Letters From Our Readers
March 1 - March 31, 2005
By Editorial Board
Mar 10, 2005, 13:13
|
|
Dear Les Blough,
I just the other day came across your excellent site via Crisis Papers
link to your [in Venezuela], Axis of Logic, February 18, 2005 in their section on the Americas
I keep trying to get the two editors (now friends of mine) to post more articles on Latin America but it was a nice surprise to see your extremely valuable piece posted here. I gave them more articles of yours and I am currently waiting most impatiently for installment 3. I suppose you are a bit late on it, or I am a bit too impatient. That's a thing I am known to be, so no surprise.
Besides the Touching the Revolution pieces, I also read your Exxon article and I am absolutely thrilled that I finally find someone who is really into this enormous scandal. I am also very worried that the same thing is going to happen to Chavez as what happened to Allende in '73, a day of infamy which I will never forget. It made me furious during the presidential campaign to find that Kerry had the same stand on Venezuela as Bush, essentially. It's scandalous, it's scary, it's shocking that they should be able to so brainwash Americans as to make them all feel that Venezuela is a country to fear, as you so aptly point out in "Touching the Revolution!: A Bolivarian Tour of Magnificent, Modern Venezuela!" I love your passion when you write about this and I would love to brush up on my very bad Spanish and go and see for myself. in the meantime, I'll stay in touch with your wonderful articles.
I live in France, with my husband who by and large shares my feelings about the neocon politics of destruction and self destruction, even though with somewhat less passion maybe than me. Since I was born and grew up in Sweden I do speak a few languages, but my Spanish is very skimpy. We have been to Argentina, even to the native American country up north (around Jujui, Humauaca, Salta, etc.), but most of the time we could fortunately speak French with our friends in Buenos Aires.
Anyway, the fate of Venezuela is now obviously of monumental importance not just to the whole continent but to the world, since the geopolitical situation might just be played out in Latin America, after the neocons are through completely screwing up the Arab world.
Btw, I remember now I had a question. In one of the two articles published so far, you said (can't find it now, even though I have the printouts here next to me) that 'Touching the Revolution' was based on a Spanish expression that is untranslatable into English. You forgot to say what that expression is. Did I misunderstand what you meant to say maybe?
So, I am very much looking forward to the Instituto Venezolano de Investigaciones Cient íficas (IVIC). So far, I am absolutely delighted to find out how well the country is doing. People should be that well informed in the U.S., particularly, but actually more or less all over the world. The mass media are so completely filtering and distorting the news and education in the U.S. is so deliberately going down the drain that it's no wonder people have no idea about what is really going on in the world. The French are definitely better informed.
Also, btw, I saw your article on The Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela
Puzzling dilemma stalls distribution of "The Revolution will NOT be Televised"
Andy Goodall with Commentary by Les Blough- Jan 25, 2005.
It just might interest you to know that we saw this wonderful documentary in April 2003 On the French/German cultural tv channel ARTE. I have the blurb on it (from the tv magazine Telerama) in a Word document, a translation done by me into English. Attaching it here, in case you would be interested in reading it.
Also printed out your long article (well, by Carlos Herrera) on the Plan Colombia. I have already commented somewhere on Condi Rice's shocking pronouncement on how 'we' will have to bring democracy to Venezuela. God forbid! Colombia is indeed the Israel of Lain Almerica. I guess that's you who are saying that.
Wonderful work on your site!
Siv O'Neall, Lyon, France
Original Message
From: Luis Quiroga [email address omitted]
Date: Tue, 15 Mar 2005 08:48:05 -0400
To: carlos@axisoflogic.com
Subject: You are so full of crap
You would have to live here in Bolivia to understand what the hell you are talking about.
You are so full of crap. "The elites wanting to live american lifestyles sucking of the poor". In the first place who told you american lifestyle is great living...I've lived there it sucks! You are a number, you spend hours on the road everyday and then wow come home to watch TV, ouch I cant wait to get back there, plese let the huddled masses be free.
Secondly we are trying to get the country ahead creating entrepreneurship but it is kind of difficult when every road is blocked and you are trying to export and all the posibilities of bringing in investment are scared off every day be extreme leftists that destry all day and do not construct anything desguised as poor.
Why don't you come down here and we will explain some things so you can learn instead of Writing all day.
