Chile: the balanced view : a recopilation of articles about the Allende years and after

Valparaíso, who stands second in the Church's hierachy to Cardinal Silva Henríquez. That statement said, in part: "For LÍs reconciliation is an indispensable lask, because Ihe Marxisl regime produced very grave and deep division belween our people. Based on the principie of Ihe class struggle, it sought lo sow halred and armed violence among some Chileans in order lO incile them to destroy olher Chileans..., it violated the rights and dignily of Ihe law, forcing the country on the road to ideological domination and dictatorship." Archbishop Tagle added thal'the Armed Forces, whose record as guardians of the national security "fills us with admiration and pride, took the step that saved Chile from falling forever into the abyss... They legitimately assLÍmed government control in a rapid and efficient action that avoided the catastrophe of civil war." like Cardinal Silva Henríquez, Archbishop Tagle also. emphasized that Ihe outside world must recognize that complete internal peace will not be achíeved as long as internal strífe is fomenled by a conlinuíng foreign conspíracy. Grantíng the fact thal the majoríty of Chilean príests and bishops are anti-Communist, it must, nevertheless, be acknowledged that the Church, taken as a whole, by commission or omission, was a factor contributing to Chíle's process of disíntegration. EDUCATIONAL REFORM The general picture of material and moral misery had reached intolerable limits when Aflende's government sought to institute ah educa1ional reform program, designed to mold the minds of Chileari youth along Marxist lines. It was this educational reform that set in motion the definitive rebellion of the Chilean people against the government. But, before analyzing this sud den re-emergence of moral strength in our country, a few words should be said about the man who presided over the effort to destroy Chile. WHO ANO WHAT WAS ALLENDE? Allende was an old-style polítician, but one who, knowing human weaknesses on Iy too well, knew how to manipulate them. It cannot be said that at any time in his long political career he ever achieved great popularity as a polítical leader. His style and his character resembled very closelythose ofa radical socialist ofthe Fourth French Republic. Ambitious and tenacious, while not absolutely scrupulous, he was definitely aman who was loyal to all those who gave him their political support. In his public appearances he was arrogan!. and looked like a patent leather dandy; while in prívate he was unaffected and nice. He was a skillful political manipulator. In the forty years that I knew him, and in spite of the intensity of our polítical batties, I never saw him act with deliberate ill will, or become the slave of hatred or incurable resentments. The case of Allende rather illustrates the extremes10 which irresponsible and frivolous politicians can go when they do not mind selling their soul to the devil in order to achieve their goals or ambitions. . How and when the moment came, Ido not know, but at some point powerful circums– tances or pressures converted Allende into an unquestioning and effective servant of perhaps the most treasonous conspiracy against Chile in all its history. Ido not believe that he had this as his purpose, or that he was aware of such a thing when he put forth his candidacy, or when he took office as Presiden!. But the course of political events, his licentious manner of living, the desperate corner into which he found himself driven soon after he assumed the Presidency were factors; taken separately or as a whole, that led him to become the figurehead for a policy, and to participate in heinous crimes for th,e condem– nation of which the proper words do not exist. 67