[Beagle On Stage]

Tim Rice loved her and ALW thought she was a "w"itch. What is your take on the Rainbow of Argentina?

[Dustin]

I would vote, but there's no in between. She had her good, but she also had her bad. However, everyone does, it just depends on how you live your life and make choices between the two. She was on public display, so we had the opportunity of seeing her good and bad and their results.

Dustin

[ChingLing]

I think she was a person, just like everyone else, and was just as imperfect as everyone else. She made choices, possibly wrong ones, but influenced so many people. She definitely made an impact, though I'm not sure if it was good or bad.

~Jenny

[Ronnette]

I think that, though she helped herself a lot, and took advantage of a lot of ppl, she also helped a lot of other people. So there's the yin and yang type of thing -- everyone's got it, y'know? Nobody's all bad or perfect.

[vetsinger]

I think you are all right. And you have to think about the time she lived in. If she hadn't done the "bad" things she did, how should she get where she was at the end of her career? I think she did much for emancipation and improving women's rights.

[SargentIV]

I think she started out wrong but in the end corrected herself and went a good way and changed a country and its people.

In a loose way, I view her impact as the one Jackie Kennedy had and the US. Now Jackie never ran around before becoming First Lady but when she was First Lady she really impacted the country and left a definate impression.

[Griffin]

I once read a biography of Eva. After her death, there was some kind of anti-peronisme in Argentina, so they also didn't like Eva. The musical was influenced a bit by that.
For example, it is only known by fact that Magaldi helped Eva when she started in Buenos Aires, but not about a love affair between them.

[Luke]

I read quite a bit about her when I did evita a few years back. I think she is like most people and flawed its just that her flaws were magnified for the situation she was put it. I think she did care about the common people but I dont know if she cared about them more than herself.

[Dustin]

. . .or those that simply disappeared!

Dustin

[BaldGuy]

The woman, or the character in the musical? Either way, not enough choices in this poll. Misunderstood by whom? Those who loved her? Hated her? Both?

[HerMajesty]

I agree with everyone, it's not an easy one to call. As Che is our narrator I think for the most part we are supposed to follow his view - ie. Eva as manipulator/power hungry etc. but I think her death is the turning point. After her death we are prompted to question exactly who was doing the manipulating and I think this sheds a different light on her character.

Did anyone else think the portrayal of Eva in the movie was completely different to on stage. I think she's much more the victim in the movie, especially in the Magaldi affair, and her subsequent love affairs.

[RosemaryFinch]

She was an incredibly powerful person, who did some great things, and some terrible things. Even today, there is still some anti-Peron feelings in Argentina, because of some of the things the regime did. But as a person, I don't think most of us an make an accurate judgment, most people are very different in the light of a camera than they are in their homes.

[milady05]

I don't think that she was presented, in the movie, as a victim in her love affairs; I interpreted them as the calculated moves of a very ambitious woman. Actually, I've only seen the movie (I know! I know!) but the soundtrack I have is that of the stage musical, and I've got to say that while both have their merits (and demerits) I like the movie better.
The stage version seems to imply that Eva and Peron married solely to cement a political alliance. The movie, on the other hand, suggests that while they both knew that their relationship was a political-social advantage to them both, that they did love each other.

As for the question, I have to second (and third, and fourth) everyone else. :0)

[HerMajesty]

Believe me, the stage version is very different. I've seen it three times on stage and Eva was very much the manipulator each time. Although her later love affairs appear calculated in the movie, the whole lot of them do on stage. There's also that whole think in "And the Money Kept Rolling In (and Out)" about her embezzlement of the funds with the "Never an account in the name of Eva Peron" bit and the whole thing about the Swedish bank, which was true. On stage she is portrayed as a bit of a bitch, especially at that moment. In one production she went round members of the aristocracy literally removing their jewellery for her her fund! And you're right, the love thing is secondary on the stage.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not anti-Eva, in fact, I really like her and am truly fascinated by her as a character, her portrayal is one of the most 'real' I've ever seen in a musical, but her portrayal in the movie is very, very different from the stage.

[milady05]

[quote="HerMajesty"]In one production she went round members of the aristocracy literally removing their jewellery for her her fund! [/quote]


that's great.

[quote="HerMajesty"]Believe me, the stage version is very different.[/quote] Yeah, I hear that! I really need to go see it on Broadway sometime. I'm a Chicago gal, though, and I haven't ever been to NYC- so *when* I see Evita on the stage remains to be seen. Although I do have some time in the fall.... :0)

[GlamorousGriz]

I think that she was a wonderful person. She built hospitals, she gave the poor homes, food, and clothing... she gave them jobs.... the gave them hope... and she gave many of them their lives back. She serves as matron of honor at over 1,800 weddings... she did anything and everything for her people. That's why even though she hasn't been officially cannonized, she might as well be, because to thousands of people, shewas their Santa Evita.

