Although Americans – generally speaking -- care less for whatever happens to their next-door-neighbors, meaning the fellow citizens from other states or even from others cities or counties, it is important they start paying more attention to what’s going on in the world, just to be halfway prepared when the time comes to receive another attack from terrorist activists and other fundamentalist groups that pollute the Earth today, in part, thanks to the nearsighted vision of the foreign policies applied by the US government ever since the beginning of the last century.

When I left Cuba in 1961, someone asked me in Washington State if I came from my country to the US by car, train or plane. I answered I came in “burrito”. We laughed a little, and that was it. I can’t really say if Americans are misinformed, ignorant, or just plain stupid… many of them -- not all of them – of course.

Take for instance what John S. James wrote regarding the conference given by Rodrigo Chávez -- supposedly the national coordinator of Venezuela's “Bolivarian Circles” -- plus whatever was said by a lady that goes by the name of Pheobe Jones Schellenberg, representing an organization called Global Women’s Strike and Larry Robin, owner of Robin’s Bookstore, who sponsored the event which took place in Philadelphia on March 19, this year of the Lord 2003.

I just can very easily imagine the bunch of nonsense spoken by this “Rodrigo Chávez”, whoever he is… the such-called national coordinator of the Venezuelan “Bolivarian Circles”. It is not an adventure to assure the kind of people who attended this “conference”. I wouldn’t doubt at all if a great percentage of Mr. Rodrigo’s audience didn’t know that Venezuela IS NOT part of the Saudi Arabia territory… and that we are not an island.

What worries me is what the American senators and representatives could think of these “Bolivarian Circles”; not that I would loose too much sleep going about the subject, but it bites me to think that the only information regarding these jokers comes from these jokers themselves. The least I can do, just for the heck of it, is give the American “public” our version of these so-called circles and let them use the information the best way they could or want… if any.

Mr. Rodrigo pretends to insult the American intelligence by assuring these grassroot groups grew from zero to 2.000 by mid December of 2001, to 75.000 after April the next year to an incredible and fantastic number of 220.000 when the “conference” was held in Philadelphia last March. Hell, at that growing rate, there will be more “Bolivarian Circles” in Venezuela than people in the US… or even China! I doubt very seriously if nowadays, these “Bolivarian Circles” exist at all as an organized outfit since there is hardly any organization within President Chávez’ government. What they do is go to a section of town where poverty is high and “inaugurate” a “circle”, then, take for granted – if so -- people will join them as regular members. They offer the moon and everybody knows by now they can’t even deliver a piece of white hard and dry cheese.

It is true that President Chávez says that his main goal is to end the poverty of 80% of the Venezuelan population. But saying and doing are two different verbs for a President who says what people want to hear, and do whatever he pleases to do. You let him talk and by the end of his 8-hour speech, both your legs will be so long you can touch the starts in a clear summer night.

Now, this man “Rodrigo” did not lie when he said that in Venezuela 90 people a day die of heart disease, 80% of them with no treatment. And indigenous communities have particularly severe problems, with some having a 90% tuberculosis rate and producing no food. It is true: these people would die if the state does not give them food. The problem is the state gives them no food at all and insists on making it very hard for Venezuelan food-producer industries to continue operating. Unemployment rate rises much faster than what “Rodrigo” assures the “Bolivarian Circles” grow… and so grows poverty not only among the poorest but among the once very-much-strong Venezuelan middle class. While all this is true, our President insists on traveling the world with his 60-million-dollar jet where the flying hour costs thousands and thousands of dollars, enough to prevent a great amount of the deaths taking place among many of these indigenous communities mentioned above.

What “Rodrigo” kept himself from saying is where these “circles” really come from. He didn’t say, for example, that they pretend to be exact copies of the Cubans’ “CDR” (The Revolution Defense Committees) and their main object is to keep an eye on each neighbor to see what goes on in every community. He also didn’t say how many of these so-called “Bolivarian Circles” are really cells of armed criminals to be used in the opposition’s demonstrations to massacre unarmed Venezuelans marching to protest – among other things -- against President Chávez’ life-time intention and dream to make Venezuela sail on the same so called “sea of happiness” Cuba has navigated during the past forty years.

