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Topic: Venezuela, Chávez, and Global Socialism (Read 302 times) |
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Cristina/Lydia
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Venezuela, Chávez, and Global Socialism
« Thread started on: Sep 2nd, 2009, 3:50pm » |
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This is a topic where you can post your thoughts and opinions on recent events in Venezuela through the socialism campaigns of president Hugo Chávez, and how his policies are spreading to affect our world.
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Lydia/Cristina
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Ana G.
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Re: Venezuela
« Reply #1 on: Sep 2nd, 2009, 4:58pm » |
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When we all watched those videos from youtube on what's been happening in Venezuela recently at first I felt left out since I hadn't a clue that this had been going on, secondly I thought that of course it was unfair that Chavez was taking away cell phones, cameras,televisions, ..etc. I think that he should play by the rules and not change them to fit his agenda.
-Sarah/Ana
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| « Last Edit: Sep 2nd, 2009, 4:58pm by Ana G. » |
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~Ana G./Sarah G.
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JoseM
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Re: Venezuela
« Reply #2 on: Sep 2nd, 2009, 5:15pm » |
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I think that if Chavez does take over the education system and the children are forced to study the propaganda that he forces down there throats, many more kids our age will begin to protest. What would the military do if these sort of thing broke out? Would they go by the same rules they follow now or would Chavez order them to treat the children like adults?
-Joe/Jose
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CristinaShimizu
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Re: Venezuela
« Reply #3 on: Sep 2nd, 2009, 5:23pm » |
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Yes, I also believe that what Chavez is doing is not fair, but what are we going to do about? Should we try to stop it? I mean if we try to stop what he is doing, we may not get any oil. But even if we did decide to help the citizens of Venezuela, what are we going to do about? How are we going to help. I don't know. But also what should you believe? Below is a YouTube video that I watched. And after I was really confused. Is Chavez what he is saying he is. Is he going to let us keep getting oil from him? I don't know. But if you have any ideas that would be great.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kDaSJ23DRjs&feature=related
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Cristina/Krista S.
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MiquelaS
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Re: Venezuela
« Reply #4 on: Sep 2nd, 2009, 5:24pm » |
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When I watched the videos it made me think:
*I feel really sorry for the Latinos.
* I don’t even know Chávez and I don't like him, very much:
1) He took and taking away people's rights
2) Every where someone goes they are being threatened (even by walking out of you house) ect.
* I also think that just because "Chávez wants something does not mean he should get it. (Like the saying” Life is not fair!”) He should try being nice and not just change the laws just because he dose not like it!
* It would be really creepy if that happened to the whole world! (Where every one is protesting all the laws are changed. The word we know would be CRAZY.)
Now here is a question:
How would you feel if this was happening to you?
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| « Last Edit: Sep 2nd, 2009, 10:20pm by MiquelaS » |
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CristinaShimizu
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Re: Venezuela
« Reply #5 on: Sep 2nd, 2009, 5:45pm » |
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Mikaela, to answer your question, I would hate it if that was happening to me. And again as I was saying what are we going to do about. And now that you mentioned that. If it was happening to us, how would anyone help? Would anyone help? What do you think? And what would you be doing, would you be going out and protesting knowing that you could get killed or would you stay in your house praying that everything will turn around? Honestly, I don't know what I would want to be doing. What I do know is, is that I hope that does not happen to us.
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Cristina/Krista S.
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ChicoW
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Venezuela
« Reply #6 on: Sep 2nd, 2009, 6:05pm » |
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Well, The children were RIGHT to stand up for there education system. Without that they might not be able to have the chance they probably have now. I sure hope it works out for them. If not, then I don't think there is anymore of a chance they can acquire. Who else thinks so ?
Chico - we don't use colored text; gracias ~
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| « Last Edit: Sep 2nd, 2009, 6:17pm by Señor José » |
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DiegolitoL
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Re: Venezuela, Chávez, and Global Socialism
« Reply #7 on: Sep 2nd, 2009, 7:18pm » |
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Wow, that guy is insane. I mean who tries to take over a really small country with poor military force. I think that dude should take an anger-management class or something. First of all, shooting your own people, it may only be rubber rounds but they can still kill, maybe not as fast or effectively than regular but a couple bursts from that and they are shut up. (that might be the point but im just saying it anyway). Then taking away your citizens freedom of speech that was just plain wrong. I think that we should find a legal way to have him 'taken out' not killed (just so you know) but removed and let them choose there own leader and not let some dictator to take control.
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Señor José
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Re: Venezuela, Chávez, and Global Socialism
« Reply #8 on: Sep 2nd, 2009, 7:19pm » |
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Buenas mis amigos:
Just to recap a bit, Chávez can not take away cameras, cellphones, radios, televisions, and other forms of communication. But what he can do, and has done is begin to close the stations and electronic services that facilitate these forms of communication if they do not agree with his ideas and broadcast his ideals for the government.
During his presidency since 1998, he was totally re-written the constitution to allow him to remain the elected president for life. Anytime a vote fails (for basically anything), they have another vote and another until it passes.
