CARRERA: PERIODISMO
PROFESOR: EDGARDO S. BERG
MATERIA: INGLES III
Presentación de los trabajos finales de los alumnos de 3° año:
BICENTENNARY IN MAR DEL PLATA
FEASTS OF THE BICENTENARY IN MAR DEL PLATA
Next year, 2010 , it will be very important in the whole country , because Argentina will celebrate the second centenary of its first national government.
So, one year before, each city and province are preparing different kinds of celebration.
To celebrate the bicentenary of Revolucion de Mayo , in Mar del Plata there will be some importants events according with the whole country because it is an extraordinary fact : two hundred years ago,on the next May
25 th, Argentina became a sovereign country.
Meanwhile in Mar del Plata as in the complete country there are economic problems, it´s difficult to walk in the streets because of insecurity,and unemployed people who are victims of the global crisis. Nevertheless the city is being prepared for that. Its municipal personnel made importants announcements of projects to commemorate the date.But they try to keep them in secret.
One of the most important events announced is the International Regata with the participation of ships from different countries. Besides in the National Government,civil servants are planning to have a Formula 1 Race in the streets of Mar del Plata like Monaco circuit,for next year. The decision depends on the Jefe de Ministros Sergio Massa who said it was possible.
LOOKING BACK IN THE HISTORY
If we look through history and come back to 1910, year of the centenary there were a lot of feasts around the country. But in those years, one hundred years ago Mar del Plata began to be the main touristic place of Argentina in summer, and somebody thought that it would be a great idea to have the first Reina del Mar. On February 23 rd the first Reina del Mar was chosen in the aristocratic and luxurious Bristol Hotel. There were twelve girls in the election and they had to be life guards’ and fishermen’s daughters as the regulation said.
The first Reina del Mar was Emilia Bonacci a teacher who was 17 years old and with her six princesses were carried in a ten meter long roman ship which was very iluminated . The retinue passed by different streets of the city and was accompanied by sailors and boys with torches.
The train, as a way of transport,had arrived at Mar del Plata a few years before,but only during the summer time. In 1910 was inaugurated The Mar del Plata Sud Station. Only 24 years later the station received 50 bedroom cars trains per only one night .
REFLECTIONS
Maybe we have waited one hundred years to have a really good Ferroautomotora, in order to the times we are living. Undoubtedly Mar del Plata and its visitors deserve that. But also it’s important to see the past and the history in another way, for example: What happened with the old Bristol Hotel?and the Odeon Theatre? Or the Wooden Promenade?
It would be a good fact that politicians prefer to celebrate the Bicentenary by preserving the history and not destroying it. Undoubtedly it would be the best way.
BIBLIOGRAPHY:
www.mardelplata-ayer.com.ar
Centenary book of Diario La Capital 2005
Historia de Mar del Plata. 1999.
www.historiademardelplata.com.ar
Inaccuracies Festive in a divided world
If we check the two hundred years since May Revolution and on behalf of its celebration, our Argentine Republic is actually facing social, political and economic problems, even worst than those that occurred when our country was pursuing freedom.
By 1910, the Century Celebration of our homeland birth coincided with a social conflict and the highest number of strikes and disturbances. For this reason the Executive Power passed the law of defense searching for increase of repression against left activists.
Nine days before the 25 th of May festivity, nationalist groups attacked the opponent political party ´s headquarters, and later the Social leader Juan B Justo was arrested.
In spite of these demonstrations and the State repression, National Authorities didn’t stop celebrations, taking advantage of the situation in order to achieve a balance which gave them very positive result from a financial point of view.
Certainly, the country was very well positioned internationally. This optimism was not shared by all political groups. But, by all means, it was reflected in the ambitious festivities: extraordinary theatre plays, civil marches and military parades, as well as monument openings, some of them were as a present from other countries.
This worldwide importance of Argentina was reflected in the arrival of very important personalities like Pedro Montt, President of Chile, Eugenio Larraburu, Vice-President of Peru, the German count Colmar Von de Goltz. Also, the member of the royal Japanese Family Ekimokci, the Paraguayan Chancellor Adofo Riquelme. General Leonard Wood, at those times Governor of Cuba, attend the event as a representative of United States.
The outstanding celebrity, however, was Princess Isabel of Borbon, sister of Alfonso XIII, King of Spain, who was received in Buenos Aires by the most important authorities and a huge popular assistance.
But 1910 was not just the Centenary year, but also the scenery of other social events, like the ones mentioned before, that generated confusion. For example, the Halley Comet, passing through Buenos Aires on May 19th, brought panic and hysteria to the people due to the wrong information coming through the media. The idea that it was going to crash against the Earth caused a high number of suicides.
