Posted on 05/15/2006 8:05:02 AM PDT by Grendel9
He has been called a terrorist by Washington but... An adoring audience of British left-wingers and the Latin American diaspora cheered, clapped, sang and laughed as Venezuelan president Hugo Chávez denounced President Bush and capitalism and praised Ken Livingstone and the Pope... During his marathon address, with occasional pauses to ask his "amigo" Ken whether his time was up, he managed to refer to everyone from George Bernard Shaw to Rosa Luxemburg, Pythagoras to Thomas Jefferson, CLR James to his mother. "Sometimes I'm a terrorist according to Washington or a guy who does military coups," said President Chávez, in front of a backdrop of his country's red, blue and yellow flag. "But all we did was participate in a revolutionary movement, which is what we are doing now." He went through a history of revolution in Latin America and described how his hero, Simon Bolivar, had visited London in 1810.
Then there is the follow up piece...
http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/story/0,,1774918,00.html
Not a difficult choice at all
Chávez and Venezuela deserve the support of all who believe in social justice and democracy
President Hugo Chávez of Venezuela will today become the second head of state - after the Queen - to be welcomed to London's City Hall. When it comes to the social transformation taking place in Venezuela, the political qualifications often necessary in our imperfect world can be set aside. It is crystal clear on which side right and justice lies. For many years people have demanded that social progress and democracy go hand in hand, and that is exactly what is now taking place in Venezuela.
It therefore deserves the unequivocal support of not only every supporter of social progress but every genuine believer in democracy in the world.
Venezuela is a state of huge oil wealth that was hitherto scarcely used to benefit the population. Now, for the first time in a country of over 25 million people, a functioning health service is being built. Seventeen million people have been given access to free healthcare for the first time in their lives. Illiteracy has been eliminated. Fifteen million people have been given access to food, medicines and other essential products at affordable prices. A quarter of a million eye operations have been financed to rescue people from blindness. These are extraordinary practical achievements.
Little wonder, then, that Chávez and his supporters have won 10 elections in eight years. These victories were achieved despite a private media largely controlled by opponents of the government. Yet Chávez's visit has been met with absurd claims from rightwing activists that he is some kind of dictator. [only an excerpt]
He's getting a following as he continues his European tour. Scarey.
Why do I keep thinking Yamamoto?
he'd get a hero's welcome in NYC, too. So what?
The left's new hero. I love to see the communists come out of the woodwork.
Isn't there some other thread you can highjack?
There must be a "lost art"....Al-Sadr, Chavez and watzisname the Prez of Iran are still breathing...
I felt the urge, no, the absolute need to respond to that....then I just realized I have a sudden and stronger desire to eat dirt.
A maricon? Interesting.....
A maricon? Interesting.....
Red Ken is basking in his element. He should enjoy it now before a few more of his other "friends" blow up some more of his city's infastructure via their kindness and appreciation.
No kidding!
Sounds like that other socialist paradise Cuba! Give up freedom for universal literacy and health care!
As for the numbers, in a nation of 25 million, one-quarter million were going blind? Is there something in the water down there?
>> Is there something in the water down there?
Vitamin B12 deficiency leading to optic nerve neuropathy- because of their socialist economy, Cubans consumed very little milk and meat and resorted to eating cassava to stay alive. Although cassava and similar plant are filling, they lack complete nutririon.
Sorry for the mispellings in my previous post. I should have added that Cubans resorted to cassava only after running out of grain. A well-designed whole grain and bean diet can provide complete nutrition, but not one centered around cassava...
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