Bicentennial year: Many experiences, little learning

“D’ où venons-nous? Que sommes-nous?
Où allons-nous?”
Paul Gauguin

To wonder about the reasons to celebrate or not the existence of an alleged national soul today formally proposed by the government, perhaps it is wiser to ask about the reasons why today we can celebrate or commemorate something special for our independence. Is possible answer yes to this question if we accept that independence wasn't a revolution, but rather an endorsement of the value of tradition, which in our case is ad hoc discursive legitimacy of republican ideals with an itch reformer and a free or self-conscious development: we are all because we are nothing.

It seems that in our bicentennial year we have seen a summary of all our experience for over 500 years, 300 natives and not only 200 Republicans, which certainly defines us: earthquakes, political elections and other disasters such as the Mapuche situation or mining, as well an incomplete development in all spheres of our social life.
The starting point is geographical: We are the place where we live. Everyone agrees that we are reflected on the nature of our seismic land, we forget easily because the reconstruction has always been essential: the chilean is nothing and all at the same moment, all time we are at the tightrope, such as when accidents happen, we know that the life continues, and if there is an earthquake, doesn't matter nothing more than the restoration.

So, the resignation and too the tenacity shows the response to oblivion... the independence is the best and the worst of ourselves, because in the first place it is the declaration of our vocation for liberty, in the same lines of an earthquake, in the sense that this allows can recognize the dignity of all men, but also the hard reality is here to say us the discourse isn't so true, because exists a lot of poverty, marginality, meanness, and always we prefer bad copy of the foreign instead of create new options. On the other hand, with the independence we accepted on the words the idea of revolution, a contradiction with our good weighted effect of the reforms and our humanity.

In conclusion, we can look back and celebrate but not swallow the lies about the national soul and the united country. Chile is all because is nothing.

Ecology?

The entire world has been since ancient times only a tool for men. I am not really sure that the center of the issue is about environmental... I think that many times it is used only to win political (lato sensu) positions and not to ameliorate the conditions of life of persons; always we must take care about too popular beliefs, and even suspect of fads that are contradictory when are compared ideas and practices.
In the recent film of Cameron it's reflected a poetic view (in front) of this issue: it is better to convert to or assume yourself as an extraterrestrial than share the misery generated by human selfishness.
The limits are beyond endurance to carry a banner to be defending the rights of my dog, because if I accept that, I agree that my dog is over that millions of people worse off than my dog, and on my list of values or scale of priorities, all important places I keep to objects that revolve around me. The same when I demand a better deal for whales, because it wouldn't have anything of wrong if this was the unique that remains. So, an innocent slogan can have something else, as a perverse contradiction hidden behind a redundancy, which is at leas treat to environmental like a treat different being, yet behave as if the only thing that mattered to us were we, accepting once and other when we say it is for our children.
Well, I think that finally, as in Pandora, there isn't limits to defend in the time of true, although sometimes one to be a really son of bitch.
The only truth in Ecology today, is that environmental means retain to me and deny resources to others, the question of gentlemen: money, and, between you and me, I am not very interested there.

An incredible crucifix

The church of Ognissanti, begun in 1251 was part of the monastery complex of Umiliati, Lombard order that arrived in Florence in 1239.

Although their rule was aproved by Pope Honorius III, the order was part of poverty movements near heresy. The congregation Umiliati emerged as a secular men and women, dedicated to poverty and evangelical perfection, but especially at work, which was an integral part of religious life, primarily engaged in the production of wool and glass.

In Florence Umiliati first settled outside the city, then into the church of Santa Lucia, gradually extending their properties to understand an oratorio on the Borgo, where they build their church Omnium Sanctorum ad honorem and the convent, the complex was completed in 1260.

The Umiliati, for their dedication and probity of the lay brothers and sisters, gained a reputation in Florence and began to collect works of art in its simple church. To the high altar Giotto painted his famous Madonna and Child with angels or Madona of Ogissanti (Maestá di Ognissanti), now in the Uffizi, around 1310.

But the Madonna di Ognissanti isn't the unique oeuvre of Giotto, for example there is the Dormitio Virginis della Gemäldegalerie di Berlino, and the crucifix which today remains in his home in Florence and was painted with the collaboration of the unknown personality "Parente di Giotto".

Paola Bracco has worked since 2002 on the restoration of Giotto's Crucifix of the Church of Ognissanti, Florence, one of the works of the artist who was accused by Dante of outshine to Cimabue with his Maestá. Started in 2002, the majestic tempera on panel realised by Giotto and his workshop around 1310-1320 has been came to the light again. First on the tramezzo (partition) of the church and then kept in the sacristy of the church of Ognissanti becoming invisible to most, its many precious details on the pictorial surface were also hidden from centuries of bad restorations, smoke of candles and dust. After years of hard working, the bright colors are appearing, show us how Giotto embodied of majesty and extraordinary beauty.

Giotto's crucifix "torna a casa" next week. The inauguration will be on 6 November. The crucifix will be placed in the transept of the church, and no longer in the sacristy, so that everyone will be able to appreciate its beauty and its incredible expressive values.

More info: http://www.guardian.co.uk/artanddesign/2010/oct/24/british-restorer-lost-giotto-masterpiece

Crucifixus, Maestà degli Uffizi, Dormitio Virginis(dettaglio).

