Bicentennial as ideology

This year is very special because Chile is turning 200 years old. Chileans should be proud of our history and our heroes that dedicate their lives to build a better country. Also, Chileans should be proud of, TV and political class say, the strong and prosperous country we have today. We have been blessed; we have a good present, but a better future.

This bicentennial year is a special opportunity to analyze our history, what we did right and know about what things we made mistakes. The first paragraph of this essay could be read as a abstract of the point of view that political class, mass media and common people have about the bicentennial and our history. I want to write from an alternative point of view that many times is forgotten.

First of all, we cannot deny the technological progress and the improvement of the live conditions of the majority of the Chilean population. For example, today in Chile there are just a few ‘campamentos’ compare whit the decade of ’50 or ’60. For the other hand, we have achievement to reduce mortality rates and increase life expectancy. Throughout the Chilean history there has been material progress, in the sense of all the basic conditions of live.

As a correlate of this history of progress there is another history, many times deny or many times forgotten. This history tells us about the underdevelopment Chile, but not in the economic sense, because we are just a few steps from the final goal: the economic development. When I say underdevelopment I mean in the social dimension. Throughout the Chilean history there has been a tendency to deny all the social injustices and the antagonism between social groups. This 200 years of history must be, I argue, read as a constantly effort of the dominant class (in the XIX century was de oligarchy, during the XX century was the industrial bourgeoisie, today is the financial and commercial capital) to expand their business and their earns. And, in the other hand, there have been efforts to stop his social project, in the sense of social interest development, by the social movements in many times of the Chilean history.

What I want to express in this essay is that Chile has been always divide, has been always a under conflict –explicit or implicit. The Chilean history is about social projects in conflict, there has been always an antagonism between social groups. Ideology is the cultural representation or discourse that tries to hide the social antagonism under the veil of reconciliation. Today, we are in presence of the more sophisticated kind of ideology: for most parts of Chilean population the history of Chile is about a lineal progress and democratic constitution, although, in the other hand, the Chilean history is about exploitation, social struggles and antagonism.

Just a little bit green

First of all, I have to say that I do not have a green style of live. But I really think that it is a very important topic that we must, as society, develop in the next years. The environmental problems are, in the present context, very serious and urgent topic.

Anyway, my opinion about how to solve this problem about global warming or the pollution has a contradiction between two elements: the care of the environmental and the development of the technology and industrial production.

First, is very important to have a harmonic relation between the mankind and the environment. I mean, specifically, do not destroy all the nature resources, the ancient forests or biosphere reserves. The central argument is that the nature is finite, so we must think before we over-exploit the natural resources, or damage the natural habitat of some species, especially the ones that are in extinction.

But, we must give the same importance to the development of the industrial production or technology, because so many things depend on this development, for example the development of medical technology or food production.

So, the contradiction is how to reconcile the development of technology and production whit the care about the environment. I do not have the response, but I believe that the notion of sustainable development is an interesting way to achieve this balance.

Anyway, beyond these structural and political discussions we can change few things about our lives and help to the care of environment. For example, I have planned to buy bike and travel to my Faculty in this mean of transport. In the future maybe I will have a recycling ‘system’ in my home, and help to the environmental problem.

But, despite this individual acts I believe that the central problem is the environmental policies and the pollution that greatest companies in the world do. So, we must change our everyday practices but, in the same time, we have to do a political discussion and actions.

Wild Party!

First of all, I have to say that I'm not a guy who constantly goes to great parties or wild parties. But, anyway I have one or two stories of great parties that I remember.

One of the best parties of my live was the trip that I made to Parque Inglés the summer of 2008. Parque Inglés is a locality near to the Andes in the 7th Región, and have a nice landscape. One of the most interesting thing of Parque Inglés is that have a river, a very cold river that health any hangover.

But, this story is not about a party, in the strict sense of what means have a party, but, it was very fun and I have a great hangover the day after.

I went to Parque Inglés because my ex-girlfriend invite me whit her friends that, at the time, were my friends too. We were a group of seven people: Ignacio, Cristian, Sebatian, Pamela, Jaime, Javiera and me.

The thing is: we have many bottles of pisco and started to drink. In a moment, we were too drunk and without Coca-cola0 (necessary to make ‘piscolas’) that we started to drink pisco whit river water. It was very strong but healthy (lol). After that we started to hear a scary stories about the ‘mono-pajaro’ a strange animal that scare the campers of Parque Inglés. So, the mix between strange sounds of the forest, river water’s ‘piscolas’ and the story of ‘mono-pajaro’ had funny consequences.

Every now and then we remember that trip, and laugh of the things we made.

