Posted on 02/26/2006 4:19:01 PM PST by wouldntbprudent
Weston resident Maria Story talks to her mother in Venezuela at least once a day, but the call from Caracas came unusually early Saturday.
"My mom called me crying this morning," said the 29-year-old graphic designer, as news spread that Venezuela plans to drastically cut U.S. airline service starting Wednesday. "She is super sad and scared that this might limit the visits she will be able to make to see us."
Across South Florida, the Venezuelan community and those doing business with the oil-rich nation reacted with sadness, dismay, anger and concern, with many deriding the flight cuts as yet another political jab at Washington by Venezuela's vitriolic President Hugo Chávez, an ally of Cuba's Fidel Castro.
(Excerpt) Read more at sun-sentinel.com ...
"She is super sad and scared that this might limit the visits she will be able to make to see us."
Noooo... What's really happening is the Caracas madman is cutting off travel to the US because he's afraid, like Castro, that his entire country will move to the US.
Before any of the usual suspects come on this thread talking about aliens, I should remind everyone that the Venezuelan exile community in South Florida is very wealthy. These are not folks who are a drain on our system.
Just what we need. Another group of potential malcontents.
So far, that is very true.
I hear that a lot of the Venezuelan exodus is going to Puerto Rico.
I have a friend here whose hubby is from Venezuela. Man, he is VERY conservative.
susie
These guys?
Suprising they would slant it that way. Maybe there's hope.
The US interfered with the course of Venezuelan history before--in 1895 there was a boundary dispute between Venezuela and British Guiana, and President Cleveland forced Britain to seek international arbitration rather than just taking as much of Venezuela as they wanted. Maybe Cleveland's action was a mistake--a much smaller Venezuela might be less troublesome.
Chavez like most dictators is all about himself, envy, resentment, the blame game and trying to make a corrupt and unworkable lousy idea work against the tide, reason and the success of democracy and capitalism. Freedom is natural, feels good and is right. It works.
Dictators (and socialists and "liberals") always have to be in competition against what people really want, which is freedom, being left alone by the government and stuff. People have a natural inclination to want things, shiney new cars, trinkets, bluejeans, beer, better food, big ass TV's and music!
People aren't motivated by "healthcare" or "the people". They want some hip new shoes, perfume and a good time down at the nightclub. People just wanna have fun! It's natural. It's in our genes and jeans.
Pretty soon, the only way to escape Venezuela will be life rafts.
These aren't illegals.
My stepmother is from Venezuela and is now a US Citizen. She and her family take wonderful care of my father, who has advanced Alzheimer's. They are good people who add, rather than detract, from our country.
Many of the Latinos in South Florida are among the most loyal Americans you will find anywhere.
These people are generally not illegal aliens.
And as far as your point of view that exiles should not be welcome here, fortunately there are enough people in this country who welcome victims of political or religious oppression rather than lock them out.
I guess you don't think much of the Statue of Liberty or Ellis Island, either.
20.02.06 | Observatorio Venezolano de Prisiones, Venezuelan NGO monitoring the state of prisons in the country, has furnished the Inter American Court on Human Rights with a horrifying report entitled "Penitentiary Situation in Venezuela" [power point presentation], that focuses on the situation of Monagas' jail La Pica. The Court's resolution in that respect can be read here in pdf format. >>
I found this while looking for pictures of Chavez More here
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