Luis Fernando Quiroga
ID 313 8197
Bolivia
From: Carlos Herrera
To: Luis Quiroga
Dear Mr. Luis Quiroga
Thanks for your message. Perhaps it would reflect better on your mentality if you were to reason a little more, rather than using insults ("You're so full of crap") in the title of you message. Nowhere in you message do you disprove anything that I have said. You just disagree with it vehemently, which is you right to freedom of expression.
I know Bolivia, and the entrepreneurship you so avidly defend has just exploited the mass of the people - historically. This exploitation is also implicit in the FDI you appear to want for your country. The FDI of Repsol-YPF, is just another way of only pressuring the Bolivian Congress to approve only 18% royalty on gas exports.
Sorry to disagree, but if you react in such a way, then I know that the article has hit a raw nerve with you and your values.
The roads are blocked. Correct. And you complain. That is your right to do so. How inconvenient. Perhaps it was also "inconvenient" for the indigenous people to have virtually nothing, for hundreds of years. Why not complain about that, instead of talking about a mere three week blockade, which in my view is a legitimate protest by people defending their human rights.
However, did you complain when that basic human resource of water was handed over to the Californian multinational Bechtel, and water tariffs went through the roof, producing the worse off? Do you agree that Bolivia should only receive 18% royalty on its last natural resource of gas? Or do you want it to be exploited as completely as the tin mines were?
Think about your fellow Bolivians who are living on the equivalent of US$1 -US$2 per day, and you may become a more humanistic person.
I must, however, agree with you when you say that the American life style "sucks" Additionally, I never said in my article that the American life style is "great living", as you assert. Read what was written, please, not an interpretation of what you think was written.
Thanks for your interest and have a nice day
Carlos Herrera
Dear Mr. Feltham,
I just read your article on your dear, beloved Mother and her wonderful life. I see these things happening here in the United States too. My three sisters and myself waited on our Mother every minute she was in the hospital. We didn't leave her side, well, at least one of us was there all the time. We were afraid to leave her alone, afraid she wouldn't be taken care of. Well, my Mother needed us there too because she was so scared. We were right, she didn't get taken care of. We would run and get a nurse and ask her about such and such and got some slip-shod answer. No doctor came, it was the week-end. Oh, when our Mother went Code Blue, her doctor was called to the hospital. The latest trouble here in the United States is that Congress is thinking of cutting back on food stamps and cutting farm subsidies. Every week it is something else, government decisions to whittle away at the benefits that are still left. They can't seem to get us down to the level of the Third World Countries quick enough. Instead of figuring out how to bring the rest of the world up, no, they are lowering our lifestyle to theirs. Go figure!
Well, I'm sorry you lost your Mother but she had an outstanding life. My Mother only lasted three and 1/2 days in the hospital. She died in 1997.
God Bless You and your family,
Virginia M. Whitfield
Delaware, Ohio 43015
USA
Exchange between an Axis Reader and Axis Columnist, Paul Harris
From: ckusmirek
Sent: March 10, 2005 10:00 PM
To: paul@axisoflogic.com
Subject: All the news that's fit to twist
Please comment further on the elections recently held in Iraq; in particular about the significant numbers of people reported as participating. There is something extremely powerful in pictures of people waving a colored finger to the photographer. Is it true that people weaved their way to vote amongst body parts immediately after a successful suicide-bomber attack on the polling station?
As skeptical as I am, seeking out alternative news sources that challenge my opinions and perspectives, I approach diatribes with equal skepticism.
Could it possibly be in human nature that we repeatedly get it wrong before we get it right? Might not these elections, flawed as they may be, improve and pave the way for a future better than our worst imagining?
I ascribe no successes or failures at this point.
To paraphrase an old song
lyric of Dylan, there is something going on but we (you and I) don't know what it is.
carpe diem,
chk
..."I am an optimist"
Q: "Then why do you look so worried."
A: Because my optimism might not be justified."
Paul Harris <paul@escritoire.cawrote:
I don't know how much of what we saw in the media was 'real' with regard to the vote in Iraq. But there is almost no chance that it was truly a free election, no matter how you might want to define 'free'.
