You want to attack Hugo Chavez? - Democratic Underground

Minstrel Boy

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Fri Sep-16-05 03:27 PM
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You want to attack Hugo Chavez?

Edited on Fri Sep-16-05 03:32 PM by Minstrel Boy

You choose, at this hour of this world crisis, to expend your energy bashing the most progressive and inspirational statesman with the greatest democratic mandate? The only leader who doesn't mince words or actions about the illegitimacy and criminality of the Bush White House and the venality of neoliberalism?

At this time, as we totter on this precipice, it's Hugo Chavez you call a "Fascist" and "Dictator"?

April 22, 2002: the announcement Chavez has "resigned"

From Chavez's closing remarks at the 2005 World Social Forum:

"If we don't make that better world possible, if we fail, and through the rifles of the U.S. Marines, and through Mr. Bush's murderous bombs, if there is no coincidence and organization necessary in the south to resist the offensive of neo-imperialism, and the Bush doctrine is imposed upon the world, the world will be destroyed."

A soldier loyal to Chavez as the people converge on the presidential palace

"One day the decay inside U.S. imperialism will end up toppling it, and the great people of Martin Luther King will be set free. The great people of the United States are our brothers, my salute to them.... We must start talking again about equality. The U.S. government talks about freedom and liberty, but never about equality. They are not interested in equality. This is a distorted concept of liberty. The U.S. people, with whom we share dreams and ideals, must free themselves… A country of heroes, dreamers, and fighters, the people of Martin Luther King, and Cesar Chavez."

Chavez greeted, after the coup is overturned

But it's Chavez you attack?

History's most celebrated constitutions are revolutionary documents. From the 1999 Constitution of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela:

Article 132 states that everyone has the duty to fulfill his or her social responsibilities through participation in the political, civic, and community life of the country with the goal of promoting and protecting human rights as the foundation of democratic coexistence and social peace. Article 133 repeals forcible recruitment into the armed forces, but recognizes everyone’s duty to perform civilian or military service as may be necessary for the defense, preservation, and development of the country.

Article 135 says that the state’s obligation to the general welfare of society does not preclude the obligation of private individuals to participate according to their abilities. These duties describe participation much beyond the electoral process. They compel the public to see themselves as not so much the governed masses, but as active builders of their own society.

Venezuelans and their constitution

And yet, you attack Chavez?

Recently the Venezuelan government distributed a million free copies of Don Quixote to celebrate its 400th anniversary and the success of its literacy program. "To some extent, we are followers of Quixote," said Chavez, as he encouraged Venezuelans to "feed ourselves once again with that spirit of a fighter who went out to undo injustices and fix the world."

But it's Chavez who is the enemy?

Who might your friends be?