As per early turn out results, it looks like Zelaya’s old competitor, Mr. Lobo (AKA The Wolf), is the likely winner. It makes sense after Zelaya’s party, which was the same as Micheletti’s, has emerged with a broken image, a little like the Republican party here in the states. However, at least Mr. Micheletti of the same party tried to rectify Zelaya’s screw up. But given what had only happened five months ago, it makes sense people are going to trust the blue and white flag party and run away from anything with red in it. After all, it is well known that Chavist ideology is associated with red, AKA the red Wave spreading throughout Latin America. I call it the political ideology cancer spreading through Latin America.
In the end, beyond the victory of Zelaya’s opposition party, the more important victory is that of the great and brave people of Honduras. Contrary to Zelaya and supporters calls for boycotting the elections and asking people to stay home and abstain from voting, they came out en masse, as if to do the exact opposite of what the man who claimed to be the legitimate leader of the Honduras people asked them to do. By having come out in huge numbers to vote, and doing the very opposite of what Zelaya asked, Hondurans spoke loud and clear, so the rest of the world could hear their message. Zelaya is not their leader. They don’t want him back and he and his supporters are minute little irrelevant people who only move with Chavez’ grease money and who scream the loudest.
Many of us Latin Americans, living there or elsewhere, who had been following the situation closely and were very concerned, are thrilled to see the little country of Honduras having taken a stand against the bullying of Hugo Chavez and his dictator friends.
Bravo Hondurans! You showed the world you follow and respect your constitution, that you treasure it, and that you treasure your democracy. It inspires the rest of us Latin Americans to also show the world that Hugo Chavez’ diseased polittics, handicapping and choking the thriving, resource-rich countries in the region are irrelevant, wrong, and don’t represent the majority of us. Just like Zelaya claimed to represent his people, while selfishly calling for sanctions against them, just so he returns to power, the likes of Chavez, Morales, Ortega, Correa, et al, do not represent us and it’s time we hand them their pink slip.
Congratulations Honduras. Not only have you earned your place in the World Cup, but also you have earned your place as the first country to stop Hugo Chavez dead on his tracks and show him who’s boss, the citizens, not the people in office. After such a difficult time and your brave standing in the face of world-wide rebuke, you have earned your place in the hall of inspiring people.
As a tweep said earlier in the #Honduras tweetstream, “Can we borrow your president Micheletti?” Many of us could use him.
Congratulations on your new beginning and God Bless you all.
Picture credits: http://www.laprensahn.com/
P.S. It is extremely worthy of mention that CNN en Español has redeemed itself with its coverage of the Honduras elections. Patricia Janiot saw the truth of Hondurans and her usually fantastic work came through when she interviewed Zelaya, asking him the tough questions. I am hoping to write my next post and highlight that great interview. I’m delighted that CNN had the vision to send Patricia Janiot, one of their best, and kept Sandinista Krupskaia Alis, away from Honduras.
