With great expectation and emotion, the renowned writer and lawyer Enrique Minetti presented his work “My meeting with Perón” at the 48th Edition of the Book Fair, an autobiography that recounts his meeting with the Argentine political leader and the horrors experienced during the dictatorship.
One of the most important cultural events in the world witnessed the launch of this testimonial work, where Minetti from Viedma took the opportunity to claim the importance of keeping historical memory alive, especially among new generations who are unaware of the aberrant events that took place in those dark years.
“On this occasion I had to go as an author, invited by the publisher that published my book and I accepted because it seemed very valuable to me to be there this year because I considered it as a testimonial act for two reasons. One because it is an autobiography, despite as it says “I know that this genre does not exist because the man lies, I can assure you that what I say is absolutely true, it was what happened. At least I can say that it is the memory of what really happened,” he told NoticiasNet.
In a context where there is a denial of culture and art, Minetti found in the presentation of his book an opportunity to resist and fight against this insane discourse that attacks the most fundamental values of society. Thus, his participation in the Book Fair was an act of vindication of reading, culture and knowledge as essential pillars for the construction of a more just society.
During the presentation, the writer was able to meet up with old friends who accompanied him in the strike of the company Hierro Patagónico Sociedad Anónima Minera (HiPASAM) in 1975, where he defended the miners in an act of deep commitment and solidarity. He was also accompanied by his family, which meant great satisfaction and compensation for the suffering he went through while writing his book.
It was not easy for Minetti to remember those painful episodes that marked his life, but he considers that the writing of this book was like a closing of the cycle, a way to keep the memory alive and to vindicate the dignified practice of the legal profession that, in In his case, he suffered an illegal detention while defending the protest detainees in HiPASAM.
“It is doubly testimonial because, beyond the interview with Perón, which is a very notable event, there are also the horror events that I experienced. Being able to tell all this and write it is very valuable, because not everyone knows these events. The New generations do not know it and it is important that what happened is known so that it never happens again, which is why recovery and keeping alive the historical memory of these aberrant events is essential. That would be the first reason why I wanted to be there.” , he recalled during the talk.
“The second motivation would be the historical, but also present, circumstance that we are experiencing. In the face of a denialist discourse and praxis that overwhelms everything that is art, culture, books, universities, something that seems insane and I never believed I experienced. a similar situation. For all this I understood it as an act of vindication to be present at this moment, because in some way we have to take note of these events and humbly resist in the way that one can. The people are making it known with the demonstrations that are taking place. giving, that’s why that was my small contribution,” he added.
With his presentation at the Book Fair, Minetti managed to transcend the literary space and raise awareness about the painful events of Argentine history. It is through testimonies like yours that it is possible to prevent these events from being repeated, demonstrating the transformative power that literature has in society.
The work “My meeting with Perón” is positioned as essential reading for those who wish to know and reflect on one of the darkest periods in Argentine history, as well as for those who seek to understand the importance of commitment and solidarity in times of adversity.
