The League of Austen Artists: freedom

Today's post is in conjunction with the Blog-A-Licious Blog Tour, a fantastic blog hop that brings together bloggers of all genres, backgrounds and locations. In today's hop, the blog featured before #4 "The League of British Artists" is #3 Peace from Pieces". The blog featured after "The League of British Artists" is #5 Battered Not Broken". Do stop by and say hello plus some of us are having giveaways and contests. Enjoy! Websites listed below.

What Freedom Means To Me.

My family is from South America and I grew in Chile (Santiago). My father was stationed there with the Economic Commission for Latin America (ECLA) a branch of the United Nations; he worked for them for 33 years.

During our time there, we lived through an experience that I can still remember; it’s one of those things that just stays with you, even though I was about ten years old by the time it was done.

In 1970 a Communist President was elected and we lived under his rule until 1973. During that time things deteriorated to the point of not having the essentials, sugar, milk, bread. And we were in the lucky minority. Since my father was a diplomat we had access to importing things from the US, but still lacked the bare essentials.

I remember friends coming over for dinner and instead of bringing wine or something else for my Mom they brought toilet paper and sugar. I also remember that my oldest sister was in University at the time and of course as it usually is the case; it was a hot bed for all kinds of trouble. Protests and violence almost a daily occurrence. Mind you we didn’t have cell phones back then.

One night she didn’t come home after school and my parents were frantic. The campus was located downtown and we knew because of reports on TV that there was a massive protest going on, tear gas was used, riot police etc. Tear gas is one of the most awful things that you can ever come across. Your eyes sting, your throat hurts; you can’t breathe, just horrible. That’s why it’s so effective.

Finally, she came home and the relief was something that I can’t explain. She had escaped unharmed with some of her classmates and was able to make it home.

Car bombs were almost a daily occurrence, targeting opposition politicians and law enforcement officials. I remember one in particular where they got this very young, charismatic, aspiring presidential candidate. Quite gruesome.

It all came to a halt on September 11, 1973 in a coup. Some of you may be familiar with it; many things have been said and written about it, good and bad, mostly bad. Independence Day in

Chile

is celebrated on September 18 & 19. There’s a big parade, with the military displaying their might for all the dignitaries to see.

That particular year the communists had planned to massacre most of the attendees and some key military and government opposition leaders, this operation was called ‘Plan Z”. It was very cold and calculating. Months later, my good friend, whose father was a navy man, told me her family’s name was on their lists as targets and she said mine probably was too, since my father was a known anti-communist.

‘Plan Z’ contemplated indoctrinating school children a la Cuba, I recall Fidel Castro was a ‘good friend’ to President Allende. I was in fourth grade so I would have been one of those children they planned to brainwash. We came so very close and I will always be grateful to the Chilean military for saving us from their clutches.

Quite scary don’t you agree? I think that experience made me realize what it truly means to be free. Even though I grew up in Santiago, I was born in the US, when my father was stationed at the UN Headquarters in NYC. I have always loved my country, even though sometimes the politics frustrate me. I appreciate what our military does to keep our freedoms and the sacrifices they make to protect us.

I placed an American flag that hangs from my rearview mirror in my car, on September 11, 2001 and I haven’t taken it down since, never will. Freedom isn’t free.

Happy Birthday America

1. Sonia Rumzi - http://soniarumzi.com/

2. DK Levick - http://dklevick.wordpress.com/
3. Dora - http://peacefrompieces.blogspot.com/
4. Karen - http://britsunited.blogspot.com/

5. La Vonya - http://www.battered-not-broken.blogspot.com/