READERS WRITE

A STRAY DOG

Argentina is the first nation in history that has gone down from being a developed country to the position we are in today. Worst of all, from being a world leader in the realm of public education, it is now a shambles. The road downwards really started with the military revolution in September of 1930, and today we are literally broke. It is as if our country were a runaway purebred dog which has gone astray!

Based on this thought the idea has struck me that, stray dogs being more resilient to hardship than purebreds, that maybe, just maybe, that our ruined country could pull itself up after this coronavirus plague at a faster speed than many advanced countries. In any case, from what we have seen in the last two weeks, chances are good that this so very severe crisis may bring us together in a way we couldn’t have foreseen in our wildest dreams at the beginning of March.

If this were to happen, it could eventually lead to the end of this nation’s nearly century-long decline. Of course, a relatively good handling of the sanitary crisis, in comparison to other countries, is indispensable if this illusion is to become a reality. And, in any case, the way up will be a long and hard one, and would have to result in a tremendous change in the mentality of our businessmen and politicians. Protectionism would have to be abolished and replaced with a hungry sense of competition, similar to the one seen in South Korea which, after the Korean War, went in very little time from being a very poor country to the heavyweight in trade that it is today.

The night is at its darkest just before sunrise. Call me a hopeless optimist if you wish, but be sure that one way or another, because we could also plunge down in the other direction, nothing will be the same after the devilish virus is reined in. And our education and public institutions will also have to be greatly fortified once again, because... “It’s the Republic, darn it”!

Harry Ingham City

NO JOKE

Little by little, we’re finally understanding that this is serious. We’re gradually coming to terms with this harsh reality. We, Argentinians, have always been quite reluctant to obey rules. We always show much better behaviour when we go abroad, ’cause we know we can’t easily escape punishment there.

Now the president has told us to stay at home, but many people choose to view this quarantine as a break, a holiday, some days off. Wrong – this attitude is making things worse, much worse. It’s childish and irresponsible. We must do as we are told, whether we like it or not. For everyone’s sake.

This is no joke. It’s a world pandemia for which there’s no cure yet. It’s time for us to grow up, guys. High time.

Irene Bianchi Ringuelet, La Plata