A hundred years ago, Argentina was seen like the country with the most international development, due to the high quality of educational level that could compete with the big nations of that time. But, as time went by, that real situation switched to be a remote and sublime aspiration.
But, nowadays, this nation is living one of the most conflictive situations of its history, due to the social and economic system that is unable to improve the quality of life for the inhabitants. This, paradoxically, was converted in a parallel factor for its development and growth. For example, Argentina is in the 108th position, between 157 countries (Chile in the 8th, while Uruguay and Peru are in the 40th and 55th respectively).
Between 150 nations the Argentinean Bank occupies the 149th position. Other references could be shown related to the position of our country in the worldwide scale. But it is enough to check the daily level of society that shows its deterioration.
Slums are expanding constantly. Criminality, insecurity, unemployment, pollution, bureaucracy, decadent services, education weakening, among others, are the proof that Argentine population could not be well seen around the world. This fact resulted in a progressive vanishing on the international map.
In Latin America, the countries that have hegemony in the world are Brazil and Mexico. Some time ago, however, Argentina used to look at them from a higher position. Nowadays the situation is quite different. That is why, less than a year of the second centenary celebration, it is not weird that there is some uncertainty regarding its festivity.
There is not very solid information regarding the way that festivities will be held or who will be the most important celebrities coming. Maybe because the difficult and uncertain present of the country is a priority.
One of the most precise news is that the Secretary of Culture of the Nation planned to carry out the “Cantata”, with the aim of promoting a symphonic composition that combines the sensibility and artistic talent, where the best composers of popular music participate interacting with historians, sociologists and philosophers.
Meanwhile, there is a possibility that Mar del Plata will be headquarters of Formula 1, at the same time of celebrations of the Bicentenary. The owner of rights of the worldwide racing marketing announced that there is an initiative together with the authorities of festivities. In case that this goal could be gotten, not only would F1 personalities visit this Tourist City, but also many other illustrious people. It is important to remember that Argentina was a regular Grand Prix during three decades, until the last race won by the German Michael Schumacher in 1998.
What do authorities pretend about performing one of the most important international races in a country belonging to the Third World? Perhaps they think that this way the country will be recognized worldwide.
The logic would say that part of those 50 million dollars invested in fixing downtown streets for that race, should be addressed to the welfare of each person. This way, the festivities will be simpler and more enjoyable.
Up to now there are only good intentions about a future celebration with lack of precision in comparison to the preparation of the Centenary. Argentina people are no longer those who expected Princess of Spain with anxiety.
Among this cloudy atmosphere, it would great that in this anniversary, each one could consolidate the nation as a free and independent with a pluralist society, with respect towards the differences and including all diversity.
25th May 2010, should host an event in which all inhabitants are to be included and where the past is raised in value, present is strengthened and the future is safer.
From a recalled Centennial to a forgotten Bicentennial.
On May 25th, 1810, at daybreak, it was cold and rainy. Neighbors and revolutionaries, who were fighting for a free and sovereign Nation, crowded The Plaza of Victory. The First Meeting of Government had the difficult task of considering what kind of country was the suitable to develop. It was at that time, when Argentina started to be organized around the institutions, allowing self administration and equal resources distribution.
Political, economic, social and cultural situation of the Republic changed over the years, achieving results through the successful agro industry for export model, set in 1890.
During the Centenary of May Revolution, Buenos Aires looked like a big stage, with lighted avenues, gorgeous public buildings, department stores and palaces that impressed classy tourists, flattering Argentine people together with those contradictory landscapes.
Celebrations started early on May 19th. It was a wonderful event, improved with diplomatic representations and activities, through economic, cultural and ethnic communities, for example the Spanish, Italian and French.
This influence was reflected by a wide range of monuments and exhibitions, which lasted forever in everyone’s minds thanks to the visit of Infanta Isabel de Borbón, who wore a grey silk dress covered with gold, five long rows of large pearls, and a brilliants’ diadem.
The Government organized all kinds of events such as civil and religious ceremonies, military parades, conferences, banquets, among others. In addition to the Spanish princess, poets and writers, travelers, professionals and special guests visited the country and left their stamp in the city.
Artists and sculptors could show their works in a group of exhibitions that were divided into the following subjects: Arts, Agriculture, Health, Industry and Railways, which were not located in a specific place in Capital Federal, but were set at a number of locations of the city along Alvear Street, (Actually, Libertador Avenue).
