Chile-The Other September 11: An Anthology of Reflections and Commentaries on the 1973 Coup in Chile

by Pilar Aguilera

Book Overview

"A worthwhile compilation for libraries and bookstores seeking titles on the subject."--Criticas "This book is the kind of true testimonial that all Americans should read."--Clamor Magazine This... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1876175508
• ISBN13: 9781876175504
• Release Date: September 2002
• Publisher: Ocean Press (AU)
• Length: 80 Pages
• Weight: 0.25 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.5" x 5.8" x 8.4"

Customer Reviews

Inconvenient truths about US-backed state terror.

Right-wingers are often trying to 'adapt' history to suit the needs of the power elite. In Chile, the election of Allende threatened the profits of transnational corporations like Anaconda Copper. In this book, Dorfman and others reveal the ways in which the power elite of the U.S. operate like the mafia and protect their 'turf' through violence, with 'statesmen' like Henry Kissinger being one of the head musclemen The Trials of Henry Kissinger. There are even authors who have themselves been involved with this thuggery, like John Perkins Confessions of an Economic Hit Man. The publisher 'Ocean Sur' has a vast collection on the ugly history of the U.S. in Latin America, and the heroic resistance and resiliance of its people. Today, Michelle Bachelet is the president of Chile. Bachelet was tortured by Pinochet's regime, and her father was killed by it. These facts, and the facts of thousands of other Chileans being brutalized through the evil of the U.S. empire have not been given the airing they deserve. 'El Otro 11 de Septiembre' is an important effort to revive that history that some would like to rationalize or send down the 'memory hole.' Here are some other resources about events and people we should never forget: Salvador Allende [Import NTSC Region 0] Patricio Guzman El Derecho de Vivir en Paz Las Ultimas Composiciones Missing When the Mountains Tremble Romero (IMPORT) Latin America: From Colonization to Globalization Nacla Report on the Americas

very emotive read

I was growing up under the regime of a series of military dictators.Violence was pervasive and even covetous act .As a naturally result of that, every town and community there are at least one or two who dissapeared for a while and returned with black marks all over their bodies. I heard so much horror stories about arrest, interrogation and of course torture. It's a regime imbued its citizens with social-darwinism, male chauvinism, excessive violence, and so-called Military virtue. Individual's liberty and freedom of expression were only existed in books. For an imbicile American who left scathing review on this book, these are no other than stories from remote third world countries and only possible under COMMUNIST DICTATORSHIP. No brother! my childhood experience probably led me to have a symphathy and emotional cameraderie to Chilean people who suffered so much under the authorative regime of Augusto Pinochet( By the way, it's third class comic opera . When Park Chung Hee was assasinated by one of his own henchmen, Pinochet , who admired Park so much, seriously considered to order entire chile to hoist half-staff . Yeah Dictators also have heartwrenching cameraderie!!)Probably , I am not brave enough to look at my country's history without shuddering .Reading about Chile might be a contingency experience for a coward like me. This book is consisted of first person anecdotes written by those who lost their loved ones during the septerber 11 1973 and subsequent repression that cost more than 3000 lives. The book's poignant title means more than mere title . It show how the destiny of common people of two countries forever entwined by tragedies happened coincidently on September 11. As the editor of the book wrote these tragedies forever rob people of U.S and Chile the innocent look at their surrounding and the world. This work is not history book. There are scarcely any detailed information of CIA covert operation and involvement.Nor are there any depth of information over the U.S corporate interest and the electoral victory of Salvador Allende. yet, this is a valuable historical evidence. Why? Because it's a book comprised of real people who provide their personal tragedy without any political agenda. yeah, Fidel Castro's piece are polemical and the work of demagogue.But, even his works contains enough honesty that show his personal symphasy to the destiny of Chilean people and especially President Allende. I was especially moved by Joan Jara's piece . It's a deeply moving book. Anyone want to know about the tragedy of Chile should read the book.

A Powerful Document.

"Chile: The Other September 11" is one of the best books available on the tragic events that inaugurated an era of terror and fascism in the small Latin American country. This is an astounding document of what took place when radical right-wing general Augusto Pinochet lead a CIA-backed military coup against the government of ELECTED socialist president Salvador Allende. The most powerful statement the book makes is that now both Chile and the United States share the dreaded date of a Tuesday, September 11 as a day of horror and death, this is eloquently expressed in a memorable essay by Ariel Dorfman. In-between the chapters and in an important chronology the Nixon White House plot to distabalize Allende's government is detailed, showing how the U.S. in part was deeply responsible for the coup and horrors that fell on Chile. Some right-wingers here cringe, trying to make the book sound "one-sided," maybe it is, but the facts sure aren't. It is also ridiculous that some reviewers here try to discount the brilliant speech given by Fidel Castro shortly after the coup. Castro is a revolutionary leader, something hard to grasp through American eyes eventhough now sadly, we can grasp a taste of what Chile experienced with our own day of terrorism and murder. Castro's speech is both a memorable tribute to the Chilean spirit, the Chilean revolution, Allende, and the solidarity between Cuba and Chile, and yet Castro still gives a well-calculated warning about unarmed nations being defenseless against the tyranny of fascist intentions. The book also features some wonderful poetry that expresses the FEELINGS of what happened, this is an insightful style for the book considering Chile is the home of one of the world's great poets, Pablo Neruda, who's sad fate following the coup is detailed here by his wife. The two most powerful chapters belong to Joan Jara, wife of murdered Chilean folk singer Victor Jara, she writes about her final moments with her husband on the morning of the coup as they held each-other for the last time before he leaves for the city's university, never to be seen again except as a bloodied, murdered victim of the military rulers. Jara also shares here her husband's final poem, written while imprisoned in a horrific sports stadium turned torture center. "Chile: The Other September 11" should not be read by just Latin Americans or history buffs, it should be read by Americans not just as a look into what we've helped unleash on other nations, but as a warning of what we shouldn't allow to happen here. It is easy to dismiss the crimes of men like Pinochet as something from "over there," when in fact, it can happen here because human beings are human beings no matter where they reside. When we hear about "the war on terror" and some of the frightening stereotypes being developed around immigrants and others, it would be wise to read this book and see what happens when ideaological paranoia produces a state of terror and oppression. Chile

To be read slowly... and again

There are history books that one feels a rush to finish, to learn more, to devour. This book demands to be read slowly. carefully. To feel the words. Not only to understand them intellectually but to feel them in your spirit. Read the last words of Salvador Allende before La Moneda Palace was bombed. and then read them again. "It is possible they will smash us," Allenda said "but tomorrow belongs to the people." Tomorrow belongs to the people.Read Joan Jara talk about the week her husband Victor was arrested and tortured, and how she later found him.and read Victor's last poem.and read Ariel Dorfman talk about how the U.S. September 11th reminded him of the Chilean September 11th.and read all of this while remembering that the military coup in Chile, the mass killings that followed, the repression and disappearances, the rise of Augusto Pinochet, was all with the support of Nixon and Kissinger.and then read it all again.

a one-sided page turner

This little account of Sept 11 Chile will just give you the chills. Although it is very one-sided, it shows this side subtely. The voices of the people and their stories are heard. It is a great easy read for someone that wants to know about Chile and teh Socialist movement with Salvador Allende. It's a great title too, because it grabs people's attention from the USA. Sometimes in the US other countries' struggles are unknown.