RECENT HEADLINE NEWS about Argentina is peppered with phrases like "financial chaos," "violent protests," "fleeing Argentina." In the face of Argentina's economic situation, and the predictions related to it, what can you do? The Editor of The Herald of Christian Science (Spanish Edition), Enrique Smeke, talked with fellow Argentines Gladys Colombo and Patricia del Castillo. Joining them were Christiane West Little, who grew up in Argentina, and Heloísa Rivas, Managing Editor of the Herald in 12 languages, who has spent much time in Argentina. They discussed spiritual solutions to the problems that country is facing.

Enrique Smeke: What will bring real healing to Argentina?

Heloísa Rivas: The Argentines have a natural capacity to understand God and to recognize His goodness. The people need to trust in themselves and their neighbors, and in their own ability to act with spiritual intelligence—which comes from God.

Patricia del Castillo: It would be good if they saw this situation as an opportunity to wipe the slate clean and start again. Argentina has land, professional know-how, education, and—most important—a hardworking people.

Gladys Colombo: Every day I see that people are leaning more toward prayer. That will help. There's hope that the country will recover economically and morally.

Christiane West Little: We pray to prove that divine intelligence strengthens us and will guide us to solutions.

Enrique: Heloísa, you mentioned trust?

Heloísa: Yes, you have to trust yourself and your neighbor. You have to trust in goodness, in honesty, in the inherent integrity of the human being. Because we all come from the same origin, the same Father-Mother, who is God.

Enrique: But what if those in authority have taken a lot from the people?

Heloísa: If you know people were dishonest, you won't move the country forward by doing the same. It has to be seen as wrong, and you have to arrest this tendency, prevent this from happening again. If you repeat it, it becomes a vicious cycle.

Enrique: Then what individual or collective actions would help?

Heloísa: What really governs a country are rules, principles. Prayer is a source of help in matters of government when we turn our thought to God as Principle itself, the Principle that governs the whole universe. Integrity is the key to solving the problem.

If we think that we can get something to the detriment of someone else, we're fooling ourselves. And a nation can't build if individuals don't obey a principle that benefits all. But an entire country can progress if everyone begins to respect the other person. That is collective responsibility.

Patricia: Imagine if everybody prayed, as some religious denominations are already doing, in a prayer chain—all together, acknowledging God's supremacy. Prayer is powerful. It can pull the country out of the position it's in and help overcome problems. The challenges aren't only financial; they're also of a moral nature. Prayer helps bring about moral growth.

Christiane: I like to remember something that's in Psalm 46: "Be still, and know that I am God." That means we can be calm in the midst of a storm, so that we can think and pray effectively and trust that there is a divine intelligence we can resort to for solutions.

Enrique: Prayer unites us democratically because, in prayer, we all have a voice and a vote. Do you agree with that?

Gladys: Yes. People of many religious denominations have united to pray for world peace, not only for the peace of our country. We're sharing a lot more. It's human to expect a lot from another person; where government is concerned, perhaps we've expected too much from one person. I think we can help a lot by praying for the people in authority.

Heloísa: When a crisis is desperate, as this one is, it's important to act with unselfish love and think in terms of teamwork for the common good. Everybody is in the same situation. This is not the moment to defend personal interests, but to do something for the nation. And everyone needs to pull for the highest possible level of equality throughout the country.

There is a point when it is important to ask, "Well, God, what can I do now to help my countrymen?" And that means to erase resentment and memories of the past, and to restart with an impartial, unselfish love for all citizens. When people desire to benefit others, the whole country moves forward with more respect and more humility. And that's the way to prosperity, too.

Enrique: What about the disillusionment and oppression Argentinians are feeling?

Christiane: It's vital not to feel overwhelmed by the difficulty of the problem and not to let this darken our vision of God's power to help. A friend asked, "Do you realize that the darker the night, the more brilliantly the stars seem to shine?" Each one of us is an expression of God's light. And the bigger the problem, the greater the ability we all have to shine in the darkness and to transmit this light that reveals solutions. We can stay firm in communicating the cooperation and honesty that will lead us to solutions, and not let ourselves be overwhelmed by what the television, the newspapers, and the rumors are saying.

Patricia: Instead of continually speaking about the corruption and dishonesty they have suffered from, people can look forward, acknowledging the presence of God in everyone. Without feeling overwhelmed or looking backward, we can all hold firm in singleness of thought and purpose, if we realize that God governs everything.

Enrique: Any other thoughts you've had?

Heloísa: When we realize that God's love is not going to run out, we know that there's plenty for everyone. Having respect for ourselves and each other, we can have access to everything we need, directly from God, from Principle. Then we're acting with the awareness that God really does govern us all.

Christiane: Yes, the intelligence to which we turn, when we turn to God, is the same intelligence to which others may turn—those in government, our neighbors, our friends. We're all together in the world. God governs each nation—including beautiful, beautiful Argentina.