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Chavez wins reform = Walesa and Americans beware
I was appalled to hear the news coming from Venezuela today: its President, Hugo Chavez, proposed a reform to lift elected official term limits and it passed (again, barely) with just over 50% in a nationwide vote. This surely means Chavez will run again and could possibly mean he will remain Venezuela's president beyond 2016.
If you're sitting at home thinking this has nothing to do with you, think again. Chavez has long been an opponent of real democracy and has extreme and sometimes scary socialist notions when it comes to how nations should handle the world's problems. He is one of the leading opponents of the U.S. as a world power, and seems to go to great lengths to lobby for the support of other socialist nations such as Cuba, Russia, and China.
The even scarier implications of this news brings rather unwelcome tidings to democratic nations. Just recently, Chavez prevented Lech Walesa, the former Nobel Peace Prize-winning Polish President, from entering Venezuela because Walesa had planned on speaking throughout the country in support of Chavez's party opposition. We Americans love Walesa, and have also been treated rather brashly in Venezuela, so the prospects of safe and happy travels in Chavez country are not looking so great.
If you're sitting at home thinking this has nothing to do with you, think again. Chavez has long been an opponent of real democracy and has extreme and sometimes scary socialist notions when it comes to how nations should handle the world's problems. He is one of the leading opponents of the U.S. as a world power, and seems to go to great lengths to lobby for the support of other socialist nations such as Cuba, Russia, and China.
The even scarier implications of this news brings rather unwelcome tidings to democratic nations. Just recently, Chavez prevented Lech Walesa, the former Nobel Peace Prize-winning Polish President, from entering Venezuela because Walesa had planned on speaking throughout the country in support of Chavez's party opposition. We Americans love Walesa, and have also been treated rather brashly in Venezuela, so the prospects of safe and happy travels in Chavez country are not looking so great.
Filed under: Activism, History, Europe, North America, South America, Poland, United States, Venezuela, Video, News
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Guillermo Feb 16th 2009 7:21PM
Brenda, thank you. It's reassuring to know that not everyone outside of Venezuela is deceived by this megalomaniac.
Noel Garcia Feb 16th 2009 11:17PM
Dear Brenda,
Please allow me to analyze your comments paragraph by paragraph:
1.- Barely win?. 54% to 46%, so then Obama barely won too? (53% to 46%).
2.- Why are you so scared about socialist countries? Since when socialist countries invaded another country like USA did?
3.- Not true. Venezuelan laws prohibit anybody from promoting violence and discredit elected officials without proof (especially foreigners). If Lech Walesa has proof against Chavez, then he has to follow the law and present the evidence. The government told Walesa he will be closely watch to avoid any violation of any Venezuelan law. Check http://www.etaiwannews.com/etn/news_content.php?id=864070&lang=eng_news to find out that Walesa CANCELS his visit.
Comments are useless without a real an unbiased analysis.
Regards,
Noel Garcia
Colorado
Alex Feb 17th 2009 10:05AM
Americans love Walesa? I guarantee 99% of Americans have no idea who that is. And why is this political crap on gadling anyway?
brian Feb 17th 2009 8:04PM
Whats scary is your contempt for democracy, while believing yoiu are defending democracy., IF you are not a venesuelan you have no say in their elections or referendums.
VIVA Chavez!