Ahhh…the empire…

Or else.

(Ah…the empire…)

*****

The story of Salvador Allende, who was democratically elected...whom the people loved...but Allende was neutral, and called himself a sovereign state (which it's supposed to be) and that their decisions would be made about Chile, from Chile.

And there's that thing again: no neutral, and no democracy sino la democracia del Gran Hermano.

So he had to go.

And the U.S. put in Agosto Pinochet - one of the most brutal dictators of the time. No matter. The U.S. got what it wanted, as well as I imagine, did a corporation or two.

The people were not allowed to mourn their presidente. The repression began immediately.

****

The Poet of South America, Pablo Neruda was like a brother to Allende. (Neruda's life was interesting - had to leave Chile because he said or wrote something the then leader didn't like). I love him, although I like his later works which are more political. He saw, too, what the effects and damage of being under the control of the U.S. were wreaking.

Neruda died twelve days after Allende was murdered. Some will say that it was heartbreak. Neruda was beloved of los pueblos...and when the people heard of his passing, they could no longer beart it. They poured into the streets shouting his name..."Comandante Neruda!"

And slowly...the chants began to include the wails of sorrow for Allende. They grew...Sorrow at losing two so loved...sorrow at all that had been taken from them...and for what?

To satisfy the lust for Power and Profit-at-any-cost, of the Empire.