Hugo Chavez, Presente (in English and Spanish)
On the occasion of his 68th Birthday
Hugo Chavez Frias
July 28, 1954 to March 5, 2013
A wonderful human being left us nine years ago
Many people know about Hugo Chåvez, the president, and constant thorn in the side to El Imperio, the meddlesome and harmful Empire to the north. But I want to eulogize Chåvez the man I knew.
Hugo Chavez, (Maria-translator) and Cindy Sheehan: Palace Miraflores, 2006
He was my comrade in the way where we were united in the struggle for peace and economic justice and equality. It’s not like I could text him, or we would chat about current events, but whenever I had the privilege to be with him, warmth radiated from his heart and I was able to connect with him in very real and human ways. Compared to the palpable realness of Chåvez, most of the US politicians I have met with are walking and talking ice sculptures.
The first time I met him in Caracas was in early 2006 at the World Social Forum. I had been invited to sit on the stage while he gave a speech to those gathered there from around the world. He introduced me as, “Señora Esperanza,” “Mrs. Hope,” in contrast to his nickname for George Bush: “Señor Peligro,” “Mr. Danger.” However, our brother, Hugo Chavez, was the one who gave us much hope.
I have met and interviewed so many people in Venezuela whose lives were immeasurably improved by the vision and dedication of Hugo Chavez. How can one put a price on going from being illiterate to being able to read? A 65-year-old woman told me her life was transformed by the adult literacy program. Education in the US is just a commodity, but the Bolivarian Revolution of Hugo Chåvez put people first.
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That is just one story out of millions and my heart still breaks with sorrow for the People of the Bolivarian Revolution.
I was with Chåvez in Montevideo, Uruguay, for the presidential inauguration of Felipé Mujica in 2010. I was amazed that Chåvez could just plunge into the crowds and interact with the people without a phalanx of bodyguards, anti-aircraft missiles and assault weapons. His security detail was prepared, but not paranoid like up here in the Empire. Someone who was universally loved by the 99% need have no fear. Chavez had no fear.
Chåvez’s courageous battle against the Empire was more successful than his battle against cancer. He was able to inspire more leftist leaders in Latin America and my friends in Cuba will always be grateful for the friendship between Venezuela and Cuba. The struggle against neo-liberalism and the Empire had been far advanced under Chåvez’s inspirational leadership.
US Presidents come and go with destructive, yet boring and predictable regularity, and are numbered for History's convenience when they should all have had black and white striped clothing and be behind bars. However, it is my belief that Hugo Chåvez Frias will go down in World History as one of the most significant figures of the early 21st Century and his passing was a tragic and profound loss to us all, as his life was an inspiration.
Thank you from the bottom of my heart and soul. His light was far too bright to be extinguished by something as cruel as death and his light shines in all of us whose hearts burn with revolutionary love for all the people.
My life and our world are far better today because of the life of Hugo Chåvez.
Version en español
Un maravilloso ser humano nos dejó hace cinco años:
Mucha gente sabe acerca de Hugo Chávez, el presidente, y la espina constante en el costado de El Imperio, el imperio entrometido y dañino del norte. Pero quiero elogiar a Chávez como el hombre que conocí.
Era mi camarada en el camino donde fuimos unidos en la lucha por paz y justicia económica e igualdad. No es como si pudiera enviarle un mensaje de texto, o que pudiéramos conversar sobre los acontecimientos actuales, pero cada vez que tenía el privilegio de estar con él, irradiaba calor de su corazón y podía conectarme con él de maneras muy reales y humanas. En comparación con la realidad palpable de Chávez, la mayoría de los políticos estadounidenses con los que me he encontrado están caminando y hablando sobre esculturas de hielo.
La primera vez que lo conocí en Caracas fue a principios de 2006 en el Foro Social Mundial. Me invitaron a sentarme en el escenario mientras daba un discurso a los reunidos allí de todo el mundo. Él me presentó como: "Señora Esperanza" (Mrs. Hope), en contraste con su apodo de George Bush: "Señor Peligro" (Mr. Danger). Sin embargo, nuestro hermano, Hugo Chávez, fue quien nos dio muchas esperanzas.
