Fast forward three decades later, and I find myself here in the USA, having conversations with other friends who can recall similar experiences, whether they grew up here or abroad. We all openly discuss how products made in China remain low quality, low prestige and of course, very cheap. Gone are the days of buying a good blender with a high speed powerful motor. Of course you can buy a blender at the local cheap goods store in the neighborhood for under $30. Sure you can take it home, use it for the immediate needs, but we all know that such a blender won’t be still sitting in the kitchen counter a few years later.

A few years ago, I found in an antiques shop an old blender, still in its box. Apparently it had been gifted and never opened. It had the seals, the booklet, everything. It was like a time capsule. It was beige, with all the multi-buttons in the front. It had a 60’s/70’s look about it.  The jar was made of sturdy glass. Very sturdy. When I saw the speed of the motor and compared it to my current made in China blender, it was almost double the strenght! I bought it for $30 and took it home to open it with the curiosity of a scientist. I read everything in the booklet. It looked sturdy, solid, well made, the way old products made in the USA used to be. In comparison, my flimsy made in China blender that I had bought at Bed Bad and Beyond felt weaker and lighter. I looked at the bottom of the blender and it said, Made in the USA, Stamford, CT. I am sure that factory is no longer there.

Believe it or not, I put it to use. It was brand new, in the box. This blender was used on a daily basis. We used to put ice cubes and it would smash them to smithereens and keep going.

This blender is an example of the days gone. This is an example of what we have lost. In the eighties, the new administration began to open the door for companies to start making things cheaply elsewhere and bring them back to sell them for less.

Today we have all taken the bait, and put our country’s manufacturing industry out of business.

What has it done for us?

1. Sure! We are buying things cheaper. But if we think about it, are we really saving money in the long run by buying cheap things?

2. These cheap things we buy, usually made in China, don’t last the way other things do. It’s as if they are made so they break within a year or two, and then back to the market to buy again. Not built to last.

3. When disposing of these cheap things, we are hurting our environment, because we are disposing of these plastics and metals more often.

4. Not only are millions of workers jobless here in the USA, but those who are working those jobs overseas are being paid slave wages. Massive size factories paying people insulting wages. The workers out there are not exactly living a middle class lifestyle.

OK. So, we end up buying cheaper things. But are we really? What price are we paying for having this invasion of things made in China.

If we think about it, everyone is getting hurt, except those on top who are making money on this. We think we’re saving money, but in reality we are not, when we have to buy the same product a year or two later because it broke down.

I don’t know about you, but I would prefer to spend a few dollars more on something of quality, made in the USA, than buy something on the cheap that is enslaving masses overseas and keeping people jobless here at home. No doubt, I’ll have to replace the item quite soon, and by throwing out the first item, I’m polluting more!

It’s time we start looking at the labels and start demanding things made in the USA. The Made in USA label always meant built for durability, good quality and prestige.

Not sure how this can be done from the top, but I believe this movement needs to start with each of us. Let’s start asking for things made in the USA the next time we are at a store. We need to be willing to pay a little more. But we do get what we pay for. It is going to be difficult, no doubt, but we have to start somewhere.

It’s time to revive what Made in USA means and has meant. It is time to stop buying what they want us to buy.

If you agree with this, make sure to share this sentiment with at least two other friends. The next time you’re in a store, look at the labels, and ask for the manager. Ask her/him if there are items made in the USA. Hey, look, things made in Europe are pretty good too! Point is, avoid feeding the demand for products made in China.

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STOP PIPA (Senate 968) & SOPA (HR 3261)

★ ★ ★ Please take a minute to tell your Members of Congress you OPPOSE PIPA & SOPA ★ ★ ★

READ MORE BY CLICKING HERE

WE NEED TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT, MOBILIZE. OR IT’LL BE THE END OF THE INTERNET AS WE KNOW IT.

LINK ABOVE WILL TAKE YOU TO CRAIGSLIST NY PROTEST PAGE.

For the Wikipedia page, please go to:  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Main_Page

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Whether it’s women, young men or children, they valiantly face the cameras as they relate a very personal account of someone, usually an authority figure, who crossed the personal boundary line, to go where they were never invited. Usually these depictions are intimate, and here is why I call these victims brave. No one wants to share their intimate affairs in public! Unfortunately it is the only way to give certainty to what happened. The public is usually skeptical, so they want details. Details are fine if you’re talking about a business deal, about software, but about sexual abuse, it is immensely embarrassing. That is why I call these victims brave, because they have to re-live the abuse, by digging back into a memory they rather bury deep somewhere in their minds.

What’s worse, if the victim, who finally finds the strength to come forward is an adult, usually a woman, their personal history is suddenly under the microscope, and given that we’re all humans and have made mistakes along our paths, the past mistakes of these victims are suddenly magnified to take away credibility from their horrendous story. So, now the abuse has taken its second round of harm, this time on a public forum.

Interestingly enough, the focus remains on the victim and their past, and rarely is moved on to the abuser in question.

Skeptics usually will ask, “Why didn’t she say something right there?” “Why did it take her/him this long to say something?” “Is there proof?” “Are there any witnesses?”  Or “Perhaps  she was leading him on?”

Or worse, an even more insensitive crowd will just make statements, “Well, it’s a man’s world, what do you expect?” “You want to be part of the boys club, well, learn to play with the boys.”

I call it insensitive because it is obvious those who question victims of sexual abuse are clueless about the horror of the situation, which beyond the physical, relies on the mental realm to retain its power.

A conversation with a fellow tweep sparked this write up, because I realize each of us have our own perception of this type of abuse.  While some deem it as sexual, I am of the belief that the one thing these crimes have in commons is abuse of power.  Otherwise, how else do these abusers think they can get away with ravaging their victim, coming back for more, for years, confident  they will get away with it. It’s a power thing, it’s about impunity. No doubt, this is my view, and a very debatable topic. I don’t claim to be an authority in psychology, but I do want to share with you my dear readers an insight on this topic, especially if you consider yourself among the skeptics.

The first thing I’ll share here is that sexual abuse, whether you’re a child, or a woman, happens more often than you think. Most people would immediately ask here, why isn’t it reported as often as it happens?  Well, there are many factors in play, and usually the abuser knows them and utilizes these as tools to ensure secrecy.

For example, a known and well respected coach in an all-girls junior high school, begins to touch inappropriately and make sexual advances on some of the students, especially those trying out for the basketball team. He knows they want to make the team. How badly? His psychological advantage will be equivalent to their desire to make the team. That’s likely how he’ll choose his victims. After all, he’s the one with the final say. He’ll have their way with them and their docility and fear of getting a bad grade, not making the team, of embarrassment in front of their classmates, fear no one will believe them, are all factors that will come into play as they face the abuse. The abuser knows this, and perhaps gets a rise out of the possibility of getting caught, yet more confident of the likelihood of getting away with it. In their eyes, the fact that their victim is docile and afraid to fight them back, is implied acceptance. Their sense of power is increased.

Another example, a little four-year old girl has an old and highly revered uncle in the family, whose authority no one questions.  When he’s alone with the little girl, this uncle will pull her on his lap and begin touching her in her intimate parts. The little girl is perhaps three or four years old and doesn’t  understand what is going on, but she knows she doesn’t like it. She’s too small to stand up for herself, but  she keeps fighting and trying to get away from him. He is much bigger and stronger. She’s usually saved when another adult walks into the room. She dreads visiting this uncle throughout the years, because he’ll always try to find a way to be alone with her and make undesired sexual advances on her. Why doesn’t  she say something?  Perhaps because she does not want to hurt the uncle’s wife, or her own parents. She fears bringing this up will break up the family. She is also too embarrassed to say anything and even wonders if they’ll believe her.  It’ll be her word against his.

Another example, a young pharmaceutical sales rep, decently attractive, and a couple of fellow male reps, take a doctor and his wife out to dinner to a top New York restaurant. This doctor is key to the acceptance of the company’s new product into a major hospital formulary, which would mean a great triumph to the team, and to the company. At around dessert time, under the table, the doctor makes his move and starts running his hand along the inner thigh of this young female rep, who happens to be sitting next to him. While her first instinct is to get up, slap him and make a scene, she also knows it’d be over for her company and the relationship with this key client. Do you think the key client knows this? Of course he does! His wife is next to him, on the other side! Again, the risk of getting caught but likely the chance of getting away with it it’s certainly in his mind. What options does the young female rep have here?  Aside from the urge to get up and punch him in the face and cause a scene, she needs to think about the big picture. The official acceptance of this new product, into the hospital formulary would be a major win, and a traveling hand is standing in the way. I won’t tell you how she handled it, but it will suffice to say that the man’s hand was off that leg within seconds. The man, privately embarrassed, got up and sat elsewhere on the table. Apparently no one noticed, except a fellow rep, who had been watching, also at a loss of what to do, given all the dynamics playing in the situation. The product eventually went on formulary at that hospital.

A young woman has a colleague in the office, one  she’d rather avoid. Every time a woman is about to walk into the office, he’ll say, “hooter watch, hooter watch.” He rates women on their “headlights” and “rear bumpers”.  All this goes on in a mostly male environment. Of course this particular situation went on in the late 80’s, before sexual harassment  protection became more visible in the work place. This young woman dreaded coming into work because she also wondered what would this disrespectful, male, but otherwise considered “funny and likable” colleague would say about her. If he dared to say those things in front of her, she would only wonder what he’d say to the all-male office when she wasn’t  around.  The sad thing is that these situations are NOT uncommon. Women have to endure this all the time.

What if she were to walk into HR and denounce this otherwise likable guy? She’d be ostracized as the whiner and complainer.  The working environment would turn very uncomfortable for her, because all the other male colleagues complicitly participated into his female-berating banter and likely won’t appreciate that the “party is over” because of the one woman that was there. What’s more, among them, they will make a mental note not to allow her to participate in any group meetings or projects because she’s a “troublemaker” and “doesn’t play the game.” So, if this woman depends on this job to pay her rent, probably feed her children and put them through school, she knows she’s better off not saying anything, and start looking for another job to move on from that nightmare.

