Chile is already on the street demanding for dignity and significant changes. The time to advance towards a sustainable future is right now, let’s keep fighting for what truly matters.

Related posts:

Earth Day is one of my favorite days. Every year, I make a post on Instagram of my favorite nature pictures from my camera. This year, now that I have experienced my Instagram cleanse, I am going to…

Recently we have heard a shift in the narrative around successful business strategy which you may have picked up on, too! Words like agility are shifting to adaptability, phrases like predict the…

Working with a client, and things don’t go as planned. I give my experience dealing with different scenarios.