The past, almost by definition, has a lot less influence on our reality than the present. And while we are a direct consequence of that seemingly infinite chain of events, the intensity with which we live our lives can act as horse blinders, forcing us only to look forward. For many, Argentina’s most important problem — a consistent economic decrepitude that has lasted nearly a century — is causally determined by our incapacity to reach basic political agreements. Rising polarization, which appears to be a global phenomenon, has reached new heights in Argentina, where it even has its own name, “la grieta.” Interestingly, a large and growing number of pundits and politicians have begun to say that we must overcome our differences through dialogue, even if, in practice, they’ve perfected the art of gaining political peanuts through ad hominem attacks against their opponents.
Yet, a certain “Argentine exceptionalism” still remains in our collective psyche, almost exclusively associated with sporting prowess, from Diego Maradona to Lionel Messi. But as one begins to dig deeper into our history, several key characters and moments emerge that feed our notion that as a nation, we “deserve better.” One such moment, maybe the most important from a socio-political perspective, was the Trial of the Juntas held in 1985. Almost 40 years later, the Juicio a las Juntas Militares had essentially become a relic until a recent film brought it back into the foreground in all of its magnificence. Beyond the cinematographic virtues of Argentina, 1985, directed by Santiago Mitre, that trial – borne out of one of the darkest eras of our short life as a nation – was truly something exemplary that should make Argentines proud. It deserves this newfound interest from the public, and hopefully it will help us regain our self-esteem and belief that a future path of progress is within reach.
Support authors and subscribe to content
This is premium stuff. Subscribe to read the entire article.