The problem is, even during the exit interview she may not say anything because she may need those references one day and she won’t want it to go on her record that she “made a stink” over a male colleague who will probably be described as a “harmless joker.”  The worse offense of all is that once she’s moved on safely onto another job, the next woman who replaces her will have to endure the same abuse, and be faced with the same choices. Eventually someone will notice and wonder why women don’t last there, and will probably chuck it to women not being reliable or right for the work environment. You always wonder though, if the people who manage those kinds of places really know what’s going on, and if they do, are they silently complicit, especially if they know the offender is a top producer?

What’s more interesting, would you believe each of the situations described above happened to one woman, one average looking woman??

For those of you who believe that sexual harassment, or abuse is set to only happen once if it does at all, it is an eye-opening fact, that a child or a woman can face this situation more than once in their lifetimes.

Many of my female friends have their share of stories of abuse, whether as children or as adults in the work place. Some are horrific stories, too horrific to believe. One of them, when she began to dig into her memories and re-lived the abuse, fell into drug-addiction, was in and out of rehab, and eventually jumped off a Manhattan building. She was beautiful, well off, so smart. No one would have believed her story.

All these stories are real. They have happened, and continue to happen to real people, in the most unlikely situations and places. I find it hard to believe that they only happens once in a blue moon to  a handful of people.

Do you know what happens once in a blue moon? That someone  has the courage to come forward, ready for public scrutiny and eventual ridicule, and denounce their abuser, or the system that protected the abuser. They know they will lose a lot. Their personal reputation will suffer. They probably even will have a hard time retaining their jobs or finding a new one. Employers would be skeptical of hiring “people like that” because they’ll fear any internal issues will be ousted by this “whistleblower”.

It is very difficult to find the strength to break out of a system that allows these abuses to happen, especially if someone’s livelihood depends on the very system.  Those who are courageous enough to do it, know their lives will forever be changed, and not necessarily for the better. And if we’re talking about a child in a bad family situation, the dynamics are even worse, for they’ll be fearing their families be  broken, torn apart, and they’ll needlessly wear their guilt in their conscience for years to come.

So, the next time you see a brave woman or brave young man, step up to the plate and face the media to denounce their horrid story, please be kind, listen with sympathy, if you cannot empathize.

Will there always be someone who abuses the system and will lie about abuse? Sure! But based on what I’ve seen, they are more likely to be the exception than the rule.

Notice that usually these people who come out of the shadows are usually people who point at someone who is or has been in a position of power, and is likely to be protected by their “good reputation” and “top standing in the community.”  How can a child or a young woman, less known, stand up to that?  At least the woman has the option to leave, and the situation won’t be corrected. The child has an even worse situation if it is happening within the family.

In whatever wicked way, the abuser knows their “power” will protect them. They feel they are above the law.

Sexual abuse, harassment, assault, in my opinion, are about abuse of power over someone  who they perceive, is unable to defend themselves, to fight back. Does it arouse some of these criminals? No doubt. The danger of perhaps getting caught, of doing something forbidden, of overpowering a meek prey, it all appeals to the id inside many predators. It smells of base instincts, those that are stronger in some people, stronger than their common sense and whatever intelligence they claim to have. Power, in my opinion, is the number one reason behind it, sexual pleasure is consequential.

So, at this point, I commend all those victims of sexual abuse of any nature, for coming out of the shadows and exposing this awful practice. We all know it’s been going on for as long as we exist as humans, but this is the 21^st century, and if we have not evolved from the early caveman era, then we have little hope for true evolution.

I would like to invite victims of sexual harassment, to speak up more often, whether it is by going to their HR department more often, by making allies out of other people in power positions, who will give you the benefit of the doubt when you speak up. Today is a bit easier to speak up. If nothing else, use your personal technology to record the crimes, and always be on guard, especially when you see the red flags. If your instinct tells you something is wrong, listen to it, arm yourself with your technology and record it. If no one believes you and you have recorded it, you have many more options today. And if going to the authorities does not help you, then you know the public  forums are the way to go.

Denounce your abuser.  We need to let these predators know that their crimes will no longer go unpunished or remain a secret. Let’s get it out in the open. Record it, tape it, but do not let them get away with it. That is how you’ll take away their power over you.

And as far as the rest of us, let’s not be so quick to jump to judgment. The victim has much more to lose when they step up and speak up. No one wants to be in their shoes. So, be kind and try to understand. Given that this happens so often, you can only hope it won’t happen to you, or someone you love.

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The moment that some people who identified themselves with the #OWS movement did not like my tweets about them, I was unfollowed. That behavior is no different than the very people they are opposing! Geesh! What is this? Some type of ideology that if you don’t follow to the letter you are shunned?

To expand on my thinking from this morning, I am not happy with the way the occupiers were treated as they were removed from Zucotti Park, however, I do believe it was necessary that a refresh occurs. And before any of you OWS supporters turn away, hear me out first, because I have the feeling I’m speaking up certain things that others, moderates and independents who like me, support you, won’t dare to tell you.

Each one of us, the average citizen, who toils to work every day, who pays outrageous bank and credit card fees, who got scammed in the housing boom by the greedy banks, who feel scammed by the liars in Washington D.C., and their K-Street lords, are thrilled, elated, excited that you guys took the time, effort and put yourselves out there and started this amazing movement that speaks for us, the silent majority who doesn’t have the time to occupy because there are so many other duties we must attend to, that there is no time. Here is where many of us decided to visit your location, bring stuff, go online and donate, since we couldn’t be there all the time as you have, to support you 100%, even if we can’t be there 100% of the time like you are.

Our support of the OWS movement, however, does not mean that we also support some of your methods.

While occupying beautiful Zucotti Park is certainly a way to make a statement, quite the statement no doubt, given how its lights were out the whole time you have been there, your statement has been heard loud and clear around the world, by everyone whose head hasn’t been in the sand. Thank you for speaking for us. However, moving into Zucotti Park and putting up tents, living under tarps, in the less than acceptable conditions, where in the past few weeks your movement has been filtered by petty criminals and less than desirable types, staining the good image of the movement, is certainly a major credibility killer.

I have been there, a few times, anonymously. I don’t tell you when I go there. I have spoken to some of your fine people at the “information” tables. I have seen the good work and organization. I have stood among you in the general assemblies and heard your valuable input. As I’ve walked about Zucotti Park, my heart has been broken watching some of you sleeping in bags in the cold concrete, braving rain and cold weather under tarps and tents. I respect and admire your risking police brutality, disdain, your health! What’s more, I’ve admired your amazing work online, and love the fact that Anonymous is behind you. But in truth, guys and gals, I have also seen some really odd characters there, detracting from your message. While everyone is allowed to express themselves, it seems that allowing these oddballs in the movement take away from the message. After all, it is these oddballs that make the cameras and the 6 o’clock news. We, the 99% you represent see this. I’ve seen the majority of OWS peeps at Zucotti Park, and I’ll tell you that you’re not well represented in pictures and videos!

Given the few times I’ve been to Zucotti Park, and especially having heard about some of the petty crimes happening inside the tents, makes it very difficult for your average Jane to just walk in there by herself, especially in a suit after work. Whenever I tell my friends I go there to visit the movement, I am always told, “be careful!”. This, coming from middle class professionals who are too busy to come down, but who I know have donated online supporting you. What does that say about the way the movement is perceived by the very people you are claiming to represent?

What’s more, I will confess that the smell of homelessness remains in my clothes long after I’m gone, every time I visit. The majority of the press has been diplomatic enough not to go there and share that with viewers when reporting, but those of us who have walked among you, seen the tents, know what I’m talking about. The comedians such as Stephen Colbert have touched upon the hygiene issue, which is no secret.

While we root for you, as we watch from afar, via the net, the TV, these minor detractors such as petty crimes, hygiene issues, noise, are slowly peeling away at the credibility of the movement.

Yes, you say there is no leader, but someone is handling your web presence, someone is handling the donations web page. I plead to those of you leading the movement, whoever you are; it is time to take it to the next level. You have earned enough attention and admiration, hopefully enough monetary support to open up your own offices, perhaps to rent a small building/location to house some of the people who have travelled from afar to join the movement. Why don’t you take it to the next level?

Isn’t it time you open up locations around the country? These offices could be staffed by volunteers. This movement, which we all know has gone global, could also transform itself into a powerful organized global political force, something the current establishment will fear even more and will have no choice but to take more seriously. What is wrong with protesting during the day and going home at night? Why can’t that be done?

Going back to the park, building tents and creating the conditions again that led to the petty crimes, the lack of safety, the lack of hygiene in there, is no way to increase your credibility. On the contrary, it squashes it. You all know well that throwing rocks at City Hall is not going to get you too far.

I bet if you take it to the next level and get rid of the minor deterrents which the OWS movement has been plagued with lately, open up campaign offices and organize protests from there, you will have the millions of us who have been watching you and supporting you from afar, come in, roll up our sleeves and help out in whatever way we can. The people presence would only increase immensely. I bet if you did that, the movement would be respected as a strong political movement. It will have to become that, a political force, otherwise how else can influence at the ballot box be obtained? Otherwise the real occupation of government cannot happen.

I beg you, think about it. There is no need to occupy physically anymore. Your message has been heard.  It’s time the Occupy Wall Street movement grows to the next level. When you do, you will find many more of us waiting to jump in.

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Earlier today I read an article in the Atlantic, questioning why would Iran want to blow up the Saudi Ambassador here in the capital.  That was the last straw that sent me to address this issue right here. The writer questions Iran’s motivations to the point of defending the bloody America-hating Iranian regime, framing what he believes is the correct Iranian thinking.  The writer goes even as far to accuse the Obama administration of having come up with a plot so “far out of left field that it should raise more questions than accusations.”

The further I read, the more I disagreed, but when the writer questioned why involve the Mexican drug cartels, I realized how this person really needs to brush up on their Latin American news and current events.

This was without a doubt, a right wing-conservative article, designed to plant the seeds of doubt against the hard work of the current administration, keeping us safe from the new emerging style of global threats. It was clear this person still has last century mentality when it comes to modern warfare and spy games.

Unfortunately, this writer, and this article, are not the only ones questioning the veracity of the latest Iranian plot in the United States. I can understand that some things are very hard to believe, especially if you don’t have any factual proof connecting the dots. Perhaps I can forgive the media, the real centrist media asking the tough questions. But when it comes from someone’s clear political agenda, I find it outrageous and unforgivable, almost to the point of treason.

