This is an email I sent out the last time I was in Caracas, October 2005.......with some additions....
Most people would be bothered having to begin their sunday confronted with a street protest. But being back in Caracas, it makes me feel right at home.
I promised my Mom I would stay from all things political. (Does she know who her child is?) Though in Caracas that means you would be living in a vacuum.
I left the hotel and walked up the street and voila! a protest by a group of citizens criticizing President Chavez. And as I was walking up the street I notice there were no cars. Now for those of you who know Plaza Francia/Altamira and Avenida Fransico Miranda (right by the metro) it is rare to not see any traffic. Then you hear the honking and the quarrels and insults. Soon, you arrive to realize that they have completely closed down the avenue. Finally, motorists just backed up the street and went around. The unifying factor amongst the protesters were skeletons or skulls. Icons of death. They argue that Chavez is killing the nation with corruption and bad policies.
Granted, for those of you on Chavez Watch like me, there is the good and the bad. Clearly his policies have included many social reforms, such as a literacy campaign and healthcare for the poor. These programs are organized under the titles of Missions. For example, Mision Milagros has been providing eye surgery to the blind or those suffering from vision problems to people all over Latin America and I maybe also the US. Mision Negra Hipolita is an aggressive social welfare program aimed at getting the homeless off the streets.
On the flip side, Chavez has yet to overcome his polarizing affect on the nation. There are black lists maintained by both sides of the political spectrum. To some degree the state of polarization has created a climate of intolerance. The Opposition maintains a list barring KNOWN chavistas from employment, as do the Chavistas. Should you criticize his policies in any way in a place of business you are branded. In fact, friends tell me that there is a database in which names are organized based on whether or not they support the President. So, should you seek employment, employers will refer to this database to determine whether or not you are Chavista. If you are not Chavista you could be denied employment. For example, I have met skilled people who can't get work because they may not be of either political camp and lack the contacts to capitalize on a little nepotism.
Considering this, it is important to recognize the context of this policy in the socio-historic framework of Venezuela. For centuries the White European oligarchy had complete control over domestic politics and the economy. Social mobility was virtually impossible. So, even though there wasn`t a database to determine your qualifications for employment in the past there was an instutionalized social code that did. Therefore, you could argue that this new policy is retribution for centuries of oppression and poverty. But does that make it right? Furthermore, is about right and wrong? These are some the questions I have been asking myself for a sometime and even more so while I am here.
Sunday, July 02, 2006
Saturday, July 01, 2006
the reviews are in
Have any of you seen Sequestro Express? I think a few of you may have asked me if I had and recommended it because you knew of my interest in Venezuela. Well, I bought the bootleg for 1 and change and watched it.
Where shall I begin?
First of all, what a horrible portrayal of Venezuela. Secondly, what a crock. The director, was trying to be Quentin Tarantino meets Amorres Perros. Lord! Third, the movie was way to coincidental. Fourth, the kidnappings are way worse than depicted. Fifth, ( and i may get flack for this)....how can I put it? Let me preface what I am about to say with this, being kidnapped is not cool. No one has the right to terrorize anyone else because of their race, creed, interest, bla bla bla....If you are to consider the film in a vacuum as a movie that artistically interprets an increasing problem in Caracas than okay. But the fact of the matter is, WE don't live in a vacuum, nor do we live in the movies. Out of all the films that could've been made about the every life challenges and obstacles people have to put up with here between the corruption, the mafia, the crime, and poverty, the Director makes a film about a priveleged couple (one of which has good intentions to change the world) that has been victimized by poor Venezuelans that take life for granted and see their kidnappings as their own private populist revolution against the rich. Why can't a film be made about the poor and middle class who suffer from years of repression due to poor governance, corruption, the mafia, crime, and poverty. Why? Because it's not sexy enough.
Carla, the female protagonist is a sympathetic wealthy girl who volunteers in a free clinic and tries to use this as capital with her kidnappers. As if to say, I know that being rich in a country where 80% of the people are poor is a bit unfair but i VOLUNTEER in a FREE clinic so cut me some slack. Worse was when she comments that being rich isn't a crime...which it is not? But it is a bit hard to take when you are living in a city where more than half earn less than five bucks or so a day. Should the poor terrorize the rich because they are rich? No, clearly. But in a city where one out of every four people carries a gun and with a murder rate rivaling Rio's one has to take stock of what is going on.