Hygiene exhibition stood in the site that nowadays holds the National Library of Agriculture, what we know today as La Rural; the Industrial exhibition, instead, was mounted in Tres de Febrero Park, the Fine Arts one stood in Plaza San Martín and Transportation and Railways one was set next to the Palermo Hippodrome, in the 1st Regiment of Patricios. The creation of this true city–exhibition was the reflection of the modernity that ruled all over the Argentina of those days.
The exhibition of Fine arts included almost all Latin American and European Countries and was set in Plaza San Martín. In order to hold this part of the event, they used the building that was previously the Argentinian Pavilion in the Paris Universal Exhibition on 1889. This exhibition was organized in order to commemorate the Centennial of the Bastille Capture, during the Eiffel Tower Opening.
According to testimonies and photos of those years, the site was a steel structured building, decorated with panels showing images related to science, arts and work.
That Pavilion was opened to public on July 12th, 1910, after the refurbishing and addition of new premises due to the fact that foreign shipments exceeded the organizers expectations.
There were 2375 Art Works presented and the opening act was Guiraldes’ responsibility. President José Figueroa Alcorta, members of his staff and the Mayor attended this act.
Several agricultural activities were carried out at Sociedad Rural Argentina. There was a rural products exhibition which did not offer too many options compared to those which were yearly performed since 1886.
Different seeds, many sizes of various color cobs were showed as well. Also, Argentinian countryside’s maps and photos were presented.
A large nursery was built. It had exotic plants and species provided by the Botanical Garden of Buenos Aires.
The Hygiene exhibition showed health improvements, sewage lay out designs, modern medical instruments and hospital facilities. Anyway, some spring water companies participated and there were stands where the most famous drugstores and several local laboratories showed their medical products and beauty care selection.
However, along with these commemorations in Buenos Aires, the Inter-American Medicine and Hygiene Congress was also carried out. Argentine speakers were outstanding because of the level of their speeches.
On the other hand, there was a strong smallpox outbreak in La Rioja and tuberculosis affected the North of the country on those days, as well.
Everyone could attend these events. But it didn’t happen. A strong feeling of unhappiness was made evident through social claims and protests. For example, the Colon Theatre’s assault during one of their shows. Also, these group strike threats as well as social anarchist trade unions approaches were repressed by police force. Repression was the main tool used to control population dissatisfaction towards authorities actions.
Argentina, whose profile was emerging to be a powerful country like United States, showed two different phases in this celebration: the beautiful building works on one hand, and social tension, on the other.
This period of the National history was marked by a conservative and elitist Government together with a fraudulent polling system, which was already untenable, but had served to keep the oligarch political power in the past. For this same reason, the Union Civica Radical abstained itself from participating in the elections.
One hundred years have passed since these unforgettable events were just the Celebration of the high class Century Revolution. Several different governments
passed by, but the country is still not a powerful one.
The Republic is no longer the “barn of the world” and these moments stayed behind just to be filed in some book.
Next year, on 2010, Mar del Plata will be one of the cities developing the main celebrations of the Bicentennial.
According to EMTUR our city is expecting the arrival of a high number of sailboats and numerous music star recitals, as well as the glorious Libertad Frigate.
Likewise as in 1910, there will be exhibitions and probably Presidents and Officials of every state will be participating in them.
As the “finishing touch”, authorities are planning to build a street circuit, where Formula 1 will run for a Grand Prix. This will not easily work out due to the time left in order to build a racetrack to run this. But the idea is expected to be developed in its best way and this “utopian” dream, indeed, will become in a future day, a true possible issue.
The picture still looks blurred at this time of the year, considering that there are just a few months ahead of the Bicentennial.
Buenos Aires National Library, at the National Secretary of Culture, is developing since 2005 several free conferences where intellectuals, like Juan Carlos Altamirano, Carlos Chiaramonte and others, raise awareness and discuss with participants about “nation-culture and politics”.
This current year, conferences were held on the 20th and 21st of May and brought together economists and historians, who approached the issue: “Population and social welfare in Argentina”, attended by government officials, including Minister of Education, Juan Carlos Tedesco.
During the past May 2th celebration at the “Obelisco”, at least seven thousand people attended a show in which musicians performed folk songs, new versions of patriotic songs as part of the Opening of Celebrations for the Bicentenary.
In addition to these concerts, so far, President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner, has determined that the Post Office will be the epicenter of the festivities. Chief Consultant Aníbal Fernández believes that tributes must include infrastructure and a number of reforms, including judicial and taxation system, as well as a reduction of poverty and illiteracy levels. In order to achieve it, a Committee was set just to teach citizens, through chats and debates, “who we are”, “where are we standing at” and “which are our weaknesses and strengths”.