It’s really shameful to see how right-wing-leaning commentators are so blind and so politically motivated to go as far as making the case for the Iranian regime to defend itself. These conservatives  will do and say anything to ensure Democrats and our well-meaning-but-too-naive-to-believe-in-the-good-faith-of-the-GOP-to-do-the-right-thing President are kicked out of power come election day.

I bet if Bush and Cheney had been in power, the con response would have been the opposite, with calls to even bomb Iran. I recall well at the end of those chaos-causing eight years of Republican regime, how talks about attacking Iran began to emerge from the administration. No con questioned it.

What the people who are questioning the veracity of this Iranian plot need to see is the ominous network developing south of the border, where dictators (who call themselves “president” and rig elections to keep the appearance of “democracy” to the naive world) have joined together in the so called ALBA, founded and led by Castro and Chavez. Castro with his ideas, anti-American hate and methods to extend stay in power, and Chavez financing it all, not only with oil money, but also with DRUG money.

Have you heard of El Cartel de Miraflores? That is the drug cartel run from Hugo Chavez’ presidential palace in Caracas, Venezuela.

Have you heard of the chummy relationship between Ahmadinejad and Chavez? Check out this video right here, where they are holding hands! This video segment was televised by a Latin American news network, which sadly, today is under threat of closure by a Chavez-friendly administration. They have risked themselves so much that now they have caught the ire of these Chavez allies for exposing things as they are.

Have you heard of the tiny farmer towns in Venezuela hosting Hezbollah and other terrorist training camps? Hugo Chavez has expropriated lands and property from farmers, regular innocent people, from small towns, kicked them out, thrown them in jail if they protest, to make room for his new terrorist, guerrilla and drug cartel friends.

Have you heard how drug money and cartels are fighting for territory in Mexico, the link to Chavez’ terrorist network?

Have you heard how Manuel Zelaya (Chavez’ puppet in Honduras, which happens to be right south of the border of Mexico) is fighting to go back in power, after being kicked out of the country two years ago for trying to pull a “Chavez-style” vote on the people of Honduras, breaking constitutional law?

Did you know that Honduras is a key “entrance” port for Hugo Chavez and associates to infiltrate Mexico and the USA not only for smuggling drugs, but also weapons and their newly-trained “English/Spanish/Arab speaking” terrorists? Given their skin color and appearance, they usually pass as Latin Americans. So, of course he’s going to need a puppet as leader of Honduras letting him do whatever he wants. It was already happening before Zelaya got kicked out. Ask the people of Honduras about the overnight “small plane drops.”

Ask the police in the Dominican Republic about the Venezuelan owned planes that have been confiscated from illegal landings, all with traces of coke and other drugs? All these are registered Venezuelan-owned property. What’s more, it is old news that the drug traffic from Latin American into the USA and Europe has increased since Hugo Chavez has been in power.

So, can you connect the dots?

Iran—>Venezuela/Cuba—->Bringing terrorists via Latin America—->working with drug cartels—->smuggling drugs, money, weapons, people—->Up north into the United States.

And that is keeping it simple! Let me not confuse you with the complexities and all the other players such as Lybia, Bolivia, The FARC from Colombia, Ecuador, Nicaragua…

I bet you the questioners of the Iranian plot know very little of this slow-growing threat south of the border.

After all, many of them don’t care, because these are “third-world” countries, and only we the USA and key allies count.

Guess what? Ahmadinejad, Al Qaeda, Chavez, Castro and their ALBA buddies are all counting on our ignorance and lack of  caring.

It DOES make sense that Iranian operatives went to a Mexican cartel guy. The ties of trust between Iranian thugs and drug cartel thugs have already been established, thanks to Hugo Chavez’ leadership in Venezuela. It makes complete sense if you’re paying attention to what’s building south of our borders.

It makes complete sense that Iran is aligned with drug cartels from Latin America. Mexico is only a piece of the puzzle, the final step, the closest.

The door that Hugo Chavez has opened to all these terrorist thugs from the Middle East over in Venezuela, where he hosts them in their own towns, (AKA “training camps”) is designed exactly for the type of plot that writers like the one from the Atlantic are too blind to see.

I strongly encourage those who question, to do a little homework before devoting long paragraphs in well known publications, knitting a web of right-wing spin just to make the Obama administration’s actions look questionable. In reality we all know there are political motivations behind these uninformed “questions”, unbelievably enough to the point of defending the hideous Iranian thugs. Anything to make the President and current administration look badly, and score winning points, even if it is at the expense of the American people. Unfortunately it isn’t the first time right wingers show their disregard for the welfare of the American people, as long as they can regain power in the next election and keep their rich donors happy. Thankfully, there are exceptions. Tonight I saw NY Republican Representative, Peter King, validate the threat of the plot.

While the use of the first amendment is guaranteed by our constitution, I advice these “questioners” to do the responsible thing and do their homework first. Despite their aversion to it, brush up on their Spanish. There’s tons of material in Spanish, on what I describe above backing up my explanation. Unfortunately, not enough of  it gets translated to English. In fact well-respected journalists and news organizations in Latin America are either imprisoned, go under, or are killed when reporting all this, some have even gone undercover risking their lives. We rarely hear about it here, unless you tune to Univision and the great and courageous journalist Jorge Ramos, who’s constantly shedding light on this. He has also incurred the wrath of Hugo Chavez. In fact there is a story that Jorge had to flee Venezuela once because his coverage of Chavez angered the dictator and his mob of blind followers, armed by the very dictator. But again, you would only know this if you spoke Spanish and watched news from Latin America.

The English-speaking media here won’t cover it because we’re so self absorbed in our worlds. The ratings would suffer.

It seems to me the Obama administration IS paying attention to what’s going on. This is the picture of the new 21st century global warfare tactics. It is what it is, whether we like it or not.

If you find all of this hard to believe, think of the Twin Towers. Did we EVER believe they would fall? When they unfortunately did, it caught millions of us by surprise. Did you ever think a dumb terrorist would carry a bomb in his underwear? Sounds like fantasy?

If we keep analyzing things using a last century mentality, we are due for more of these “nasty” surprises.

Whether you agree with the President or not, with his administration, you have to give them credit for uncovering this plot, which for now makes complete sense to those of us who are paying attention to the full picture.

Many sources, many well-known, other lesser known, in English and in Spanish, are provided here in links to give you factual background on statements above. The following sources were used and linked:

CNN.com
TheGuardian.co.uk
Boston.com/bigpicture
Wikipedia.com
AlianzaBoliviariana.org
TheAmericasReport a project by the Center for Security Policy
NoticieroDigital.com
Fausta’sblog.com
Investors.com
DiariodelosAndes.com
Globalvoicesonline.com
La Prensa, Honduras
Library of Congress, Federal Research Division
Economist.com
AtlasShrugs2000.com
MSNBC.com
USAToday.com
ElPais.com
JorgeRamos.com

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This is a topic that needs to be addressed. How can black church leaders, who themselves have fought for civil rights, now advocate to deny those of the LGBT community and families such as that of my friend? It is quite unfair and it deserves attention.

There is a project being set up to shed a light on this hypocritical failure and share with the world the unfairness. Take a look at my friend’s email, her words, her compelling case, and click on the link below to learn more about this awareness project.

Excerpt from my friend’s email:

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This is great oppty to help raise awareness in the black community.

I’ve been totally disgusted by how some black churches have taken up the anti-same sex marriage crusade. It is reprehensible under any circumstances, but when the black community is in the midst of such a crisis, with unemployment, inadequate access to health care, failing schools, teen violence, teen pregnancy and high drop out rates, it’s damn near criminal.

We have black kids bouncing around from one foster care home to another, addiction rates are high, incarceration rates have sky rocketed and you have black ministers wasting time fighting same sex marriage.

I would like to understand how that helps the African-American community. If their failure to try to deal with the real challenges facing the African American community doesn’t destroy their credibility, I don’t know what will. Teens are dying in the street from gang violence and these weak-willed ministers are fighting gay marriage. What is wrong with these people?

If they truly want to walk with God, they need to fight for social justice. They don’t have to take up the pro-LGBT fight, but they certainly should not waste precious time and resources fighting against civil rights for the LGBT community. It’s easy to go out and denounce a group one deems small and powerless.

If these anti-same-sex marriage African American ministers want to save the black family, they can start with providing mentors to black boys and teens. Teach them skills that will make them employable. Teach them that love and commitment will make them strong. Teach them that the measure of a man is, as Sydney Portier (sp?) says, “how well he takes care of his family.”

Impregnating a bunch of women and in many cases young teen girls and then failing to care for the children, either financially or emotionally, does not make them men. It does not or at least should earn them the respected title of father. It makes them sperm donors.

Teach these youngsters how to resolve conflict without violence, and teach teen girls to value themselves and their bodies. Teach these young women not to sublimate their ambitions to make a man feel strong.

Our community needs strong, productive individuals of both genders.

Condemn the dysfunction that rap music perpetuates and show youngsters a better way.

When these anti-same-sex-marriage ministers turn 100 percent of their attention toward trying to solve some of the long standing problems in the African-American community, then they’ll be doing God’s work. Opposing equal protection under the law for the LGBT community is not worthy of the black church.

Progressive African American leaders both in and outside of the church need to step up and speak out about this issue.

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See below a note from Thomas Allen Harris, introducing this important project:

I am working on a new documentary project about Same Sex marriage from an African American perspective entitled Marriage Equality: Byron Rushing and the Fight for Fairness.

The film was commissioned by Tribeca All Access Program and the Nelson Mandela Foundation in South Africa to highlight individuals who embody the principals of Nelson Mandela. We chose to focus on Massachusetts State Representative and Civil Rights Movement veteran Byron Rushing, who together with a group of progressive Black leaders, successfully confronted African American clergy to win hearts, minds and votes on the emotionally divisive issue of same sex marriage, which is now legal in Massachusetts. Byron, who is straight, is perhaps an unlikely gay hero.

We are currently fundraising through United States Artist’s new social media website. The only hitch is that we have to raise our goal of $10k in order to access any of the funds. Please consider making a donation through the site:  http://projectsite.unitedstatesartists.org/notification/4236

Our goal is to complete the film in September and embark on a large outreach effort to gain support for and dialogue around the connection between Marriage Equality and the Civil Rights Movement within African American secular and religious communities across the country.

