Don’t cry for my Friday night video

What other possible video fits this weekend, the 60th anniversary of the death (25 July 1952) one of only Latin American political figure to ever rate a musical?

Eva Duarte Perón 7 May 1919 – 25 July 1952

I’ve long thought Eva Peron was in some ways a female Ronald Reagan…  or Reagan a male version of Eva:  both were actors turned politician whose ardent nationalism and appeal to blue-collar populism  has been claimed by politicians of often widely divergent political views as their true political heirs.

Others compare her to Hugo Chavez, I suppose simply because they’re both Latin Americans, and excellent public speakers.  Chavez himself often mentions Eva in his speeches, as a fighter for the rights of the working class and the poor (which was genuine).

But when you come down to it, there never was anyone like Eva Perón.  Other women throughout history have been the power behind the throne, and other women have held power as the wives or daughters of leaders.  Or, simply by appealing to glitz and glamour, were taken seriously by their nation’s people.  Evita, in some ways was all that… but the very young  second wife of Juan Perón was the one who used what she was given to not just become a populist nationalist leader in her own right, but to pave the way for Latin American women of whatever political persuasion, to openly  seek to lead their countries and social movements, without depending on a father, a husband, glitz or glamour.

Let Eva be Eva… Paloma San Basilio, with “No llores por mi Argentina”