Macri, Machismo, Discrimination and the Bang-Bang Mentality (an essay)

Scapegoats have always existed, and probably always will. It’s the law of the” good guys” versus the” bad guys,” those in power versus the outcasts, those who defend the status quo at the point of the gun against those who demand change, those who belong to the “right” race or religion versus those considered “inferior” or “heretics.” Furthermore, in the always violent course of history, the strongest seem to get their way, rewrite history and organize political, legal and judicial systems to their benefit.

The examples appear and reappear: the witches and heretics during the Middle Ages, the indigenous people of north and south America—objects of premeditated genocide; the massacre of a million Armenians, a like number of Indonesians after the country dared take an independent stance; the Jews and opponents of the Nazi regime in Germany; the 30,000 Argentines whisked away into oblivion during the Military Dictatorship…

This dialectic of violence showed its ugly head in Buenos Aires at year’s end with the occupation by squatters of abandoned lands and buildings—allegedly pushed on by obscure political and economic interests. The reaction of the millionaire mayor of the city, former head of Boca Juniors athletic club, was perhaps predictable.

Although the funds available for badly needed housing for the slums was shrunk drastically in favor of paving streets and walkways in downtown Buenos Aires, the blame was placed on “irresponsible immigration.” What was even more significant was the intention of Mayor Mauricio Macri to get the support of the casper-milk-toast  middle class by referring to the alleged involvement of immigrants in criminality and drug trafficking.

In Argentina, in the United States of North America, in Europe and in many other counties these days immigrants have been accused of all sorts of evils, although they were previously sought to do the menial work the citizens refused to do. The political rightwing also has a banner that is raised time and again, from country to country: Law and order.

Although there is a genuine and laudable desire for peace in the hearts of people throughout the world, the demand to confront the undesirable, the immigrant or the criminal with a hard fist or a smoking gun not unusually serves as a smoke screen for political or economic maneuvers.

Just a few examples: Iraq was accused of having a store of incredibly dangerous weapons of mass destruction…so as to justify the invasion of the country by the U.S., interested in the country’s oil and in getting a footing in a hostile area of the world.

The existence of leftist and non-conformist movements in Latin America likewise was used to set into motion the take-over of democratic institutions by military forces whose illegal regimes imposed free-wheeling “neo-liberal” economic policies which marginalized vast sectors of the population and laid the red carpet for multinational corporations.

At the family level, rape and domestic violence continue to wreck havoc among all social classes, although certainly situations of extreme poverty and lack of education constitute contributing factors.

Conservative voices assert that violent crimes such as rape, assassination and kidnappings should be subject to chastisement including capital punishment. But the question remains: will a rapist desist in his attempt if he knows he faces death? Will his punishment not be even greater if he must spend the rest of his days in confinement under squalid conditions?

Yet it is moot to ask why in countries such as Argentina persons convicted of repugnant crimes such as rape and multiple assassinations are entitled to go free frequently many years before the end of their sentence.

Continuing with the questions. Why do wars, violence, rape, injustice and all kinds of abuse exist among human beings? Rather than take vengeance against society’s criminals and outcasts, would it not be better to investigate the causes of violence and seek the corresponding solutions? What leads a man to attack and rape a woman? Machismo, the urge to dominate when he himself is subjugated in his workplace?What has happened in his upbringing, in his education, that leads him to violate the respect for another fellow human? Does the utilization of violence in the mass media affect his behavior patterns? How does a world based on consumerism, money and the profit motive influence his actions? Would there be as much violence in the world if the judicial systems were more honest and trustworthy? If extreme poverty and marginalization were replaced with decent housing, education and opportunities for work and self realization?