No donation is too small. Also, please spread the word to all parties who might be interested in supporting this important project.

Peace & blessings,

Thomas

Marriage Equality: Byron Rushing And The Fight For Fairness

By Thomas Allen Harris

A short documentary that connects the Black civil rights movement with the Lesbian and Gay marriage equality

Photo credits, and for more information on this important issue, visit the links below:
http://renwl.org/news/lgbt-rights/how-we-love-to-play-that-single-issue-blues-the-great-black-gay-cop-out
http://thebigotbasher.wordpress.com/2009/07/29/its-all-quite-simple-really/
http://news.pinkpaper.com/NewsStory.aspx?id=965

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To brief you on what the Honduras situation last year was about, and its significance in the defense of democracy in Latin America, it was basically the dethronement of a Chavez ally, also known as President Zelaya, by the two other branches of the Honduras government, for breaking constitutional laws, in his quest to perpetuate himself in power, following the example of his buddy Chavez, and friends of the ALBA gang in Latin America. Honduras, as small as it is in size and GNP, it’s a key conduit right south of Mexico and Guatemala, and a valuable stop-over for drugs, weapons and people, as they are smuggled into Mexico and eventually the United States. For enemies of the U.S., Honduras is a valuable rest stop on their way up north. After all, it is small, it is classified as the second poorest country of the Western Hemisphere, and therefore it could be assumed that its government and citizens are corruptible. It was an assumption Honduras citizens proved wrong to the entire world.

Until June 28th of 2009, Mel Zelaya was the president of Honduras. And he exemplified the corruptible assumption. He, after all, had aligned himself with Chavez and his ALBA gang, and it was no secret that Venezuela-registered private planes would land in various clandestine spots in Honduras, with drugs, weapons and people. But boy was the world mistaken about Honduras and its people. The country may be small, there may be a high degree of poverty, and even corruption, but when it comes to democracy and Chavez, people know the difference well and they stood their ground when the time came and president Zelaya pressed them politically so he could imitate the example of Chavez and his ALBA buddies. On June 28th of 2009 we saw the Honduras’ spirit arise, and they legally fired their corrupt president.

Despite the international condemnation of this brave move, and despite the infiltration of Cuban, Venezuelan, Nicaraguan and FARC operatives into this little country, all financed by Hugo Chavez, to lead a so called “opposition” in support of reinstating deposed Zelaya, Honduras stood strong. Its citizens, led by their congress, supreme court and military forces, went to the streets by the thousands, as peaceful demonstrators, all dressed in white, carrying their country blue and white flag, and stood strong, despite freezing of sorely needed international aid, despite the chaos and thuggery set off by the Chavez-financed operatives that had infiltrated the country. Honduras citizens would prefer to go hungry than to bow to Chavez and Zelaya. They knew the implications of the situation if they gave in. They knew it better than the rest of the world, which simply comdemned their brave move as a “military coupe” without looking into the facts and Honduran law. Hondurans instead, would rather go without the international aid than be subjugated by Chavez and his strong international influence.

Aside from the language barrier, which hurt Honduras’ ability to tell their story to the world, Chavez and his influential ring, orchestrated an international media campaign to depict Zelaya’s dethronement as a military coupe, in order to gain international support and pressure little Honduras into putting their corrupt president back. It was important to Chavez to win this one. So he deployed his propaganda campaign that reached deep into credible institutions such as the United Nations, the Organization of American States, the New York Times, CNN en Español, and certainly El Diario, the highest circulation Spanish newspaper in New York.

While the above-named respectable institutions stepped back on their attacks on Honduras once the real story got out, there was one writer in El Diario who did not relent. In fact, her columns were harsh, attacking the Hondurans as well as the United States government supposed involvement, even though president Obama and Hillary Clinton were also denouncing the “military coupe”. This writer, Vicky Pelaez, of Peruvian origin, stood out as one of the harshest critics of Honduras’ defense of its democracy against Chavez. Reading her columns raised many red flags in my head and it made me wonder why was she even allowed to write such lies and communist propaganda, praising Castro and Chavez, under the banner of the well-read and respected El Diario.

Vicky Pelaez not only condemned the Honduras defense of its democracy, and attacked the United States government, but in her subsequent writings, continued attacking the U.S. government, while praising that of Hugo Chavez and his so called Bolivarian revolution, which is code name for 21st century communism.

I won’t bother translating her columns, full of the Chavez propaganda, an echo of lies coming from Venezuela and from Cuba. No one deserves to read that garbage and the typical resentful hate of chavistas who advocate extreme-left measures, to the point of supression of those freedoms guaranteed by the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, as well as the U.S. constitution. What’s really anger-provoking is watching these people, Castro/Chavez and their allies, who have perfected the communist style of silencing dissent, hide under our democratic values that protect the freedom of speech here, and use the same freedoms granted by our democracy, to fight the very democracy they advocate against.

Reading Vicky Pelaez columns often angered me as much as listening to Hugo Chavez. It is known that since Chavez is in power, the presence of Russia, Iran and China has increased dramatically throughout certain countries in Latin America, namely those that belong to the ALBA (Bolivarian Alliance). It is no secret that Chavez has spent millions of dollars purchasing Russian military technology, weaponry, has signed hundreds of agreements, including nuclear ones, with Russia and Iran. It is also known that he has opened visa conduits for Russian, Iranian, Hezbollah and Chinese operatives to come to America via Venezuela and the ALBA countries. To give you a quick background on ALBA, it’s an alliance founded by Venezuela and Cuba. Other countries that joined later are: Antigua, Bolivia, Domenica, Ecuador, Nicaragua, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, as well as Honduras, which after Zelaya’s ouster, officially withdrew from the alliance. Note that these countries serve as stops along a path to the north, especially those in the Caribbean.

All that being said, when I read about Vicky Pelaez from El Diario, being arrested for spying, I had that ah-ha! moment. Of course! It all made sense. I wouldn’t be surprised if she is a Chavez operative, probably recruited to aid his cause here in the United States on behalf of his allies, Cuba and Russia. It doesn’t surprise me that she has been part of this spy ring. Her columns were so incendiary, so anti-American, that I found it alarming that a paper with such high circulation and so well read here in NYC, by millions of Spanish speakers, especially immigrants from Latin America, could be influenced by her words. Her columns concerned me greatly.

Of course, those columns themselves could serve as her cover. I won’t be surprised if she claims that because of her writings she and her husband have been detained. It’s the perfect cover. She will claim that her freedom of speech has been violated and she has been falsely accused in order to be silenced.

It is my understanding that for 10 years she has been tracked by the FBI, and the evidence is there. I find it outrageous when people who come to this country, and who benefit of its democracy, take advantage of it to destroy it. I’m relieved she has been removed. She was a dangerous echo of the Chavez Castro agenda here in the United States.

My concern is during the years she wrote her propaganda in El Diario, how many people were influenced by her? How many likely recruited among the Spanish speaking communities in NYC?

It is such a fine line to walk as a government in a democracy. The first amendment guarantees us all the right to freedom of expression, but Vicky Pelaez exemplifies the extreme dangers when that delicate balance is lost. She was not only advocating for enemies of the United States in a highly circulated paper, but is now suspected of spying for foreign countries.

To quote Bill Maher in Larry King last night, “We no longer have to fight them over there, so we don’t have to fight them here. They are already here.”

The time for Chavez and his ring of ominous influence around the world needs to come to an end. He has aligned with countries with an interest to see the United States fail and our democracy end. I am appalled at the fact that Latin American citizens are now involved in these spy rings from across the world. It sickens me. Chavez’ presence in the south of our continent is a severe threat to democracies across the American continent, from north to south. He’s the gaping hole letting in those interested in obliterating democracy.

I ask our brave opposition citizens in Venezuela, what does it take?  Imagine living in a world like Cuba, and that is what could happen if we allow this man and his malignant alignments prevail. Castro has prevailed. Can we afford to let Chavez do as well?

1. For more information from local NYC papers, check out:

From the NY Daily News: Suspected Russian spy Vicky Pelaez, a Spanish-language journalist, led many lives

NY Daily News: http://www.nydailynews.com/news/ny_crime/2010/06/30/2010-06-30_suspected_spy_led_many_lives.html

2. A Cuban “dissident” wrote his comments on Pelaez here. This will give you insights on her writings and her Latin American influence and ties:

Castro regime scribe (Vicky Pelaez) among the 11 charged in Russia spy case

http://babalublog.com/2010/06/castro-regime-scribe-vicky-pelaez-among-the-11-charged-in-russia-spy-case/

3. From CBS News: FBI: 10 Russian Spies Arrested in U.S.

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2010/06/28/world/main6627393.shtml?tag=mncol;lst;6

4. From MSNBC.com – Venezuela’s Chavez welcomes Russian warships

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/27907501/

5. And how is our congress here in the United States handling the whole situation? Here is input from someone living in Honduras with wise observations.

Left Steps Up Attack on HONDURAS; Members of Congress Drink Kool Aid! – http://bit.ly/9HTF3v

While on that topic of “the left” here in the United States. I beg you all in the left, to really think hard before blindly backing the communist-left of Latin America. THEY ARE NOT THE SAME THING AS THE LEFT HERE IN THE USA!

By backing Zelaya in Honduras, without understanding Honduras politics, its constitution and its laws, you are wrong to assume that things run the same as here.  You would be considered centrists in Latin America, or moderate left. Zelaya and allies are not like you. They are aligned with Castro and Chavez et all. They are against basic human rights guaranteed by our constitution.What’s more. It was Zelaya’s own leftist party who took him out. What does that tell you? Know your facts, please.

Don’t make a mistake and back the wrong horse, lefties in the U.S.A. If you don’t know the facts, don’t meddle. Of course, this is why conservatives quickly assume I am a Republican. I’m not. I’m an independent and I know the facts about Latin American politics.

I support progressives here in the States, but I know the difference between the Chavez left movement and the progressive movement here. I hope once you learn the difference, you will stand with the people of Honduras, and not with Hugo Chavez, Castro, Zelaya and all their anti-American alliances.

