Venezuela* (Photo credit: кiт-кaтн Halкeтт)
A charismatic leader who had the audacity to hope for a new day for his country and who wasn’t afraid to fight for hope and change for the people he represented and loved dearly has been in the news a great deal lately. He was a democratically elected President but his name surprisingly does not rhyme with Yo Mama. The President I’m referring to is Hugo Chavez who recently passed away after battling cancer for years. Venezuela’s best known exports include steel, major league baseball players and, wait for it…oil and lots of it. Chavez represented for many, not just in Venezuela but throughout Latin America, a leader who was beholden not to the multinational corporations and the uber-wealthy but to the people who actually put him in office in the first place. This is exactly why the United States and its allies bootlickers couldn’t stomach the man and the reason the private oil industry which Chavez nationalized sought to depose him by any means necessary. These means included a poorly planned coup d’état that resulted in Chavez being returned from exile by, wait for it again…the people a mere 48 hours later. In that two day span, a business partner of U.S. oil companies declared himself President, the New York Times went on the record with their approval of the coup and the U.S. ambassador attended an inauguration party with oil and banking grand poobahs. Then when the two day door closed, God opened a window for Chavez to climb through to return to the palace he had left just days earlier at gunpoint. His supporters even conjured up Joshua at the walls of Jericho when they surrounded the presidential palace until he was reinstated. Now that’s what democracy looks like my friends.
Merida – Bush, If you’re against Chavez, you’re against our people (Photo credit: One Off Man Mental)
I am embarrassed to admit that my familiarity or, as elementary teachers love to say, background knowledge of Chavez was previously slim to none. The public outpouring of support on the streets of Venezuela and around the globe as well as the ensuing demythification (totally made that word up) of Chavez is critical as it brings to light the stark hypocrisies of the current POTUS. All of the major media outlet’s reporters, including National Puffpiece Radio (NPR), have been careful to add derogatory adjectives to any description of Chavez when discussing the divisive (see, I can do it too) leader. In fact, NPR has pretty much abdicated its role as a source of independent journalism when it comes to foreign affairs or anything related to “homeland security”. For these issues its correspondents pretty much read verbatim from the State Department scripts it would appear they hand out at the weekly staff meetings. I’ve learned that Chavez even allowed people who were beholden to him for his country’s generous oil subsidies to repay their loans at nominal interest rates with local currency, beans and stonewashed jeans. Although, word on the street is the banks will take a box filled with my hard earned cash drug money that has been shaped to fit the teller’s window, they sure as sugar won’t accept beans and jeans to pay for that overdraft or ATM fee. Fortunately, for many Carribean and Central American countries, “that monkey”, as the white elites in Venezuela referred to him, did take their goods as part of their repayment for debts. Chavez even cancelled Haiti’s debt in full after the earthquakes in 2010 where relief organizations have still not managed to find permanent housing for hundreds of thousands of residents still living in tent camps.
FDR: “I Hate War” (The Peace Hat) (Photo credit: Tony Fischer Photography)
Finally, I came across an incredible poem recently by fellow blogger lens1 at The Vigilant Lens that juxtaposed verse and imagery in a manner that evoked a strong response in me upon further reflection. The picture shows a man at a protest for a Native American woodcarver who was shot to death by police for carrying a knife. When I read the poem, the thought that came to mind was “When was the last time there was no war or no threat of war in my consciousness?” I’m acutely aware that my children have grown up with this foggy soup of war always hanging about, like Pigpen’s perpetual cloud of dirt. Whether its on the radio or the television or the internet, there is always some voice droning on about “this threat”or “that threat”, with little factual context given to justify their stance. What affect does this have on the psyche, especially that of a child or young person? Then, insert graphic images of violence and unrest in brown and black parts of the world and you have the makings of trauma based conditioning. What the world needs now is more Chavez’s who have the cojones to stand up to the bankers and billionaires in order to bring forth a brighter day not just for their people today but for future generations. This will not happen without nonviolent resistance and sacrifice but just as the Coalition of Immokalee Workers are marching 200 miles for farmworker justice in Florida, so too, will more people join the struggle for justice and dignity for all peoples. Peace and solidarity to the people of Venezuela and to all readers.