Now, whether American politicians believe me or “Mr. Rodrigo” makes no difference. What they really should mind about is what would happen if democracy goes out of control in Venezuela. Believe not in “pregnant birds”… raise no crows that could later on pick on your own eyes. Remember Osama Bin Laden, Noriega, Sadam Hussein, etc... Keep on sleeping with these “Bolivarians” and I can assure you all that you will wake up wet.

Caracas, May 23rd, 2003

ROBERT ALONSO robertalonso2003@cantv.net

LO RECENTLY PUBLISHED IN THIS PORTAL

ARTICLES AND ESSAYS FROM THE SAME AUTHOR

VIRTUAL PORTFOLIO FROM THE SAME AUTHOR

Posted on Thu, May. 15, 2003 JACKIE MAH Staff Writer

Diana Manrique came to Charlotte from Venezuela in 1993 to learn English and better herself. She went home, only to return seven years later to better others.

Manrique, 34, of Charlotte, who graduated Wednesday night from Central Piedmont Community College, hopes to use her degree in dental hygiene to serve Charlotte's Hispanic community.

When she and her classmates put on a dental clinic during the year for $20 per checkup, Manrique quickly spread the word through Hispanic news outlets to reach what she knew would be an initially hesitant audience.

"They are afraid because they don't speak (English)," Manrique said.

Because the need for Spanish-speaking hygienists is large, Manrique says, she has a number of job offers from which to choose.

Manrique doesn't plan on returning to Venezuela. She believes her mission, as far as she can see, is to stay and aid the Hispanic community here.

Manrique was one of about 320 graduates who walked at Wednesday's ceremony at Cricket Arena on Independence Boulevard.

Chuck Ireland, 41, of Charlotte stood toward the back of the processional with a bad case of nerves.

Elizabeth Willis, 54, of Salisbury, who graduated with a degree in interpreter education, proudly wore her daughter's black mortar board and gown.

In total, CPCC had 800 graduates this year, completing degrees in everything from arts to communication to welding and construction. Mark Erwin, president of Charlotte-based Erwin Capital Inc. and former U.S. ambassador to the republics of Mauritius and Seychelles and to the Federal Republic of Comoros, delivered the keynote address.

CPCC also offers a high school equivalency program, which saw the graduation of about 350 adults earlier in the day, including members of the so-called Lost Boys of Sudan, CPCC officials said.

"This is it, baby!" said CPCC counselor Don Taylor, as he paced with enthusiasm before the ceremony. "This is what we've been working for."

Family members craned their necks and stood on tiptoe to snap photos of the "Pomp and Circumstance" procession.

"I'm really proud of myself that I did it," Manrique said.

She took English classes at CPCC in 1993 because she had family in the area and returned to the college in 2000 because of the increasingly difficult political situation in Venezuela, she said.

Studying in a second language was difficult, Manrique said. But the long afternoons in the CPCC library didn't faze her. In addition to her studies, she gained knowledge of other cultures from her American and international classmates. They swapped recipes and took day trips, and Manrique said she made many friends.

"People thought I was the crazy one when I decided to come here because I had to sell everything," she said. "But now they say I am the smart one."

published: Thursday | May 15, 2003 CARACAS, Venezuela (AP):

VENEZUELA, CONSIDERED by many to be the world capital for beauty queens, may not be able to participate in this year's 'Miss Universe' pageant due to a lack of United States (U.S.) dollars.

Osmel Sousa, president of the Miss Venezuela Organisation, said Tuesday he is "very worried" because foreign exchange controls have prevented the organisation from buying US$80,000 needed to pay expenses for the pageant.

In the last 24 years, contestants prepared by the Miss Venezuela Organisation have won the three most important international beauty contests 12 times -- more than any other country.

Venezuela has won four 'Miss Universe' crowns, five 'Miss World' crowns and three 'Miss International' crowns.