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The world needs to know that despite Honduras’ attempt to remain democratic, defending its true democracy at all costs, Chavez and his henchman, Zelaya, remain active at plotting against it.

See CNN’s report by clicking here, or follow the link below:

http://news.blogs.cnn.com/2010/06/09/honduran-president-warns-of-new-coup-plot/?iref=allsearch

Héctor Ygonet Céspedes has reliable sources that have prompted him to publish the write-up I’m translating here. He wants the world to know what is in the plans for the usual thugs: Chavez, Castro and Zelaya. After all, at the end of June it’ll be the one-year anniversary since Zelaya was fired for his illegal actions against the government and the people of Honduras, as he tried to imitate the Chavez template for long-term dictatorship.

It wouldn’t be a surprise, if at the one-year-anniversary mark, Chavez and Zelaya would attempt to “take the country back”. Honduras President, Pepe Lobo, just announced this week he found out there is a plot in the making to overthrow him. I wouldn’t doubt for a moment that Zelaya is salivating to return to power, despite the illegality of a second presidency. I wouldn’t doubt it if Chavez and the Castro brothers are behind this. I would only hope that this time the OAS and the UN do the right thing and side with true democracy and not with those communist USA-hating nuts, Chavez and Castro.

I hope the right people read this, investigate it and shed the public light on this. We can’t let Zelaya disrupt the new democratic government of Honduras, and allow this small but important country become one more stone in Chavez’ path to ease his drugs, terror and weapons cartel into Mexico and the United States.

So, here are the wise words of a man who sees the danger and is sounding the alarm.

A coupe against Porfirio Lobo

(Translation into English, original in Spanish below)

By Héctor Ygonet Céspedes of Cespedes Consultores

A coupe, (from the French term, “coup d’Etat”) refers to the take-over of political power in a sudden and violent manner, from a powerful group, endangering the institutional legitimacy established in a state, meaning the legal norms of succession that rule. The term coup d’Etat began to be used in France on the XVII century, to refer to a series of violent and sudden measures taken by the king, without any respect for legislation nor moral norms, generally to rid himself of his enemies, when the king himself would consider them necessary in order to maintain the security of the state and the common welfare. In this original sense, the concept is quite similar to what is known today as “coupe”, meaning the deployment of certain authorities of the state, on behalf of a supreme authority.

Honduras’ constitutional president, Porfirio Lobo, just shared with the world that he has first-hand information of a deadly plot against his government, possibly financed by a foreign government.

Just like in the worst moments of the 70’s and 80’s, when the Cuban revolution would finance terrorist groups in Nicaragua, El Salvador and Guatemala, the chavista regime today finances all types of “projects”, whether they are political, legal, or not, in order to introduce its damn formula to conquer power vacuums in any country with weak governments, such as the one in Honduras.

No one can be that naïve to think Chavez would just sit back and do nothing when the organized forces of Honduras deposed his right-hand man, Manuel Zelaya, and interrupted what he calls, “the new revolutionary process in Central America.”

Hugo Chávez and Raúl Castro, coarsened by hate, greed and bitterness, conspire secretly and publicly, to depose the constitutional Honduras government. The Dominican Republic, as Manuel Zelaya’s host country, should not allow under any circumstances, that from its land, an action to delegitimize the Honduras government and its president Pepe Lobo be allowed.

I call upon the Dominican democratic forces, represented by our chancellor Don Carlos Morales Troncoso, Rafael L. Alburquerque, Honorable vicepresident of the nation, Hipólito Mejía, Ex president of the republic and general (r) José Miguel Soto Jiménez, so that they commit the Dominican government to clarify the clandestine and continuous meetings taking place at the house of Manuel Zelaya, in the Caribbean resort, “Casa de Campo”, the most luxurious and expensive in the country, paid for by the Dominican taxpayers, and which is utilized today by Zelaya to conspire against the government of his own country, throwing mud over the hospitality and generosity of the Dominican people.

The free world needs to pay very close attention to the likely events that could happen in Honduras within the next few months or weeks, or even days. We hope that organizations such as UNASUR, OAS, Rio group, won’t become the lackeys of the golpistas operating under the cover of the chavista doctrine of “an eye for an eye and a coupe for a coupe.”

Original en español:

Golpe de estado contra Porfirio Lobo

Héctor Ygonet Céspedes, Cespedes Consultores

Un golpe de Estado (palabra proveniente del francés coup d’État) es la toma del poder político, de un modo repentino y violento, por parte de un grupo de poder, vulnerando la legitimidad institucional establecida en un Estado, es decir, las normas legales de sucesión en el poder vigentes con anterioridad. El concepto golpe de Estado (coup d’État) comenzó a ser empleado en Francia en el siglo XVIII, para referirse a una serie de medidas violentas y repentinas tomadas por el Rey, sin respetar la legislación ni las normas morales, generalmente para deshacerse de sus enemigos, cuando el Rey mismo consideraba que eran necesarias para mantener la seguridad del Estado o el bien común. En este sentido original, el concepto era muy similar a lo que se denomina en la actualidad “autogolpe”, es decir el desplazamiento de ciertas autoridades del Estado, por parte de la autoridad suprema.

El presidente Constitucional de Honduras Porfirio Lobo, acaba  de revelar al mundo, que tiene información de primera mano de una mortal conspiración contra su gobierno legítimo, posiblemente financiada por un gobierno extranjero.

Como en los peores momentos de los años 70 y 80, cuando la revolución cubana financiaba a los grupos terroristas que actuaban en Nicaragua, El Salvador y Guatemala, el régimen chavista hoy financia todo tipo de proyectos políticos legales o no, que busquen introducir su formula maldita para conquistar espacios de poder en cualquier país con instituciones débiles como es el caso de Honduras.

Nadie puede ser tan ingenuo de pensar que Chávez se quedaría tranquilo y con los brazos cruzados, cuando las fuerzas organizadas de Honduras depusieron a su hombre de confianza, Manuel Zelaya, e interrumpieron lo que él llama, el nuevo proceso revolucionario en centro América.

Hugo Chávez y Raúl Castro, embrutecidos por el odio, la codicia y la amargura, conspiran en secreto y en público para derrocar al gobierno constitucional hondureño. La Republica Dominicana como país anfitrión de Manuel Zelaya, no debe permitir bajo ninguna premisa, que desde suelo dominicano de urda una acción para deslegitimar  al gobierno hondureño y su presidente Pepe Lobo.

Hago un llamado a las fuerzas democráticas dominicanas en las personas de nuestro Canciller Don Carlos Morales Troncoso, Rafael L. Alburquerque, Honorable vicepresidente de la nación, Hipólito Mejía Ex presidente de republica y general (r) José Miguel Soto Jiménez, para que comprometan  al gobierno dominicano en una aclaración pertinente al ex presidente Manuel Zelaya, sobres las reuniones constante y clandestinas, que este realiza en su casa en el balneario caribeño de “Casa de Campo” el más lujoso y caro del país, pagado por los impuestos de los dominicanos, y que hoy es usado por Zelaya para conspirar contra el gobierno de su país, echando lodos a la hospitalidad y generosidad del pueblo dominicano.

Muy atento debe estar el mundo libre a los acontecimientos que podrían pasar en Honduras los próximos meses, semanas o días. Esperamos que organismos como la UNASUR, la OEA, Grupo de Rio, no se conviertan en lacayos de los golpistas, amparados en la tesis chavista del “ojo por ojo y golpe por golpe”.

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Este artículo fue escrito con una audiencia mundial en mente, ya sea la de los Estados Unidos, Europa, el Medio Oriente, Asia, Africa, etc. La meta es compartir en el idioma inglés, lo que ya muchos latinoamericanos conocemos, los abusos y la desgracia que están ocurriendo en nuestra región, especialmente en Venezuela. Por lo tanto muchos encontrarán la información aquí ya muy conocida y muy básica. La meta de este escrito es introducir al que no conoce la penosa situación a la que se enfrentan los Venezolanos, y que el mundo tiene que reconocer. Lo que ocurre en Irán y lo que ocurre en Venezuela es un paralelo y no es  coincidencia. El mundo necesita saber eso, y gracias a Twitter, es lograble.

Aquí va la tradución al español, para aquellos de ustedes que tienen curiosidad de saber que escribí acerca de Venezuela. No dudo que me saldrán por ahí los chavistas a insultarme, pero los insultos de esa gente los llevaré como banda de honor. Dado que hablo la verdad, como latinoamericana que conoce muy bien la situación, compartirla con el mundo es mi deber.

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Para aquellos de ustedes que se están preguntando por qué tanta bulla, por qué de pronto las etiquetas, conocidas como hashtags en Twitter, #FreeVenezuela, y ahora #IranVzla han logrado ser uno de los temas mas candentes de Twitter, y aunque no hayan oído de Chavez, o quizás tengan una idea de quien es el, quizás se estén rascando la cabeza preguntándose, “¿Que es lo que está pasando?”

A menos que vivan en América Latina, o sean de América Latina, o conozcan a alguien de América Latina, es posible que se sientan lejos de la situación de los Venezolanos. Hace décadas, durante el tiempo que crecí en América Latina, recuerdo haber oído sobre gente que buscaba un nuevo comienzo y no lograban visa para irse a los Estados Unidos, recogían sus cosas y se iban a vivir a Venezuela. Aquel era el país vecino en donde existía la oportunidad y la prosperidad.

Sin duda alguna, como en cualquier otro país, Venezuela siempre ha tenido un cierto nivel de corrupción, pero era lo suficientemente manejable como para que la gente tuviera éxito a pesar de ello. Aquí hay una pregunta clave. ¿Que tanto creció la corrupción ahí en las últimas tres décadas?

En América Latina, la Venezuela de los 70 e incluso de los 80, era una tierra conocida por producir muchas candidatas Miss Universo, en donde el petróleo era abundante, de donde venían las grandes telenovelas, actores, cantantes, la gente linda y exitosa. Los canales de televisión, ya sea de noticia o farándula, eran fuerte competencia para los que provenían de Méjico, España y los Estados Unidos.

A la llegada de este nuevo siglo, este gran país, que era un modelo de éxito, de democracia y capitalismo, ya no es ni siquiera la sombra de lo que solía ser. Yo no soy de Venezuela, así como tampoco de Honduras, sin embargo, como latinoamericana, he estado siguiendo muy de cerca los eventos políticos de la región a lo largo de mi vida, al principio desde la misma región, y ahora desde lejos.

