MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency
Uruguayan Independence Day in New York City
For many Uruguayans living in the New York area, the 25th August is not only an important day to remember their origins, but also a day to meet old and new friends, alike. Read full article
Comments
Disclaimer & comment rulesThe Frente Amplio flag, is the one used by Otorguez, one of Artiga's tenants in the 1812 liberation of the City of Montevideo.
Aug 28th, 2009 - 06:41 am - Link - Report abuse 0I was deeply disappointed by your article. It's fairly simple: We are Uruguayans, we live in New York, we are proud members of the Frente Amplio, the political coalition governing the country. We want to be part of the celebrations and feel extremely welcome by our diplomatic corps. The fact that for the first time in its history, we have a Consulate that is fully inclusive, that has integrated itself into the fabric of our community, that welcomes ALL Uruguayans and more importantly, reaches out to ALL Uruguayans certainly makes a lot of us extremely proud. We were there last year too when we also presented a wreath to mark the occasion. And as you may have noticed, there were at least three other flags representing our motherland. As our President, the President of ALL uruguayans said almost five years ago: ¡Celebren uruguayos, celebren!
Aug 28th, 2009 - 10:54 am - Link - Report abuse 0RE: The Frente Amplio flag, is the one used by Otorguez, one of Artiga's tenants in the 1812 liberation of the City of Montevideo
Aug 28th, 2009 - 08:57 pm - Link - Report abuse 0COMMENT.... but Otorguez did not have “FA” in LARGE letters across the flag!
RE:.......We are Uruguayans, we live in New York, we are proud members of the Frente Amplio, ...... We want to be part of the celebrations ......As our President, the President of ALL uruguayans said almost five years ago: ¡Celebren uruguayos, celebren!
Aug 28th, 2009 - 09:01 pm - Link - Report abuse 0COMMENT: ... then “Celebran” with your “FA” flag on the other 364 days of the year! On Independence Day, celebrate under one flag!
estamos viviendo en una democracia donde todos tienen derecho a celebrar bajo la agrupacion que han elegido libremante y por lo tanto frenteamplistas , colorados , blancos, verdes debens ser bienvenidoas y aplaudidos, no criticados o censurados como en la epoca de la dictadura
Aug 28th, 2009 - 09:45 pm - Link - Report abuse 0Re: estamos viviendo en una democracia ... etc.
Aug 28th, 2009 - 10:09 pm - Link - Report abuse 0(PLEASE NOTE: See above, “Comments must be in English. Thank you.”)
COMMENT:
Democracy also implies consideration for others, and respect for tradition. None of which you evidence, nor suggest applies to you!
Dear Mr Michaels,
Aug 29th, 2009 - 01:35 am - Link - Report abuse 0Your article in MercoPress about the Uruguayan Independence Day celebrations in New York City surprised me deeply.
First of all, you are a Brit who happens to be married to a Uruguayan and happens to “rest” in PDE. I wonder: have you ever even voted in a general election in Uruguay?
Your past writings suggests that you once thought my country had the potential to become the next Gibraltar to your decaying empire. That is not going to happen. The words of the assemblymen of Piedra Alta, who declared “la perfidia de los instrusos poderes” to be “írritos , nulos y disueltos y de ningún valor para siempre”, seem very up to date and specially applicable to you.
Your resume (or should I say “rap sheet”?) clearly shows your involvement with Uruguay came with close ties to the military dictators of yesteryear.
If Uruguay wants to survive it is imperative it becomes a more inclusive , diverse country that is open to integration and is serious about debate. In fact, what Uruguay needs the most is “espíritu comunitario” and, once again, turning itself into a more welcoming country to immigration -building its future in immigration- receiving migrants not only from the “older Northern countries” but from lands closer to home as well.
This past August 25th in “next to the statue of” ( OUR –not- yours) “Uruguay's National Hero, General Artigas” there were a significant number of Uruguayos and Uruguayas and some allies celebrating our Independence. We were emphasizing our similarities and celebrating our differences invited by the General Consul. Not only political parties but the Afro-Uruguayan community , the LGBTQ community and other minorities too were represented among the officials and dignitaries, so articles like yours, that divide and subtract instead of adding, are not appreciated.
The bottomline is that we all have one thing in common: the love for our country and I would encourage you to present next year a wreath that reflects your sentiments because we would all agree that, at least, the disputed Frente Amplio wreath served its purpose: to lend visibility.
Silence can be deafing, particularly in its written form.... Mr. Michaels seems to be taking quite a while to comment on your article, Andres. You must have touched a delicate nerve. Beautifully said! I think I will quote often if you don't mind: “emphasizing our similarities and celebrating our differences”. Nicely said! It was wonderful to again see the representatives of the LGBTQ and, for the first time, Afro-uruguayan representatives present at the celebration. Yes, we can be inclusive, just as our government has demonstrated it with its moves to include the LGBTQ and Afro-uruguayans and recognize their impact in our society!