At the time that the movie was filmed, Madonna was going through a time in her life when she had done everything she could to stun the world (and succeeded) and she now wanted to change her image... a bit more weak, perhaps... a bit more demure... so she herself lightened up the character of eva to suit her personal needs. She felt that if she portrayed Eva as the strong character that was written, her audience wouldn't think that it was her, Madonna, anymore. Director Alan Parker told her that that was the whole idea- she was Eva, not Madonna... but Madonna didn't care and went ahead and soften the role and molded it to her personal needs.

Jackie Kennedy??? Oy... her and Onassis... and poor Maria Callas... grieving for the fact that she was loosing her beloved Ari.

All right. I'll admit that maybe Eva wasn't completely a "pure" person... (not talking about sex here)... but think about it- if you're a nobody and you're ambitious, you've got to rise out of that nothingness one way or another..... to quote Maria Callas, "If I have stepped on some people at times because I am at the top, it couldn't be helped. What should I do if someone gets hurt ... retire?". She's right... and if Eva, and people in general, were considerate of
everybody's feelings, you'd never get anywhere. I'm not saying you have to trample over everybody, but face it- not everyone is going to agree with you and with what you want or what you're trying to do... so screw them... and if they don't like it, tough luck.

Because Eva did what she did, she bettered the lives of thousands of descamisados. The thing is, if somebody only watched the movie or sees the musical, they're only getting bits and pieces of her story. You've got to dig deep to find the raisons d'etre.

~E

[RainbowJude]

[GlamorousGriz]

She did not destroy the entire economy of Argentina.

[operafantomet]

Allright, she was a bitch - but make her a WONDERFUL bitch! (Tim Rice to ALW)

[Broadwayman33]

im in the show and i love it.......im in the male company.....and ima tango dancer........im also a male dresser....omgosh i love the show........I LOVE OH WHAT A CIRCIUS!!!!!!!!!


U GUYS SHOULD COME SEE IT......WE HAVE GREAT PRINCIPLES....

IF ANYONE LIVES IN PA.....U SHOULD COME SE IT..........EMAIL ME FOR TICKET INFO!!!!!!!!!


!~Broadwayman33~!

[Mark Cohen]

[operafantomet]

[xAcrylicDramax]

She is my idol. It is my goal to work in show biz (stage though hehe) then move onto politics perhaps. I hope I can make as much an influence as she did.

[Fontinau]

[Jaded Mandarin]

I find many of the comments on this thread chilling, not to mention baffling...

I never thought anyone in their right mind could feel sympathetic towards Eva Peron after viewing the Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice's musical - which I always felt was the most effectively damning portrait of the Peronist regime there was, Alan Parker's film doubly so.

Eva Peron was an opportunist who slept her way to the top of the Argentine social ladder and became the smiling human face of fascism in Argentina. She swindled her poor "shirtless ones" like a real pro - I'm with Fontinau 110%.

What is there to admire in "Santa Evita", I'd like to know?

[MakinARun4Broadway]

Eva Peron was the most fantastic person that could have ever lived in this world. She had morals and standards and let nothing get in the way. She served her people to the best that she could, having a profound impact on a lot of people. Her political tolerance for social unjustices made her the person that we know. She was given a lot to handle, and did so very well.

I am a history major and have studies Eva and the influence she has had. I have read 6 different books on her, giving me the impression that she was loved my many but hated by more because of where she came from. Just because someone is a lower class person that doesn't mean that their heart doesn't have the intentions that are needed to influence a country. To win over so many people, that alone gives me the impression that she had a heart of gold

~Scott

[La Boheme]

First of all - well said Fontinau, I completely agree. 'Oh What A Circus...'

MakinARun4Broadway - I have also studied Eva Peron, (including a term paper which had a full biography of over 30 books and articles - 6 books does not a study make, IMO. Especially 6 obviously biased books, if this is the impression you have taken from them) and find it hard to believe that you could have done the same without at least gaining an appreciation for the other argument. Yes, Eva did do some good things for Argentina, and she is held in high regard by many, but one simply cannot ignore the not so nice aspects of her character - they are, blatantly, there.

[La Boheme]

And Jaded Mandarin as well, skipped over your post first time through....chilling indeed.

