|
I'm one of those who keeps trying expand to the big picture in Chavez threads, because it is really extremely important that we understand this--both Chavez's 72% approval rating in Venezuela, and his widespread support in the region, and among the region's leaders, and the vitriol and distortions and lies of our corporate media, the Bushites and some corporate Democrats.
I totally agree with you that "Chavez is a devil" and "Chavez is a saint" is a pointless argument. But I really don't see much "Chavez is a saint." Usually the pro-Chavez posters have facts, evidence, information, links, solid reasonable arguments and none has ever said "Chavez is a saint." (Some have said something simple, like "Go, Hugo!"--but that is not to say that he is a "saint," it's just expressing approval.) The anti-Chavez posters, on the other hand, are often simplistic, and often just repeat corporate media "talking points," and, when challenged, seldom have anything else to say--"Chavez is a dictator," "Chavez is an an asshat," "Chavez is a loudmouth"--endlessly repeated, with no facts, evidence or links to support their negative (and often vitriolic) opinion. It's rare, indeed, to find anything of substance in anti-Chavez posts.
But those of us who know a lot about this subject--Latin America--and feel strongly about certain things cannot let this corporate crap go by unchallenged, because what WE see is that when U.S. media does this kind of demonizing campaign, the next thing we know is that people are being tortured, and assassinated, and thousands 'disappeared,' or a million of them are dead from U.S. bombs. THAT is why we persist. We KNOW the awful history of U.S. interference in Latin America--and now, tragically, in Iraq. We see all the signs. We are alarmed. We want to warn people, and get them to see where all this propaganda is going.
And we know, too, that Hugo Chavez is not the only Bush target. They are also interfering in Bolivia. They really want to overturn the democratic will of the people in at least three countries (also Ecuador), and to STOP this social justice/independence movement and install rightwing dictatorships in power again, which will have bloody and terrible consequences.
If it were a matter of no moment, I wouldn't bother to answer these brainless anti-Chavez posts. But it is a matter of very great moment, indeed. The Bushites are ALREADY committing crimes in Venezuela--pouring money into rightwing political campaigns, against Venezuelan law, and likely funding rightwing paramilitaries with weapons caches from Colombia, where they are in cahoots with some really terrible paramilitaries. They are also trying to destabilize Bolivia. This is an on-going Bushite project--and some of our Democratic Party leadership supports it.
The American people have for too long ignored what our government has done to half the hemisphere, and have been egregiously misinformed about it. Some rail against the "illegal immigrants" and have not a clue that the immigration is a direct result of U.S. corporate "free trade" policy. And almost no one in the U.S. right now has any concept of what the revolution against these policies in South America is going to mean HERE.
So, yes, focusing on Hugo Chavez is an extremely distorted narrowing of the issue. It's not about Chavez. It's about the millions of people who support him, and other leaders like him. It is THEIR revolution, and it is a very deep one--a profound change in thinking all over the South American continent, and spreading fast into Central America.
Some of the big things that are happening (besides leftist governments being elected all over the place):
Formation of the Bank of the South, and shoving the World Bank/IMF loan sharks out of the region.
Throwing the U.S. military out of the country (Ecuador).
Rejecting the failed but neverending U.S. "war on drugs" (Bolivia, Venezuela, Ecuador).
Formation of ALBA (Bolivarian trade group).
Expansion of Mercosur (general S/A trade group).
Nationalizing oil and gas resources and infrastructure (Bolivia, Venezuela).
Rejecting corporate privatization of utilities, infrastructure and other national assets.
Regional development projects, regionally funded (gas pipeline, ship building, bridges).
Discussions of a South American "Common Market" and common currency (getting off the U.S. dollar), of forming an OAS without the U.S. as a member, of forming a South American "OPEC" which would control about 12% of the world's oil production, and other profoundly important new ideas.
Notice that we are on the "outs" in all these (and more) activities. These thing are happening and will continue happening, Chavez or no Chavez--although Chavez is a particularly visionary and active leader of them. But there are others--two very charismatic young leaders, Evo Morales in Bolivia and Rafael Correa in Ecuador, for instance. And there are many we haven't heard of here yet. They are not anti-American. They don't hate us. But our inability to control our own government has sparked a strong determination to get out from under U.S./corporate domination. And, while this may cause us economic pain, it should also inspire us to start our own rebellion against the Corporate Rulers.
These developments in South America ARE going to affect us profoundly, and may one day become our model for reform. I don't think any of the Bushite plots are going to succeed. The tide of history is against the Bushites and their ilk in Latin America. If they assassinate one leader, two more will spring up in his place. The Bushites are causing a lot of trouble--and will likely cause more--but they will lose this battle. And we need to know this.
|
Printer-friendly format
Email this thread to a friend
Bookmark this thread
(1000+ posts)
Send PM |
Profile |
Ignore