Jeff, I also want to apologize for my long absence. I’ve had some serious stuff to deal with. I’ll be back tomorrow to finish commenting. I’m extremely impressed and moved by your blog. ! Manana, hermano!
Please do not apologize, your health and well being are far more important. Glad to hear from you again, Claire!
Jeff, your blog grows more beautiful with every post. In fact, I found myself in tears by the time I finished reading this.
RIP Hugo Chavez: mi presidente, mi hermano, mi companero y mi corazan. St. Martin de Porres holds you in his arms now, Breathe free.
Couldn’t have written it better myself…I pressed this and wrote a short poem, thanks for the inspiration
Thank you, I’m honored. It’s always good to hear from you, your poetic voice is extraordinary.
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My main point of disagreement with Chavez and his followers is their lack of civility and democratic values. It is true that the elite of Venezuela was exploiting the lower classes for a long time, but Chavez instead of trying a new approach decided to follow Fidel Castro and his model which is a clear example of failure. In both Cuba and Venezuela an elite was eliminated and replaced by a new one made up of bureaucrats and regime loyalists who are enriching themselves in much the same way the previous one was. Venezuela today is the typical example of a tyranny of the majority. Chavez was given dictatorial and totalitarian powers in a democratic manner. He asked would you let me be a dictator? The majority of the country answered yes.
DiazSotolongo,
Lo siento, hermano, pero se equivoca.
Nada me gustaria mas que estar equivocado en este caso. Pero dudo que lo este.
Pronto sabremos, es decir, si los Estados Unidos no interfieren con Venezuela.
Hello Carlos,
I am sorry I missed your comment. There are two sides to every story but most of the sources I looked up, which are far more credible than myself, painted a picture of Chavez as a politician, yes, but one who was willing to stand up to the bankers, oil companies and Washington consensus. Not many who do that live to tell the tale. Chavez also was put in place by the Venezuelan people who would have turned on him if he’d turned his back on them. As Claire said, now we will have to wait to see if the U.S. will be able to undermine the movement that Chavez represented.
I totally agree. That’s why I call him an elected dictator. He asked the people to vest him with totalitarian powers and a majority of them agreed. Is that my idea of how a country should be run? Not necessarily.
Some of Chavez’ Legacy that is not mentioned above
As a military Colonel, try to stage a coup to take power
When that fails, after getting out of jail, appeal to nationalism and pander to the “have nots” to get elected. (to me that doesn’t seem like such a bad thing, depending on your motives)
Throw out the old class of corrupt fat-cats and put your own cronies in power. Make sure they know that they depend on your largesse to stay in power
Oppress the free press and political opposition, put some in jail to make your point. While you’re at it, create a nationalized press machine to “get your story out”
Change the constitution to allow yourself to stay in power longer than previously allowed
Support insurgents in your neighboring country
Drive the economy into the toilet and grow property and violent crimes by an order of magnitude in a country with huge resources.
Are the public schools any better than they were when Chavez took office? I don’t know the answer to that, but I suspect not. Educated voters are probably not his best constituency.
My brother in law is a good engineer that worked for a petroleum company, and voted for Chavez for nationalistic reasons. He didn’t like where Chavez took the country and didn’t vote for him the next time. The petroleum company was nationalized, and presto, all of his co-workers that didn’t vote for Chavez and join his political organization were let go. My brother in-law kept his job longer than most, but after he trained party insiders, he was let go. Would you want to live with that kind of government? Democracy is not a cure-all and can fail society as a whole, just like other forms of government.
My opinion is that Chavez was not motivated to help the people, but motivated to take and hold power. He used the means available to him very effectively to do that. Is the country better off today than it was before? I suspect maybe a few at the very bottom of society, but I don’t think as a whole. The fact that he was ultimately elected, does that mean that he is a better leader than Castro in Cuba? How do you think the Cuban people feel looking back at the deal that they made with Castro?
