READERSWRITE

CHEER UP!

An appeal to my friends and acquaintances (and to my non-acquaintances also, if any one of you readers decides to forward these words):

I believe that in these days our government is living “its darkest hours.” Pardon me on this occasion if I am overly self-referential, but I need to tell you that I was living in England in May 1940, “The Darkest Hour,” evacuated together with my school to a hamlet in Sussex.

Although I was only eight years old at the time, I remember that every civilian helped the war effort in some way, and that NOBODY complained about any hardships they were enduring. In fact the most frequent expression one would hear was “cheer up.”

Although it is out of the question to compare situations, because we run no risk of being invaded by a foreign power, I do see that many of my fellow citizens who are Cambiemos (Let’s Change) sympathisers have been invaded by pessimism and desolation as they encounter daily difficulties, and this carries them to complain in such a way that they only contribute to make the picture grimmer than what it really is.

Very well, let me remind one and all that we could be very much worse off, that even though imperfect we do have a Republic and democracy, that we must consider that our country has been brutally impoverished throughout the decades, and that if we all put our shoulders and stop being “crying bourgeoise” we will be able to carry our nation ahead with great success just like the 1890s generation, which also didn’t have it so easy, did.

We know that there are many negative elements amongst us, England also had them in those days, but they are perfectly defeatable if we keep our spirits high, without losing sight that final victory will mean the con- solidation of a lasting, happy, Republic.

Consequently, let us cheer up and charge ahead! Harry Ingham City

THE WORST CRIME

“Something is rotten in Denmark,” said Prince Hamlet. I’d like to borrow Shakespeare’s phrase and apply it to our national sport: football.

Football, at least in our country, stinks. Far from a healthy sport anda popular entertainment, football here is immediately linked withd irty business: hooligans (“barra bravas”), violence, bribes, “trapitos,” fraud of all sorts and sizes.

And now, to top it all, a child prostitution scandal. Under age footballers allegedly recruited to have sex with men for money (or merely sports clothing). The worst possible crime.

Young people, most of them poor and all of them rich in dreams, manipulated and used as merchandise. “Child abuse and facilitation of abuse.” And I dare say this is not new.

Fortunately, it’s been disclosed now. I hope all the adults responsible for such a hideous crime pay for it.

Never again, please! Irene Bianchi Ringuelet, La Plata irenebeatrizbianchi@hotmail.com

TRIBUNALES VIC

Remanding in custody personalities from the public and private sectors accused of corruption exposes the existence of special prisons for them where, in view of the sums embezzled and the anticipated acceptance of bribes on the part of members of the Federal Penitentiary Service, they may obtain privileged treatment.

That turns these criminals into VIPs (Very Important People). They do not have to worry about overcrowding in substandard buildings. They have what should be avoided – prerogatives – and we accept that.

We should also accept that those accused of VIC (Very Important Corruption) have special courts whose judges should be of proven honesty, accepting that their assets be investigated at random, convinced of their task and possessing the courage to do it.

Change.org already has the corresponding petition (http:// goo.gl/oNp9iA). It only remains for the Elisa Carriós, the Mariana Zuvics, the Margarita Stolbizers, the Graciela Ocañas, etc. to show their strong commitment against corruption by presenting it in parliament for its approval. Res non verba. Fernando Pietrobelli City