Today is the 33rd anniversary of the most recent military coup in Argentina. It was brutal, and amongst other things 30,000 Argentine citizens were “disappeared.” In other words, secretly tortured and killed in basements, thrown out of airplanes, etc.

Dictators are obviously not directly elected by the people, but they still depend on the support of the public. If they are too unpopular, they can be overthrown themselves or otherwise lose power. The last Argentine dictatorship fell out of favor for a declining economy and, amongst other things, unsuccessfully waging war on Great Britain to take back control of the Malvinas (aka Falkland Islands).

Everyone once in a while I see evidence of how a dictatorship was possible here, or how one could be tolerated by the mainstream public. I have seen recorded interviews of people who truly believed back in those days that the military junta was doing what was in the best interest of the Argentine people while protecting their way of life from communists (in a chillingly way similar to how US President G.W. Bush was given such unchecked authority in the “war against terrorism”). Even some people who had their own family members “arrested” somehow believed the government was working in their best interests.

Today in Buenos Aires I cross paths with porteños (residents of Buenos Aires) of all types. Many have a great humor and an approach to life that’s very humane. I know people who struggle working 60 hours a week at minimal pay but still manage to savor life a bit and relate to others with such warmth.

On the other hand, I also see people who are extremely concerned about order and security. I have lived in a few major cities, but nowhere are there people so bent out of shape about it as many porteños are. Buenos Aires has seen an increase in crime in recent years due mostly to economic problems. But for a large city it still has a relatively low rate of violent crime, lower than most large US cities. Pickpockets are a threat, but getting stabbed or shot is not.

Even so, crowds have lately marched against crime, demanding what I am not sure, but they are very upset about “la inseguridad” (the lack of security) and want more done about it. This is while the country is facing its affects of the international economic crisis. I would think unemployment and children starving would be higher on the list. I also wonder how they would feel about a return to order under a dictatorship?

Television coverage may help form this attitude. For example today watching a very traditional sensational channel, Cronica, that plays in many cafes and homes too when one’s bored. It was broadcasting a long loop of coverage of a 14-year-old girl was killed by a brick. The brick was reported to be thrown by a neighbor, and the entire grieving family grieves before the interviewer, demanding “justice” of the eye-for-an-eye sort. Footage of the police wrapping and carrying away the corpse is not skimped on either.

That story was followed by also-thorough coverage of politically fiery graffiti painted on the outside walls at the home of the daughter of an important politician. Fortunately the daughter was safe inside her very typical middle-class home with its gated windows and gated front yard.

I also see less visible examples of this big concern for security. For example the building where I live is typical, such that you need a key to leave. Actually, the key would not be needed, as the door to the street locks automatically when you leave, but my neighbors complain whenever I leave it unlocked. It is vulnerable if someone breaks the glass, reaches inside, and then breaks open your locked apartment door. (Many lock their apartment doors with a key while they sleep.) I admit that is a risk in not locking the front door with the key, but what about the risk of a fire where you are choking on the smoke and can’t get the door unlocked with the correct key? “You die, I guess” answered my neighbor, but she still prefers to protect against the crime danger over the fire danger.