dissent is patriotic

im finally starting to pick up on the more subtle nuances of the culture here, and im finally starting to understand why people dont hate pinochet as much as we think they should. at first i thought it was just because he straightened out the economy and made goods and services available again, and that's part of it, but it goes deeper than that. pinochet truly did run a police state, as someone explained to me last night. the streets were safe at any time of night, and crime didnt happen because the punishments were so severe. i tried to counter that security like that is valuable but not as valuable as political freedom, but my friend didnt want to hear it. i suppose it all stems back to maslow's hierarchy of needs, where intellectual needs can only be met once basic biological needs are filled-food, medicine, etc. the chileans miss the rightist dictator because although they forsook their liberties they were provided for. the exchange was worth it.

perhaps im just too american or maybe i really dont understand the situation as well as i think i do, but i cant imagine living like this. i get upset when i think the us government can check my library records, but i here i have an ID card with my right thumb print on it. i value my ability to disagree much more than the security of knowing i wont be robbed. its almost like the ability to make the wrong decision is more important than actually making it. it's the freedom of choice, the liberty to exist as one wishes, and to not forsake this for lesser ideals.