President Hugo Chavez's government imposed foreign exchange controls on January 21 to stop a sharp decline in foreign reserves.

Since sales of U.S. dollars were suspended, Venezuela's exchange controls committee, or Cadivi, has granted just over US$100 million to local businesses. Usually, monthly dollar sales top US$1 billion.

"We have had some inconveniences due to the dollar problem," Sousa told the local Globovision television channel. "We haven't been able to do all the things we need to do bring our representative to the Miss Universe" pageant.

Mariangel Ruiz, a tall 23-year-old brunette, is Venezuela's contender in the 2003 Miss Universe pageant, slated to be held on June 3 in Panama.

<a href=www.busrep.co.za>Business Report May 15, 2003 By Quentin Wray

SA drops in competitiveness index, but it's just technical Johannesburg - South Africa dropped from 16th to 18th place in the IMD world competitiveness ranking in 2003 of economies with populations of more than 20 million people.

However, the change was due to the introduction of two regional economies - Sao Paulo in Brazil and Zhejiang in China, which were ranked 13th and 14th.

The US, Australia, Canada, Malaysia and Germany led the big economy rankings. South Africa was the only African country ranked. Finland, Singapore, Denmark, Hong Kong and Switzerland led the rankings of economies with less than 20 million people . Venezuela and Jordan were the least competitive countries in the two categories.

The Swiss-based IMD aggregates more than 320 competitiveness criteria in 51 countries and eight regional economies.

The report warned that the US current account deficit, budget deficit and proposed tax cuts could increase foreign debt and lead to a further weakening of the dollar in 2003. This would make it harder for developing nations to raise capital. - Quentin Wray

forward.com By DALE FUCHS

In 1986, when Buenos Aires native Isidoro Gravier decided it was time to find a better future for his family, he moved to Madrid, thinking he could settle comfortably into the established Jewish community there. But it was not so easy.

"The people were very friendly and supportive," he recalled, "but the culture felt alien to us, and the attitudes were alien to us."

At the time, Gravier could not have imagined how dramatically the situation would change. Today, using the recipes of his 87-year-old mother-in-law, who is the daughter of Russian immigrants, Gravier operates a catering business specializing in Ashkenazic fare like latkes and blintzes — in Spain, the birthplace of Sephardic Jewry.

Gravier and his family are part of a growing Ashkenazic community in Madrid, a city that now boasts Yiddish-language workshops, book fairs celebrating the works of Sholom Aleichem and, most recently, a Jewish theater club.

Spain — legendary as the country that expelled and killed its Jews in 1492 — may not seem the obvious place for a Ashkenazic Jewish community. But roughly 15% of Spain's 30,000 Jewish residents today are of Central and Eastern European descent, and that percentage is climbing. More than 250 Jewish families — overwhelmingly Ashkenazic — have come to Spain from Argentina in the last six months alone, according to Argentinian rabbi Adrian Herbst. A continuous flow is expected as social and economic conditions worsen in Buenos Aires, which is still home to 180,000 Jews.

"Those who come from Latin America — Argentina, Uruguay and Venezuela — usually don't speak English, so they don't want to go to the States. They don't speak Hebrew so they don't want to go to Israel — and, besides, for them Israel would be like trading one crisis for another," Herbst said. "Where else should they go?"

Though Spain may seem like a reasonable answer, its largely Sephardic and Orthodox community poses unique challenges for many recent immigrants. "Even in the synagogue we felt uncomfortable," said Gravier's wife, Lidia Sigal, looking back on her initial impressions in 1986. She noted that the Sephardic and Orthodox traditions in Madrid were "nothing like what we were accustomed to in Buenos Aires."

"Most of the Jews who just arrived from Argentina are used to a real synagogue for Friday night services, sending their kids to youth groups and Hebrew school and maybe even studying something themselves during the week," Herbst said. "When they get to Spain, they miss that. They don't tend to be very religious, but they enjoy being part of a community. When they realize they don't fit in, some feel like leaving the country. But if we develop an Ashkenazi community, not only will they want to stay, but Spain could become a natural destination for Jews from all over Latin America."

