I have in my hands the book Self-Liberation, on the inside cover of which you can read a brief review of its author, our dear friend Luis, who died last night at the Argerich Hospital in Buenos Aires where he had been hospitalized since October 25 for covid19 and then, once he had overcome that illness, for heart failure.
These brief lines read: “Luis Alberto Ammann [1942, married, one child] is a teacher, bachelor of modern languages, journalist and writer. Author of the book Self-Liberation, published in the main languages of the Western world, he belongs to the current of thought known as New Humanism. He is one of the founders of the Humanist Party, of which he was General Secretary for 14 years and member of its National Council on various occasions, editor of the journal The Humanist, vice president of the Humanist International (1989-2010), member of the first coordinating team of the International Humanist Party (2010-2012), Secretary General of the International Federation of Humanist Parties (2012-2014), currently advisor to World Without Wars and Without Violence and consultant to the Movement for Peace, Sovereignty and Solidarity among Peoples in Argentina. He works professionally in journalism for radio stations and magazines, both in Argentina and abroad, as a columnist on international politics. Currently he continues to be a member of the Humanist Party, spreading the Siloist doctrine through various media and working on texts about Silo’s thought”.
This account does not say—probably because of the limitations of space—that Luis was one of Pressenza’s most frequent columnists for more than a decade, always analysing international politics with the skill of his pen and with special interest in Latin America.
Nor does it mention his great ability as an orator and book presenter. In fact, it was Luis who gave a brilliant presentation in the La Reja Park Hall in Buenos Aires, when Silo presented his “Psychology Notes” on May 17, 2006, an opportunity that will remain engraved in the memory, constituting a significant milestone in the history of Siloism.
I had the subsequent honour of his lucid presentation, when I presented my book “Silo, the Master of our Times” in 2013, in Buenos Aires, in the presence of so many friends.
Another important omission from the references on that cover is that Luis Ammann was one of the few orientators in the Humanist Movement who always worked closely with Silo and applied himself to the development of human teams in several countries and continents.
Nor does it speak of his unquestioning loyalty, of his conception of affection as something unconditional and capable of resisting any onslaught. These are more personal matters, but in his case very characteristic of the man.
What can be deduced from the above-mentioned text is what perhaps always constituted the core of Luis’ life: his humanist militancy, that permanent militancy, which gave coherence to what he thought, felt and did. A whole life dedicated to this cause.
We bid him farewell as befits him, accompanying his luminous passage with our gratitude and affection, praying that those who were closest to him may have peace in their hearts, light in their understanding!
