Eduardo Dimas has died

By
Manuel Alberto Ramy                                                       Read Spanish Version

The
chair is empty. No fingers race over the keyboard; no cigarette butts
issue smoke from an edge of the ashtray. The two dogs lie on the
living-room floor and their eyes and noses search fruitlessly for
their owner, who always rose very early. Eduardo Dimas, sharp analyst
of international politics, died late Friday, unable to survive two
cardiac arrests.

Many
will talk about Dimas’ professional merit and virtues. Counter to his
authentic humility (I picture him telling me "I prefer to leave
as I came, one more" of the humans born in 1941), I will write a
very brief note about Eduardo, my friend.

Loyal,
sincere, unselfish (a regular contributor to Progreso Semanal and
Radio Progreso Alternativa, he was with us from the start and to the
end), open to discrepant opinions and therefore impassioned about an
enriching dialogue, he never boasted of his huge knowledge of global
and regional geopolitics to disqualify his interlocutor. I lovingly
recall the many occasions on which we did not coincide on certain
appreciations about Latin American topics. He would allow me to make
my argument and, as I finished my speech, he would tell me, "Fine,
but you’ve forgotten this detail, which is fundamental," and
then develop his opinion. On other occasions, he was capable of
acknowledging that he had missed "that little detail" and
allowed that I was right.

Eduardo
convinced others — or was convinced by others — through
rationality, a rare virtue he applied to every area of life. He never
practiced dogmatism but he did cling to his principles, among them,
not following any script.

If
a friend, neighbor or anyone else asked him to help on any matter,
whether to contact a specialist physician or to lend his car, he
never hesitated before saying yes. He could be counted on. I speak
from personal experience.

I
could share multiple examples of my friendship with Eduardo, but I
seem to hear him say, red-faced, "Never mind, monuments can be
toppled" and, quoting the Bible, remind me that we are dust and
to dust must return.

So,
in ashes, because he chose to be cremated, he will return to Santa
Cruz del Norte, his native town, between the sea and some discreet
hill. He will be a rare and rich fertilizer. I am grateful for his
friendship and teachings, especially his incorruptible personal
integrity.

To
his wife, children and other relatives I send my embrace and the
sorrow of the members of Progreso Semanal/Weekly and Radio Progreso
Alternativa. I hope the computer won’t remain idle. His 3-year-old
grandson, who borrowed his chair and monopolized his time, will tap
on the keyboard in the invisible presence of his proud grandfather.