I would walk 500 miles…

I went to the Plaza de Mayo to see “Las Madres” do their weekly march. Unexpectedly, I got a bit emotional! In the fall through the University of Minnesota Dance program I studied this group of woman, who started a resistance movement in the 70s to protest the disappearances of their children during the “Dirty War”.

In that period, activists or possible revolutionaries “disappeared”; at least 10,000 men and women were taken to concentration camps, abused, and killed by the oppressive government. People were forbidden to gather in public, but the mothers of the “disappeared” young adults became tired of waiting in their homes for their children to return. A few started meeting in the Plaza and they discovered their stories were not isolated incidences. Some of the original Mothers also “disappeared” but the others continued to march, demanding information and justice to those responsible for the killings.

When I went there were close to 1000 people in the plaza, including allied groups and other protests. I kept a distance because protests sometimes incite violence. But I had the thought “sometimes the places most worth being are a little bit dangerous.” It was dangerous for the original Madres, but now, maybe in part because of their movement, these hundreds of Argentineans can meet freely. Right now may not be my time to walk, to stand, for something I value in the face of danger. But learning to love being out of my comfort zone is a big step for the girl who has been scared of small spiders, heights, and skiing fast. And it’s a valuable question to ask, for what would I walk? For me, it’s for the one true God and the things He commands of us, like “Seek justice. Help the oppressed.” And for this I applaud Las Madres.

Speaking of walking, my black Keds have almost seen their last steps. With my quick engineer’s estimate, they have seen me through almost 500 miles of walking to school and within at least six different countries. Now that is how I want to use all my material possessions! As a generalization, Buenos Aires seems materialistic, like most of the United States. There are shoe stores on every block in my neighborhood, and they’re usually busy. I find myself getting pulled into the desires for leather boots, fashionable jackets, etc. I hope these simple shoes can be a reminder that the things I already own can do quite well!