Aug 31st, 2009 - 07:59 pm - Link - Report abuse 0I am appalled by the thought that a national celebration day should be tainted by political idiocy. The 25th of August in Uruguay is a National celebration day in which we commemorate the values upon which our nation was founded and continues to strive on this day. Therefore it is my firm believe that including any political innuendo on that day is irresponsible and out of place.
Aug 31st, 2009 - 11:38 pm - Link - Report abuse 0A day of independence should not be tainted by the political ideology of any party. It is a day in which all people belonging to that nation, both past and present, should be celebrated.
Sep 01st, 2009 - 08:04 am - Link - Report abuse 0In this instance, it is dissapointing to see this day tainted by the socialists of the far left. The “Frente Amplio” is not solution to national and regional problems, but rather, a reactionary communist party founded by political radicals who used violence to further their means in the 1960s and 1970s. Bear in mind that I am not defending the actions of the military regime that followed not do I condone it, but I do not believe that moving towards the left is a solution.
Additionally, I doubt that what Uruguay needs are immigrants from the region. Countries like Bolivia and Paraguay have social and economic problems that Uruguay does not need to inherit for future generations. Uruguay was made econmically viable and intellectually and culturally valuable by the strength of those who immigrated from Europe.
This trend to march to the left in South America is troublesome and could potentially place the country further back both economically and politically than ever before. What Uruguay needs is an inclusive “centrist” democracy that welcome capitalism and economic viabiliy and respects the rights of all of those living in the country (white, black, or other). By promoting economic independence, the coutnry will move forward.
Mr. Michaels:
Sep 01st, 2009 - 07:08 pm - Link - Report abuse 0I was very sorry to read your note and your comments, somebody like you with such thougts not even must to get close to my hero's monument, because a man who denied the importance of the America 'mestiza', is againsting the values and philosophy support for Jose G. Artigas and his dream about the Big Nation (Patria Grande), included -for your information- for all the American Nations (also Paraguay and Bolivia): you believe it or not, the day is coming.
The only thing I can suggest to you: get your Fodor's or Former's guide to Europe, buy a ticket and go around Europe, because for understand and care about Latin America you need a new pair of glasses and also, a new mind.
Dear David (so everybody knows that we're friends)
Sep 03rd, 2009 - 03:06 am - Link - Report abuse 0First of all, I agree with your article about Uruguayan Day at NYC .
It is so simple as that. A very well and Brit article. Someone who knows a lot of LIBERAL DEMOCRACY. Something that some of the guys above doesn't learnt or worse, doesn't understand.
Somethig similar happened at Maldonado Square some weeks ago. The FA people used their flags at Artigas Monument. I call this kind of attitudes, OUT OF CONTROL.
It is like MPP campaing using stolen CONDOMS from Secretary of Public Health. OUT OF CONTROL.
So, Dear Friend, We will continue our LIBERALNESS attitude, even though, there're some Uruguayans living in NYC but thinking in La Habana.
Cheers (it is very Brit, isn't it?)
I support what David writes...(...even though he IS an annoying Brit...)...because he tends to very politely send the pontificating, self-righteous, full-of-themselves, exasperating, know-it-all “gauche-caviar” bunch of bothersome OLD blabber-blubber lips to the fire and brimstone pit of the out of touch crowd! Good going Dave...keep it up...
Sep 03rd, 2009 - 08:37 am - Link - Report abuse 0Dear “Club members”:
Sep 04th, 2009 - 07:52 pm - Link - Report abuse 0I fail to see this alleged connection between Britain and “LIBERAL DEMOCRACY”.
I don't believe the standard procedure for invading the many lands that made up the British Empire included a referendum.
A true “LIBERAL DEMOCRACY” would have conducted a simple binding poll “Do you want to be invaded? Yes/No”, “Do you want Britain to take over your natural resources and your government? Yes/No” “Do you want thousands of your countrymen to be massacred by the British Armed Forces? Yes/No” etc. prior to invasion.
Like Ghandi said in 1940: “We resist British imperialism no less than Nazism. If there is a difference is one of the degree. One fifth of the human race has been brought under British heel by mean that will not bear scrutiny”.
-ICAU alumni
Michael :
Sep 05th, 2009 - 02:11 am - Link - Report abuse 0Is there any chance you can work together with the newspaper in the creation of a scholarship?,
Instead of visit monuments, put your energy to work, so people like ‘hak ‘ they could have the chance, at least, to end school.
And then -may be-, they will be able to chat and be part of higher (and respectful) level of debate, like Andres.
What would you expect from people that lifted the Communist flag in the pole next to the Artigas monument in Maldonado last month? This is totally unconstitutional, but the “frenteamplistas” believe they own the country because they won a 50,1 majority in the last elections.... They have no regard for the other 49,9%.
Sep 08th, 2009 - 06:32 am - Link - Report abuse 0Commenting for this story is now closed.
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