However, the truth is that no one is doing anything for the Bicentennial, except for a few shows. Exception, of course, for the comparison to its predecessor, 1910’s Centennial and if you think that in those times, even Halley Comet joined the celebrations!
Education doesn’t celebrate the Bicentennial
Por Marcela Lujan
The one who said that education is the basis of the evolution of a society never imagined our present time.
We all say that this is the indispensable tool for confronting all acts and situations in our life with responsability and conscience.
Even more, it is announced like “indispensable” for new generations to guarantee a better future.
However, that learning that we are referring to is a bit resigned today in our community.
Right now, the country is approaching the year 2010, in which it will be commemorated the bicentenary of the dream of freedom of the great patriots who fought for an independent nation from the Spanish.
That’s why the opportunity should be designed to remember those days, in which Argentina was born.
Even more, celebrate the message of consciousness and value reached each inhabitant of the peoples.
Schools, then, are the perfect place to help young people interpret the real meaning of that May 25, 1810.
Children can and should learn what happened and be proud of those events .
The country’s most important cities definitly should be the ones who prepare the most special celebrations.
But in fact one sees that Mar del Plata isn’t considered an important city since the majority of the educative centers haven’t carried out any special act or have established the way in which they would develop the pertinent commemoration for May 25th 2010.
Some of the consulted teachers of school said these:
At Primary School Nº 41, Mabel, a mathematics teacher, felt the need to create a stronger profile of citizenship in our youngsters, so that, they can be “capable of creating a popular democracy for avoiding up authoritarian governments, since the birth of our nation”.
Alfredo Luque, a history professor at High School Nº25, emphasized the idea of “recognizing the bravery and the courage of those men who made the Revolution”.
He added, also, that the need of “restablishing the concept of the word ‘patriotism’” is urgent, because it has gradually been devalued.
On the other hand, the professor underlined the idea of realize acts in each establishment.
“It would be good that the protocol speeches don’t become only empty words. Instead, we should implement a concret and progressive message. In this way, we would ignore any kind of traditional text to which students do not usually pay attention. Our postmodernist men are more than just people with their corresponding rights. The important thing is that we are capable of crossing this barrier of dominate-dominant, as the patriots did 200 years ago. If we obtain this, we will be really free”, the professor concluded.
Meanwhile, at High School No. 18, Carolina Martin, a history and sociology professor said that the main idea would be that students “know how to make a review of the history of society and take some points that serve for your future and also for the future of this Nation “.
While her colleague, German, considered to be necessary that parents must help in the upbringing of young people with history conscience.
However, in these schools, the pretty words do not agree with the reality and the celebrations. Thy have been almost the same for a number of years, in many of them, no special mention has even made to the Bicentennial.
But not all is like that. For example, the Technical School Nº 1, which works with the port of Mar del Plata, plans to build a ship of which they already have a scale model. And it is one of the ten best projects for the bicentennial celebrations nationwide.
Contemporary history is special and unique of course, and we have the privilege to live and celebrate it.
It is necessary, as the directors and teachers of some of the city’s schools said, the attitude of value and reminiscent the events that meant the freedom of our country, without forgetting the great and true fathers of the Nation, as the liberator of Argentina, Jose of San Martin, who also freed Chile and Peru.
The sane thing can be thought for Juan Jose Castelli and Mariano Moreno, who beside being members of the Primera Junta of Argentina, they energetically supported the Revolution of May.
And many others illustrious, who as them, fought for the freedom of Argentina and were participants of the birth of the country.
We must honor them knowing what happened and execute their desires of liberty, like in case of Manuel Belgrano who, among other things, was looking for an education for all people.
Everyone, but even more the young people, who are, as grandparents say, the country’s future, need to know and apprehend the values that characterized those who fought until death to defend the ideals of a free and sovereign people.
If these sayings are not enriched with special events or days for the memory, all words are in vain. . . because reality is what we generate.
Interviewed:
· School Nº41: Mabel, mathematics professor.
· School Nº25: Alfredo Luque, history professor.
· School Nº18: Carolina Martin, history and sociology professor and Germán, geography professor.
Others interviewed who provided data:
· Technical Nº2: Ingrid Prenski, history professor 2º year.
· Polyvalent of art: Director Alejandro Losada y guitar professor, Amenta Miguel.
Reviewed literature:
www.elhistoriador.com.ar
www.wikipedia.org
www.puntonoticias.com