Blogs from Buckhead, Atlanta, Georgia, United States, North America

The story of the “desaparecidos” and what went on in the ESMA concentration camp is so tragic that I have started wondering why I had not heard much about it in the United States. And even, among Argentines, unless you bring up the subject, it is an episode that people do not tend to talk about as much. After reading the “Children of Cain” I have, once again, confirmed my conclusion on how hypocritical Post Cold War U.S foreign policy is and has been. According to Rosenberg, it is clear that U.S not only provided substantial financial aid to the ESMA, but also “military” training to Argentine Junta’s officers in the U.S. So, I wonder, is this why many Argentines do not have a very favorable image of America? Probably! I say so because that is ... read more

Race is very controversial subject to discuss, even more when it has to do to with racism and the perception every individual and culture has of it. As a person who was raised in Colombia, race was never a very present aspect in my life, but after living for more than ten years in the United States, my understanding of race and racism dramatically changed. After being in Rio de Janeiro and studying more about this culture, I discovered a different way of analyzing how the subject of race is understood and handled based on my experience in America. Even though America and Brazil have both suffered from significant racial discrimination throughout the history, in Brazil this issue has not been as stressed and pointed out as in the States. In America, racial discrimination has been ... read more

The fascination that Argentines have towards soccer is very amazing, but more amazing is the fascination that many of them have towards Diego Armando Maradona. It is undeniable that he has been one of the best soccer players in the history of this sport, however, they way he has managed his personal life has been quite messy. People think of him as an idol, and that is understandable; however, what I find particularly interesting, considering the fact that to many youngsters he is seen as a role model, is how Maradona’s fans tend to overlook and perhaps, justify his misbehavior. During one of the soccer lectures given by Dr. Bowman, two Argentine students who were there as guests confirmed this statement; when they were asked what they thought about Maradona’s behavior and conduct, they expressed that ... read more

Before coming to Buenos Aires, I had an idea how important soccer is within the Argentine culture, as well as for most of the South American Countries and Mexico; however, I really did not expect soccer to be such a strong source of identity for Angentines. Outside of Argentina, Argentines identify themselves by their nationality, but in Buenos Aires, Portenos identify themselves by their favorite soccer team; such as Boca Juniors, River Plate, Independiente, and others. As a South American, I have an understanding of how culturally important soccer is within our culture. Except for Venezuela, soccer is our national sport regardless of how well our national teams perform at an international level. Soccer has the immense power of moving masses and gathering people despite any political, racial, or religious differences. In Argentina, I have noticed ... read more