“Day of the American Cultural Diversity”

Argentina, October 12, 2010

The INADI, National Institute against Discrimination, Racism and Xenophobia in Argentina suggested a new name for the 12 of October, to be renamed ‘Day of the American Cultural Diversity”’ replacing the “Race Day”.

The objective of this initiative was to value ethnic and cultural identities, promoting historical reflection, and was organizated by members of indigenous communities, historians and non-governmental organizations in the country.

Everyone thought that “The name “Race Day” was inadequate, ‘because any idea or doctrine of superiority based on racial differentiation is scientifically false, morally condemnable, socially unjust.

The use of the term ‘race’, prevalent in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, was abandoned due to its lack of scientific support and was used by political and cultural reasons to serve as a supposed justification or excuse for genocide and acts of discrimination. “

THE RIGHT TO BE

You’ll knock down a tree, two, three, four. But you won’t kill its roots.
There are always some roots and trees that are saved from which will sprout others.

You’ll Enclose a bird, two, three, four.
But you won’t shut up its singing.

And there are two like the air: hope and love.
The memory of the elderly is the actual writing.

It Could be heard in the countryside and cities, how the chirping of birds, and how the sunshine.
Was trying to be stopped by the tyrant but could not: it was in his own eyes, in his ears.

If he closed his eyes, he would heard it, if he wanted to hear, he would see it.

David Zacharias
Toba language teacher