Twists and turns and unexpected events are part of the experience of being human. Many of these unexpected happenings have profound consequences on our lives — some are welcome and joyful, some tragic and traumatic.
Fifty years ago, my life was profoundly changed by an unforeseen and unwelcome event. I was living in Santiago, the capital of Chile, having arrived in September 1970 on the occasion of the election of Salvador Allende, a Socialist elected with a plurality of the votes.
Unbeknownst to me at the time, his election triggered a conspiracy in President Richard Nixon’s Oval Office. Urgent meetings were organized, as Allende’s election was considered a looming threat to U.S. national security in the midst of the Cold War. Decisions were made to take immediate steps: first to prevent Allende’s confirmation by the Chilean Congress and, when that failed, to…