Let us first make sure to know the concepts of socialism for why over the last few years the Venezuelan government has:
#1) taken full-control over all national industry (including the oil fields)
#2) freely exercised "public domain" - which means the government can seize private land, houses, possessions from anyone when deemed good for all the people
#3) gained control of all public forms of communication to censor/monitor broadcasts (or outright shut-down) stations that don't promote their agenda.
#4) now taken action to control what is taught in both the public and private/parochial (Catholic) school systems, including that all forms of religious training and education are banned.
These are just some of the bigger on-going issues as people's rights and freedoms continue to be taken away. The problems and protests in Venezuela have been growing for a decade, but now is catching world headlines as Chávez has allied to spread his socialism with most of Latin America's nations; Iran and the mid-East OPEC nations; Libya, Somalia and other African nations with terrorism problems, and Russia and China.
Please consider the question that was already asked above: How would you feel if this was happening to you right here in the United States? As students, adults, or even some of the older people we saw today, how far would you got to preserve your liberty and freedom?
José asked what would the military do to students for joining the protests? Perhaps this will give you some ideas (from 2007) the protest video catalog for VZ jovenes is endless!
Here's a shorter clip with a clear picture - and you should understand many of the words. Where the soldiers are firing on the students, I've no idea if it's with the real or rubber bullets:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b9onAepBcCE&feature=related
Can you see yourself living like this?
* The link Krista provides asks a very thought-provoking question: Is Chávez really as bad as everyone makes him out to be?
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MariaP
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Re: Venezuela
« Reply #9 on: Sep 2nd, 2009, 8:04pm » |
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I can't believe that one person was making all this happen. I can't even imagine if I had to go through that. I feel so sorry for the people who have to live through that. It makes me mad that people are allowed to do that. I can't believe that people would stoop so low to rule a country. I can't believe that they kill people to get what they want. I don't think that any of us could imagine how it is to be in Venezuela right now. After seeing that I video I feel more and more scared about being outside. There are so many risks. I am glad that our president isn't changing the constitution like Chavez. I am also glad that we aren't working with Chavez.
I can't believe that one person is making all this happen in Venezuela. I can't think of a person that I know that would do anything like this to rule a country. I can't imagine how it is in Venezuela right now. After seeing the YouTube videos I am scared of that happening to us. I am glad that it is not happening to us right now. I also feel a bit more scared when I go outside by myself. Now that I think about it, I see that their are many risks when I go outside or when we protest.
I am glad that our president isn't like Chavez. I hope that their aren't that many people like Chavez.
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Cristina/Lydia
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Re: Venezuela, Chávez, and Global Socialism
« Reply #10 on: Sep 2nd, 2009, 8:24pm » |
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Thanks for the video link, Krista.
I watched the interview. For those of you who watched the video do not forget this was uploaded 2 years ago. Also, this interview was done by ABC, an American TV station (we cannot forget how much influence the media has).
The accusations of name calling were directed at Bush, not America in general. Not to say that Chávez is completely innocent in this instance, but personally, I believe he has legitimate reasons to dislike Bush, but that's a whole other issue entirely.
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Now, let's fast forward to Venezuela today and take a look at what Chávez is doing.
I did a simple google search on Venezuela and Chávez and came up with many of articles uploaded within just a few hours.
Sarah/Ana, I appreciate your honesty. I too, was not aware at all of Venezuela's current situation till it was brought up in class today. It is so sad and amazing and the same time (not in a good way) that we, in the United States can sit in blissful ignorance, completely unaware of what's going on just a few thousand miles south of the border. As Mr. Keller said this afternoon, for some strange reason we all think something like this could never, and will never happen in America. But what makes us so sure our safety and freedom is everlasting and not at risk in any way. How are we able to watch this go on in other countries all over the world around us and not get the least bit suspicious and may happen to us. After all, we've learned that history repeats itself, it's just a matter of when.
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Chávez recently passed a bill that will teach social indoctrination in the country's schools. As we saw today in class, protestors and innocent protestors are being blasted with tear gas by riot police.
In an attempt to stop the protests the government has threatened anyone who disrupts the "tranquility and public peace" with criminal charges. This however, has not stopped the people. If anything, it has made the people more willing to protest against this socialist government. The people are sick and tired of having to obey Chávez's every command. It's just so sad what they have to endure as they fight for basic rights.
AJ brought up a very good question in her post. How would we, as teenagers in the US handle this situation? Hopefully we will be lucky enough as to avoid type of government ruling, but let's try to put ourselves in these people's shoes. I cannot even fathom how I would react to something of this nature. Since I have not experienced anything like this I have nothing with which to compare to. I can only imagine the amount of devastation and disturbance the government is inflicting on these people. Their rights are rapidly disappearing, one by one. Chávez has already taken away many of the means of communication/news we take for granted every day. What if you had no TVs, no cellphones, no nothing? Add that to all the police in the streets and all the other turmoil that's continuing to disrupt and corrupt their lives. It's a wonder they've still maintained a level of sanity.