[MakinARun4Broadway]

Actually my degree that I have is with an emphasize on South American culture and my senior thesis paper was on Era Peron.

I understand both sides of the arguement but for those of you that think that the movie and the show by ALW and Tim Rice are true to her life are way wrong...The ignorance is a bliss. No one seems to want to realize that she saved the country from hell....by the upper class...Go down the Buenos Aires and they will speak highly of Eva!

Scott

[La Boheme]

I've never seen the show or the movie.

If you'd read my post completely you would have seen that my opinion was based on critical study of Eva.

You read 6 books for your senior thesis? What university is this? freedegreescheapandeasy.com?

She did not save the country from hell...read the news lately? Seen whats been happening in Argentina? Not exactly my definition of heaven.

I think you're the one whos living in blissful ignorance my friend.

[Fontinau]

[La Boheme]

*does happy dance because Fontinau is brilliant and on her side, realizes she looks a bit silly, so stops, looks round sheepishly and sneaks away...*

[Fantine]

I don't think she was esentially good... She and her husband were only keeping the people under their thumb.

[Beagle On Stage]

I started this poll about two years ago and it's always fun to see it come back every now and then.

[SlayerRob]

I must say it's rather stupid to make a poll with only one option.

[SlayerRob]

[SlayerRob]

[SlayerRob]

[SlayerRob]

[SlayerRob]

[SlayerRob]

[Fontinau]

[SlayerRob]

[La Boheme]

If you liked this one, go and find the liberal vs. conservative thread in the misc forum....that was a fun one.

[SlayerRob]

[mananegra]

I think you would like to have an opinion of an argentine, well here it is. I am from argentina, I loved the musical and the film, but some people in my country dont because they hated Peron and they hated Evita principally because they thought that she stole money of the rich people and gave it to the poor. There were so many roumors about what happened, and some people thought that Evita was a really bad influence for the government of Peron. I dont like to create too much trouble on this but thats my opinion because my family had lived that moment.
Myself I love the musical, I sang three times dont cry for me argentina and one of them was a biggest dream because I sang it for more than a 100 people ina festival here in school. I am studying in the US right now, in two weeks im going back.
you all take care!

[SlayerRob]

what do you mean by "influence"? I would certainly think those who disliked Eva and Juan to LIKE the musical, because despite the certain sympathetic natures Tim Rice gave her, she was portrayed as way too inwardly focused and selfish and showed her as one who used her descamisados as a tool for political power rather than actual care.

[mananegra]

What I mean by influence is that Evita was hated by some many people in my country because she was so false, she seem to care about the people while the only thing she wanted was power as you well said. If you dont understand what I am saying listen to the song Oh what a circus, and youll understand a little bit better what I am talking about. The whole government of Peron and Evita was just A CIRCUS!! but that doesnt mean that I dont like the musical neither the movie, and those people who loved the movie were the ones that dont felt anything about Peron neither Evita. If you want to email me so I can tell you something more about it do so, and you would say that people that dont like Eva dislike the movie and musical.
I hope this clear up what I said on my previous post.

mananegra@yahoo.com.ar

[SlayerRob]

[Fontinau]

Bloody language barrier.

[Dustin]

[SlayerRob]

Ich bin ein Student. Deine Mutter ist eine Tauben!

[Fontinau]

[mananegra]

excuse me but english is my second language it doesn't have to be perfect, I am happy they way it is, at least i can speak it and most important I can have a conversation with people.
stay with your english that is great!

[Dustin]

No offense, it just reminded me of teaching. Fontinau is correct, your English is conversational and understandable. . .so no problem.

[SlayerRob]

[hynohtz]

break it up ... break it up .
In continuing with the topic ...

I am playing her now and through all the research I have done Im going to go with what Patti LuPone says on her website.

She was an opportunist, one of the best at that.
She made due with what she had at any time of her life.
She had a real and true love for her people and started to love them more than herself later on in life.
IF she had lived longer she would have seen the Country in great turmoil and debt.
I hate to say it but she died a wonderful legend and some would consider her a saint.
She may think that her death was untimley but everything happens for a reason.
Her greatest fear was being forgotten when death comes.

I dont thing shell EVER have to worry about that

[Megan the Phantom Girlie]

In my opinion- and I know that I am a relative newbie and that makes me "ordinary, unimportant"... okay, feel free to smack me for that- Eva Peron was a selfish and materialistic woman, but not a malicious one. Any harm she caused was not intentional.

[Fontinau]

[hynohtz]

[Megan the Phantom Girlie]

[Quique]

I have some questions for all of you......

A.) What's in the history books on Eva?????

