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Eduardo Galeano: The Right to Bravery

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In 1816 the government in Buenos Aires bestowed the rank of lieutenant colonel on Juana Azurduy “in virtue of her manly efforts.”

She led the guerrillas who took Cerro Potosí from the Spaniards in the war of independence.

War was men’s business and women were not allowed to horn in, yet male officers could not help but admire “the virile courage of this woman.”

After many miles on horseback, when the war had already killed her husband and five of her six children, Juana also lost her life. She died in poverty, poor even among the poor, and was buried in a common grave.

Nearly two centuries later, the Argentine government, now led by a woman, promoted her to the rank of general, “in homage to her womanly bravery.”

Copyright 2015 Eduardo Galeano. Reprinted by permission of TomDispatch.

Excerpted from Eduardo Galeano’s Children of the Days: A Calendar of Human History published by Nation Books.

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— Juana Azurduy (July 12, 1780 or 1781 – May 25, 1862)


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2 comments on “Eduardo Galeano: The Right to Bravery

  1. sharondoubiago
    April 22, 2015
    sharondoubiago's avatar

    Please please send me your mailing address. I want to send you my new book. I believe you will appreciate it. Thank you  (oh, I have long loved Galeano, gracias for this)  Love Sharon Doubiago    From: Vox Populi To: sharondoubiago@yahoo.com Sent: Wednesday, April 22, 2015 2:01 AM Subject: [New post] Eduardo Galeano: The Right to Bravery #yiv2870626246 a:hover {color:red;}#yiv2870626246 a {text-decoration:none;color:#0088cc;}#yiv2870626246 a.yiv2870626246primaryactionlink:link, #yiv2870626246 a.yiv2870626246primaryactionlink:visited {background-color:#2585B2;color:#fff;}#yiv2870626246 a.yiv2870626246primaryactionlink:hover, #yiv2870626246 a.yiv2870626246primaryactionlink:active {background-color:#11729E;color:#fff;}#yiv2870626246 WordPress.com | Vox Populi posted: “.In 1816 the government in Buenos Aires bestowed the rank of lieutenant colonel on Juana Azurduy “in virtue of her manly efforts.”She led the guerrillas who took Cerro Potosí from the Spaniards in the war of independence.War was men’s business” | |

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    • Vox Populi
      April 22, 2015
      Vox Populi's avatar

      Hi Sharon! I’ve sent you an email with my mailing address. I’d love to see your new book!

      Like

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