READERS WRITE

GENDER-INCLUSIVE LANGUAGE

Imagine a teacher employing gender-inclusive language in the classroom and advocating its use whole-heartedly. Imagine the same teacher one day needing help from the students and making the following prejudicial and discriminatory statement: “I need a strong boy who can lift this heavy box.” This imaginary situation shows that the teacher is inclusive in words but not in action.

The Peronist left seem to have created inclusive language to eradicate the remnants of patriarchy and the insensitivity towards women’s inalienable rights in Argentina. They made it mandatory in the civil service and in the Armed Forces. They mistakenly believed that by merely encouraging the use of gender neutral terms, they would be able to take action against sexism. Furthermore, they naively thought that this social evil could be dealt with by the mere use of politically correct words. But this anti-sexist policy ended up being merely discursive while other more serious issues – like the increasing rate of femicides – were neglected.

The Peronist left also created the national anti-discrimination agency, INADI, to fight any sexist, racist and other types of bias but it then transpired that the underlying reason for its existence was to staff the institution with party activists from La Campora. It is also public knowledge that another reason for its existence was the complete control of INADI’S “caja” (a Spanish word that refers to the substantial flow of monies from the national government to the agency for discretionary use without any supervision to prevent the misuse of funds).

President Milei has now not only closed down INADI, he has also banned the use of inclusive language. I think this is another worthy attempt of his to bid good riddance to the mire of systemic corruption that Kirchnerism (The Peronist left) waded in.

Adrian Insaubralde,

Santa Fe

[Editor’s note: two brief corrections/notes here: the use of inclusive language was not obligatory in the civil service, nor the Armed Forces. Second, INADI was created in 1995 under then-president Carlos Menem, though the initiative dated back to 1998, under the Raúl Alfonsín government – JG]

BURSTING THE BOIL

March and April will witness the programmed bursting, without anaesthetic, of the populist boil that has brought about the decadence of Argentina during the last 80 years. And, boy, is it going to hurt! The big question is, will the patient have the patience to tolerate the suffering or will he hit out at the doctor? Because if we are willing to see this through, our country will at last turn the corner and take the road to great times.

Personally, I believe that the outcome of this very painful moment will be positive because, at long last, reality is seeping into the minds of so many who believed the populist story. This is so because the populist leaders, politicians, trade union heads and social movement organisers, etc (who never rebelled against the former regime) lost no time in calling strikes when President Milei took over, demonstrating in this way that they were out to defend their personal interests, above the needs of our country. And, at this time, only three months into the new government, most people tend to look at these people, not the new authorities, as the real culprits to blame for our situation.

Of course the above will hold only if the deep pain is solved fast, and people see a definitely positive tendency soon, for instance a great reduction in the inflation rate. So, quite obviously, the president has no option but to use the chainsaw, and fast, because: “It’s the Republic, dammit”!

Harry Ingham, City

FAVOURING ‘THE CASTE’

Wait a minute! They must be kidding! Is it true that our members of Congress will get a 30 per cent pay rise? Right now, of all times? Will they pocket 2.5 million pesos per month? Have Martín Menem and Victoria Villarruel actually approved that? There must be some sort of mistake. Maybe it’s fake news. Because if it’s true, it’s plainly immoral, unacceptable.

Do Congress members happen to know that a retiree in Argentina gets just 134,445.30 pesos? What a nerve! Disappointed with this administration once again. This outrageous measure is another huge contradiction.

Didn’t President Milei promise “austerity” all throughout his campaign? I remember his words distinctly: “We’re in a position to beat the caste in the first round.” I’m afraid he seems to be favouring the caste and damaging the rest of us, the people.

Irene Bianchi, Ringuelet, La Plata