And the thing that makes these videos scarier to me is that, these events are taking place now, not 20 or even 50 years ago. It's not like we can look back and say, "Wow, that was a loooong time ago." With the documentaries on the Civil and World Wars I'm not as fazed because the events didn't occur in my lifetime. This is different; this is now. This is something we'll be able to talk about with our kids. Our grandkids may be learning about this 3-50 years from now.
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Here are some links to articles that give some insight to the recent events:
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/us_and_americas/article6796342.ece
http://www.cnsnews.com/news/article/46896
http://www.venezuelanalysis.com/news/4756
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Lydia/Cristina
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MariaR
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Re: Venezuela, Chávez, and Global Socialism
« Reply #11 on: Sep 2nd, 2009, 9:07pm » |
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First of all, I think that everyone that has posted a message so far has great information and wonderful questions to this subject. Gracias.
I want to ask you now as teenagers and never experiencing this kind of situation first hand, do you really think you could handle it? I mean, we've seen it on videos and on movies and of course historical pictures and documents, but if it ever happened to us in the present day (say in Springfield), do you really think that you would be able to function?
Just imagine it and picture the city streets of Springfield filled with police/military men throwing tear gas on the streets. If you can so wrap your mind around that, then imagine what it's like for the people who are experiencing it right now.
I personally believe that we would be so traumatized we wouldn't be able to do anything. We are not old enough to remember the 60s (of course) so we don't know what it was like back then when racial protests and street fights were like.
That is just something I've been thinking about, but now I want to focus on how arrogant Chavez is. If he requests the t.v. and radio stations to air him and him only him, any day and everyday, doesn't that seem almost egotistical to you? What’s fueling all of this? Doesn’t it seem odd that he’s the one persuading the other leaders to do the things he’s doing, not just the t.v./radio situation, but to gang up on America maybe as well? It seems like he has to have someone behind him fueling him, or maybe someone he’s trying to follow after. Whatever it is, this man is starting something ghastly, and we’re only beginning to learn the first of it, who knows what will happen next? Let’s just hope that it doesn’t start another World War.
A.J./María
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| « Last Edit: Sep 2nd, 2009, 9:08pm by MariaR » |
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AJ Reynolds
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Señor José
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Re: Venezuela, Chávez, and Global Socialism
« Reply #12 on: Sep 2nd, 2009, 9:11pm » |
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FROM: javierl
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So with the big problems in Latin America with that one jerk president (more like a dictator if you ask me) murdering, or worse to all the people why do they keep up these mobs?
well because they don't want their country with a free constitution to become a country that is enslaved to a mad man and be communist. well i believe that they have every reason to keep on protesting because it would be like for us if Bin Laden took over and ruled the U.S. and its military. who is left to stand up for the country? US! it is the same thing for them and if it gets to the point over there to that the police and army get orders to kill all protesters than why don't the same citizens who put their life on the line to stand up and fight for what is right peacefully step it up a notch and maybe come un-peacefully. You may be wondering if they will do it without a way to defend themselves, why won't they do it with a way to defend not only themselves, but their country, and make a big gang to fight for freedom and try to over throw the dictator? well because first of all the citizens only weapons they might have would be pistols or small rifles, and second of all those are the only kinds of weapons most could afford. you may wonder, so what? well the police and millitary have special shields for protecting themselves from bullets and it would take a heavy or simi heavy rifle, assult rifle, machine gun, (not a sub machine gun) heavy machine gun, or sniper rifle and a small slue of other guns that could penetrate those sheilds and even if they did manage to break one, i assume the forces have soft armor made to absorb small bullets like the ones the citizens guns would fire. what is realy sad though is that the U.S. has sided against the citizens and support the actions going on over there. i dont know how the Latin Americans will get out of this one but i guess time will tell... what do you guys think?
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I Don't Function Properly When Becoming Too Tropically Deprived!
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BlancoO
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Re: Venezuela, Chávez, and Global Socialism
« Reply #13 on: Sep 2nd, 2009, 9:34pm » |
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Chavez is going to destroy all the Latin American countries. The United States should get involved and help out the protesters. We have weapons, I mean why can't we help. Will it really hurt us to get involved? There are so many helpless people getting killed just because they are fighting for their freedom. We can do something about this so why don't we? Eventually Chavez will try to get all the countries to join his side and we will have a Civil War. Or we might even have a WW3, that is if The other countries decide to dis agree with all the other countries. So that is what I think about that little Hitler.
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Teo S
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Re: Venezuela, Chávez, and Global Socialism
« Reply #14 on: Sep 2nd, 2009, 10:10pm » |
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I'm reading a lot of comments about how we (America) could or should go into Venezuela to make an attempt at helping them out of this situation, but do we really think that's a good idea? It has been brought to our attention that this situation has the power to affect us here in the United States, and maybe the reasoning is that if we go in to help them, it could help us as well in the long run, but I don't think this possibility is being thought all the way through. As far as I am aware, we have never in U.S. history been successful in attempting this. Plus, our troops are currently in Iraq and Afghanistan, trying to do roughly the same thing, and seeing nothing but trouble coming from these actions. So, on second thought, is it really a smart decision to invade there territory and "assist" in their struggles?
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Theobeo
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