<a href=www.vheadline.com>Venezuela's Electronic News
Posted: Sunday, April 27, 2003
By: Elio Cequea
Date: Fri, 25 Apr 2003 18:23:53 -0500
From: Elio Cequea feico57@aol.com
To: Editor@VHeadline.com
Subject: Venezuela's social-political past, present
Dear Editor: It is impossible to try to analyze and search for a solution to the social and political problems in Venezuela without considering our history, both early and contemporary. If we take the time to look back and to meditate about some of the most relevant events in our past as a nation, it is not hard to identify what might be wrong with our society. What have brought us to where we are?
There is a picture that comes to my mind ... regardless of nationality, we all have seen it.
It shows Christopher Columbus arriving to our land ... he is shown with a cross, weapons and, more importantly, authority.
Authority? Yes, right from the moment he arrived! The picture shows our earliest inhabitants humbly on their knees while Columbus is standing up, arrogant, self-righteous, stuck-up, superior...
This picture ingenuously describes the way our country has been organized, socially and politically, since that event of October 12, 1492 ... it has all the ingredients that characterize Venezuela.
To put it in simple words, we have the ignorant, uneducated and poor ones bowing to the cognizant, educated and wealthier ones. Right from the discovery of America, our status quo was set up forever, to never be changed.
The descendants of Columbus, of De Triana and of the Pinzons were since then destined to be on the PDVSA board of directors.
The descendants of "other people" in that picture ... on the other hand ... their fate was to be the "chusma" (rabble) that lives now on the hills of Caracas ... they were also called to be part of the "chavista" hordes that the Venezuelan newspapers talk about.
To emphasize a little our historical "luck" on Columbus first trip, historians indicate that a reward of a pension of 10,000 maravedis per year (a seaman could earn about 12,000 maravedis per year) was to go to the person who saw land first. That person was Rodrigo de Triana ... history books point out that our friend Columbus pocketed the money himself, claiming that he had seen several lights the night before ... this is can be recorded as the first known case of corruption in our history.
Going back to our "picture," the presence and influence in it of the Roman Catholic Church cannot be ignored. It has been with us since our beginnings, with all its virtues and many faults. There are crosses all over that painting.
Queen Isabella "the Catholic" sponsored the first Columbus voyage. Furthermore, Pope Alexander VI (himself a Spaniard) issued a papal decree (in May 1493) granting control to Spain of every island Columbus had discovered. This meant political control supported by and with the Catholic, Apostolic and Roman Church.
- Is it really surprising to anybody that the Roman Catholic Church authorities in Venezuela are against a government that has pushed them aside after 500 years of "partnership"?
The influence of "The Church" in our society is enormous, and not necessarily all positive. This influence has been promoted and based mostly on the ignorance of our people. There was and advertisement published on April 25 in El Nacional that reads "The moment to rebuild Venezuela in peace has arrived. Our Mother, Mary of Coromoto is asking for it."
In our country, even the Virgin Mary plays politics ... and she is also against the government!
According to historic accounts, the Virgin of Coromoto first appeared to a Venezuelan tribesman back in 1651 ... she is considered to be the Patron Saint of Venezuela, whatever that means.
With all due respect, why do these "virgins" appear only to poor and underprivileged people? It is the same thing for the Virgins Fatima of Portugal and Guadalupe of Mexico.
There's one exception though ... there's one Virgin that appeared in Venezuela in the land of the rich and the privileged not too long ago: the Virgin of Plaza Altamira.
On this one, I will keep my comments to myself.
We as a nation cannot keep ignoring our beginnings, and at the same time try to understand our social and political problems. Much less, how can we even try to find a solution! No way.
The direction of our history turned 180 degrees in 1999 ... the "chusma" won political power (democratically!) and the descendants of Columbus and De Triana have now stopped believing in democracy.
"It must be communism", cries The Church ... the upper class ponders "It cannot be possible that these people want that guy as President ... they don't know what they are doing ... they must be doing it out of their own ignorance."
Before even trying to talk politics, let's all stop the hypocrisy and the prejudice: Pedro Carmona Estanga was a dictator for two days ... it was a coup d'etat!
After assuming the position as Head of State, Carmona read that now famous First Decree canceling all public powers. Everybody within the opposition considers that it was a stupid mistake. Nevertheless, the same people say that he, poor guy, was tricked into reading something that he did not even write. They also think that he had "good intentions" and, that he is a bright individual.
We are so sympathetic and understanding of him ... with Hugo Chavez, on the other hand, it is different to say the least. Some people can't even stand his tone of voice, and their blood pressure increases just by listening to him.
There's a simple but true explanation for the difference in attitude towards each of them. One of them comes from a "good family." The other one doesn't.
The definition of "good family" is engraved in our soul since that day of October 12, 1492, in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Roman Catholic Church.
Elio Cequea
feico57@aol.com
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Not everything can be solved by having a strike every single day
<a href=www.vheadline.com>Venezuela's Electronic News
Posted: Sunday, April 27, 2003
By: Thais J. Gangoo
VHeadline.com lifestyle correspondent Thais J. Gangoo writes: When a new day comes, we all expect to have a good one ... although sometimes we get in shock when we see that the outside world is a big mess.
