5/5/12 - motivated by a ridiculous video and its efects
Once more Argentine authorities have given a sample of the lack of respect they have to the Falklands inhabitants with a video about a supposed athlete. Nothing more far from athletes and Olympic attitude than the chauvinist example shown. But nothing, unfortunately, more close not only to the political class but to the majority of the Argentine civil society. From tiny bears to this video, passing through ignorance of falklanders existence and the “implant population” not based concept, there is a clear disrespectful attitude towards islanders. This fact is a real shame that has been constructed along years of nationalist ideology in every step of social life mainly at school together with the, also ill founded, idea of the “ownership of the islands”.
But that is just one side of the
matter. Very similar nationalism and disrespectful thought towards falklanders can
be seen in British opinions all around the web supporting the British colonial
position towards the Falkland, South Georgia and South Sandwich islands. This disrespect
is softened by a paternalistic attitude while it is hardened by a bellicose irresponsible
will.
Moreover, like all around this South Atlantic matter, there is a third
leg. Respect to oneself and rights is never simply obtained for free. Who
deserves and pretends respect should honor it and win it. “Win” here meaning
valorize that respect in oneself and in others. This “win” implies a
demonstration, an explicit or implicit statement, a compromise. Unfortunately
it is common within the majority of the falklanders expressing loudly –for example
those who claimed for the offense of the Argentine video, discarding the local government members who are British colonial functionaries- that just grasping the surface it is easily
found they put the knee on the ground for a woman named “Queen” and her sick
and irresponsibly family. Such servile conduct seems to ignore we are in XXIth
century altogether with French
Revolution and Illustration. At the same
time many islanders who in all right ask for respect from Argentina don’t bother to ask the same from Britain standing up for
being independent men/women and country. These parallel self sustaining attitudes,
support to colonialism and to monarchy, promise to throw away through the
window what might and should be received through the door.
It follows impossible that respect- together with peace, justice, understanding
and prosperity- reigns at the South Atlantic Ocean till nationalism, monarchy
and colonialism are strongly eradicated from the political background.
