Augusto Pinochet

Augusto José Ramón Pinochet Ugarte is dead but his legacy, for good and bad, lives on. Taking over the government of Chile violently, he ended the presidency of the first democratically elected Marxist president, Salvador Isabelino del Sagrado Corazón de Jesús Allende Gossens. September 11 is still a national holiday paying tribute to the military, one week before Chile's 'Independence' holiday.

Of all Latin American countries, Chile is probably one of the most stable economically and - dare I say - politically. While it is true that many rallies and protests turn violent, I am not aware of any deaths or sever injuries in the recent past, unlike other regional protests. This could be due, in part, to the military and police training, where Pinochet began his political career.

Under Pinochet, the country began the move from privatization to a more capitalistic economy, including allowing foreign investors in. From this standpoint, one could argue that Pinochet brought the country out of the economic demise spurred by Allende's socialist program.

But, as in all stories, there is opposition. Pinochet may be more famous (or infamous) for allowing, sanctioning and possibly participating in murdering alleged enemies, not to mention torture, abuse, and exile imposed on others. All estimates of the number of victims are in the thousands, though no one is sure that an exact count will be known.

Controversies abounded during his life and in death it will continue. Was he a hero or a villain? Is it possible to be both? David killed Goliath and became king, but then he fell from grace by killing Uriah and lusting after Uriah's wife. It is hard to imagine, though, that one person can be capable of both extremes, so much good, and so much evil.