En el año 1992, no estoy segura cual era la situación política en Venezuela, pero podrán leer un poco más acerca de eso aquí. Quizás la corrupción ya estaba fuera de control. Quizás la pobreza estaba subiendo. La verdad es que yo no le podría decir que fue la razón, pero lo que si le diré es que el tiempo fue propicio para una rebelión. Yo invito a mis amigas y amigos venezolanos a que comenten en este hecho y agreguen información a los eventos que condujeron a la subida de Chavez al poder, pero lo único que sé es que este coronel, con una inteligencia por debajo del promedio, de quien me cuenta uno de sus ex-compañeros de colegio, que era”un burro”, logró arreglar y llevar a cabo un golpe de estado, un golpe que falló y lo hizo terminar en la cárcel. Dos años mas tarde fue perdonado por el nuevo presidente, y ya libre comenzó a fortalecer un movimiento populista que lo puso en el poder en el año 1999.  Sin duda alguna, la gente estaba cansada de la situación y votaron por un cambio. Pero ha sido un voto que les ha costado muy caro a los venezolanos.

Desde el año 1999, Hugo Chavez ha logrado mantenerse en el poder, no exactamente de forma limpia ni transparente. El ha logrado cambiar la constitución para permitir perpetuarse legalmente en el cargo mas alto de Venezuela. El abolió la independencia de las ramas de poder. El legislativo y el judicial, así mismo como el militar, hoy dependen de él para aprobación y subsistencia.  Los medios de prensa también han llegado a depender de él para existir.

La libertad tradicional de la prensa ya está casi extinguida. Cualquier cadena de noticias que se rehuse a transmitir sus largos y torturadores discursos, es cerrada. Venezuela, en donde imigrantes de otros países buscaban oportunidad, va hoy por un proceso seguro a convertirse en otra Cuba, en donde los ciudadanos empobrecidos comparten las mismas penurias, miedos, mirando sobre sus espaldas y traicionándose el uno al otro para supervivencia. Hoy, la gente busca salir de Venezuela.

No es secreto que Insulza, Secretario de la OEA es muy amigo de Chavez, aquí con el y Zelaya - Crédito: Jairo Cajina AFP Photo

En lo que he comenzado a conocer a venezolanos en Twitter, muchos de ellos residen aquí o están exiliados. ¿Exiliados? ¡Yo pensé que eso solo le pasaba a los cubanos! ¡Qué tan mal tienen que haberse puesto las cosas en la última década, desde que Hugo Chávez subió al poder! De lo que ya me he enterado, la persecución política en Venezuela es bastante mala. Lo triste es que la OEA, que está supuesta a ser la institución internacional que mira por los ciudadanos del continente americano, se hace ciega y sorda en respecto a las transgresiones de Hugo Chavez en contra de los ciudadanos de Venezuela, el fraude electoral de las supuestas elecciones que lo mantienen en el poder, sus alianzas con terroristas y narcotraficantes en la región, y su financiamiento de la propagación de su agenda comunista en América Latina. Me pregunto cual es la razón por la que el secretario de la OEA, el chileno Miguel Insulza, tan convenientemente se haga el desentendido de esta situación, mientras presiona por reintegrar a Cuba a la organización. Todo esto ciertamente no es coincidencia.

Entre más tuiteo con los ciudadanos venezolanos, enfurecidos por los abusos y faltas del régimen de Chávez, entre más sigo el mar de información sobre Venezuela que viene por Twitter, mas me doy cuenta de lo gravemente que peligra la verdadera democracia bajo Hugo Chavez, no solo en Venezuela, si no en toda la región latinoamericana.

Este video aquí está en inglés, pero contiene mucha información original en español, enseñando el ascenso peligroso de este nuevo Hitler del siglo 21, y de las posibles implicaciones si se le permite lograr sus propósitos:

Los venezolanos ya no pueden contar con la seguridad de sus calles. La policía y los militares ahora se les considera una militocracia y cometen abusos criminales impunemente, en contra de los ciudadanos. Ellos tienen privilegios especiales tales como un cambio de divisas mas alto que el que tiene el pueblo. A los venezolanos les hace falta servicios básicos ahora: el agua, la luz, ambas vienen y se van esporádicamente. Se dice que Chávez culpa a la famosa corriente del Niño, por estos eventos. Pero muchos ciudadanos inteligentes se dan cuenta que solo países vecinos inclinados a Chávez y con cercanía a Cuba pasan por los mismos problemas, países como el Ecuador y Bolivia. Interesantemente, países que no son parte del ALBA (el club especial de países amigos de Chávez) no parecen tener estos problemas. ¡Y todos están en la misma región!

Ya la gente ha comenzado a darse cuenta y preguntarse. Han empezado a darse cuenta que las mimas cosas que ocurren en Cuba, les está ocurriendo a ellos: el típico racionamiento comunista de los servicios básicos.

Al principio mi reacción a los diez y pico años de Chávez era mas o menos así: “Bueno, si ustedes lo eligieron al tipo, entonces… ” pero entre más me entero de la situación, más me doy cuenta lo caro que están pagando los venezolanos por ese único error de haber votado por Chávez una vez, solo una vez.  Porque una vez que llegó a la presidencia, el se aseguró de colocar todas las legalidades necesarias para mantenerse en el poder. No es un secreto que hay elecciones y referendums fraudulentos, incluyendo el que cambió la constitución, que ahora le permite mantenerse en el poder sin límite. De acuerdo a sus últimos discursos, Chávez ha expresado abiertamente, no solo que es marxista y apoya el comunismo, pero que también está listo a quedarse en el poder por otros 11 años.

Muchos venezolanos tienen que estar arrepentidos de haber votado por ese tipo al final de la década de los 90. Mucha gente aquí en los Estados Unidos, que habían votado por George W. Bush en el 2000, estuvo aliviada cuando llegó el veinte de enero del 2009 y un nuevo presidente entró al poder. Ese es un lujo democrático con el cual los venezolanos ya no pueden contar, dado que Chávez se ha asegurado de que la constitución y todos los poderes del estado queden legalmente bajos su mando, posiblemente hasta su muerte. Se dice que Chávez tomó el modelo de Fidel Castro, y con los petrodólares venezolanos está financiando una nueva versión de éste modelo opresivo comunista y diseminándolo a través de América Latina, via una plataforma populista. Ya está dando fruto en el Ecuador, en Nicaragua y en Bolivia. Está empezando a dar sus señales en el Brasil, y afortunadamente, las semillas no lograron tomar raíz en Honduras a través de Zelaya. No fue fácil, pero los Hondureños lo lograron.

Es increíble ver a los militares usar armas en contra de los ciudadanos desarmados. - Agradecimiento al tuitero @Jose_Enrique por compartir esta foto

En Venezuela, sin embargo, en donde la raíz de la propagación del comunismo existe, Chávez ha logrado quitar todas las libertades y servicios básicos muy lentamente, lo suficientemente lento para que los ciudadanos lo traguen poco a poco. Eso sí, ellos si han salido a protestar, muchas veces durante esta última década, pero el resto del mundo no los ha visto.  Tal como en Irán, Chávez ha vuelto los militares en contra de los ciudadanos.  Adicionalmente se conoce que envía matones armados a mezclarse con los protestantes y de allí dispararles. Una mente tan mala como la de Chávez, que alguna vez falló en la escuela, ha tenido éxito tramando planes para lucirse bien en frente de la comunidada internacional, mientras por atrás lentamente abolir la democracia en Venezuela y al mismo tiempo financiar la propagación del comunismo en latinoamérica. El la llama la “Revolución Bolivariana”, o “Socialismo del Siglo 21″. Pero en verdad, es peor que eso. Es comunismo despótico, una dictadura totalitaria con conexiones muy peligrosas con los enemigos de las democracias libres del mundo, principalmente los Estados Unidos, a quien el normalmente llama el “Imperio Yankee”. Chávez dice que no quiere estar sujeto al servicio del “Imperio Yankee”, sin embargo, lo único que ha hecho es sustituír la alianza con los Estados Unidos, con alianzas con naciones enemigas de los Estados Unidos y de la verdadera democracia, naciones como Irán.

Este video les enseña la última visita de Ahmadinejad a Venezuela, aquí sostenido de manos con Chávez, ambos halagándose y prometiéndose lealtad. Es un matrimonio arreglado en el infierno, sin duda alguna. Me perdonarán la calidad del video, pero si escuchan el contenido, apreciarán la importancia de lo que se dice aquí. Este fue un reporte hecho por la cadena ecuatoriana de noticias, Teleamazonas, que también está bajo amenaza de clausura por Correa, el otro pupilo de Chávez en el Ecuador.

Por coincidencia, al aliado amigo de Chávez, Ahmadinejad, logró conseguir una supuesta re-elección exitosa para quedarse en el poder en Irán, al estilo Chávez, llamando el voto de victoria un poquito demasiado pronto, mientras se conoce bien que los tribunales electorales están bajo su control. Los números no coincidieron. Esto les olió a fraude a los ciudadanos iraníes, que se volcaron a las calles a protestar los resultados.  Cuando el régimen iraní sacó del país a los medios de prensa independientes, los protestantes iraníes, conocidos como el Movimiento Verde,  se volcaron al Internet para que se escuchen sus protestas y compartieron con el mundo su situación terrible.  En la ausencia de la solidez y dependabilidad de los medios de prensa tradicionales, Twitter, YouTube y Facebook sirvieron de canales para que salga la verdad. Y tuvieron éxito sacando dicha verdad, pero al mismo tiempo, la tecnología que les ayudó, regresó, como un boomerang, y les hizo daño, porque también fue usada por el régimen para perseguirlos y encontrarlos. Y en Irán, en donde las ejecuciones públicas son parte de la tradición cultural, muchos pagaron caramente con sus vidas. Hablaremos mas en detalle sobre esto en un futuro artículo, para el cual estoy investigando. Por ahora es suficiente decir que la tecnología puede ser un arma de dos filos, pero si se usa correctamente y cuidadosamente para luchar contra dictadores déspotas, puede ser un arma muy poderosa.

