Where The Patriots At?

Today’s date is 9 of July. A historical date for Argentina, it being our Independence Day. Yet barely any patriotic events took place throughout the city. I am apalled. It is independence day and I have seen only ONE flag. I have heard the national anthem ONE time (worst part is, I had to look it up), and the closest I got to a pastelito (one of our typical foods) was on a snapchat geotag.

Yet merely 5 days ago, when the US celebrated their Independence Day, Instagram blew up with pictures of flags, fireworks, even themed parties. Americans portrayed unity. In a country where elections are creeping up, police brutality is exponentially rising, and Trump is implanting fascist thoughts into half of the population, you still see people celebrating their Independence Day as if it were their own birthday.

So why is there such an indisputable difference between one country and the other? Why did I have to sit through an entire dinner of Argentinians complaining about our country on the 9th of July?! The criticism just went on and on and on…from corruption to lack of education to an inoperative justice system.

It is incredible how easy it is for people to forget the beauty of their country when they’ve been wronged so many times by the people who run it. You’re mad at the authorities and therefore don’t want to celebrate your country’s Independence Day? Why not celebrate it for La Patagonia, or El Glaciar Perito Moreno, or our amazing traditions and lovable culture? Whatever happened to celebrating the mere act of being Argentine? How can you not be proud of being from a country six times the size of Italy, where our typical drink — mate — is shared and enjoyed by groups of friends everywhere? Why not gloat about the fact that our asados are globally known?

Yes, I know. These are all minor things. But these small pleasures in life cannot be seen or enjoyed anywhere else. You might be thinking: “How can I enjoy La Patagonia when I can’t even pay my expenses at the end of the month?”. Truth is, I don’t expect you to. We all know these are difficult times. But we’ve been through worse. We’ve recovered from worse.

And get this: mate? No matter how we stand, it’ll always be a part of our culture. Our asados? They’ll be there regardless of whose in power.

I mean, after all, we are only 200 years old. We’re just babies. We’re learning. But we can’t prosper without unity, without love for where we live. We need to embrace our country with its faults and perfections and simply make the best of it. Don’t complain about politics on the 9th of July, celebrate the pleasures that come aong with being Argentine.