Blas Raventos
Journalism student
Age: 25
Paternal

Q: What made you decide to study journalism?

Well both my parents are journalists. Growing up in my home there were always a lot of journalists and never-ending political discussions. And I got involved because sometime the people around would even ask my opinion. In other homes they discuss football or other topics, but I already had this background, so I thought it would be natural to study it.

• What do you enjoy about journalism?

I like to communicate and having the chance to get a 2nd and 3rd look at a topic to get a deeper insight— in everyday life you don’t often get that luxury.

• So what do you think of the current government this bicentennial year?

After Menem this is the most corrupt government in Argentina ever. They have a way of making false promises, dividing the people and in the end not providing anything to anybody. I might change my mind if they somehow asked for an apology from the people like President Nixon did in the US. If Menem hadn’t existed I never would have thought of pardoning the Kirchners. Since the last election they’re losing their grip though, everything that goes around comes around.

• What do you do in your free time?

I like to ride my bike around and I also make fresh squeezed juices.

• So what do you do on Saturday nights?

I eat a lot.

• Do you have a girlfriend?

No, I don’t have much opportunity to meet girls because I don’t go out to nightclubs. I don’t drink or do drugs. I like to do things during the day. I also live with my parents and I get along with them so I don’t mind my situation.

• What about the girls in school?

I don’t get along well with the girls in school. The girls around my age are very feminist and difficult to deal with.

• What do you mean?

They just say things that are absurd. I was in a university class with twenty women and myself and they completely and constantly discounted my opinion. The girls my age are just too feminist and inflexible, maybe in a few years they’ll mellow out. Something I heard once sums it up: men are chauvinist but women are prejudiced. I say this, but my mom is a feminist.

• Who would you consider being the face of feminism in Argentina?

Well it all started with Evita and the female vote.

• What book are you reading now?

In Cold Blood, by Truman Capote.

• What’s your favorite book of all time?

A Widow for One Year, by John Irving.

• Do you have any special talent that no one knows about?

I can wiggle my ears. See?