La Plata, the capital city of Buenos Aires Province, has just turned 143 years old. It’s not only “The City of Diagonals,” but also a University City. Jacaranda trees in full lavender bloom and newly graduated college students make it even more attractive in November. It’s really moving to watch all those loud and cheerful youngsters – who have become engineers, architects, scientists, physicians, dentists, researchers, lawyers, accountants, you name it , doused with messy stuff (flour, eggs,glitter, paint), dressed in rags or almost naked, riding in open car trunks, with their drivers madly sounding their horns. They’ve made it and they celebrate it. After years of hard work, they’ve reached their goals. They are professionals now. The question is: will they be able to find a good job here, or will they feel forced to move to a foreign country in search of better career opportunities? Most of us have taken a son, daughter, niece, nephew or grandchild to Ezeiza International Airport, after they’ve decided to try their luck abroad. Thus, Argentina suffers a great loss, because those people constitute a precious, invaluable asset, due to their knowledge, skills, training and creativity. We can’t afford to do without them. Those who govern us – whatever their ideology – must make it possible for them to stay here, at home, and live off their professions. They owe it to them, to all of us.
Buenos Aires Times, November 22, 2025