The Iron Lady in Argentina

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The Iron Lady in Argentina
by Jahanshah Javid
07-Feb-2012
 

Coming from where I come from, I expect disputes with foreign powers over colonialism and oil to lead to some ugly scenes. But I've seen none of that in Buenos Aires. The Argentinians are treating their dispute with Britain quite differently than what my Iranian or even American side would do. Especially now that the generals are no longer in power.

Tonight I watched a few minutes of President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner's speech on the dispute over the Malvinas Islands. I had never heard her before and I didn't understand more than a few words. But her performance was impressive. She was firm but calm. No theatrics. No insults. Cool, calm and collected.

Later I went to the movies to see "The Iron Lady". The theater was packed. I wondered what the Argentinian audience was thinking about Margaret Thatcher. When the film reached the part about the war and Meryl Streep convincingly recreated Thatcher's rhetoric, I thought the crowd would go nuts. I thought there would be boos and hisses. Or someone would shout a juicy curse word or two.

Nothing! Not a sound. No reaction whatsoever. Everyone calmly watched the story of Argentina's arch enemy from start to finish and quietly left the theater.

What is going on here?

This is the worst point in Argentina's relations with Britain since their war 30 years ago and by my standards the people are reacting way to calmly. So far there have been no million marchers carrying "Death to the Queen" banners. No takeover of the British embassy by angry mobs. No fiery speeches threatening to wipe out the British from the face of the earth. Not even a demand to change "English Breakfast" to Argentinian.

Before going home, I stopped by Bar Britanico. It was business as usual. A couple flirting at the table next to me. In front a guy wearing big headphones, shaking his head to the beat and reading a book. And there was the waiter who hates his job and shows it. But there were no demonstrators. No broken windows. No anti-British graffiti.

This may all change tomorrow, next month or next year. People can get wound up pretty easily about this patriotic stuff. But so far, so good. The fact that Argentinians are keeping their cool and their government has wisely decided to fight it out in the United Nations rather than the battlefield, says something -- something we badly need.

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Farfromheaven2002

Does Israel pursue Argentina?

by Farfromheaven2002 on

"We were not born enemies and there is no need for us to live as enemies,"

Shimon Peres


Anonymous Observer

Short answer to your question

by Anonymous Observer on


Red Wine

...

by Red Wine on

جنابِ جاوید خان ... آرژانتین در بونئوس آیرس خلاصه نمی‌شود،جریانِ این اختلافات تنها مربوط به فالکلند و دیگر تصمیماتِ استعماریِ انگلستان نیست،کاش آن مطلبی را که ما قبلا نِبشتیم میخواندید :( .

انگلستان از زمانی‌ که آخرین جزایرِ تحت الحمایهٔ خود را در کارائیب از دست داد و یا بدانها استقلال بخشید،دیگر نفوذِ خاّصی‌ در ممالکِ آمریکائی پیدا نکرد،حتی بسیاری از مهاجرانِ انگلیسی مجبور به ترکِ این کشورها شدند چون دولتهایِ منطقه،هر چقدر که ضعیف و شکستنی بودند،هیچ گونه دلبستگی به انگلیسیها نداشتند،این هم خبرِ خوشِ دیگری برایِ اَیالات متحده بود،در این زمینه برزیل و آرژانتین و سپس ونزوئلا به خاطرِ منابعِ طبیعی که داشتند،بیشتر به موردِ هدفِ روباهِ پیر بودند اما با وقوعِ جنگ جهانی‌ دوّم و سپس سری قرارداد‌های اقتصادی آمریکا با انگلستان،آخرین تک شانسِ انگلستان برایِ باقی‌ ماندن در منطقه از بین رفت.

اما جزایر فالکلند یک سری مباحثِ دیگر را به رویِ میزِ بحث کشانید،تنها نفت و فلزاتِ گرانبها و استراتژیک بودنِ منطقه موردِ هدفِ انگلستان نیست،بلکه بحثِ دیگری نیز در حالِ پیگیری است و آن حقّی‌ است که انگلیسیها از قطب جنوب می‌‌خواهند،قضیه به این سادگی‌ نیست و بیشترینِ مردم در کمالِ نادانی‌ و بی‌ اطلاّعی هستند،آن منطقه از لحاظِ حیاتِ وحش و دیگر نکاتِ علمی‌ ارزشِ بسیار دارد و متأسفانه فعلاً به موردِ تاخت و تازِ اینها است.

