Portal de Periódicos da CAPES

Engagement et mémoire

2005; La contemporaine; Volume: 80; Issue: 1 Linguagem: Inglês

10.3406/mat.2005.1061

1952-4226

Maria De Lourde Pintasilgo,

Cultural Identity and Heritage

In this article, which appeared in the review Visão (22/ 4/ 2005), just on the eve of the date of the commemoration of the thirtieth anniversary of the Carnation Revolution in Portugal (25/ 4/ 74), Maria de Lourdes Pintasilgo discusses the role of memory in the way we look at history. She also emphasises the links which are created between memory and the imagination, a process which also applies to the 1974 Revolution. However, various episodes, forgotten events or different experiences must not allow us to forget the names of Marcello Caetano, António de Spínola and Salgueiro Maia. History is not only a linear sequence of events, blind to great changes in the world, such as dehumanisation or the hegemonic power of money in the world economy. The 25th April gave the Portuguese both a reference and a founding text. The Revolution created a current of energy and hope. Faced by the threat of forgetfulness, only the work of memory can maintain our links with this dream of a future characterised by dignity.