Let the Games Begin

If some of you read the NY Times this weekend (Sunday, September 10) you may have caught the article on PAGE 3! of the A section on the local games played in Venezuela.

Now, if you didn't read the article here is a brief summary. Coleo is a local game played in Barinas, Chavez's home state. The object of the game is to see how many times competitors, riding horses, can trip the bulls while pulling their tails. Granted, I think it is assinine, but I think the same way about most competetive sports in America and the world abroad. The article comes off as making the locals, and all those Venezuelans who engage in this game seem like a bunch of backwards illiterate hicks with no sense of decency. Now, bullfighting, which is still practiced in SPAIN to this very day as it is in Venezuela, Mexico, and Peru is as "brutal" and "inhumane" a spectator sport as Coleo. Punto. But because it is Venezuela, the current political climate warrants publishing anything in the media to demonize anything Chavez. This article on Coleo has become a psuedo- representation of what the media wants to portray about Venezuela.

I mean really....Is the NYTimes serious? In all the madness going on in this world---Sudan, Iraq, Afghanistan, Lebanon, Israel, Somalia, Niger, Chad, Sri Lanka---an article about some bull-teasing country game in one of the most remote regions of Venezuela garners the right to PAGE 3!! (G-d Help US) of the New York Times A section Page 3 on Sunday, September 10. Especially since it was followed by two HUGE ads and then some chiquito articles on Iraq and Iran. Why else would they publish such an article and give it such significant placement?

If you ask yourself the question: What about this makes it newsworthy to the American public? it seems a bit silly to write an article about Coleo. But, since the fundamental premise to presenting international news to the American public is to answer the question: What does this have to do with me? Then it makes sense. Right? Right....but in a sinous kind of way.

Why are Americans concerned at all about Venezuela and Chavez? Besides his anti-American rhetoric and diplomatic ties with our sworn enemies. THE OIL!!!! The black gold....Petroleo!!! Por dios! Problems or concerns regarding Venezuela makes the price of oil go up which upsets the American consumer. This is why we care about Venezuela. At least for the most basic of reasons. Chavez+Oil= Rising Prices at the Pump. At least that's the formula the media and politicians have been using. (In actuality the price of oil doesn't need to be anywhere near what it is. But that's for another blog.)

So, printing an article about some "brutal" sport in some country Venezuelan town helps perpetuate a negative image of Venezuela further bolstering opposition towards his leadership in the States.

Now, why would the NYTimes publish an article on Coleo on page 3 of section A on a Sunday? Duh....because it's newsworthy.