My first thought, when I left home last Tuesday, and I saw a long line of people on the street waiting for the bus, was: "Is a strike going to make any difference today?"
Not only that, is it true what people say the next day? "Oh! nothing happened after all."
I will never forget what my boss told me the day before ... nothing that we do to harm ourselves can do any good. It's not true that after a strike nothing happens ... what it is true is the fact that nothing good happens after it.
This week has been a roller coaster for many people I know. I've seen so many weird things going on around me ... and they all involve people getting upset and doing something they regret a few hours later.
As my grandma says: "Think first, then do what you have to do."
It seems to me these days that people "explode" when they feel they are being attacked in a certain way ... acting in a very defensive way has become a very important issue we all deal with in our lives. The cause is probably the famous "stress." ... it's well known that not only Venezuelans, but a lot of people around the world suffer from it.
Being defined as continuous feelings of worry caused by difficulties in people's lives that prevent them from relaxing, stress is one of the most dangerous enemies we have in the world.
- Over 90% of disease is caused or complicated by stress.
- Long-term stress is strongly associated with depression, heart disease, gastrointestinal disorders and weakened immune systems.
- The percentage of adults being treated for depression: 54%
No wonder stress can destroy our lives.
From a general strike to small ones ... are we having a better and enjoyable life now?
Is it better, the way we feel, and the way we live, after 2 months of doing nothing but fighting each other? I don't think so!
I must admit, I understand many people are upset about the whole situation, not only in Venezuela but also around the world.
Not only about Venezuela but it's something I'm concerned about for people all over the world.
A way of protesting is what we call a "strike" ... it is necessary sometimes because people want to be listened to ... however, not everything can be solved by having a strike every single day.
One day it's doctors, the next bus drivers, two days later there you see teachers on the street also protesting ... and so on.
We can't build a country that way.
Do we have any moral to tell others that fighting is bad?
Do we have the right to teach our kids what is right by sometimes doing the wrong things?
Again, I'm not saying it's always wrong to have a strike ... but let's think about it!
It's not always necessary. Aren't there some other ways for people to be taken seriously by our leaders? And when I say leaders, I'm not only talking about politics but also about leaders we have in common such as parents, bosses, teachers, etc. They're our leaders and so we are for others too...
I'm tired of seeing my country destroying itself ... deep inside it has made me feel like a tornado in the middle of a town ... there are so many things going on, and, suddenly, it comes and it makes you feel like crap and totally destroyed.
Feeling our hands tied has become a nightmare for many of us.
Sometimes we feel there's nothing we can do to stop this crisis ... no matter how hard we work or how positive our attitude is ... the ghost of frustration is always around.
Although we're in the middle of a crisis, we always try to do our best in order to make this country a better place to live in ... a place where the rules are followed ... and the respect for each other is a right and not something we must fight for.
Light to be seen at end of tunnel for Venezuela's Truth Commission?
<a href=www.vheadline.com>Venezuela's Electronic News
Posted: Sunday, April 27, 2003
By: Patrick J. O'Donoghue
The proposed Truth Commission under parliamentary discussion for the last year is still dangling in uncertainty, despites assurances from National Assembly deputy Guillermo Palacios that the law could be passed on May 6.
Last Friday, the deputies agreed to hold a second reading bringing the commission into being on May 6 ... but some opposition members are already raising objections to some clauses, alleging that the government bench is stalling to avoid possible posterior legal actions against President Hugo Chavez Frias for his alleged part in the events of April 11, 2002.
Accion Democratica (AD) deputy, Wilfredo Febres accuses the government bench of lacking political will and of filling the commission with flunkies, such as members of the Tupamaros urban guerrilla group and Bolivarian Circles.
Although deputy Palacios is optimistic that the law will be passed, most observers feel that more obstacles will be placed delaying the commission, as both sides of the House slug it out to gain a dominant position in such an important and allegedly independent investigation.
PROVEA pulls the Venezuelan State up for failing Yanomami indians
<a href=www.vheadline.com>Venezuela's Electronic News
Posted: Sunday, April 27, 2003
By: Patrick J. O'Donoghue
Venezuelan human rights groups PROVEA accuses the Venezuelan government of failing the Yanomami indians, after assuming a formal commitment before the Inter American Human Rights Commission (IAHRC) to redress a massacre in 1993, when 12 Yanomamis were murdered by Brazilian wildcat miners in the border area of Haximu.
The case came to the attention of IAHRC in December 1996 and in 1999, the court reached a friendly agreement with the Venezuelan State to settle the matter of compensation with the Venezuelan government.
PROVEA's Marino Alvarado criticizes the government because it has boasted about its improving the lot of indigenous peoples but when it comes to the crunch, it leaves them suffering high levels of misery.
"Even though the crimes were committed by Brazilian miners, the Venezuelan State must assume some kind of responsibility."
Venezuela as a State has come under increasing criticism for its failure to comply with state obligations and IAHR Court rulings, especially in compensating victims of massacres by security forces during the last two decades ... El Amparo in 1988, Caracazo in 1989, just to mention two highly-profiled cases.