To that end, Herbst traveled to Madrid last month to help its Conservative synagogue, Bet El, deal with the recent influx of Argentine immigrants. The congregation is fast outgrowing the modest apartment, crammed with people sitting in bridge chairs, that serves as makeshift sanctuary and meeting place. Holidays are standing-room only and this past Yom Kippur services had to be moved to a hotel to accommodate the 200 attendees.

In addition to finding a new space for the synagogue, a main priority is hiring a permanent rabbi. Until now, Sabbath, Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur services have been conducted by a good-natured accountant who once studied at a seminary in Argentina but was never ordained. "He does it as a hobby," Herbst said. "He doesn't have time to offer spiritual guidance during the week; he's busy working."

While the historic community was wiped out some 500 years ago, the modern Jewish presence in Spain goes back more than a century. As early as 1917, more than 1,000 Jews were living in Madrid. They prayed in a rented apartment on Príncipe Street until the Spanish Civil War, when they were forced to go underground. "Some Yom Kippur celebrations ended up in the police station," said Isaac Querub Caro, former president of the officially recognized Jewish Community of Madrid. Scholars are still divided on the extent to which Franco's fascist regime helped Jews during Hitler's time. According to Caro, officials offered them refuge "as long as they were on their way to somewhere else."

The first significant wave of Jewish immigrants arrived in 1956, following Morocco's independence from French and Spanish colonial rule. The official reason, popular in political circles here, is that Jews sought better schools and economic opportunities for their children; the unofficial reason is that they feared repression by the new Arab government. The Six-Day War in 1967 provoked a similar exodus of North African immigrants, Sephardic Jews who spoke Haketia, a version of Ladino that combines Arabic, French and Hebrew with 14th-century Spanish, the language of their ancestors.

When a law guaranteeing religious freedom was finally passed in 1968, the Orthodox Sephardic community in Madrid received permission to build Spain's first new synagogue since the Inquisition, in the heart of the capital on Balmes Street. Spanish King Juan Carlos even made a highly publicized visit there in 1992, acknowledging the grave mistake made by King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella 500 years earlier.

The Conservative Ashkenazic community of Bet El has a long way to go to reach the level of organization achieved by the Sephardim of Balmes Street. But it is on its way. Last October, the organization Masorti-Olami of the World Council of Conservative Synagogues sent two "consultants" to help. Rebecca and Eytan Hammerman have spent the last eight months setting up weekly Hebrew classes, youth groups and, once a month, Saturday morning services, all with an Ashkenazic flavor.

"These are people who came from a huge Jewish community, where you walk down the street and feel the Jewish culture in the air, like in New York," Rebecca Hammerman said, speaking of the Argentine immigrants. "Here that's not the case. They don't have contact with Jews in their daily life. And in Balmes Street, they haven't felt that comfortable. We need to create a place where they belong."

The organizers are counting on ordinary folks like Claudia Filozof to make things change. Filozof, a doctor, left Buenos Aires with her husband, mother and two teenage children less than a year ago. After finding a job, renting an apartment in Madrid and settling the kids in new schools, she was ready for the next step: getting back into step with the rhythms of Jewish life. First Filozof visited the synagogue on Balmes Street, but "didn't feel anything," she said. "It was like going to a Greek ceremony." After a while, she found out about the Conservative services at Bet El's shabby apartment. "It felt like family," she recalled.

Back in Argentina, Filozof's family was not especially observant, and the kids hardly ever went to Friday night services. But here, suddenly swimming in strange waters, the teens don't skip a week. The eldest boy is especially sensitive to anti-Israeli sentiments of his classmates at the public high school and has sought out any Jewish youth activities available. This Passover, the family joined 200 other Argentinian Jews for a mega-Seder at a local restaurant.

"There was dancing and kosher food and lots of little kids running around all over the place," Filozof gushed in her melodious Argentine Spanish. "We all ended up singing 'Halleluyah.'"