B.) Does it say she was an opportunistic whore?

C.) Does it state she was definitely a saint?

D.) Or does it state something in between, without ever really being clear?

BINGO! if you selected "D", you're right on!

Evita is a victim of the evil press, specifically the British. They have always been against her, from day one. Tim Rice first came to know about her in a BRITISH radio documentary which clearly asked the question if whether she were a sinner or saint. This element was what made Tim even consider a musical on Eva Peron.

Sir Andrew Lloyd Webber uses the same format he uses in Evita, in his earlier work of "Jesus Christ Superstar". Webber just loves to question everything, he does so through Judas and Che.

Thousands and thousands of years of records and believers is the only reason "Superstar" isn't another Evita, with a narrator who is basically there to dissect the poor protagonist and tear him/her apart for the sake of making a musical work, making it interesting and intriguing.

Lloyd Webber uses the same format so many times, it's becoming wearing.

No credible source has ever revealed Eva to be a true bitch. What on earth do these people want a dirt-poor girl from a small pueblo to do? It's almost outrageous the accusations she has faced even after her death. She has definitely rolled in her grave more than once, the poor rotten corpse, hehe.

If I were dirt-poor and a girl, using a dirty rotten pervert to advance myself wouldn't be the worst thing in the world. Especially with the lack of opportunity and descrimination the poor has always historically faced and dealt with. I respect her for using these men, who were in turn using her (remember she was a kid) for perverted child sex. Come on now, give a teen-ager a bit more credit. If we called every teen-ager and young adult a whore for using the very vermin of society to get ahead, then we would have covered most of Hollywood and the world's governments.

If she were rich and one of those snotty British or Argentine socialites, it would have been a case of a spoiled brat. She lived in a damn shack for God's sake, people are so cruel to her.

The most outrageous thing of all are the accusations of her intentions after she went into la casa rosada. It is clearly documented that she was indeed very much in love with Peron, Peron was the one who treated her like crap and used HER for his own advancement. Everyone especially the British of the day, had the nerve to undermine an entire nation. Why? Simply because they are viewed upon as ignorant and it was the poor, remember? The poor has no position in society and their opinions are dirt. They are gullible and religiously obsessed. They are also Latin and dumb. That's the only reason the nation of Argentina and their love for Evita is simply thrown out the window, as a British produced musical taints the name of one of the century's most powerful, noble women.

[Megan the Phantom Girlie]

Very well-thought out post, Quique!

Here is my history textbook on Eva:

Peron was helped greatly by his glamorous wife, Eva Duarte Peron. She had risen from poverty to fame as an actress. She used her position as Peron's chief aide and advisor to help the poor. She once said:

"I, a humble woman of the people, understood that it was my duty to take my place with the workers, with the decamisados."

She had clinics and child-care centers built and gave money to the sick and unemployed. To secure more votes for her husband, she helped women gain the right to vote. At the same time, she lined her own pockets and lived an extravagant lifestyle. Still, the decamisados adored their "Evita". "You, too, will have clothes as rich as mine," she promised the poor women of Argentina.

That seemed a fairly balanced portrayal, eh?

[Dustin]

[Quique]

She was human, she made mistakes.

But some say those mistakes are evil, calculated and pre-meditated plans for the undertaking of a corrupt authoritarian role masked by good deeds.

If that is the case, then George W. Bush is the modern-day Evita.

[Dustin]

No argument for that statement.

[Fontinau]

[Quique]

Hmmm, I don't know about getting pointer's from the "Eva/Juan" one, but I wouldn't doubt Mr. Karl Rove extracting from Juan Peron's playbook.

Firm shirm, his past organization was no better than the mafia. True, he had a knack for his "advisory" skills, but I also smell a rat, hehehe.

But in the case of "Duh-bya", I think it's a good thing for us all that he has someone else doing his thinking for him. ANYONE but him! Well, at least until we elect a real leader, come November, bearing brains and all that good stuff.

[Fontinau]

[Quique]

He's the best choice for me.

But the detailed outlining of his plans and promises and constant focus on Bush's mistakes, worries me.

I just don't trust politicians anymore, when was the last time we had a leader who truly cared for the nation? It's all about self-interest.

[Dustin]

[Quique]

Amen!

[Fontinau]

[Megan the Phantom Girlie]

I love having a place to go and debate politics without people judging me for who I am and what I look like. Too bad we're all stuck in late 40's Argentina.

[Quique]

Yeah, I know it seems we are all basing modern politics on Eva's Argentina, but we're not. Since the legend of Eva Peron has a lot to do with politics, we just got a bit off topic, that's all.