He conocido y entrevistado a tanta gente en Venezuela cuyas vidas fueron mejoradas inmensurablemente por la visión y dedicación de Hugo Chávez. ¿Cómo se puede poner precio a pasar de ser analfabeto a ser capaz de leer? Una mujer de 65 años me contó que su vida fue transformada por el programa de alfabetización de adultos. La educación en los EE. UU. Es solo una mercancía, pero la Revolución Bolivariana de Hugo Chávez puso a la gente primero.
Esa es solo una historia entre millones y mi corazón todavía rompe con dolor por el pueblo de la Revolución Bolivariana.
Estuve con Chávez en Montevideo, Uruguay, para la toma de posesión del presidente Felipe Mujica en 2010. Me sorprendió que Chávez pudiera simplemente sumergirse en la multitud e interactuar con la gente sin una falange de guardaespaldas, misiles antiaéreos y armas de asalto. Su personal de seguridad estaba preparado, pero no paranoico como en el Imperio. Alguien que fue amado universalmente por el 99% no tiene miedo. Chávez no tenía miedo.
La valiente batalla de Chávez contra el Imperio fue más exitosa que su batalla contra el cáncer. Pudo inspirar a más líderes izquierdistas en América Latina y mis amigos en Cuba siempre estarán agradecidos por la amistad entre Venezuela y Cuba. La lucha contra el neoliberalismo y el Imperio había sido muy avanzada bajo el liderazgo inspirador de Chávez.
Los Presidentes de los EE. UU. Van y vienen con una regularidad destructiva, aunque aburrida y predecible, y están contados para la conveniencia de la historia cuando todos deberían haber tenido ropa con rayas blancas y negras y estar detrás de las rejas. Sin embargo, creo que Hugo Chávez Frías pasará a la historia mundial como una de las figuras más significativas del comienzo del siglo XXI y su muerte fue una pérdida trágica y profunda para todos nosotros, ya que su vida fue una inspiración.
Gracias desde el fondo de mi corazón y mi alma. Su luz era demasiado brillante para ser extinguida por algo tan cruel como la muerte y su luz brilla en todos nosotros, cuyos corazones arden con diversión revolucionaria para toda la gente.
Mi vida y nuestro mundo son mucho mejores hoy debido a la vida de Hugo Chávez.
Translated by:
Tulio F. Virgüez
Coordinator of Culture & Solidarity
Vice Minister Office for North America
Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Caracas - Venezuela
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Order a copy of Cindy's Book about Chavez and the
Bolivarian Revolution
Revolution, a Love Story
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My uncle lived in Caracas his whole adult life. He would call my dad every couple months in the 80s. The mass starvation, and hardship that country went through was criminal. Of course, they were “capitalist” so the U.S. was content to just steal the oil and ignore everything else. When I was in Cuba in 2013 (Chavez had died a few months prior) there were murals up of him next to Che and Castro. He donated so much oil to Cuba to help with the awful, sadistic sanctions placed on them. This is a nice piece. It’s great you got to know someone who was an actual statesman. 😊
Thank you for reminding us that what Chavez delivered were programs to help the working men and women (and poor) of Venezuela, taking special care to provide basic needed social programs (education, housing, utilities, etc), lifting many out of dire environments and circumstances. He decreased infant mortality, increased female participation in government and society, increased literacy and education (without the ridiculous gender identity balogny so prevalent in The Land of the Free) and relegated communities to make their own decisions on needed infrastructure. Today, his work is seen as the evil "socialism" or "communism" which is exactly what the powers that be want: to use boogeyman phrases to demonize progress for working and poor communities - the 99% - with clever catch phrases or words that most - who go along with this demonization - are ever eager to jump on board. And with deluded passion! I remember the day Chavez called Dubya "The Devil." I laughed and thought 'hmmm, hope Chavez has protection from The Devil's grip.' Sadly, that did not seem to be the case. May he rest in peace. Thank you Cindy for this beautiful tribute to a great man who walked among us in solidarity.