This Where We Have Reached?

By Kerwin De Matas

Free housing?! I'm sorry, but these people are just ridiculous! This wasn't the way I wanted to start my article today, but checking out the latest recently, was enough to wonder if what I was seeing and hearing on the news was true. I'm talking about a group of protesters that's taken over land in a part of Santiago, Chile, called ' La Toma de Penalolen '( the take over of penalolen ). First of all, I sympathize with anyone that's in poverty, since I myself, am not rich and was in a very complicated situation when younger. I believe that people in that bracket, should always be given a little help by their respective governments, to put their lives in order to move on.

Risking lives for housing...

But, giving them everything ready made, is not what I call self help. Unfortunately, in Chile, don't want to be hard now ( this also applies to other countries with the same issue ), but many people that are below or on the poverty line, believe that they are victims of a society that persecuted them and their families before them. And so, they pursue the fact that they are entitled to what ever benefits the state should give them for free. You heard me right, for free! It should be remembered that, it is not disputed how many people suffered here before and during the military regime in Chile.

Carabineros preparing for the attack!

Yes, from what I read, those were really hard times. But forgive me when I say, that every decent person should stand on their own feet, and to work hard if they want to have their own home and personal belongings. Of course, poor citizens that are disabled, should be helped by the state. Everyone else should work for their livelihood!

Carabineros and protesters face off...

So, this is where we have reached, we want to have everything in our hands ready made, no questions asked!... Just a little something, ladies and gentlemen of Penalolen, don't be upset with the truth, but guess what, I do know people that have not sat down waiting for their governments of their countries to help them. They looked for other avenues, honestly of course, to make a better life for themselves and their families.

Police trucks on the defensive

Understand me now please, this does not mean that the Chilean government, should not give self help programs to help unfortunate families to get a fair start in life, but free? Lift your voice for self help programs, but working at the same time, don't sit down and wait!.....