Hasta ahora, Twitter ha demostrado tener éxito incomodando mucho a dictadores como Chavez y Ahmadinejad, tanto que han amenazado a los ciudadanos que lo usan.

Los venezolanos, muy al tanto de los apuros de los iraníes, y habiendo presenciado personalmente las visitas de Ahmadinejad a Venezuela y a otros países de América Latina, después de haber visto la presencia de miles de cubanos Castristas invadir sus vecindades, formar parte de la dictadura injusta y corrupta de Chávez, también se sienten en apuros. El último bastión de la prensa independiente en Venezuela, Globovision, está en este momento bajo severas amenazas de ser clausurado o dominado por la gente de Chávez. Es en estos instantes cuando muchos están llegando a Twitter para comunicar su lucha de casi una década al resto del mundo.

Esto explica tags en Twitter como #Venezuela, #IranVzla, #Vzla, #FreeMediaVe, #FreeVenezuela, subir en la lista de temas mas candentes de conversación durante diferentes horas del día en dicha red, especialmente durante estas últimas semanas. Lo que es también asombroso es que, similar a la alianza entre Hugo Chavez y Ahmadinejad, su oposición también se ha aliado para trabajar juntos y unir sus voces en contra de ambos dictadores.  Este escrito excelente, titulado en inglés, “La Próxima Parada de la Revolución de Twitter — Venezuela.(“Twitter Revolution’s Next Stop – Venezuela” ) nos cuenta de la nueva alianza entre el Movimiento Verde de Irán y la creciente oposición en Venezuela. Ellos se dan cuenta muy bien que están luchando contra el mismo tipo de enemigo. También hablaré más en detalle sobre esta alianza en un escrito futuro.

Ambos dictadores, Ahmadinejad y Chávez se han vuelto más atrevidos. Sus tácticas represivas se han empeorado. Hagan click aquí para ver fotos de las últimas demostraciones y la represión brutal.  Son tan similares a las de Irán. Arriesgando ir a la cárcel o la muerte, los ciudadanos siguen usando a Twitter para compartir su lucha con el resto del mundo. Chávez tuvo la audacia la semana pasada de declarar usar Twitter como un acto terrorista. Por más ridículo que parezca, veo el peligro atrás de esa declaración. Si logra convertirlo en ley, podría usarlo como excusa para perseguir sin piedad a aquellos que coja usándolo.  He recibido información de contactos en Europa que Chávez ya ha adquirido un centro de monitoreo, similar a aquel que compró el régimen Iraní, para perseguir sus ciudadanos que sacaron la verdad via el Internet.  Parece que tarde o temprano los venezolanos tendrán que empezar a usar formas mas sofisticadas de despistar la vigilancia electrónica, tal como lo han hecho los iraníes.

Mientras el resto del mundo se entera de los abusos de derechos humanos de parte del régimen de Chávez, no dudo que los ciudadanos venezolanos se volverán mas sofisticados usando Facebook y Twitter, de una forma que protegerá sus identidades y las de las personas en sus redes sociales. Se dice que el nuevo ministro de energía que Chávez importó recientemente de Cuba, para supuestamente liderar el arreglo de la crisis de energía, es en verdad un experto en represión brutal.

No dudo que la dictadura represiva, que se siente amenazada por el uso de Twitter, va a empezar a portarse como un animal acorralado. Suficiente sangre ya se ha regado.

Como dije inicialmente, si usted no vive en América Latina o no tiene suficiente conocimientos de ella, o no conoce a alguien de allí, existe un gran chance que se sienta alejado de todo esto. Pero le ruego que reconsidere ese pensar. La alianza de Chávez con Ahmadinejad, y ahora último, sus discursos sobre el “poder nuclear” es una amenaza muy clara a nuestro continente y a nuestras vidas cotidianas. Le ruego que pida a sus representantes políticos que presten más atención a lo que está sucediendo en nuestra vecindad aquí en las Américas.  Mientras Irán parece una amenaza lo suficientemente lejana, no dude que estos dictadores deshonestos, usarán sus alianzas aquí en este continente, para pasar el terrorismo y armas de destrucción masiva de contrabando.  Cualquier cosa que ellos hagan, no me sorprendería.

Por lo que es importante que nos familiarizemos con la situación de los ciudadanos de nuestros países vecinos, quienes trabajan duro por diseminar la verdad de su lucha contra la dictadura de Chávez. Necesitamos darles nuestro apoyo. La lucha más difícil está en Venezuela, en donde está la raíz del problema. Sin embargo hay otros países que también luchan y de los que oimos poco: Ecuador, Bolivia, Nicaragua. Algunos también estan entrando a Twitter y compartiendo su información con nosotros. No los ignoremos. Necesitamos estar al tanto de esta lucha, porque si pensamos, que eso es allá problema de ellos, y no hacemos nada al respecto por apoyar, podríamos estar en peligro de recibir una mala sorpresa, una que puede ser mas urgente que nuestras crisis del sistema de salud o de la economía.

Así que tratemos de darle mas atención a esos tweets, su mayoría ya están saliendo en inglés ahora último, asociados con los las etiquetas o hashtags mencionadas en este escrito.  Démosles nuestro apoyo, de la forma que se lo hemos dado a nuestros amigos al otro lado del mundo, en Irán, porque estos son nuestros vecinos cercanos. No tenemos que dar nuestro dinero. Simple conocimiento y compartir de información será suficiente. Yo tengo la confianza que nuestro gobierno ya está al tanto de la situación y están atentos. Nosotros necesitamos hacer lo mismo también. Es tan fácil como leer aquellos tweets informativos, que le harán estar más agradecidos de vivir en un país como el de los Estados Unidos, con sus problemas e imperfecciones, sigue siendo la tierra de la verdadera democracia, un lujo que no viene fácilmente y que hoy es solo un sueño para tantos alrededor del mundo.

Para cerrar, me gustaría invitarle a ver este video conmovedor, con fotos de los eventos mas recientes en Venezuela. No necesita entender el español para darse cuenta de la lucha que enfrentan los venezolanos. La canción de fondo habla de no violencia y deseando paz y libertad. Verá la famosa etiqueta que se ven en Twitter #Tasponchao, que es un dicho para Chávez, avisándole que ya perdió sus chances con el pueblo. Eso es todo lo que necesita saber. Tome unos minutos para verlo. Creo que estará tan conmovido como yo lo estuve.

Quiero agradecer a los siguientes excelentes tuiteros, @IKching, @kakoparu, @Wtiger50, @_Gyermo, @Jose_Enrique, @agamez, and @urru_urru por compartir fotos, videos e información para este escrito. El video que sigue es hecho por @no_al_comunismo.  Un bello trabajo. Una muy especial mención a @Orvex y a @FreeVenezuela, luchadores de hace tiempo, por haberme permitido conocer mas a fondo su lucha. Otra mención especial al nuevo equipo recientemente formado: @IranVzla, liderado por @Fratizia de Venezuela y @Lissnup de Irán, dándlole a este moviemiento un nuevo momentum digital.

Hay mucho mas que compartir, información y personas que mencionar, quienes son parte clave de esta lucha, pero creo que por ahora esto debería darle una idea de la gravedad de la situación.  Tengan la libertad, por supuesto, de dejar sus comentarios, los cuales siempre son apreciados. Por ahora, haga click en el botón de tocar el video y véalo.

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Unless you live in Latin America, are from Latin America or know someone from Latin America, chances are you’re far away from the plight of the Venezuelans. Decades ago, as a kid growing up in Latin America, I recall hearing about people who wanted a fresh start and couldn’t get a visa to go to the United States, pick up and move to Venezuela. That was the neighboring country where there was opportunity and prosperity.

No doubt, like any other country, Venezuela has always had some degree of corruption, but it used to be manageable enough so that people could succeed despite it. The key question is, how much did the corruption grow in the past three decades?

In Latin America, the Venezuela of the 70’s and even the one of the 80’s, was a land that produced many Miss Universe candidates, where petroleum was abundant, where the great telenovelas, actors, singers, beautiful and successful people came from. The entertainment and news networks from Venezuela were big contenders of those that came from Mexico, Spain and the USA.

At the turn of this new century, this great country, that used to be a model of success, of democracy and capitalism, is not even the shadow of what it used to be.  I’m not from Venezuela, just like I’m not from Honduras, yet, as a Latin American, I’ve been closely watching the political events of the region as I grew up, at first within the region, and now from afar.

In 1992, I’m not so sure what the political situation was in Venezuela, but you can read more on that here. Perhaps the corruption was getting out of control, perhaps the poverty levels were on the rise. I really couldn’t tell you what it was, but what I will tell you is that the timing was right for a rebellion. I invite my Venezuelan friends to comment on this and add to the events that lead to the rise of Hugo Chavez, but all I know is that this colonel, with below-average intelligence, whom –from what I hear from one of his former classmates, did very poorly in school– managed to stage a coupe, a coupe that failed and landed him in jail. Two years later he was pardoned by a new president and he begun a populist political movement that put him in office in 1999. No doubt, people were tired and voted for change. But that vote has cost Venezuela dearly.

Since 1999, Hugo Chavez has managed to remain in power, not exactly in a transparent and clean manner. He has changed the constitution to allow him to perpetuate himself in the highest office in Venezuela. He has abolished the independence of the branches of powers. The legislative and judicial, as well as the military today depend on him for approval and survival. The free press has also become dependent on him to exist.

The freedom of the traditional press is just about extinguished. Any news networks that refuse to transmit his long torturous speeches, is shut down. Venezuela, where immigrants from other countries sought opportunity, today is in the certain process of becoming another Cuba, where impoverished citizens all share the same woes, fears, looking over their shoulders and betraying one another for survival. Now, people look to leave Venezuela.

From L to R: Zelaya, Chavez & OAS Sec'y Insulza. Credit: AFP Photo - Jairo Cajina - Click on photo for source

As I’ve began to make acquaintance of Venezuelans in Twitter, many of them are residing here or are in exile. In exile? I thought that only happened to Cubans. How bad things must have gotten in the past decade, since Hugo Chavez rose to power. From what I’ve learned, the political persecution in Venezuela is quite bad. The sad thing is that the OAS, which is supposed to be the international body designed to protect citizens all over the American continent, looks the other way when it comes to Hugo Chavez’ transgressions against the citizens of Venezuela, the rigging of the supposed elections that keep him in office, his alliances with terrorists and narco-dealers in the region, and his financing of the spread of his communist agenda in Latin America. I wonder what is making the OAS and its Secretary, Insulza, look so conveniently the other way, while pressing to have Cuba re-integrated into the organization. This is all certainly no coincidence.

