Communication

Contributions from readers who didn't object to having their email published in Vagabond Pages.

Letters from Argentina ..., Vagabond...

Letters exchanged with Ignacio: (excerpts)

I have a similar surname to yours: Markievich (a civil office error). I would be grateful if you send me info about my roots.
Thanks.
I will try to give you info about my country and relatives.
Ignacio

'Markiewicz' is undoubtedly of Latin origin and it spread in Eastern Europe as Markiewicz in Poland, Marcovicu(i) in Romania, Markovic in Yugoslavia. I suppose that your name ended like mine in '--wicz' meaning that your roots could be Polish. WM

Dear William,
I have read your article called "How many Jews..." and I think it is very interesting. I would like to know where you are from and personal data about you, for example your age, civil status, your family, etc.

I would also like to know cultural information about national habits in your country. I think you are an intelligent man due to the quality of your research in the article.

If you want to get info about something in my country, just tell me. I can say that the last presidential elections took place 2 weeks ago. I voted for the first time and it is the fourth time of continuous democratic government.
Thank you for everything.
Nacho.

In accordance with Vagabond's motto: "Attached to nothing, aware of everything" I'm quite comfortable in the situation of anonymity. Are you familiar with the old TV program, 'Charlie's Angels?'

Changing the topic: In light of the recent elections, would you like to share with Vagabond's readers your views on the political situation in Argentina? WM

Dear William,
I do not understand too well what you mean. Although I am quite familiar with the TV program that you mention, I was too young when it was shown in my country (I am only 19).

What is Vagabond? A magazine? What is it about? Please, when you explain give a full description of all you write. You know, different cultures are hard to understand from the other's view.

Here I send you a photo of my Rugby Mates after winning the hardest match of the year. I am wearing the blue helmet.
Greetings. Send me interesting info, please. (pics, texts, etc.)

Ignacio -- have you seen Vagabond? Then you know what it is as much as I do.

From what you know about Charlie's Angels, the appeal of the program was that Charlie was an 'invisible man.' It adds a little extra spice and besides this agrees with my temperament. WM

Dear William,
I liked Vagabond and I do think you are such an intelligent man to write those kind of things.

I like topics like national habits (do you know the Argentine "mate"?) but I also like political theories (Weber, Heller, Marx, Rousseau, Fascism, Democracy, etc.) But let me tell you that I do not agree completely with one of these theories. The best I have read is KARL POPPER. I like his ideas about the democratic situation.

..if anybody would like to know about Argentine political ideas (Juan Perón, do you remember Evita?), the UCR, and the bloodiest part of our history, the National Reorganization Process 1976-1983. I was 3 years old when it finished, after Falkland Island´s war.
Thank you. Talking to you is a real pleasure.

(Concerning our exchanges about yerba mate WM)

Dear William,
..."yerba", which is produced in the tropical zone of my country (NE), where the first Markiewicz settled down (Misiones, but then they moved near the capital where we live).
...
I wonder if you can give me information about Greek national habits, as I love Greek culture and my mother's roots are there. Her surname is Antoniadis.

If you want information about anything in my country, keep on asking me and I will try to reply to all your doubts.
Greetings,
Nacho.

I send you a pic of the most famous national artist, Carlos Gardel which composed and sang the best Tangos of the History. In Argentina, when somebody is wonderful it is said that "He is Gardel". For example if you are able to succeed in something important, YOU ARE GARDEL (Sos Gardel).

I wrote a personal note about Greek mythology you can find when you look at http://archive.vagabondpages.com/august96/god_human.html It will be easy for you to find out all about Greeks by looking at the search engine AltaVista, searching simply for Greeks or Greek culture.

I leave it to your judgement what you would eventually like to tell the readers of the Communication Page about your country. Usually people are most eloquent in matters where they feel personally involved.

William, I tried to write an article about some political ideas that I have. I hope you like it.

Have you learned how to have a mate? I would like to ask you if you are familiar with mafalda, an Argentine comic by Quino. It was translated into a lot of languages. See you. I liked the article 'God/Human.' Do you know Diego Maradona? Here I send the article:

The end of ideologies? I hope so.