Calle 13

First of all, I believe that we cannot have just one band, genre of music or song we like or that is our favorite. I think we have very bands or songs that are our favorites, so is hard to choose one among others.
Today I will write about a band I knew just some weeks ago, but I heard their music since then every day so far and I enjoy it a lot. The band I am talking about is Calle 13, a Puerto Rican band that exists since 2005.
This band is composed by the vocalist, composer and song writer called “Residente” (René Pérez) and his stepbrother “Visitante” (Eduardo Cabra) who performance the vocals and chorus, and play the piano too. Finally, the sister of Residente, also known as PG-13, makes the chorus’s vocals in some songs.
Calle 13 has three albums. The first album was homonym (“Calle 13”) and the singles of this album was “Atreteve te”, “Se vale to-to” and the polemic “Querido FBI”. The second album was called “Residente o Visitante” and the third was called “Los de atrás vienen conmigo” released in 2008.
The reason why I like very much his music is because, first of all, they mix very genres, especially Latin American’s music whit alternative regueton or rap music. And, the second reason because I like this band very much is that the lyrics are very good. Some lyrics are political centered; others are just extremely ironic or violent; or others are just fun.

Go to Parque Ingles

I think one of the most interesting activities, in my opinion, to do in long weekends or any time of the year is go to camping somwhere far far away of the civilization. Specially in places near to the Andes or far away in the south of Chile. Some years ago I went to a place called “Parque Inglés” and I had a very good time there.
Parque Inglés is located near to the Andes in the 7th Region, and I enjoy it a lot ‘cause I get drunk whit friends and ‘cause we were near to the nature. And every morning after parting we go to the river: the most cold wáter I ever knew. That is the secret key against the hungover.
I been in Parque Ingles twice, the first time was in 2008 and it was a small group (6 or 7 friends) but we have a nice time. And the second time the group of friends was bigger (like 12 or 13 friends) and that was a great summer.
Anyway, i’d like to go this summer some place far away of the city and have some days of rial camping, I mean like whitout cellphones, whitout, kitchen, just having a knife and materials to do a bonfire, doing some treking and some fishing if the place is able to.
Finally, if you are looking for some place to go camping this summer of any time of the year (except in winter ‘cause Parque Ingles is full snow at that time and maybe you meet a puma) go to Parque Ingles, I recommend it.

Public University?

I believe that in the past two or three decades has been made a process or privatisation of the eductional system in Chile. This phenomenon of privatisation isn’t new at all, begun whit the laws made in dictatorship and continues whit the governements of the “Concertación”.

But, in the last weeks we heard in the news to the new Director of the Division of Universitary Education of MINEDUC explayning the “new” reforms that will radicalize the process of privatisation. But, for the student’s movement this reforms isn’t new: the performance agreements (Convenios de Desempeño), the unification in the credit’s system and the funding to privates universitys are tendences we all heard since some years ago.

But, What’s new? And why we must go to the street to defend the impoverished public university we have? This governement is more radical and sincere to uncover their interests and projects.

I believe that today we don’t have an state university system: we pay an exorbitant amount of money (excluding to a great portion of the population to access to the University) and the knowledge made in the universitys isn’t oriented to the development of the society, but made for those can pay for it. Today there isn’t public university, that’s why we must build it.

The only solution I see is the struggle and proposes that the social’s movements can make, specially the student’s movement. Struggles oriented to build "una universidad del pueblo y para el pueblo".

Caribbean countries or First World?

If I could go anywhere in the world for vacations I would go to Brasil or any caribbean country. Because there are many beachs and places to have a party or get a drink and have a good time hanging around whit old and new friends. Also, I would like go to these countries ‘cause the weather: must be very cool have more than 25ºC average by year.

But, if I must to choose some country to live for some years I would like to go to England or France, ‘cause I want to study some postgraduate’s program on sociology in that countries. Specifically, I want to study in the Warwick University (England) or the l’École des Hautes Études en Sciences Sociales, EHESS, in France.

I don’t know if I would go whit someone to these countries, it depends. If there are vacations I’ll go whit some friends, but, if I’ll go to study somewhere in another country maybe I’ll go by my own.

Anyway, I don’t have any money saved, so maybe I would never go to these countries, but, it’s very enjoyable to dream.

what would I be

If I could choose a job that I like to do, besides being a sociologist, I would choose to be a musician-writer-director, I mean, an artist. That is, try to develop various productions either from a book to a television series, also record an Album or Soundtrack, etc.

I've always loved music and film, especially, so I think I would enjoy a lot creating stories and see them represented on a giant screen or in the lyrics of a song. Also, since I saw Lost I could not get out of my head how interesting it can be to write a television series, and develop a interesting story. I would love to give it a try someday.

However, I don't wanna be a famous artist, and most likely would not. I prefer to aim for anything less economic benefits so as to have the freedom to create what I like. Because, I think, filmmakers and musicians who are famous or have a lot of fans are required to produce their works in relation to certain characteristics (the characteristics that made them become famous.)

By the way, my favorite artists right now are: Darren Aronofsky (The Wrestler, Phi. Faith in Chaos) and Damon Lindelof and Carlton Cuse from Lost.

