If Chavez Frias were to walk out, the 'Revolucion' would die.

www.vheadline.com Posted: Sunday, February 09, 2003 - 1:02:17 AM By: Dawn Gable

Date: Sat, 08 Feb 2003 02:45:28 +0000 From: Dawn Gable morning_ucsc@hotmail.com To: editor@vheadline.com Subject: Reply to Hector Dauphin-Gloire

Dear Editor: I have to say that I agree wholeheartedly with Hector Dauphin-Gloire that the 'Revolucion' is what is important. Chavez has said it himself ... and it is definitely all of our responsibility to continue the 'Revolucion' with or without him.

However, I do not believe that Chavez is beaten. and I do think he can be the one to see the 'Revolucion' through to consolidation. He is a great figurehead ... he is bold, sincere, direct, personable, friendly and he has the vocal style of a minister ... he is the head. There may need to be changes in who is feeding him direction and advise ... he could also use a good PR and a better speechwriter to help him keep his foot out of his mouth.

But a kinder, gentler version of Chavez in the form of some puppet 'chavista' will get the 'Revolucion' nowhere. While I was traveling around Venezuela, and asking every person I happened to meet along the way, the most frequent response I got was that Chavez needed to "put on his pants" (which means "get tougher") ... not Chavez needs to be more willing to compromise.

I agree that he has achieved more than most leaders dream, just by bringing about the 'Revolucion' and awakening the spirit of the masses once again, helping to create a more welcoming atmosphere in LA for-like minded leaders.

I think that in the end ... if he is constitutionally forced to leave ... he may do something like what you have suggested. He may throw his support behind someone on the left while he takes a rest in Cuba. But, if we 'Revolucionaries' do our job, he will only be on a short vacation and will return to Venezuela, as the 'Revolucion' gains strength.

But Chavez can not just resign and walk away.  Never.

That would ... at least symbolically ... be an abandonment of the 'Revolucion' and it would be seen by his supporters as personal abandonment. Like I said before, they already think that he is not fighting hard enough for them ... and he has lost some support over allowing the media to run rampant etc.

If he were to walk out, the 'Revolucion' would die.

Happily, we are not at the point that these decisions need to be made ... Chavez is still alive and strong ... not only in Venezuela but in the whole world.

Hasta la victoria siempre!

Dawn Gable morning_ucsc@hotmail.com