Might these elections move Iraq (and Afghanistan) forward? Certainly, and for Iraq in particular some form of stability is much better than what they've had for the past two years. Even Saddam's stability was better than that. But moving them forward does not imply that they will be moving to anything good.
However, that wasn't really my point. I was really writing about the cheerleading being done by the media and how they are ascribing goodness and mercy to George Bush, who surely deserves no such thing.
Thanks for writing,
Paul
Subject: RE: All the news that's fit to twist
Several times I have written responses to Axis of Logic contributers. All have challenged assertions made or requested more supporting information.
These have met either with no response, dismissive retorts, and sometimes outright insults. Yours is the only that courteously and respectfully replied. Thank you.
I look forward to reading future columns you author.
Not only for the response you made, because your assertions are cogent.
chk
From: Paul Harris [mailto:paul@escritoire.ca]
Sent: Friday, March 11, 2005 3:22 PM
To: 'Charles Kusmirek'
Subject: RE: All the news that's fit to twist
Thank you, Charles, for your kind remarks.
I will always reply to anyone who writes. I do appreciate that what I am putting out there for the world to see is just my opinion. Where facts are referenced, they were researched at the time of writing and to the extent of my ability to verify, they were accurate. I can't do anything about things that have changed since the writing was done and sometimes, despite my best efforts, errors may have crept in during the night when I wasn't being vigilant; if any facts are discovered to be in error, I always appreciate being advised.
But there is a lot of stuff here that just comes out of my head and as authoritative as it may sound, it is just opinion. I always try to read critically and to separate the medium from the message:
"people don't have to like me to agree with my thoughts". (I think William F. Buckley, to pick one at random, is a superb writer and able to express his views with skill, but I would never want to be left alone with him.)
When people simply disagree with my opinion, I'm be happy to hear from them too, though I confess that fawning adoration will always earn my fullest attention. Regardless of why they write to me, I will always enter into written debate or just pleasant exchange, as the situation requires. It is entirely possible for others to change my mind and I am always happy to acknowledge their ability to convert me to their way of thinking.
I do hope you read more of my work and I'd be happy to hear from you again. I'm sorry if others have not responded well, or at all. Must be because I'm Canadian ... we're supposed to be so damn polite, although try believing that when you're getting onto a crowded subway.
Best regards,
Paul
Correspondence between Carlos Herrera, Guest Columnist on Axis of Logic and Tristana Santos, Journalist, Diario El Universo
Original Message:
From: Tristana Santos tsantos@eluniverso.com
Date: Wed, 9 Mar 2005 16:59:58 -0500
To: Carlos.Herrera@VHeadline.com, editor@axisoflogic.com
Subject: Mistakes in ìThe "Threat" of a Bolivarian Government in Ecuador'
Dear Mr. Carlos Herrera; Editor, Axis of Logic
I'm a journalist from Ecuador, I work with Diario El Universo, the largest newspaper in the country, and I enjoy reading your incisive articles about Latin America. However, I have to point some mistakes in your article of February 25, 2005, "The Threat" of a Bolivarian Government in Ecuador'.
1.- You write Alvaro Noboa was president of Ecuador (2000-2003). "Alvaro Noboa was a neo-liberal and Ecuador's richest man who took over the presidency of Ecuador. He also went into exile himself after being accused of rampant corruption. He is currently in hiding somewhere in the Dominican Republic, according to latest reports".
You are confusing him with Gustavo Noboa. Gustavo Noboa was vice-president of Jamil Mahuad, and he became president when Mahuad was overthrown. Gustavo Noboa is now in exile in Dominican Republic.
Alvaro Noboa, the richest man in the country, run for president in 2002, but lost to Lucio Gutierrez. He is still active in Ecuadorian politics, in the opposition.
2.- You write about a threat of a military coup by Gutierrez. "With growing resistance to his grip on power and little or no political support, fears are rife that Gutierrez may begin to rely heavily upon his strong base in the military".
This affirmation is not correct. I'm attaching (below) the last report of Gutierrez popularity. According to two independent polls quoted by EFE agency, 35% of the population approves of the president. This is extremelly high for an Ecuadorian president in his second year of government, in fact, is the highest in the last 20 years, the agency reports.
