Conversations With Chávez and Castro
For years now the US has made allegations of Hugo Chavez, democratically elected leader of Venezuela, as being an evil dictator, a terrorist, and a tyrant. Now, anyone with a nose for smelling bullshit has long known that whatever Washington says, especially in the last eight years, should be regarded with a critical eye to say the least. For even longer, the United States has branded Fidel Castro and his regime, long time leaders of Cuba, with similar names as well as maintaning a blockade on the island nation of Cuba and it's commerce for over 50 years. Now let's look at what we know. Hugo Chavez has enjoyed the overwhelming support of his people in elections whose transparency and openness is the envy of most countries, including US, the U.S.. and Venezuela has lot's of oil, hmmm, always a red flag for US political wordspeak. Most of us have been or know people who have been to Cuba and love it. Call it's leaders what you want, the people there are pretty happy and also, 100 percent of Cuba enjoys free health care and having both visited Cuba, and having friends who have been more recently, these terms that US politicians want us to believe well, simply don't fit.
Well, now I can stand here on my soapbox and scream 'till I'm blue and not much will happen because I am just a face in the crowd. Well, this is where celebrity can make a difference and it's great to see a celebrity use their fame for something other than tabloid fodder. Sean Penn has composed an open and dignified article and is putting his fame to use in the dispersion of American doublespeak.
Kudos to you Mr. Penn.
BB
by SEAN PENN
This article appeared in the December 15, 2008 edition of The Nation.
November 25, 2008
Soon to be Vice President-elect Joe Biden was rallying the troops: "We can no longer be energy dependent on Saudi Arabia or a Venezuelan dictator." Well, I know what Saudi Arabia is. But having been to Venezuela in 2006, touring slums, mixing with the wealthy opposition and spending days and hours at its president's side, I wondered, without wondering, to whom Senator Biden was referring.
posted by Big Ben @ 6:40 PM
1 Comments:
I do not know Chavez personally, and I used to support him and defend him, but his imprisonment of journalists and opposition political candidates - as reported by non-US based news organizations - is deeply disconcerting. He's a brilliant anti-American orator, and does bond well with his country's poorer subjects (at least when oil is selling at record highs and he's funded well enough to do so), but like many national leaders who rose from very little to a place of supreme power, he's still intensely interested in maintaining his grasp on power, putting that priority first, 2nd, and third on his "to do" list. I hope that Chavez does not progress into a Mugabe-esque mode, in years to come as he ratchets up his rhetoric:
http://www.iht.com/articles/2008/12/01/america/01venez.php
""Chávez is not leaving," the president said in televised comments. "Chávez is staying, and if God wants this and gives me life, I'll be with you until 2019 or 2021." Chávez, who has been in power for 10 years, is barred from running again when his current term expires in 2013.
He also described his newly elected opponents here in the capital and in several of Venezuela's largest states as "fascists.""
pot calling kettle... ?
Post a Comment
<< Home