Dawn Gable: I have never felt so willing to give my life as on that day

<a href=www.vheadline.com>Venezuela's Electronic News Posted: Tuesday, April 22, 2003 By: Dawn Gable

Date: Tue, 22 Apr 2003 04:58:14 +0000 From: Dawn Gable morning_ucsc@hotmail.com To: Editor@VHeadline.com Subject: Chavez the Film

Dear Editor: I would like to publicly express my gratitude to all those who participated in bringing us The Revolution Will Not Be Televised (Chavez the Film). 

• As I have stated before I was in Venezuela during the coup and for the 2 years surrounding the coup ... my partner is a Guardia Nacional de la Republica soldier.

I am so touched by this film ... I cannot watch it without crying, reliving the emotions I experienced during those few days of disbelief. I knew all along that Chavez did not resign. I knew it the moment I heard the news. I spent the first day walking around the ranch cussing, sitting in an old irrigation pipe crying, and talking on the phone to the GN at Corozopando.  The guards were itching to go to Caracas and save their President ... but they were told to hang tight and that there was a plan ... they were very frustrated and angry.

The day Chavez returned to power, we went into the city before we heard the news that Chavez had returned. My Venezuelan anti-Chavez co-worker warned me to not wear anything that identified me as a Chavista and warned me that now it would be dangerous to let anyone know I was a supporter ... an American co-worker mumbled “some democracy” in response. I did not heed the advice ... I have never felt so willing to give my life as on that day.

As we approached small towns on the way to the city of Guarico, we noticed cars with shoe polish writing on their windows that said “ Chavez volvio” and "Chavez hasta 2026" (I think that was the date?) ... it suddenly became very clear what had happened as we entered the city. There was a parade of Chavistas driving back and forth through the streets chanting and singing and celebrating. I jumped out the window of the car and joined in while my anti-Chavez driver ate crow.

One of my co-workers and I spent the day watching the state-owned TV station in our room in the city while our anti-Chavez hosts spent the day in their room watching the private stations fabricate a new story.

I will never forget these few days ... they have changed me as much or more than 9/11 changed the people who were here in the States on that horrifying day.

Thanks to all for capturing this on film ... you all are true heroes.

Dawn Gable morning_ucsc@hotmail.com