The Republic of Chile regrets that I am only known for the crazy dictator Augusto Pinochet Ugarte and, more recently, the world record for miners trapped underground. This is not at all fair. Does the world know China because of its many crazy rulers and its mining accidents? No, China is known for its factories, Great Wall, and pandas. Chile, too, has much more to offer the world than the one misguided despot and the occasional underground mishap. I have lots of beaches, forests, and volcanoes. My climate is pretty much Mediterranean, but it does get a little chilly down south (get it—"chilly"? The republic also has a sense of humor). Did you know I also own Easter Island? Isn't that amazing? Yes, yes, ignore the cannibalism that happened there and just admire the statues those people-eating people left behind. And how about my famous writers, like Pablo Neruda and Isabel Allende? Are you not bowled over yet? Yes, yes, please ignore for a minute what happened to Allende's famous relative and just focus on the wonderful movie that's based on her novel The House of the Spirits. Did you know it stars Jeremy Irons, Glenn Close, Winona Ryder, and Meryl Streep? WOW! So stop putting me in a mining-disaster box. I'm a slim country with a big heart. recommended