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.
How wonderful to read this! I have also adored Chavez and would get so frustrated with people who regurgitated the empire's talking points about him. I'm so glad you got to be friends, and I appreciate this eulogy to a great man.
I think a lot that the only reason I ever got to meet Chavez, and do the amazing things I have done is because my son Casey was killed in Iraq.
However, one of the last times I got to speak with Chavez, he said, "Casey is also my son, and the son of Venezuela." What a legacy that I should write more about!
In 2006 Hugo Chavez made his famous speech at the UN General Assembly, referring to US President George W. Bush : "The devil came here yesterday, and it smells of sulfur still today, this table that I am now standing in front of."
He shouldn’t have gone there. I always suspected that he contracted his cancer at this event. Jack Ruby’s death should have given a warning.
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.
How wonderful to read this! I have also adored Chavez and would get so frustrated with people who regurgitated the empire's talking points about him. I'm so glad you got to be friends, and I appreciate this eulogy to a great man.
the greatest!
I think a lot that the only reason I ever got to meet Chavez, and do the amazing things I have done is because my son Casey was killed in Iraq.
However, one of the last times I got to speak with Chavez, he said, "Casey is also my son, and the son of Venezuela." What a legacy that I should write more about!
what a mensch!
Oh yes, please do write more about that! Wow. What a noble soul!
Thank you Cindy. I remember his “I smell sulfur” speech at the UN after Bush spoke. He had a sharp sense of humor.
Very nicely written! He was a giant among his peers.
In 2006 Hugo Chavez made his famous speech at the UN General Assembly, referring to US President George W. Bush : "The devil came here yesterday, and it smells of sulfur still today, this table that I am now standing in front of."
He shouldn’t have gone there. I always suspected that he contracted his cancer at this event. Jack Ruby’s death should have given a warning.
I am sure the U.S. gave him cancer.
They tried to assassinate Castro hundreds of times and the 2002 coup attempt against Chavez failed.
Beautiful tribute, thank you, Cindy. ✌🏼❤️✌🏼
For a beautiful human
I am very pleased to hear that my article benefited your understanding of this epic hero.
Peace.