Anyway, "Fontinau" I'm with you, and that's why Kerry worries me. Not like it's causing me an ulcer or anything like that, hehe. I'm not usually one who even discusses politics, but this year's race has caught my attention. I also am tired of seeing so much violence, senseless death and scandal. That has naturally made me notice this year's run for the White House, more than ever before.

I'm actually more focused on promoting the Latin vote. We have been called "The Sleeping Giant", due to low Hispanic voter turn-out. I'm definitely going to look into getting involved and doing my part to make this election one that will have a large Hispanic voter turn-out. As long as I can help the turn-out, by merely an additional single vote, it'll be worth it. Though, on a recent news report, they said the Latin voter turn-out has been steadily increasing over the last few years.

I honestly don't know why it's so low time and time again. It's not as simple as laziness or lack of American pride, I think the high corruption in Latin American politics has made most Latins turn resentful towards the whole process. I hope things are different this election, as we can make a big difference on the turn-out.

Once the Hispanic vote gains value in turn-out, maybe more of my communities needs will be heard.

Sorry for getting even more off topic (heehee). I tend to write whatever is on my mind at the moment, hehehe.

I'm still voting for Kerry, even if he looks too good to be true.

[Megan the Phantom Girlie]

Quique, I'm liking you more and more.

[Quique]

((Tries to figure out if "Megan the Phantom Girlie" was being sarcastic or friendly. Suddenly spots the little smiley face she posted at the end of her post, he assumes she is friendly, heehee.))

[SlayerRob]

[Satine]

Has anyone read the book about Hilary Clinton that just came out? I believe it was titled "The American Evita" or something of the sort...I would be very interested to see what people thought of it in comparison to Eva.

I could write sooooo much on this topic, but much has already been said. I've come to the boards too late...lol. But in conclusion, I believe there was a ying-yang balance to Eva, much like there is to all. As Anne Frank once said, "In spite of everything, I still believe that people are really good at heart." Eva was a woman driven by her ambitions and gut-wrenching need to break free from her desolate background. Not making excuses for her...she DID make some bad choices (especially involving the Nazi regime)..but I still believe her to be a good person who made bad choices and put herself first many times.

[LesMisForever]

Hello

I haven't read all the posts. I read only the first, and last page. So, i apologise if i am repeating what has been said.

I haven't seen the show on stage, but i have the highlight with Elaine Page, and David Essex. I have seen the movie, but only when they put it on TV.

Vocally, i think there is no comparisson...Page and Essex are by lightning years better than Madonna and Banderas. I thought the movie was more sympathetic to Eva, but i am not surprised by that.

As for what i think of Eva...well, as many said, she had her good, and bad sides. On the whole, i think she was better than others in her position. She has done some really good things, but she made bad things as well.

I am actually sympathetic with her early life, even her manipulations to get to the top one can understand. But, i am not willing to turn a blind eye to some of her deeds once she was in power with her husband.

Either way, i think it is an excellent musical...my favourite ALW show.


..... after reading Enrique's post i like to add this:

I think Enrique is quite right about her using those men...most, if not all, of these men deserved to be used.
I really don't have enough information about her relationship with Peron in terms of love, but i also think that he benefited great deal from her. In other words...with her charisma she could probably helped anyone to power...while he probably couldn't get power without her.

But, i also think that one must point out her mistakes clearly. Some were bad ones. Anyway...as most of you said...She wasn't neither a very bad, nor a very good person.

A final word: i would go 60%/40% in her favour.

[Amber]

I rather like Eva Peron as a person. Even despite the corruption. Think of her childhood. She probably had an underlying inferiority complex as a result of being labeled and avoided because of her family and the fact that she was a child born out of wedlock. She probably had a NEED to do whatever it took to make people love her and see her for HER, not her family circumstance. However, her constant need for power probably took her from her original motives. At least the 'descamisados' were happy for the most part during her reign.

Well, my answer makes sense to me.

[Griffin]

[jcstar]

I love Eva Peron.

She was from a lower class family ans shuinned by her "fathers" family... the misdle class. When she was an actress, sh was shunned by the other actresses. Eva actually asked one actress to have lunch with her and the actress retorted "I'd rather eat with my own class, thank you very much."

There were other instances like this.

When Peron came to power, Eva took it upon herself to get revenge on those who shunned her in the past. I say she had every right to do that. She drove people out of the country ("Gave us back our businesses - Got the English out"). Again, she had every right to do that. She had the power, so why not flaunt it?

She used people to get what she wanted. So what? You want to be a star, you want to be onstage, you want to be in politcs... you do whatever it takes to get there. She got what she came for... big deal. Why is that such a bad thing?

