Experts say that Chileans have long boasted a strong sense of national identity . Government officials frequently appeared before TV cameras , Chilean flags abounded and patriotic chants rang out regularly . The miners ' rescue effort is described as a made-for-TV production showcasing Chilean excellence and pride . But the miners' ordeal has also been an embarrassment for Chile, which was already reeling from its worst recession in decades when they were trapped underground on April 5.
Experts say that Chileans have long boasted a strong sense of national identity . The miners ' rescue effort is described as a made-for-TV production showcasing Chilean excellence and pride . But the miners' ordeal has also been an embarrassment for Chile, which was already reeling from its worst recession in decades when they were trapped underground on April 5.