The Social Setting 109Chileans, pointing out that there is a great difference between
the militaristic policies of various Chilean governments and
the Chilean people. In the United States, where distinctions
between different Latins are blurred, I have witnessed great
solidarity between Chileans and Bolivians.
Today, a large portion of the cheap contraband that makes
its way to Bolivian outdoor markets comes from Chile. The
same Bolivian who makes a disparaging remark about
the Chileans may, at that very moment, be drinking a fi ne
Chilean wine.
We have now visited part of the landscape of social
customs, within a broader historical context. The next step
is to settle in.