I’m not by any means a right-winger, I would consider myself a socially liberal, fiscal conservative. I believe in support for the “have nots,” but not at the expense of freedom. I don’t believe that you should float the boats of the wealthy on the backs of the poor, but oppressing the wealthy in order to float the boats of the poor doesn’t seem like a good plan either.
I appreciate your input and acknowledge that you have first hand experience with Venezuela that I lack. A few counterpoints:
As a military Colonel, try to stage a coup to take power – The Bolivarian Revolution was a reaction to the austerity measures first introduced in Latin America in the 1970′s in Pinochet’s Chile and backed by U.S. military and economic players.
Oppress the free press and political opposition, put some in jail to make your point. While you’re at it, create a nationalized press machine to “get your story out – See this article: http://venezuelanalysis.com/news/8201
Change the constitution to allow yourself to stay in power longer than previously allowed – See this article: http://venezuelanalysis.com/analysis/70
Support insurgents in your neighboring country – What is an insurgent? People defending their homelands from occupying forces?
Drive the economy into the toilet and grow property and violent crimes by an order of magnitude in a country with huge resources – See this article: http://venezuelanalysis.com/analysis/7595
Are the public schools any better than they were when Chavez took office? I don’t know the answer to that, but I suspect not. Educated voters are probably not his best constituency- Free public education through University. In 2005, UNESCO stated illiteracy had been eliminated.
My brother in law is a good engineer that worked for a petroleum company, and voted for Chavez for nationalistic reasons. He didn’t like where Chavez took the country and didn’t vote for him the next time. The petroleum company was nationalized, and presto, all of his co-workers that didn’t vote for Chavez and join his political organization were let go. My brother in-law kept his job longer than most, but after he trained party insiders, he was let go. Would you want to live with that kind of government? Democracy is not a cure-all and can fail society as a whole, just like other forms of government – I am sorry for your brother losing his job but Chavez gave the oil back to its rightful owners, the people of Venezuela.
My opinion is that Chavez was not motivated to help the people, but motivated to take and hold power. He used the means available to him very effectively to do that. Is the country better off today than it was before? I suspect maybe a few at the very bottom of society, but I don’t think as a whole. The fact that he was ultimately elected, does that mean that he is a better leader than Castro in Cuba? How do you think the Cuban people feel looking back at the deal that they made with Castro? – The country is manifestly better than it was pre-Chavez, follow the links in my post for credible sources.
I’m not by any means a right-winger, I would consider myself a socially liberal, fiscal conservative. I believe in support for the “have nots,” but not at the expense of freedom. I don’t believe that you should float the boats of the wealthy on the backs of the poor, but oppressing the wealthy in order to float the boats of the poor doesn’t seem like a good plan either – Is it possible to oppress the wealthy? I’ve never heard of it happening but anything is possible, I guess.
May I add, that it is not what a president will do for his counrty, but what the other countries and big interests will allow him to do. Also, the laws and good will of the head of the state sometimes reach the masses through corrupt or disillusioned administrations. But this is a pathogenia of the system itself.
It is wonderful to read a piece that is not attempted to be a posthumous smear upon the face of Chavez’s legacy. When individuals like Pat Robertson began calling for the assassination of Chavez a decade earlier, I realized that this man was a voice of the oppressed and downtrodden in Latin America. Americans in lower income neighborhoods would be well served to remember that Chavez was the reason behind the 10c/ gal lower gas prices at Citgo stations.
Yeah, Pat Robertson is like an inverse moral compass. When he points due north I pretty much know to head in the exact opposite direction. If there’s a mad rush at my local Citgo, I’ll know who to blame, Henry.
There is no greater crime in the eyes of the capitalists of the world than attempting to build a society that aims to take care of all people and allow them full participation as opposed to an authoritarian structure that funnels money and power to the top of a pyramid. We need look no further to understand the demonization of Hugo Chávez.
The Bolivarian Revolution is a very much unfinished revolution, but it will continue to go forward if Venezuelans continue to see the revolution as working in their interests. A people’s revolution is necessary bigger than any one individual.