Mapuche

Mapuche means in mapudungun "people of the land", and together with the numbers is almost unique words I know in this language, but also some places I visited, as Pichilemu and Bucalemu (Little forest and Big forest), Nirivilo (Snakepit), Curicó (Black river), and many others of South of the country. Here, in Santiago, we have some municipalities with names of tokis (war leaders) as Vitacura and Tobalaba, or hills as Manquehue (Place of condors).

Otherwise it is little what we preserve the culture of a people that despite its efforts to maintain its roots it is becoming increasingly overshadowed by a national state that recognized since the late nineteenth century nominally cultural pluralism via ratification of Convention 169 ILO, but in practice only distinguishes one type of subject: the Chilean.

The people of this ethnic group, according to the last census of 2002, represents the 4 percent of the total population of Chile, and corresponds to 23,4 percent in the region of Araucanía.

4.6 percent of national total recognizes to belong to an ethnic , or the same 692,192 people are indigenous in Chile.

Mapuche issue? They haven't any problem except us; we are responsible for a highly inadequate recognition of their dignity. Is the question that when we come to the conclusion that some are more equal than others, is better cut heads than count them.

The miners

The miners... yesterday I felt a bit of hapiness but also much of anger cause them and the circus mounted by the media. When I arrived to my house I started to watch the program Who wants be millionaire? presented by the never properly weighted TV driver Sergio Lagos, with a special edition dedicated to the participation of the miners of the misadventure, accompained by diverse figures of the creole show, as Américo, Joaquín Lavín, Juan Falcón and others. Unheard not only that the current minister of education of government proved to be as qualified as a freshly graduated from middle school but hired by a government that insists in a meritocratic discourse, but also by the injustice of put to compete the miners to earn money represented by persons with varying success...

For disgrace, Falcón didn't play with more luck than Lavín, and his represented, Frank Lobos, a really intelligent miner that put some points on the ies , finished earning the most low prize. I really hope that the companies involved in the sponsorship of the program will give each the same award as it is not fair to expose them and profit from the suffering of others without respecting basic ethical standards: no one can recognize in this case rules of fair discrimination.

Best places in Santiago

In the first place, I think that it doesn't matter where dou you can go, if you are with your friends.

Althoug never is bad if you and your guys enjoy something more, as a good plan, food, music, talk, some place or whatever it's possible.

Well, in Santiago there are many nice places where you could have fun or have a wonderful view.

First, the sites of any populated town capital of a country, as fast food restaurants, bowling, cinema, bookshops, gift stores, you can find all of this in the mall centers of Santiago.

Second, the sites where you'll look and you'll stay surprised, as parks of center and other more!

Well, I prefer South...

Too, exist places more cosmopolitan, as restaurants of international food, including the Rishtedar, where Ram Singh, the indian chef of the local, serve dishes such as chicken varieties called Murgh (Murgh kali Mirch, that is a chicken in white sauce with chestnuts of cajun and pepper; Goa Murgh cafreal, a chicken in mint sauce marinated in wine; Murgh mitha masala, a chicken marinated in a delicious cream of coconuts, almonds and masala; and a lot of other more), cheese (Paneer), lamb and indian rice (with schrimb, lamb or chicken, or maybe vegetables or fruit!), inter alia flavores.

The prices are reasonable (considering some ingredients are brought from Argentina) and don't forget that Indian cuisine is often spicy... enjoy it with a good wine, and then take to test a good indian frozen dessert!

Last but not least this welcome attention, also offers a warm atmosphere and music.
Make your reservations to 231 32 57, location Holanda 160, Providencia.

Monday-Saturday: 19:00 to 23:30

Sunday: 12:00 to 16:00

The Young Victoria

Under direction of Jean Marc-Vallée, an extraordinary cast of actors: Emily Blunt, Rupert Friend and Paul Bettany give life to a story of the nineteenth century writed by Julian Fellowes, about the first years of the most important Queen of United Kingdom maybe since Elizabeth I of England: Victoria, first empress of India and the longest of any female monarch in History.

Was born in 1837 in Kensington, and reigned almost 64 years, until 1901.

The movie is about the most sentimental and romantic side of Victoria (Emily Blunt), a girl who before ascending to the throne had a childhood "rather melancholy" and has been constantly manipulated by his mother, duchess of Kent (Miranda Richardson), and her lord protector, Sir John Conroy (Mark Strong), a real villain.
Given this, her noble cousin and suitor, Albert (Rupert Friend) of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha -nephew of the King Leopold of the Belgians-, suggests that, like in chess, learns the rules of the game to she moves herself freely. The sincere and loving support of Leopold, with his pragmatic social sense, captive slowly to Victoria, specially in the days that discovers the cold side of politics, inclusive with the distinguished first minister, Lord Melbourne (Paul Bettany), political liberal on who had placed their trust.

The growing distrust of anyone who wanted to win interfere with their duties will be faced by Alberto's soft breaths of its most difficult moments... her decision will change the life of a Kingdom. Is the problem of always, between the prison marriage and happy marriage... difference is of grades...

In conclusion, one of the best movies of fairy tales, elegance and biopic of 2009.

Music is wonderfull, specially the allusions of Ilan Eshkeri, composer of the Soundtrack, to Schubert and Donizetti. Dance is the perfect accompanying.