It is not surprising that within the day following the death of Venezuelan
President, Hugo Chavez, corporate media outlets across the United States
and those within the borders of its right-wing allies, were excoriating a
very rare leader who sided with the poor in his actions rather than the rich
like them.
However, it also was no surprise to hear the praise and genuine feelings of
affection coming from leaders of other Latin American countries and
to hear of several of them quickly rushing off to Caracus to offer their
condolences to the family of Chavez and to the millions of Chavistas
who are also greatly mourning his death.
I believe the latter was true because Hugo Chavez brought a new sense of pride to Latin America as a whole and demonstrated to them what assertive leadership was, and too, what sacrifices and suffering one would have to endure to be an assertive leader.
Just as has been true of Cuba's Fidel Castro, Chavez has been hated by the United States government because he refused to let Washington dictate to all Latin American countries what they must do and not do; who they must associate with and disassociate with; what the rules of trade are; and what space and resources they must give up in their countries to United States corporations and the United States military. Castro's penalties for disobeying Washington have been an invasion of his country in the Bay of Pigs, repeated assassination attempts through U.S. spy agencies, and an embargo lasting more than a half century. Chavez has had to deal with an aborted CIA coup in 2002; a vast U.S. intelligence operation in his right-wing neighbor, Columbia; constant harassment, demonization, and threats from U.S. backed media and political operatives; and perhaps, as hinted at by Vice President Maduro, and demonstrated by the U.S.'s staunchest right-wing ally, Israel, a deliberate radiation poisoning, as befell Yasir Arafat.
Chavez earned the respect of his Latin American colleagues by giving many of them direct aid, and avoiding the blackmailing terms that come with U.S. "friendship." They were able to meet as a group of nations without the United States present, and they learned that dialogue and attempted cooperation with leaders of nations that the U.S. didn't like was far more preferable than ignoring them, name calling, or making military threats as the U.S. does.
In Venezuela itself, Chavez leaves millions of citizens who truly LOVED
him. How many people does one find in the United States who LOVE their
politicians or even one in particular? I must say that the love of Chavez by
so many of his citizens came because he truly acted as a "public servant" to
those who are ignored, despised, or neatly tucked away out of sight in most
other countries: the poor. And in the U.S., the term "public servant" has
become a contradiction in terms, since most politicians blantantly serve
only themselves and their wealthy friends every little luxury and perk that
they steal from the tax-paying public.
Let us hope that those appreciative leaders who attend the funeral of EL COMANDANTE on Friday, will keep their assertiveness to help the Chavistas keep their goals for Venezuela alive, and to not allow United States dictating or meddling in their affairs in the future.
President, Hugo Chavez, corporate media outlets across the United States
and those within the borders of its right-wing allies, were excoriating a
very rare leader who sided with the poor in his actions rather than the rich
like them.
However, it also was no surprise to hear the praise and genuine feelings of
affection coming from leaders of other Latin American countries and
to hear of several of them quickly rushing off to Caracus to offer their
condolences to the family of Chavez and to the millions of Chavistas
who are also greatly mourning his death.
I believe the latter was true because Hugo Chavez brought a new sense of pride to Latin America as a whole and demonstrated to them what assertive leadership was, and too, what sacrifices and suffering one would have to endure to be an assertive leader.
Just as has been true of Cuba's Fidel Castro, Chavez has been hated by the United States government because he refused to let Washington dictate to all Latin American countries what they must do and not do; who they must associate with and disassociate with; what the rules of trade are; and what space and resources they must give up in their countries to United States corporations and the United States military. Castro's penalties for disobeying Washington have been an invasion of his country in the Bay of Pigs, repeated assassination attempts through U.S. spy agencies, and an embargo lasting more than a half century. Chavez has had to deal with an aborted CIA coup in 2002; a vast U.S. intelligence operation in his right-wing neighbor, Columbia; constant harassment, demonization, and threats from U.S. backed media and political operatives; and perhaps, as hinted at by Vice President Maduro, and demonstrated by the U.S.'s staunchest right-wing ally, Israel, a deliberate radiation poisoning, as befell Yasir Arafat.
Chavez earned the respect of his Latin American colleagues by giving many of them direct aid, and avoiding the blackmailing terms that come with U.S. "friendship." They were able to meet as a group of nations without the United States present, and they learned that dialogue and attempted cooperation with leaders of nations that the U.S. didn't like was far more preferable than ignoring them, name calling, or making military threats as the U.S. does.
In Venezuela itself, Chavez leaves millions of citizens who truly LOVED
him. How many people does one find in the United States who LOVE their
politicians or even one in particular? I must say that the love of Chavez by
so many of his citizens came because he truly acted as a "public servant" to
those who are ignored, despised, or neatly tucked away out of sight in most
other countries: the poor. And in the U.S., the term "public servant" has
become a contradiction in terms, since most politicians blantantly serve
only themselves and their wealthy friends every little luxury and perk that
they steal from the tax-paying public.
Let us hope that those appreciative leaders who attend the funeral of EL COMANDANTE on Friday, will keep their assertiveness to help the Chavistas keep their goals for Venezuela alive, and to not allow United States dictating or meddling in their affairs in the future.
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