Allende present throughout history

 Allende present throughout history

Yesterday we commemorated the fifty years of the civic-military coup that interrupted our democracy and silenced the powers of the state for 17 years under a military regime. Over the years, much has been said about Salvador Allende as a Marxist dictator and a communist tyrant. But why is it considered this way? If his government program greatly helped the Chilean people in the seventies, welet's go in in the background of what the country was like before Allende came to power.

Since independence, Chile has faced financial and political defeats, but we have always known how to handle it with democracy, without reaching the barbarism that occurred in 1973. However, if we look at the unemployment, malnutrition, poverty and social development rates of the country, this It comes long before the Popular Unity government.

In the 1940s, the poverty rate and the number of people living on the streets or on the banks of rivers, such as the Mapocho River, were very high. This river was a key witness for many compatriots who lived in that place. A key actor in overcoming poverty rates was the Jesuit priest Alberto Hurtado, who in those years founded the Hogar de Cristo, a hostel that helped all Chileans who lived in extreme poverty. At that time, there were approximately five million Chileans and many of them did not have access to education, which resulted in an increase in illiteracy in the tenements and towns of that time. Hurtado was known as the "red priest" because he denounced social injustice in our country. He even resigned from many positions due to pressure from the upper class who did not agree with his ideals.

Thus, Chile continued on its path and poverty rates decreased, but not enough. Chile went through different presidents, such as Carlos Ibáñez del Campo and Eduardo Frei Montalva, the latter proposed agrarian reform and the nationalization of copper, which was later carried out by Salvador Allende. During these years, Chile experienced "progress", but school shortages, malnutrition andunemployment persisted.

In 1970, Salvador Allende assumed the presidency and one of his main achievements was the free distribution of half a liter of milk to 650 thousand people, most of them children. Three years later, the program benefited 3,600,000 people, distributing 49 million liters of milk. Between January and June 1971, child malnutrition was reduced from 60% to 12% in infants.

As we can see, Chile has always had difficulties helping those who need it most, and if they are helped, it is in a limited way. We have always provided assistance to the lower class of our country to maintain their lives for a time, but we have not placed enough emphasis on overcoming poverty and providing initiatives and tools for educational, university and work improvement. If we look at the rates, school dropout in Chile is still a problem, although it has decreased these days. However, if we see the job advertisements, many ask for only eighth grade or incomplete secondary education, very few companies require complete secondary education. Desertion and resignation from jobs are increasingly common in our country, since we do not give enough importance to the fact that each compatriot can emerge and have a spirit of improvement.

Chile still has a lot to overcome, but we have taken a big step by taking care of our democracy and having a government that is close to the people. However, there is still more to be done to be present with the needs of compatriots who are not yet visible and who need the State.

With an affectionate greeting, I say goodbye.

Chile lives forever,

Ismael