The more I tweet back and forth with Venezuelan citizens outraged by the Chavez regime, the more I follow the Venezuela tweet-stream, the more I realize how severely endangered true democracy has become under Hugo Chavez, not just in Venezuela but in the entire Latin American region.

This video shows the dangerous rise of this new Hitler of the 21st century, and the likely implications if he’s allowed to succeed:

Venezuelans can no longer count on safety as they walk down the streets. The police and military are now considered a militocracy and commit crimes against their citizens, with impunity. They get special privileges such as a higher currency exchange rate, as compared to civilians. Venezuelans lack basic services nowadays: water, electricity both come and go sporadically. It is said Chavez blames el Niño for these events. But many smart citizens take a look at neighboring countries and realize that only countries that are friendly to Chavez and closely aligned with Cuba experience the same issues, countries like Ecuador and Bolivia. Interestingly enough, countries that are not part of ALBA (Chavez’ special country club), don’t seem to have these issues. And they are all in the same region!

So people have begun questioning. They have started realizing that the same things that happen in Cuba, are happening to them: the usual communist rationing of basic services.

At first my reaction to 10+ years of Chavez was, “well, you guys elected the guy, so…” , but the more I learn of the situation, the more I realize how dearly Venezuelans are paying for that single mistake of having voted for Chavez once, just once. For once he made it to the presidency, Chavez made sure to put in place all legalities to remain in power. It is no secret he rigs elections and referendums, including the one to change the constitution, that now allows him to remain in power without term limits. As per his latest speeches, he has expressed openly, not only that he is a Marxist and supports communism, but that he is ready to stay in power for at least another 11 years.

Many Venezuelans must regret having voted for that guy back in the late 90’s. Many people here in the United States, who voted for George W. Bush in 2000, were relieved when January 20th 2009 came around and a new president came to power. That is a democratic luxury that Venezuelans can no longer count on. For Chavez has made sure the constitution and all powers remain with him, likely until his death. It is said Chavez took the Castro model, and with the Venezuelan petrodollars, is financing a new version of it and disseminating it throughout Latin America, via a populist platform. We see it blooming in Ecuador, Nicaragua and Bolivia. It’s beginning to show signs in Brazil and fortunately enough, the seed was not allowed to take hold in Honduras via Zelaya. It wasn’t easy, but the Hondurans succeeded.

Unbelievable to see the military use weapons against unarmed citizens - Thanks to Tweep @Jose_Enrique for sharing this picture

In Venezuela, however, where the root of all this spreading communism exists, Chavez has managed to remove all liberties and basic services very slowly, slowly enough that the citizenry can take it one bite at a time. Oh yes, they have come out to protest, many times during the past decade, but the world has not been watching. Just like in Iran, Chavez has turned the military against the citizens. Additionally he is known to have armed thugs blend in with the protester crowds and shoot at them. A devious mind like that of Chavez’, that once failed in school, has done very well coming up with ploys to make himself look not so harmful to the international community, all while slowly abolishing democracy in Venezuela and financing the spread of communism in Latin America. He calls it the “Bolivarian Revolution” or “21st Century Socialism.”  Truth is, it is worse than that. It is despotic communism, a totalitarian dictatorship with very dangerous connections to the enemies of the United States of America, what he normally calls, “The Yankee Empire.” He claims he wants no longer be “subservient” to the “Yankee Empire”, yet all he’s done is substitute the alliance with the United States with nations unfriendly to the United States, nations like Iran.

This video below, shows the latest visit of Ahmadinejad to Venezuela, holding hands with Chavez and swearing loyalty to each other. A marriage arranged in hell, no doubt. Pardon the quality, but if you read the captions, you will appreciate the importance of the content. This was a report by Ecuadorian news network Teleamazonas, also under threat of closure by Correa, Chavez’ other pupil in Ecuador.

Coincidentially, Chavez’ close ally, Ahmadinejad in Iran, managed to pull off a supposedly successful election to remain in power, a-la-Chavez, calling a vote for his victory a little too soon, all while the electoral powers were under his control. The numbers did not coincide. It all smelled of fraud to the Iranian citizens, who went out to the streets to protest. When the Iranian regime chased out the independent media, the Iranian protesters, also known as the Green Movement, turned to the Internet to be heard and share with the world their awful plight. In the absence of reliable, independent traditional media, Twitter, YouTube and Facebook served as means to get the real story out. And they succeeded in getting their message out, but the same technology that helped them has come back to hurt them, for it was also used to trace them. And in Iran, where public executions are part of the cultural tradition, many have paid dearly with their lives. We’ll address that in more detail in a future article, for which I’m currently conducting research. Suffice it to say that technology is a two-edged weapon, but if used correctly and carefully to fight against despotic dictators, it can be very powerful. So far, Twitter has shown to be successful at making dictators like Chavez and Ahmadinejad quite uncomfortable, enough to threaten the citizens who use it.

Venezuelans, quite aware of the plight of the Iranians, and having personally seen the constant visits of Ahmadinejad to Venezuela and other countries in Latin America, having seen the presence of thousands of Castro-loyal Cubans invading their neighborhoods, form part of Chavez’ already corrupt and unfair dictatorship, are feeling the heat. The last bastion of independent press in Venezuela, Globovision, is now under severe threat of being closed or taken over by Chavez’ people. It is at this point when many are turning to Twitter to communicate their decade-long struggle to the world.

This explains tags like #Venezuela, #IranVzla, #Vzla, #FreeMediaVe, rise to the top of global trending topics at various times of the day in Twitter within the past few weeks. What is also amazing is that, similar to the alliance between Hugo Chavez and Ahmadinejad, their opposition is also working to unite their voices against both of these dictators. This great blog entry, “Twitter Revolution’s Next Stop – Venezuela” tells of the new alliance between the Green Movement of Iran and the growing opposition in Venezuela. They are well aware they are fighting the same enemy. I will also cover this new alliance more in detail in a future article.

Both dictators, Ahmadinejad and Chavez have become emboldened lately. Their repressive tactics have gotten worse. Click here for pictures of the latest demonstrations and the brutal repression. It is so similar to what is happening in Iran. Risking jail or death, citizens continue to turn to Twitter to share their struggle with the world. Chavez had the nerve last week to declare using Twitter a terrorist act. As ridiculous as that sounds, I see the danger of that declaration. If he makes it a law, he could use it to persecute mercilessly those who are caught using it. I have gotten information from contacts in Europe that Chavez has acquired a monitoring center, similar to the one the Iranian regime acquired to persecute its citizens who got the word out via the Internet. It looks like sooner or later Venezuelans will have to turn to more sophisticated ways of overcoming electronic surveillance, just like Iranians have.

In the meantime, as the rest of the world acquaints itself with the Human Rights abuses of the Chavez regime, I have no doubt the Venezuelan citizens will become more sophisticated at using Facebook and Twitter, in a manner that will protect their identities, and those of the people in their networks. It is said that the new energy minister that Chavez imported recently from Cuba, to supposedly head the energy crisis fix, is in truth an expert at brutal repression.

I have no doubt, the repressive dictatorship, which has become quite threatened by the use of Twitter, will begin to behave like a cornered animal. Enough blood has been spilled already.

As I initially stated, if you don’t live in Latin America, are not acquainted with it, or anyone from there, chances are you feel far away from all this. But I urge you to reconsider that stance. The close alliance of Chavez with Iran, and lately their talks of “nuclear power” is a clear threat to our continent and our way of life here in the United States. We need to urge our political representatives to pay close attention to what’s happening within our immediate neighborhood in America. While Iran sounds like a far-away threat, don’t put past them the chance of using their connections with rogue dictators like Chavez and his allies here in our continent, to smuggle terrorism and weapons of mass destruction.  I don’t put anything past them.

Which is why it is important that we become more acquainted with the plight of the citizens in our neighboring countries, who are fighting hard to get the word out on their struggle against the Chavez dictatorship and its spread. We need to support them. The hardest struggle is in Venezuela, where the root of the problem lies. Yet there are other countries that are also fighting, these are countries we hardly hear from: Ecuador, Bolivia, Nicaragua. Some are also joining Twitter and sharing their information with us. Let’s not ignore them. We need to be aware of their fight, because if we think it is only their problem, and do nothing about it, we may be in for a serious wake up call, that may be more urgent than our current economic and healthcare crisis.

So, let’s pay attention to those tweets, mostly in English nowadays, with the tags mentioned here. Let us give them our support, the way we have given it to our friends across the world, in Iran, for these are our immediate neighbors. We don’t have to donate our money. Simple awareness and sharing of information will do. I trust our government is well aware and paying attention. We need to do the same as well. And it is as easy as reading those informative tweets, that will only make you more thankful to live in a country like the USA, with its troubles and imperfections, it remains the land of true democracy and freedom, a luxury that does not come easy, and today is only a dream for so many around the world.

To close, I would like to invite you to view this very touching video, with pictures of the most recent events. You don’t need to know Spanish to see the struggle Venezuelans are currently facing. The background song tells of no to violence and desiring peace and freedom. You’ll see the famous Twitter tag #Tasponchao, which is meant for Chavez, that he’s struck out with the people. That’s all you need to know. Take a minute to watch. I think you’ll be as touched as I was.

I want to thank the fine tweeps, @IKching, @kakoparu, @Wtiger50, @_Gyermo, @Jose_Enrique, @agamez, and @urru_urru for sharing the pictures, videos and information for this entry. The video below is by @no_al_comunismo. A beautiful job. A special mention to @Orvex and @FreeVenezuela, long-term freedom fighters, for having allowed me to learn of their struggle. And another special mention to the newly formed team @IranVzla, led by @Fratizia of Venezuela and @lissnup of Iran, giving this movement a new momentum on line.

There is so much more, information to share and people to mention, who are a key part of this struggle, but I think for now, this should give you an idea of the gravity of the situation. Feel free, of course, to leave your comments, which are always appreciated. For now, click on the play button, and watch.

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