It's not how you play the game; it's whether you win or lose.

Did she use Peron? Of course she did. That was a wise decision on her part. You're on the arm of a political power, and they win the Presidency. If you have any ambition at all, you will take that power and use it to your own advantages.

Did she love Peron? Probably. Did Peron love her? I don't think so. I think he married her for political reasons, BUT it soon came clear that she was in control, not him.

I love Eva Peron, because she saw a goal and went for it. She didn't care about hurting people along the way. If you got in her way, you were bound to get hurt.

Anyone who sets a goal, knows they have to use people in order to get what they want.

Prove me wrong

Andy.

[Jennifer Lynn]

Interesting little tidbit...

This past fall, a local theatre did a production. In the program notes, the director mentioned knowing an Argentine girl who claims her grandparents adored Eva, her parents were skeptical of her, and she (the girl herself) and her friends thought the Perons ruined the country.

That's three different viewpoints among three different generations of one family. No wonder Eva still inspires debate.

[Salome]

a facist slut who is in the same leauge as adoplh hitler and mussolini.

[sleepy7653]

[Salome]

no its not harsh..i don't like murderers,bigots and manipulators..thats what she was. period.

[Linder4423]

From what I know, the stage production that was released for Broadway in New York was deliberately changed to portray Eva in a more Negative light because she was at times accused of being a follower of Hitler and the Nazi movement. The producers feared that showing Eva as a hero would upset large the Jewish population in NYC that viewed Eva to be anti-semetic.

I think that these portrayls (ie. from Che's opinion) are also reflective of the many differing opinions on Eva when she was alive. The poor loved her but the upper and middle classes did not. There are many speculations on how genuine Eva was, but they are all speculations and opinions.

"All you have to do is look at me to know that every word is true"

[Fabian]

I don't understand why so many people criticize this woman whose life is shrouded in mystery and mis-information. People have condemned Eva Peron as if she was the only "dishonest" politician who ever lived.

Why are people so threatened by Evita? A woman whose been dead for over 50 years. Why don't they direct their energy and hatred towards other corrupt politians who are ALIVE right now and doing a great deal of harm.

I have over 150 books/magazines (in both spanish and English) about the life of Eva Peron so I pretty much know everything there is to know about EVITA including all the myths surrounding her. And I've written this in response to the posts labelling her as EVIL and a BITCH.

For starters, I will say this:

The Peronista's and the many historians who ACTUALLY studied Eva Peron (and Peronism in general) such as JM Taylor, Maryssa Navarro, Fermin Chavez, Alicia Dujovne Ortiz, Antonio Cafiero, Carmen Llorca, Ricardo Blaustein, Robert Crasweller, Joseph Page, Nicolas Fraser..just to name a few, can make a lengthy list of Eva's GOOD deeds (which I will get into a bit later)..

Whenever somebody writes a book about Princess Diana (or The Kennedy's for that matter) and state how difficult she was to work for, it makes the cover story of "Entertainment Tonight" and everyone hates the author for commiting such a hateful crime against such an enduring personality. However it's okay to call a "latina" woman who was just as charismatic and lovely a prostitute and murderer without having the slightest shred of evidence. Eva Peron slept with no more people than Marilyn Monroe, Elizabeth Taylor, Jean Harlow (and I can name several other's) all who have had several husbands, lovers and abortions.

Maria Eva Duarte de Peron's sudden rise from childhood poverty to becoming one of the world's most powerful woman, made her a hero to some, a power hungry villain to others. The woman remains controversial. Was she a Saint or a Sinner? Good or Bad? Was she the Savior to Argentina's "shirtless" ones or a Monstrous dictator to the Well-to-do? People will just have to come up with their own conclusions but having studied the subject for over 12 years now, I will say this. Both Peronist and Anti-Peronist agree- the woman was an enigma, a paradox. So we will never know the whole truth.

However the facts should be noted. Her foundation built several hundred schools (some historians state over 1000), several hospitals (some historians state over 100), thousands of homes for the poor, several orphanages, old age homes, shelters for runaway girls, shelters for unwed mothers, a complete miniature village for children, youth hostels and holiday retreats for lower income families all between 1948-1952. She also sent first-aid and blood plasma to countries outside of Argentina's borders such as Peru, Turkey and even the US. Health care became free to the poor and the mortality rates among children DECREASED and many diseases such as cholera and TB were reduced also. Why? Because they were finally receiving health care for the first time.

