[Paisleychick-lj] Once de Septiembre

[Beatrice M's blog]

[![][1]][2]  
[Sunset over Buenos Aires][3], originally uploaded by [blmurch][4].

We live in barrio Once - pronounced ohn-say. It is called this because of the nearby train station - Once de Septiembre or 9/11. This train station brings people in from the Provincia - the province of Buenos Aires. You might have heard about [the trains that were burned recently - because THEY WERE LATE][5]. Yeah, that helped people get to work on time....Those trains were coming into Once. The station is named Once de Septiembre because [el Presidente Sarmiento][6] died on September 11, 1888. He is remembered for bringing public schools to Argentina. Sarmiento was inspired by his trip to the United States and invested in infrastructure: education, military, communication, and trains. The United States of America used to be a positive inspiration to others. Bringing public education to a country is a wonderful legacy to leave behind. What are we getting? ::shakes head::  
  
Anyways, in the barrio Belgrano (near where we used to live), there is a street - 11 de septiembre - and for the longest time I didn't know what that was in reference to. There are a lot of streets here in Buenos Aires that are named after dates. Other popular names are names of cities and countries in Latin America and people of historical and/or cultural note. I found it a bit disconcerting when we were in Cordoba and the street names were all the same, but the city layout was completely different - plus now there's a Buenos Aires avenue in Cordoba whereas in Buenos Aires there's a Cordoba avenue. It's all [too][7] [similar][8]. It took me a while to find out what [the date was referring to][9]. My best guest (wrong) was that it was in commemoration of the [Chilean coup 1973, when Pinochet took over Allende's democracy][10]. I couldn't in my life understand why they would have that in mind? Maybe to honor the dead? Plus, that only happened in 1973 and the train station is *much older* as is the street. Finally, a friend told me that Once referred to Sarmiento's death and now I live here and have this incredible view from the rooftop of our apartment building. I get to see the sunset again. I have to say that lifts my soul.  
  
It messes with my head a bit to have September 11 refer to something different than what I experienced back in 2001 in North Carolina. But, I like the Argentine memorial much better. My thoughts are with people who's lives were so horribly wrecked seven years ago and to everyone whose lives were irrevocably touched.

   [1]: http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3034/2545600936_3267c27e38.jpg
   [2]: http://www.flickr.com/photos/blmurch/2545600936/ (photo sharing)
   [3]: http://www.flickr.com/photos/blmurch/2545600936/
   [4]: http://www.flickr.com/people/blmurch/
   [5]: http://www.canada.com/topics/news/world/story.html?id=b6382a16-38ee-4c7d-b41d-285e59a9f868
   [6]: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Domingo_Faustino_Sarmiento
   [7]: http://www.flickr.com/photos/blmurch/2693844509/
   [8]: http://www.flickr.com/photos/blmurch/2580627433/
   [9]: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/September_11
   [10]: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chilean_coup_of_1973

URL: http://paisleychick.livejournal.com/344661.html