Capriles calls for cacerolazos while Maduro calls for... fireworks

[Marksman_91]

http://www.freenewspos.com/news/article/a/157290/today/pots-or-fireworks-the-symbols-of-venezuela-39-s-political-divide

Pots or fireworks? The symbols of Venezuela's political divide
By Andrew Cawthorne

CARACAS (Reuters) - Split down the middle in a highly charged election, Venezuelans are squaring off en masse every night at 8 p.m. on the dot in a cacophony of noise from rival factions.

Supporters of opposition leader Henrique Capriles bang pots and pans in a traditional form of protest used in some Latin American nations in times of political crisis.

"Let's show our anger with pots, not with our Venezuelan brothers," said Capriles, urging his followers to stay peaceful as they demand a recount of a vote that gave a narrow win to Nicolas Maduro, protege of late socialist leader Hugo Chavez.

On the other side, government supporters launch fireworks into the night sky to try and drown out the "cacerolazo," as the opposition protest is known for the Spanish word for stew pot.

At the designated time, Maduro backers also play recordings of Chavez singing nationalistic anthems at full volume, and songs by the revolutionary folk singer Ali Primera.

"Music, lots of music, and fireworks into the sky at 8 p.m.," Maduro said in a speech. "If they are calling for a 'cacerolazo' of hate and intolerance, then we call for a great Bolivarian fireworks party."

Maduro, who like his mentor Chavez takes inspiration from Venezuela's independence hero Simon Bolivar, says opposition leaders are planning a coup against him.

Election authorities gave him a slim victory with 50.8 percent of votes in Sunday's ballot, against Capriles' 49.0 percent. Maduro is to be sworn in on Friday.

The nightly noise, which rocks Caracas and other cities for half an hour or more, symbolizes the bitter division of the nation of 29 million that became deeply polarized under Chavez.

As well as banging pots or launching fireworks, residents also scream insults into the night from apartment windows, and honk car horns in the street.

The raucous, competing demonstrations recall the most turbulent times of Venezuela's recent history, including the months before a 2002 putsch against Chavez when the city shook with noise every time he took to the airwaves.

Chavez died last month of cancer, and had named Maduro as his preferred heir.

(Editing by Daniel Wallis and Doina Chiacu)

So Maduro is actually calling for his supporters to spend money on fireworks (which cost quite a bit in Venezuela, and certainly something that people, especially the poor, don't need, and which is more harmful to the environment and more dangerous for people to do) while Capriles calls for something that is much less costly and more symbolic of Latin American protest, and involves only pots and frying pans, which I'm sure most people already have. Guess which one the humble folk are more likely to respond with...

[flamingdem]

1. It's more of a metaphor, find me the Spanish version and I'll give you the EXACT

meaning...

[Judi Lynn]

2. Fireworks are suitable for a celebration, as we know.

Making a loud, raucous noise is suitable for a protest. Most protests in Latin America have been related directly to horrendous social unrest, as in the masses protesting hideous behavior by the ruling class which has made their lives even far more unbearable, or far more painful, or has brought them greater suffering.

I don't think that was what was at stake with the stupid misappropriation of a meaningful protest device employed by the worth while Venezuelans who DON'T engage in guarimba, like the opposition clowns.

[naaman fletcher]

3. Nice to know

That you think 49% of Venezuelans are not "worthwhile".

Good job though throwing in a Spanish word. It clearly shows you are in touch with Latin America despite having never been there.

[Marksman_91]

6. So you think the people in the barrios participating in the cacerolazo are not "worthwhile" then?

[joshcryer]

7. "worth while Venezuelans"

Stay classy.

[Mika]

8. You're one to talk.

I still can't find any Chavista cheering for the violence in Ven here.

[joshcryer]

9. There are only dozens of OPs making the violence out to be worse...

...than a regular day in Venezuela.

[Marksman_91]

10. No one here is cheering, not even anti-chavistas

Do you honestly think I'm happy about everything that's been going on in my own country? Maduro and the CNE could've stopped this the day after the elections if they simply agreed to do the vote recount, which they could've easily done. Hell, even Maduro said he would allow the recount to happen THE NIGHT THE RESULTS CAME IN. it would only help prove that Venezuela is a great democracy, but alas, they have refused, for no logical reason whatsoever, and obviously this only makes people even more suspicious that there was fraud. So why not just clear up those doubts and do the recount?

[Bacchus4.0]

16. the ruling class are the chavistas and they have made their lives unbearable

which Venezuelans are the worthwhile ones? the ones with the red shirts?

[BlueToTheBone]

4. Oh my. Give it a rest. n/t

[Marksman_91]

5. No, I will NOT give it a rest.

Why? Because this is something concerning my own country, which is undergoing through a crisis all because of the greedy ambitions of a very small group of people, a group of people that is everyday doing everything it can to stay in power, even if it means pitting up the population against each other. I have every right to criticize anything I don't agree with that those assholes propose to do. In fact, I have even more right to do so than you, since you don't live in that country, and don't know the reality of it like I do.

Whenever you and the rest of the chavista lot in this site criticize something about Capriles or the opposition (which now represents 49% of the Venezuelan population), I never say such immature remarks like "Give it a rest". Why should I? It's their opinion, which they have every right to state, and which I can respect and disagree with, and henceforth discuss it. That's what forums like this one are for, to discuss things. Yet you dare come in here telling me to give it a rest? For shame, sir.

[BlueToTheBone]

17. Do you live in Venezuela?

If so, thanks for your take, but this is a site for democrats primarily in the US. I love the ignore feature. Goodbye.

[mecherosegarden]

11. I am very proud to be part of that 49%

Thank you for posting Marksman_91.

Amazing, Chavez named someone as his sucessor, violating the constitution , and nobody seems to care. Many people blindy believe what they want to believe as long as it fit an ideology. And you are so right! With so much poverty in Venezuela, instead of buying fireworks, government should spend the money in something more useful.

[joshcryer]

12. The videos hit YouTube and I can't believe how much was spent on fireworks.

I mean, during the big recession we didn't have fireworks in our towns on July 4th, after 20-30 years of continuously having firework shows (weather permitting but generally it was moved to the next day or weekend if the weather was bad). A lot of people couldn't even afford to donate.

The fireworks in the video are professional, expensive, fireworks, that require pryotechnic experts to set off. We're not talking about kids with firecrackers, we're talking big event fireworks.

And all because of some pans?

Is Maduro really that intimidated? Wow.

[Judi Lynn]

13. You forget they are celebrating, not reacting to the Capridiots. Celebrating.

Without a doubt it's a tradition.

[joshcryer]

14. "Music, lots of music, and fireworks into the sky at 8 p.m."

"Music, lots of music, and fireworks into the sky at 8 p.m.," Maduro said in a speech. "If they are calling for a 'cacerolazo' of hate and intolerance, then we call for a great Bolivarian fireworks party."

Yeah, because pan banging is so hateful and intolerant while fireworks which can be mistaken for gunfire is so peaceful.

I should say I agree they probably had the fireworks stored for the inauguration celebrations. But the idea that he re-purposed them or bought more to deal with the pot banging? WTF? Maduro must be intimidated to hell and back by women and children banging pots.

[Marksman_91]

15. He explicitly stated that they're doing it in reaction to the cacerolazos

Once again you show how you're willing to disregard the facts when they're right in front of you.