Houston's International Scene: Unrest in Venezuela, but unity here

www.chron.com Jan. 12, 2003, 10:09PM By MAE GHALWASH

The political, social and economic turbulence that started in April in Venezuela has sparked a patriotic fervor among members of the Venezuelan-American community in Houston, prompting them to reach out to each other and rediscover their culture.

Hundreds of Venezuelan-Americans have turned out for four major cultural and social gatherings -- during which not a hint of politics was raised -- since April, said Cristal Montanez Joslin, a spokeswoman for the Venezuelan-American Association of Texas, which arranged the events.

"Many people don't like political activities, so we have to work on what people like: the culture that is being lost," Joslin said.

"The culture is not being showcased or shared," she added. "It is our responsibility to develop the cultural talents within the community."

Venezuela's troubles began when clashes erupted over President Hugo Chavez's state oil policies. Chavez survived an earlier coup attempt, but the country remains divided over his rule. Chavez's opponents, mostly members of the elite oil sector, claim he is destroying the country's democracy and economy. His supporters, mostly the poor, accuse the oil giants of using the sector to augment their own bank accounts.

In December, oil workers started a strike to force Chavez from office, and the streets of Caracas have been filled with mass demonstrations in support of the strike and counterdemonstrations in support of Chavez. The strike has crippled Venezuela's oil production, the country's chief source of revenue. Venezuela is the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries' third-largest producer.

The tensions in Venezuela spread to Houston, with anti-Chavez activists staging demonstrations in front of the Venezuelan consulate, five in December alone.

Although those protests received wide local attention, each attracted just over 100 protesters, said Joslin. But nearly 500 Venezuelan-Americans attended each of four cultural and sporting events, Joslin said.

Some Venezuelan-American parents used the cultural events to introduce their American-raised children to their heritage. Children who did not read Spanish, or knew little of Venezuelan music, literature or dance, were soon reading and memorizing songs and poetry in Spanish to recite at the gatherings.

For one event, a children's choir was formed to sing Spanish songs, while other children performed Venezuela's national Joropo dance and still others performed in a musical recital featuring the Venezuelan cuatro, a small, guitar-like instrument.

The most popular of the events was a baseball game, which brought Venezuelan-American teenagers and their families together with others in their community, Joslin said. Some 500 people attended that event.

"I have met more Venezuelans since April than in my almost 25 years here in Houston," said Joslin.