Although I don't have so much talent to write or know yet how a video camera works or recording techniques, yet I would enjoy very much working on that. However, some time ago, when I was younger, I wrote a couple of songs and a couple of stories that I would return when I'll be older, and maybe it could improve and try to do something bigger. But who knows?

My Favorite Band

Right now my favorite band is Black Sun Empire, a team of dutch (Netherlands) DJs that plays Drum and Bass music. And I like very much the disc named Resident Magazine of July of 2007.

Based out of Utrecht (Netherlands) they started making Drum & Bass in 1995 and have, until now, 3 Longplay disc, and so much 12" vinyl records.

I like this band very much 'cause is so energetic and progressive music that really help me to study for hours whitout feeling tired.

Official Web Site

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BE6wt300Vfw Song Called Breach

My favorite piece of technology is the netbook! It's a portatil computer smaller than a regular Laptop, for example my own have a screen of 10 inches. So it's very small.

I got my netbook in the summer. My father bought it 'cause he must have one for his new job. But, he quit, so the netbook was avaliable all the day in my home (by the way, I was on vacations). Then, I started to use it to read some papers or books and play some games. Until my father give it to me as a gift. In the facts, it was already mine ahaha.

Netbooks are really a great inventions, because they are easy to carry in your backpack and carry everywhere. By the way, they are very light.

I use it every day. In my home to do some essays, to view series or movies and play some computer games. In the University, to take notes on meetings or classes.

Also, the greater feature of the Laptops is that you can use it anywhere (in the bed, in a public library, in a coffee place, etc.), ‘cause its have a battery that allows them to operate without connection to electricity.

Pierre Bourdieu

Let me introduce this sociologist to you. He was Born in August 1th of 1930 and died in January 23 of 2003 in París, France. He was born in Denguin, France, which is a rural town of France and this is a particular characteristic of this sociologist. He was born in a rural middle-class family and he was what is know as "first generation intelectual", that means that he was the first member of his family to enter to the École Normale Supérieure (a place where the intelectual elite was formed).

The reasons why I admire Bourdieu is 'cause he build a social theory of great magnitude and change in somehow the story of social sciences. I like his social theory 'cause it rescues the influence of the structuralism and the phenomenology (two traditions on social sciences that are in somehow contradictory) and put the reflection of the power in the middle of his work. So, notions like symbolic violence, Field of Power, the social space undestood like a space of differences where the capitals (resources that give power) are distribuited on a unequality way are concepts that reconstruct the social theory puting on the center the notions of class and conflict.

Finally, I admire Pierre Bourdieu 'cause his politic action. He understood the cientific labor as a way to do politics and like a base to construct a political action against the powerful and the contemporary social order.

Here is a video of Bourdieu, is about the school and how this is a institution that reproduce the social classes and inequality.

Unusual presents

The most unusual gift that I have received isn't strange or freak, but I enjoy a lot receiving it. And, in Chile, at least, aren't a common gift because they are very expensive and there are few copys. By the way, the establishments that sell this gifts are so few as well. I'm talking about books, but not a common book but a sociological books (about social sciences as well). So, to find a specific book it's a hard work.This is the first thing that I like about to give a social sciences's books as presents: show the efforts of the people who give it to you.
The second thing that I liked about receiving social sciencies's books is the posibility of grow up my personal library (:D).
For example, I remember two books that I have received: The Birth of Biopolitics of Michel Foucault and Dialectic of Enlightment of Adorno and Horkeimmer, both given to me by Javiera (Thanks a lot!). And the lastest on was Culture and Sociology of Pierre Bourdieu (one of my favorites authors) given to me by four of my best friends.

Earthquake experience

It was a normal day: I woke up late, I got lunch, I read some books and watched some series.
In the night of that day I was surfing on internet, viewed some videos on youtube, and then mi brother invited me to watch "the mentalist", a series that tell the story about one police's consulter who is an expert of psicology and gestures of people.
So, we were watching that serie around 3 am and suddenly the earth began to move and somehow I realized that I must wake up from the bed and go to some safe place. I don't know why but I had the presentiment that it was a earthquake.
In the course of the earthqueake I was in shock and I was scare 'cause my house is build in adobe, one of the most insecure construction material. By the way, I live in the ancient neighborhood of the down-town. But, it survive the earthquake whit just a few cracks.
After the earthquake I went to visit some family's friends to see if they were ok or if they need some help.
Afortunately everbody I know and I care was fine.

Welcome!

Hey! My name is Ruben, I’m 21 years old and I live in Santiago, Chile. I study sociology since 2007 in the University of Chile, and my goal is to be a researcher in many fields of sociology.
I have studied English in highschool and I took the English class level two in the University. But, I know English more because of my hobbies than because of the classes I have taken. I have learned too much from watching series, listening to music and seeing videos on You Tube.