She also sat in her office for 15 hours a day receiving the poor up until the last year of her life. She would visit shanty towns and personally give out food, sugar or a bottle of cider. She would travel by train to the farthest corners of Argentina and visit forgotten and neglected country towns and offer food, medicine and free physical check-ups. She would pick up homeless people off the streets and take them back, in her limousine, to the residential palace where she would bathe them and feed them. Many have laughed at the idea of Eva Peron being referred to as "Santa Evita" (Saint Evita) but the above accomplishments are the reasons as to why so many thought of her as a holy emissary of God.

I can't think of another EVIL person who did so much to help the downtrodden.

People may call her a thief for using public funds but EVERYONE saw where the money went. Even afer Peron's downfall, the military governments that followed them tried unsuccessfully to wipe out her establishments but THEY COULD NOT because THERE WERE TOO MANY.

Even several decades after Eva's death (as late as 1974), warehouses were being discovered in Argentina that contained thousands and thousands of materials that Eva had purchased through her foundation such as cooking pots, tennis rackets and bed sheets for the poor.

The military dictatorships that followed were successful in destroying SOME of her works. For example, Many children died from Polio epidemics because the military government destroyed or locked up the iron lungs that Eva's Foundation had acquired and thousands of bottles of blood were also destroyed just because they had the name FUNDACION EVA PERON. They also destroyed several of her hospitals simply because they had her name, EVA PERON plastered on them.

What Eva did is no different from what industrialized nations do now. Charge tax. Here in Ontario, Canada the Government takes a large chunk out of every paycheck and charges 15 percent on everything with the exception of cheap foods. Eva took from those who had it and distributed it to those who needed it and as I mentioned above, her money was used to build THOUSANDS of establishments. Some are still standing to this very day.

I am latin. I'm from Argentina's next door neighbour Chile and I know how things down in South America work. It's all class divided and to think that Eva DIDN'T get stepped upon or insulted or treated like a third-rate individual is being ignorant because even today (and we are talking 50 years later), people who are LOWER-CLASS are viewed upon with scorn. It must have been one thousand times worse back in the 30's and 40's. It was not Eva's fault that she was born out of wedlock; it was not her fault that she was born poor and it was not her fault that she was born a woman in a country where she should have been born a man.

To state that Eva had this DEEP hatred of the rich because she was born poor is also an incorrect statement. It is correct that Evita despised them as much as they despised her but to cite that as the only reason for her motivation is groundless. The Oligarchy were the first TO THROW dirt on Eva's face when she became the First Lady. She could do no right and she NEVER would have been accepted because she was not OF them. She came from the slums and tainted blood ran through her veins and therefore they could NOT stand her. What made Eva even more unbearable was the fact that SHE DIDN'T care how they felt about her.
Eva threw the dirt right back in their faces and rightly so. From then on it became a war of the classes and a war of the sexes.

They're the ones who created her and they have no one but themselves to blame if there class was subjected to ridicule during her reign. Should we blame Eva for acting the way she did? We can but I, for one, would personally give her a medal if she were alive today.

And if we can criticize Eva for refusing to be treated inhumanely. Well then, what about criticizing the Oligarchy who for centuries have exploited those who were not born into grand luxury and into their social position.

If people want to get into Argentine history, why don't you disect and criticize the NON-PERONIST administrations and see if they were any better? Talk about their mis-management of Argentina and the corruption and torture of not just the nation but of it's people also.

You want to talk about evil and corrupt? Do you think the Oligarchy-run governments BEFORE Peron were any better? They were times where the only ones who prospered were those few fortunate ones that owned homes the size of shopping malls and property the size of small countries and had numerous swiss bank accounts while the rest of the population struggled with high unemployment, lived in squalor and a high percentage of children suffered from malnutrition. Even before Evita came into the scene the entire country was in chaos as evidenced by the constant riots, strikes and political and social unrest.

How about the military dictatorships that followed Peron?

How about Videla's Argentina during the late 70's and early 80's where people were systematically locked up, tortured and visciously executed? 20 years later and there are still 30 thousand Argentinians who are not accounted for and in the long lengthy list of the "disaparecidos".

Or how about critizing several US presidents who were just as corrupt. In the 50's the US helped overthrow the president of Guatemala to protect their business interest and the same happened in Chile in 73 when the US helped de-thrown Allende and put Pinochet in power.

Or how about the current administrations in power as we speak?

And as far as the accusations of Eva being responsible for the attrocities commited by the state police during the first Peronist Period, all I have to say is this:

If you are going to accuse someone of murder and torture, have the evidence to back up your claims. Even Mary Main, one of Eva's FIRST HOSTILE biographers stated in her book "The Woman With the Whip" that "THERE IS NO PROOF".