Lately, the number of kindnappings has escalated and rumor is it will likely continue to do so. Members of the Mafia and Opposition leaders would like to see Chavez leave. No matter how, if you catch my drift. Increasing kidnappings and violence will discredit his "progressive" social programs and create doubt in the voter's conscience as they approach elections in December....at least that is what THEY are hoping will happen.
The more I open my eyes and ears to what is really going on here in Caracas the more I realize that Chavez has greater challenges to face than opposition domestically, from the US and abroad. One of his most fierce obstacles to achieving his Bolivarian dream will be La Mafia adentro/The Mafia inside. Second, he will have to revolutionize a human/social system that recognizes no formal or traditional means by which to conduct government. There is a culture of poverty and corruption so endemic that few have an interest in changing the status quo.
In my opinion, in order for Chavez to fully execute his goals he will have to become more authoritarian and presidentialist in order to effectively overcome domestic obstacles. He sees socialism in Venezuela's future but in order to do so he needs to educate the people and a generation of young people. For a country that allows a president only six years in office Chavez will need to work fast by capitalizing on high oil prices to generate revenue for his social programs while consolidating power to offset opposition.
Where shall I begin?
First of all, what a horrible portrayal of Venezuela. Secondly, what a crock. The director, was trying to be Quentin Tarantino meets Amorres Perros. Lord! Third, the movie was way to coincidental. Fourth, the kidnappings are way worse than depicted. Fifth, ( and i may get flack for this)....how can I put it? Let me preface what I am about to say with this, being kidnapped is not cool. No one has the right to terrorize anyone else because of their race, creed, interest, bla bla bla....If you are to consider the film in a vacuum as a movie that artistically interprets an increasing problem in Caracas than okay. But the fact of the matter is, WE don't live in a vacuum, nor do we live in the movies. Out of all the films that could've been made about the every life challenges and obstacles people have to put up with here between the corruption, the mafia, the crime, and poverty, the Director makes a film about a priveleged couple (one of which has good intentions to change the world) that has been victimized by poor Venezuelans that take life for granted and see their kidnappings as their own private populist revolution against the rich. Why can't a film be made about the poor and middle class who suffer from years of repression due to poor governance, corruption, the mafia, crime, and poverty. Why? Because it's not sexy enough.
Carla, the female protagonist is a sympathetic wealthy girl who volunteers in a free clinic and tries to use this as capital with her kidnappers. As if to say, I know that being rich in a country where 80% of the people are poor is a bit unfair but i VOLUNTEER in a FREE clinic so cut me some slack. Worse was when she comments that being rich isn't a crime...which it is not? But it is a bit hard to take when you are living in a city where more than half earn less than five bucks or so a day. Should the poor terrorize the rich because they are rich? No, clearly. But in a city where one out of every four people carries a gun and with a murder rate rivaling Rio's one has to take stock of what is going on.
Lately, the number of kindnappings has escalated and rumor is it will likely continue to do so. Members of the Mafia and Opposition leaders would like to see Chavez leave. No matter how, if you catch my drift. Increasing kidnappings and violence will discredit his "progressive" social programs and create doubt in the voter's conscience as they approach elections in December....at least that is what THEY are hoping will happen.
The more I open my eyes and ears to what is really going on here in Caracas the more I realize that Chavez has greater challenges to face than opposition domestically, from the US and abroad. One of his most fierce obstacles to achieving his Bolivarian dream will be La Mafia adentro/The Mafia inside. Second, he will have to revolutionize a human/social system that recognizes no formal or traditional means by which to conduct government. There is a culture of poverty and corruption so endemic that few have an interest in changing the status quo.
In my opinion, in order for Chavez to fully execute his goals he will have to become more authoritarian and presidentialist in order to effectively overcome domestic obstacles. He sees socialism in Venezuela's future but in order to do so he needs to educate the people and a generation of young people. For a country that allows a president only six years in office Chavez will need to work fast by capitalizing on high oil prices to generate revenue for his social programs while consolidating power to offset opposition.
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