and give it to the LEADER. That mind-set has got to go. It is fascist at its core. But more than this, it is a manipulation that is actually dangerous--to you and to "the chosen one."
I've been reviewing and analyzing Associated Pukes coverage of the South America left, and one thing that is remarkable about it is that they NEVER credit the people, the grass roots, the leftist and progressive organizers, the social movements or the voters, for the amazing, peaceful, democratic, LEFTIST revolution that is occurring all over the continent. Everything to the Associated Pukes is "strongman" vs "strongman." But if you know the facts and the truth of the situation, you know, for instance, that Hugo Chavez, president of Venezuela, owes his power--and, indeed, his life--entirely to the people of Venezuela, tens of thousands of whom came out of their hovels, during the 2002 (Bush/U.S.-supported) violent rightwing military coup attempt, surrounded Miraflores Palace (the seat of government), and by their sheer presence--in highly dangerous circumstances--and their demand that their Constitution be restored, paralyzed the coup organizers, gave pro-democracy elements in the military time to coordinate, and defeated the coup. And that is just one example--the most dramatic one, the most pivotal one*--of what is happening in South America.
You ever hear about that from the Associated Pukes? No. Instead, they give you the impression that the Venezuelan people are stupid assholes who have--somehow or other--repeatedly elected a "dictator." They don't tell you that Venezuelan elections put our own elections to shame for their transparency--nor credit those who made that happen. They don't tell you of the social movements and grass roots organizers who labored for years to create the political infrastructure that could overcome the U.S.-supported oiligarchy and its foaming-at-the-mouth rightwing corporate news monopolies.
If they can get you see Hugo Chavez as a "strongman"--and not the honest, open-eyed, fought-for CHOICE of the vast majority of Venezuelans--then they can more easily convince you, as they are trying to do now (with a pack of lies, psyops, manufactured intel and covert activities that I believe is being orchestrated by Donald Rumsfeld**), that Chavez is a "terrorist-lover," so that, when the Bush Cartel finally gets Oil War II: South America under way, you will think 'oh, it's just that Chavez guy, who has harmed no one, invaded no one, and has not even jailed anyone unfairly, and has been running a scrupulously lawful, beneficial government for ten years, dictator, terrorist.'
You
won't care if the peoples' peaceful, democratic revolution is toppled, and replaced with actual dictators and terrorists--like those in Colombia (Bush-U.S. ally) who chainsaw union leaders and throw their body parts into mass graves. You
won't care if REAL democracy is overthrown in Venezuela, in Ecuador, in Bolivia, in Argentina, in Paraguay (which just elected a leftist), because you have been vastly misinformed about what it is that you are looking at. You are not looking at a "strongman." You are looking at a strong, well-organized, passionately democratic PEOPLE, who have--by their own blood, sweat and tears--put Chavez in power in Venezuela, and put Rafael Correa in power in Ecuador, and put Evo Morales in power in Bolivia, and put Cristina Fernandez in power in Argentina, and put Fernando Lugo (the beloved "bishop of the poor") in power in Paraguay (of all places!). It is
they whom the global corporate predators want to overthrow, not "dictator" Chavez. But because the Associated Pukes have written the story this way--that it's about "Chavez, the dictator"--many north Americans and other first worlders won't know what the fuck is really going on in South America if the Bush Cartel
succeeds in overthrowing
democracy there.
Similarly with Obama, they--the Associated Pukes and their global corporate predator puppetmasters--crown him king and can bring him down at any time. It's not YOU. It's not your hard work and determination. It's not a grass roots REVOLUTION. It's "history choosing him"--replete with these little historical turning points, that are supposed to thrill you as a SPECTATOR.
I'm not saying don't enjoy the moment. I do. I love seeing true political talent succeed--someone who respects, and connects, with ordinary people; someone who is intelligent and skillful, whose heart seems to be in the right place, and who, together with his family, presents a stunningly refreshing image of our country and who we really are. It is definitely fun to feel swept up in an historical moment of greatness. But the true importance of this moment is NOT Obama being "chosen by history." The true importance of this moment is Obama being chosen by YOU--the activists, the organizers, the grass roots and the voters, the PEOPLE, who have GIVEN him this moment.
I can't tell you how happy I am to see the PEOPLE defy the crowned choice of the powermongers who have nearly destroyed our political party (not to mention our country). And the issue--the most important one--is the PEOPLES' revulsion at this goddamned war.
That is why Obama is successful. That is why people have flocked to his campaign. He opposed it early and publicly, and he is the only one left standing who did so.
Seventy percent of the American people now oppose this war and want it ended--a whopping, epochal anti-war majority (up from an already significant 56% just before the invasion--Feb '03, NYT poll; other polls 54-55%). And they cannot get their voices heard, and cannot get the collective, democratic will of the American people obeyed. I don't know if Obama will obey the will of the people, once in office--nor yet, if he does intend to obey our will, that he will be permitted to do so (to be elected, and to implement it). Odds are that he won't be able to. The forces against the American people and our will, on this matter (and others), are ferocious. But it is nevertheless crucially important to the future of our country and our democracy that we have an activated, involved citizenry. That is more important than any leader. That is the true story of this campaign. And the Associated Pukes are already trying to take that moment away from YOU--to de-activate you, to disempower you, to demoralize you and disenfranchise you AGAIN, and to brainwash you that it's all about the "chosen one" and not about the power of the PEOPLE.
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*See "The Revolution Will Not Be Televised," the fabulous Irish filmmakers' documentary on the 2002 coup attempt in Venezuela (available at YouTube).
**(read between the lines)
"The Smart Way to Beat Tyrants Like Chávez," by Donald Rumsfeld, 12/1/07http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/11/30/AR2007113001800.htmlAntidotes to Rumsfeld:
www.venezuelanalysis.com
www.BoRev.net