Notable historians of Eva Peron (the one's I listed above) have ALL denounced this book. And just as an FYI, Mary Main was a rich Anglo-Argentine (one of the very people that despised Eva Peron) who used the OPPOSITION as her informants and her book (although well written) is a malicious, anti-Peronist view of Eva's life and it's not surprising that Tim Rice would call this "a Superb biography".

And NO ONE can claim that police corruption DOES NOT EXIST in their country. Are we to blame our nation's leaders for the attrocities alot of these policemen commit?

Not ONE notable historian (KEY WORDS: Notable historian) has EVER accused Eva Peron of being responsible for any acts of torture ever commited to her country man.

Did the police outstep their boundaries in some occasions? Absolutely. Was Eva Peron somehow involved? If someone has ACTUAL proof, please advise because out of ALL the biographies I own and I own (TOO) many, not ONE notable historian has ever or WILL EVER accuse her of such heinous acts. End of story.

Of course everyone's entitled to their opinion and I'm entitled to mine. I just felt the need to respond only because there is so much mis-information about this woman out there. This also illustrates the passions Eva inspires in certain individuals. Many people (like many of the posters here) hate her and many others like me, crown her as one of the greatest woman who ever walked the earth.

All of the well researched (KEYWORD: RESEARCHED!!)and accurately documented biographies ALL portray her as a woman who may have had her faults but who did incredibly good things in an incredibly short amount of time.

And in response to the posts labelling her as a NAZI sympathizer:

People have been accusing EVITA of being a NAZI sympathizer since the dawn of time and the only evidence they had was some document that has since been disproved since it was a FORGERY and it was dated 1941-43. A time when Peron and Eva had never seen or heard of each other. Peron at the time wasn't even in the country and Eva Duarte was still an aspiring radio star.

Several historian have stated Eva Peron was "ignorant" about the attrocities commited by the NAZI's (as were many Argentinians at the time) and it wasn't until 1947, when she attended The National Federation of Resistance Deportees in France did she finally get a look at the realities and cruelties commited by the NAZI's.

And just as an FYI Joseph Page, author of one of the most comprehensive biographies of Peron and who also wrote an introduction to the 1996 edition of EVITA: IN HER OWN WORDS wrote:

"The original source of this (NAZI) myth was a book written by an anti-Peronist politician and supposedly based on German documents discovered immediately after the war. Other writers revived the allegations in the 1970's. The basis for the myth is clearly FALSE."

I am not an admirer of Peron but of Eva and my original post was not to defend him, but his wife who has been, since the time she graced the world stage, put under a microscope to showcase her faults as a woman and as a human being despite the fact that many of the accusations geared towards her, according to MANY historians, are groundless and false.

I am not defending Peron or his policies but I will say this in his defence:

To compare Peron with Hitler, Mussolini and Stalin is pretty ridiculous since Peron never killed anyone according to his biographers. His regime may have had some oppressive qualities and many opponents were jailed during his reign but to compare him with dictators who have been responsible for THOUSANDS and in some instances, MILLIONS and MILLIONS of deaths is ignorant.

Peron himself stated “I never killed anyone, no one died with their shoes on”. And biographer Clive Foss also stated in his book “Peron did not kill his enemy’s”. Joseph Page also clearly states in his well documented account that there were NO concentration camps in Peron's Argentina. Period. (Try telling that to people on these boards.) Also biographers Nicholas Fraser, Maryssa Navarro, Robert Crasweller and Joseph Page have all written in-depth and well researched biographies of the man and treat him not as a viscious monster but as a political leader and is given the type of treatment hardly be-fitting monsters such as Stalin, Hitler, Franco and Mussolini.

All of Peron's biographers (and I am referring to those who have spent a lifetime researching the man, Evita and Peronism and not those who use yellow journalism as their source of reference) have all stated on record that Peron did not adapt murder as a way of governing. Peron even referred to himself as a "vegetarian lion".

The military governments that followed Peron were the ones who've been responsible for thousands of innocent deaths. Right after Peron's downfall in 1955 the new military government that took over ruthlessly executed 27 PERONISTA'S (PERONISTS) simply because they were PERONISTA'S. Why aren't they being condemned?

Anyone interested in a good well researched biography of Eva or Peronism in general, the authors/historians I noted above have all written excellent books on the subject. People should not take the Webber/Rice musical as a history lesson because like one historian stated when referring to EVITA- the musical: "..that malicious, one-sided musical. As theatre, it is arresting. As history, it is false."