Today was a most moving day. Our group visited Villa Grimaldi which was a place of interrogation, torture and death during the Pinochet dictatorship. What once had been a place of incredible horror, is now transforming into a park of healing and peace.
Upon entering the site, prisoners could only see a tiled pathway from beneath their blindfolds. Today that tile has been transformed into a piece of artwork which looks like flames. The flames represent pain and suffering. While the flames were a beginning place of pain they ultimately lead the way to water, life.
Just a couple of days ago in Osorno our group spoke to Yolanda whose son had been taken to Grimaldi and whose body has never been found. Today pray for not only her pain but of the pain of all who were affected by the dictatorship of Chile and the oppressed everywhere.
God´s Peace Be With You
2 comments:
Karen,
Thanks for this post. As you know, I remember well my own visit to Villa Grimaldi in 2004. It was what I imagine visiting a Nazi concentration camp must be like. Villa Grimaldi also rises to my consciousness every time I listen to Sting's song "They Dance Alone," which is about the experience of women like Yolanda.
For those with a theological bent and who want to explore dimensions of torture as they relate to the life of the church I recommend the book "Torture and Eucharist" by William Cavanaugh (http://www.blackwellpublishing.com/book.asp?ref=9780631211198). This book goes deep into the Chilean experience under Pinochet and raises questions about the role of the church and its rituals in such a situation.
It is difficult to believe that such a beautiful place could have such a terrible history. My co-workers and I visited the Villa Grimaldi link attached to this blog. We were able to read most of it in English, but had to have someone translate some of the Spanish. It is a very moving site. I will keep Yolanda and the families of all who suffered and suffer still in my prayers.
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