During Human History, people have witnessed cruel facts which were protected by the shield of ideologies. Yes, a lot of murders, physical and moral damages and more terrible things like the hate between brothers.

But these irrational shields have a hidden reason which is, tragically, some personal interests. And you are not mistaken, you have read 'Irrational'. Most of these movements are proud of their theories, but they are only the disguises of ambitious minds.

Do you really think that Hitler wanted the greatness of Germany? I do think that the ambition of power was only his ambition, but unfortunately his ambition was hidden under the thought of the Evil Jewish, the Dirty Gypsies, the unnatural Homosexual People, and so on.

But I think I am not an expert talking about international facts, but let me tell you something about my country: The eternal disagreements between Unitarios and Federales until 1880, Radicales and Conservadores until 1945, Peronistas (followers of Peron) and Anti-Peronistas until 1976, Civiles and Militares until 1983 ; covered our national territory with blood and eternal disagreements that only bring trouble and closed minds.

For example, our president since 1989 (re elected), Carlos Menem took political decisions which were totally against the Peron ideas. Menem buried the working class and retired people so as to get economic stability, giving benefits only to Huge Enterprises. But the working class followed him as he was from the Peron political group. Working class minds were so closed due to these ideologies (Peron's) that they did not care about Menem's plan and voted for Perón (who died in 1974), not for Menem. Now the unemployment rate is 18% and they have not the social help that Peron used to give. If people are not educated they are bound to be cheated.

Nowadays, Fernando de la Rua was elected from an alliance between two groups which do not have strong ideas but are keen on getting rid of the terrible corruption of the Menem Government (it is said that Argentina is one of the most corrupt countries). The last Economy Minister who made Menem's plan, Domingo Cavallo, said a lot of things about dirty things in that Government, and made his own political group: Accion por la Republica).

I really think that we should not be so keen on strong and cheating ideas and try to be more honest and make political actions thinking about people who gave his vote and want an honest management of the country. The Argentine people are rather let down due to politicians, and it will be difficult to recover confidence.

In a nutshell, I tell people who Believe (and not think) in old and dirty theories to try to make up their minds and be honest with everybody (especially with Themselves)

(In the letter which follows, Ignacio (or Nacho) mentions the drug habits of some famous Argentinians which I don't quote because I don't know how much it was discussed publicly, WM)

The Argentine people are very special. There are a lot of theories. Some blame the mixture of origins in the beginning of the century; but the fact is that an Argentinian can be loyal with friends while he is cruel. It is a special culture. Besides each place of the country is special.

People from Cordoba love dancing, are happy and drunk and funny; with a special kind of music called cuarteto that now is invading all the country.

People from Buenos Aires city (not province, where I live) are sad, with a tango spirit, bad humored, etc.

People from ... are said to be lazy. (Somebody may feel offended. WM))

People from Corrientes are as proud of themselves as people form Buenos Aires city (they say that if Argentina has a war, Corrientes will help her.)

Well, I hope you have enjoyed these data. Have your mate and enjoy it. Do not wait anymore! ...view this photo of Carlitos La Mona (the monkey) Jimenez, the King of Cuarteto Music. He is said to be the Emperor of Cordoba (like in medieval times). He is an honest man, from a low social class and nowadays he helps children who lack food or are homeless.

His dance is very popular and the way he moves his hand too. HE IS A GOOD MAN AND LOVED IN CORDOBA AND NOW IN ALL THE COUNTRY.

Ignacio's email address withheld on my own initiative. WM

Re: Vagabond

hello,
my name is kim. i'm a college senior from texas. i stumbled upon your vagabond newsletter while searching for something on don juan tenorio and was captivated by your other writings. i know the paris of today that you write about and am jealous that i did not get to experience the authentic. it must have been quite a time. i can also do nothing but agree with everything you write in "the meek ...". well, i was just moved to write and let you know i enjoyed the newsletter.
sincerely,
kim
Kimpunzel@aol.com

do you do a printed paper vagabond?
thanks
shawn
patanna@seark.net

I don't, even though I'd like to. It would be a fulltime job for more than one person. WM

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William Markiewicz