انگلستان به هر قیمتی که شده،میخواهد پایِ خود را محکم کند،در این زمینه آمریکا رقیبِ جدی است و روس‌ها نیز مشغولِ چرب کردنِ سبیلِ خانم رئیس جمهورِ جدید برزیل هستند و مارکسیستِ قدیمی‌ !

این حدیث همچنان ســــــــــــــرِ دراز دارد . . .

با سپاس اَز توّجهِ شما.


Cost-of-Progress

And that is

by Cost-of-Progress on

the difference between hatered and holding a grudge forever than trying to find common grounds and working together.

If we middle easterners put as much energy into trying to work WITH those whom we believe have opressed us than to hate them, perhaps we would not be where we are today.

We call our attitude "yearning for independence" but the only thing we've harvested is the conversion into a pariah state with "friends" whose friednship we can only purchase.

____________

IRAN FIRST

____________


Darius Kadivar

I like her

by Darius Kadivar on

Iron Lady Indeed !

All the more that she has proven great courage in the face of personal adversity:

Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner Cancer Surgery Successful 

She also seems to display True Leadership Qualities like the other Iron Lady

I Hope the differences between the UK and Argentina will be sorted in a near future. 

I understand the nationalistic frustration and I would personally feel the same if I were Argentine but I think the South American Countries today are very different than the one's they were during the dictatorship's of the 70's. People share the same concerns and challenges as people all over the world when it comes to the economy and they aspire merely to a better life and hold their governments accountable for their success' and failures.

The age of warmongering mentality is over. Even in France despite Sarkozy's leadership in the Libyan Campaign, The French were far from enthusiastic about the conflict and most people tried to avoid bringing it up in conversations.

He may not even be re elected despite his success in Foreign Policy. 

The same is true in the UK where during the Libyan Campaign thousands were demonstrating against David Cameron's policies in regard to University fees deemed too expensive and ultimately this frustration led to the violent riots which took everyone by surprise. 

What matters more to people around the world is to have a better life, a good job and make sure their children can pay their tuitions at University and be able to shape their own future amongst other things ...

It is far more difficult to distract people with Patriotic slogans today however legitimate if people don't see what they can gain from it on an individual basis.  

This evolution say's more about the way people see the world as interconnected as never before.

When one observes the impotence of the UN in coming to terms with the Syrian Crisis it only makes us wonder if the future of the planet should not be in something which could ressemble a form of "world governance" ...

That is certainly a Utopia and far from being achieved in our lifetime and probably never will but it appears inconcievable to see such drastic differences between the "haves" and "have nots" in the world.

Humanity goes through cycles and the Age of Western Supremacy is over:

Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad lectures Europe on it's economic downfall:

 

Poor Europe: (bbc)

 

Great Britain would be well advised to come to terms with this reality. Particularly in it's relationship with it's most closest European neighbours instead of boasting arrogantly about it's "importance" overseas.

 

Recommended Watching:

Niall Ferguson Explains Why Global Economic Growth is Shifting East

Niall Ferguson promotes "Civilization: The West and the Rest" on Indian TV

 


amirkabear4u

don't you see JJ

by amirkabear4u on

this is what I try to reflect in my political blogs and comments.

You are saying it like it is the usual everyday Iranians who are doing what we all witnessing in Iran.

What makes you think what happend in, for example, british embassy was done by Iranians. You are an experienced person and I do not need to tell you there are a lot of hands are involved in Iran.

In regard to the movie, I agree with you. But it seems ordinary Iranians may make a comment if they are watching such movies at home. I do not think it is fair to compare latin americans with a historic nation like Iranians. 

Lucky you, I always wanted to see latin america.


Haj-Khanum

Falkland Islands,Islas Malvinas

by Haj-Khanum on

I am sure that the people of Argentina know it by now that the "junta" which had ruled Argentina since 1976 sought to maintain power by diverting public attention from evreything which was going on in the country.


Jahanshah Javid

Yes, but

by Jahanshah Javid on

Yes, protests outside the British embassy. Sure. But no mobs occupying the grounds and destroying property. The city is full of British tourists mingling with Argentinians. No one is attacking British firms: the government may impose some sanctions.

And you say audiences in every country calmly watch films about their country's arch enemy in a time of renewed tensions. EVERY country? I don't think so.


amirkabear4u

But

by amirkabear4u on

I heard there were demonstrations outside british embassy in the city your are in. As far as I remember the news said they were going to attach british firms.

In regard to the movie, in every country there are people who have nothing to do so they go and watch magge on big screen.