Los Desaparecidos

[Photographer Pepe Robles]


Today is the 34th anniversary of the military junta that started the Dirty War in Argentina...24 Marzo 1976...Nunca Más...

We take for granted in the United States our political freedom, our freedom altogether. There are so many countries, Argentina (in the past) among them, where to speak out, to speak your mind, to speak the truth, puts your life and the lives of your family members at risk.

Roughly 30,000 people vanished or were "disappeared" in Argentina between 1976 and 1983.

Today is the day to remember, and for people around the globe to say "never again". But it is still happening even as I write this.

Somewhere.

In spite of all the partisan bickering here in the U.S., in spite of all the issues that face our people and our country today, this democracy is a beautiful thing we have today. Thanks to our forefathers. It is a most beautiful thing that we can speak our minds - Constitutionally protected freedom of speech - without concern for a knock on the door in the middle of the night.

Let's not forget, let's not take for granted. Cherish it. Protect it. Exercise it.





Here are a few links to more information:

http://articles.latimes.com/1986-12-07/books/bk-1062_1_argentine-state

http://www.desaparecidos.org/arg/eng.html

http://www.nuncamas.org/english/library/nevagain/nevagain_000.htm

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dirty_War

http://www.opendemocracy.net/arts-photography/disappeared_4443.jsp




Here is a YouTube short titled "Los Desaparecidos"...







Here is a YouTube Video of a longer documentary short from Journeyman Pictures...

Tango as a symbol...?

Please bear with the 30 seconds of advertisements at the beginning.



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GUjEd0zSKmY





And another titled "Desaparecidos":