In America, it will take a real people’s movement to bring change and that is what the ruling class fears most. For any readers who would like a far more detailed and insightful analysis of the state of affairs in Venezuela, please take a few minutes to read this article:
http://systemicdisorder.wordpress.com/2013/03/13/dangers-from-a-mixed-economy-that-brought-down-sandinista-revolution-exist-for-venezuela/
It is peculiar that every time a country tries to recover, pay its debts and help its people, using its natural resources, a war, a coup, or a financial crises will break out. And also the whole media world will strike first and then again and again. It is in fact the breaking of the money circle that aggravates the corporations. If they let it go unpunished, and becomes sustainable, they will lose control all over the world. A leader has to take hard and some times questionable decisions, that usually only time can prove their merits. Unfortunately this very statement is used by bad politicians to justify their bad choices. So what makes the difference? The fact that so many people are ready to give their lives. Not kill, but be killed. This is the great distinction of democracy.
Vassilis, thanks for joining the discussion. It seems we’re in an age where wars can be waged without a shot being fired. Austerity is an economic weapon of mass destruction and misery, any leader or nation that bucks the trend will have to be prepared for a long, drawn out battle. Best wishes to you in Greece.
Now that was a clever introduction. for a second I thought this was going to be an Obama post until I clicked and saw the Venuezuelen flag. and great Dennis Rodman quote!
Thank you Caleb, I enjoyed your article about Rodman also. Maybe he could be our next Sec. of State. He couldn’t be worse than H. Clinton who laughed at Gaddadi’s brutal death in Sirte.
Damn I never even heard about that part. I just remember watching the video of him soaked in blood and then being brutally attacked by those so-called “freedom fighters” armed by NATO.
Here is a link to the incident: http://news.antiwar.com/2011/10/20/for-us-gadhafis-death-a-laughing-matter/
Dang that was cold. The reporter asked if his death had anything to do with his death and she says, “No” then chuckled and said, “Of course it did!”
I too knew regrettably little about Chavez until recently. This article is loaded with good info though! Peace and solidarity to you too.
The more I learn it seems the less I know. Glad to be on the journey with you, Toadfish.
I think it was Dennis Rodman who once said: “Just give the guy a call, maybe a hug. You might be surprised.” But we know that hugs and common courtesy don’t pay Lockheed to make trillion dollar jets that don’t work.
As for fearing the feet of dead idols, I’d be more concerned about the hungry, unemployed people, who worship at the channel that American Idol’s still on.
Thanks for the link Jeff.
I like the Rodman quote, I hadn’t come across it…and on the bright side, at least no one gets killed when the LM jets go belly up. I’m starting to believe the camera is as mighty as the pen and that together they make a potent brew. Thanks for letting me share your pen and your camera.
My contrarian nature kicks in when I read paeans to a glorious leader. I think it is a bit early to start erecting monuments. An “enemy of my enemy” argument isn’t sufficient for me. How lasting will the changes made by Chavez be? Are they sustainable? How many people actually participate in the worker co-operatives that he encouraged? I will be most interested to see the results of the new elections. Those who worship at the feet of idols worry me.
Your words…paeans, glorious, worship, idols…your words not mine. My intent was to give credit where it is due. The links I included provide views of Chavez that help to counterbalance the myths being propagated. This will help to provide context as the corporate media machine kicks in to full gear to provide cover for the ruling class to try to undo what Chavez has wrought. My admiration and respect of Chavez comes from the fact that he stood for the people, his people, knowing that it would put him in the crosshairs. That’s real courage, to give your life so that you can save your soul. Unfortunately, Bradley Manning, too, knows this risk-benefit analysis all too well.
I do not wish to cause any of my readers worry or consternation, there is enough in this world already to go around, but if you must go, go in peace.
My, my. Ruffled a few feathers, did I? I’d like to suggest a book for you to read: The True Believer, by Eric Hoffer.
My feathers are fine, I just plumed them this morning.
Start worrying, pal, because what you really mean by “worship at the feet of idols” etc, etc, is passionate committment to an international struggle against injustice for which many of us are prepared to lay down our lives.
Get used to it.