This afternoon Ceci & I met up with Robert to stake out a spot on Av Callao to watch the funeral procession of former President Raul Alfonsín .
After the procession many in the crowd flowed onto Av Callao to follow the coffin to Recoleta Cemetery, but we decided to take a side street and come up to the cemetery via calle Junín where we found the mounted honor guard lined up outside the cemetery walls.
We assumed that there was nothing else to see but we wandered up toward the cemetery anyway. Then we got swept into the surging crowd as an entourage surrounding Alfonsín’s son moved towards the entrance of the cemetery. Then Ceci & I got separated from Robert. Never saw him again.
The police were pushing through trying to form a passage so that the coffin could make it to the cemetery. At this point I just held up the camera and turned on the recording mode as the flag-draped coffin moved by. Actually, for quite a while, the coffin just sat there. Not a very good video but definitely a typical Buenos Aires in-the-crowd moment. I love that! But, I later learned that while I was recording this video someone in that very packed crowd stole my wallet. Fortunately, I never carry much money or anything valuable in my wallet, so the theft doesn’t bother me too much.
Perhaps the person with the best vantage point of the funeral was this dude in the crane.
April 2nd, 2009 at 10:14 pm
Since Alfonsin was so interested in the initial democratic principles of justice (primarily for the military thugs who killed and pillaged), I am sure he probably snickered or rolled over in his coffin if he knew that you had just gotten pick pocketed at his own funeral.
I find these typically Argentine “herd events” of mass euphoria or in this case, grief, to be so interesting from an outside perspective. Since there is often “no justice” in Argentina, the only thing to do is gather with your fellow citizens in public displays of grief, euphoria, protest, or celebration. US citizens could stand to learn a bit from the Argentines, but we seem more content to just watch Utube or Dancing with the Stars, etc.
April 6th, 2009 at 8:31 am
The pickpockets must have had a great day preying on tourists! Alfonsin turned in his grave? Alfonsin all his political career was surrounded by crooks. He may not have stolen much personally but he had to have known what his aides were doing. Trice, please tell me HOW Americans can learn from the Argentines? What should they do? Block the roads leading to Washington because they don’t like Obama or Congress? Burn tires in protest in front of the White House? You say that there is “no justice” (I would not have used the inverted commas) in Argentina which leads the people to hold these mass rallies. demonstrations etc. – presumably in frustration and as a release for the failed social, economic and judicial systems. Wouldn’t Americans be better off if they took more interest in what their leaders were doing and then voted intelligently? A viable third party might help. How many people even heard of Ron Paul, for example? As say, they are busy watching TV – well in that respect they are just like the Argentines. Too bad there is no Tinelli or Gimenez in the US. At least Americans share one thing with the Argentines: their love for the Simpsons.
April 7th, 2009 at 12:27 pm
Jeff: nice videos, sorry about the pickpocketed.
Evan: The Americans can learn from the Argentines lot of things. Ex: how could your country could be one of the most important country in the world and 30-40-50 years later been a Third World Country. That’s an important lesson for everybody. You can learn that too. Despite these I almost agree with the rest you say.
April 8th, 2009 at 10:45 pm
Yes, Paterna, the US is pursuing all the wrong policies. Instant gratification and greed have led to fantastic consumer debt. The government’s solution is to print more money. I’m waiting for serious inflation. It takes 18 months for a fully developed economy to show signs of inflation so fasten your seat belt because it’s on its way. I guess I missed your point because there is little positive that I can see that Argentina has to teach Americans. The sad thing is that a lot of people in Argentina still blame the US for its problems. The IMF etc are all responsible, not Argentina. If Argentina could see the error of its ways it would be in a better position to teach lessons but instead the country is governed by arrogant people who are incapable of any self reflection.