About Hugo Chavez

[Mythsaje]

On a pagan email list I'm currently engaging in a debate about Chavez. There's a news story suggesting he's encouraging "black magic" in Venezuela to counter the dominance of the Catholic Church. I thought the whole idea was a stretch and said so.

My basic premise was that we couldn't trust the American media to be truthful on the matter and he hadn't shown himself to be the kind of monster they're trying to portray him as.

Then I was accused of participating in ideological contortionism to defend the guy and this was my response.

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And you're basing this on what, precisely?

What you've been told?

I daresay I am in almost continual contact with people who know a heck of a lot more about these subjects than most folks. I've been involved in some very detailed discussions on the subject, where all sides of the argument have been posted and debated.

The fact remains that there is still no credible evidence that Chavez is anything but what he seems to be--a populist leftist leader who's taken a strong anti-American stance based upon the actions of the U.S. oil companies and the Bush Administration. A couple of weeks ago the argument hinged on the fact that Chavez was trying to amend the Venezuelan constitution so he could stay in office past his two terms. Of course, that wasn't something he could do unilaterally--he had to take the question to the people themselves.

Now I will admit that some of us are watching Chavez with some concern, but so far he doesn't seem to have gone off the deep end. There have been no mass arrests of dissenters (in fact, they have less freedom HERE than there in many respects), the only media outlets there that have been subject to any kind of sanctions are the ones that damn well asked for it, and a lot of that money that you're accusing him of pocketing has been used to construct hospitals, universities, and to supply oil at cut-rate prices to people all over the world who needed it most. He's even offered to GIVE oil to Americans living in poverty to help them survive our harsh winters. He also offered to help the Katrina victims, along with several other nations, but the Bush administration turned down any such offers, saying they could take care of their own. Far too many of the victims are STILL waiting.

So, for the moment, the jury is still out. The prattling of the American media is entirely unworthy of trust on the subject. It's getting to the point that I wouldn't trust them to tell me that the sky is blue or the sun rises in the east. Primarily because they seem to think that being "neutral" in the reporting of news is to give those who swear the sun rises in the west and the sky is actually purple equal time with those who actually know what they're talking about.

Time will tell. There's no reason based upon present evidence to jump on the bandwagon to start bashing the guy.

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

1. Uh, I don't know if Chavez is involved personally...

But I was watching the travel channel recently and apparently in Venezuela there are still a lot of paganish traditions around and they're quite popular. They also mesh quite well with the local catholic church and everybody gets involved, including politicians, so I wouldn't be surprised if Chavez is involved in various paganesque traditional stuff. And he has butted heads with the Vatican about, I assume unrelated issues.

Obviously american media's going to distort whatever it is Chavez does or doesn't do.

[Mythsaje]

2. The article revolved around "black" Santeria...

People are digging up graves and stealing body parts for their rituals... I just thought it interesting that some people are blaming Chavez personally for this. Like I said--a stretch. Apparently he's a bit of a mystic himself and strongly adverse to the Catholic Church. But still...

[obama_girl]

3. Chavez is guilty

of not giving in to the chimp.

[Greyhound]

4. As Venezuela and ALBA(? damn furin words) continue to make life better

and better in the region, and as more of the world watches their success and begin to demand similar consideration, the bleating of the corporate world will get louder and louder, while their claims become more outrageous. Just blow it off, throw out the facts in case anyone that doesn't know might read them, sit back and watch their heads explode.

[LakeSamish706]

5. I don't know about the rest of you, but I feel comfortable in taking...

President Chavez as I see him. It would seem to me that he has done everything right for most lower class and lower income Venezuelans right from putting forth a constitution that totally includes the people that need help the most. He seems to care for both his people and his country very deeply.

[killbotfactory]

6. Catholicism has a pretty strong hold on Venezuela

And Chavez himself is Catholic, so I doubt this story very much. He doesn't need to encourage "black magic" (whatever that means) to undermine the dominance of the Catholic church. If anything, I would guess that the people there are more free to practice religions other than Catholicism, but that's about it.

[stillcool]

7. I'm having too hard of a time...

discerning truth from government reports and Congressional Committees to worry about what Hugo may or may not be doing these days. He said, he said, and no one seeks truth.