Gutierrez has a very weak opposition right now, because his government made a deal with the PRE, Abdalá Bucaram's political party, which has control of the majority of votes in Congress. Abdalá Bucaram is in exile in Panamá, but he's working his way back, to run for president again in 2006 and succeed Gutierrez. When you write about the "main blocks of power waiting to step into Gutierrez shoes", Abdalá Bucaram should be included, as Alvaro Noboa, who'll also run in the next elections.
3.- According to his official biography, Lucio Gutierrez attended the Inter American Defense College, (funded by OAS) in Washington DC. We don't have information regarding his attendance to the School of the Americas. (Could it be that he did and we didn't know about if? Do you know that for a fact?) Also, I'd like to know, if it's possible, what's your source about the Movement for the Bolivarian Republic of Ecuador (M-RBE), because we know nothing about it, and if such a movement exists, it would be interesting to publish their proposal. How can we contact them?
Thank you,
Tristana Santos
DIARIO EL UNIVERSO
P.O. Box 09-01-531
Tel.: (593 4) 490000 Ext.: 256
Fax: (593 4) 493043 - 492925
Guayaquil - Ecuador
La noticia del día léala en www.eluniverso.com
Popularidad de Gutiérrez en el 35%, según sondeos
QUITO | EFE
La popularidad del presidente, Lucio Gutiérrez, alcanzó en los primeros días de marzo el 35%, según dos empresas encuestadoras que advierten que es la cifra más alta de los últimos veinte aZos.
Jaime Durán, de la firma Informe Confidencial, recordó que los anteriores gobernantes, a la mitad de su periodo como es el caso de Gutiérrez, sus índices de popularidad no superaban los 20 puntos.
"Tenemos encuestas quincenales desde hace 16 aZos y la situación es favorable para el mandatario (Gutiérrez)", precisó Durán, al coincidir con su colega Hugo Barber, quien reveló que el índice de confianza hacia el presidente de Ecuador llega hasta el 37%.
Barber, de la firma Perfiles de Opinión, aseguró que el índice "puede parecer sorprendente, pero es la realidad".
Carlos Herrera replies
Dear Mr. Santos,
Thanks for pointing out the mistake of my confusing Alvaro Noboa with Gustavo Noboa. I will ask the editor of Axis of Logic to correct this oversight.
Regarding the polls showing that President Gutiérrez has a 35% popularity rating. I agree that this is very high for a President in his second term, but I always take polls in our continent with a "pinch of salt" .
For example, in Venezuela, President Chavez always had a rating of 30% or less for many months but these polls were conducted by companies sympathetic to the opposition, they were conducted in fairly well off neighborhoods and not in the barrios, since the pollsters could not enter them due to their own partiality and the "pueblo" was only too aware of this. Subsequently in the referendum Chavez received 59.2% of votes cast, thus destroying once again the credibility of these fraudsters. The same thing happened here in the 1998 Presidential elections.
Another example is in Colombia - the mass media peddle the myth there that President Uribe has had a popularity rating from 77% now down to 65% more or less. However, when it came to the national referendum when Uribe proposals needed only 20% of the vote to action the reforms, the result was that he received 18% for his proposals. Therefore, who is fooling whom?. The real results or the polls?
In relation to Ecuador, I would like to know the antecedents of these pollsters and the methodology used. For example, are the mass of the indigenous poor polled? Or just the urban areas? This is a crucial question. I do not believe that Ecuador is any different to Venezuela or Colombia as far as these polls are concerned. The trick is that if a President is representing US interests, then he is "popular" with the pollsters for reasons of the mass media. If, however, he is an anti -imperialist as in President Chavez, then the polls are manipulated. They become just an extension and part of the negative of the media campaign.
Regarding the M-BRE - I suggest you contact the grass roots leaders of the indigenous movements. They were here in Venezuela some months ago and these proposals, if not all of them were mentioned in a TV interview, if I remember correctly. If you did not know about this, could it be that information is being hidden or suppressed, as tends to be the case when a threat to the established order emerges?
I cannot answer your question on Gutiérrez being at the S.O.A. However, these sort of delicate matters are not widely publicised and perhaps it could be that the sources I have read, repeat this as a fact, when there is no proof. However, having said that, I would not be too inclined to dismiss my assertion.
Bucaram making a comeback? Alvaro Noboa as President? You may be correct and since I do not live in Ecuador you could be right. This is a political question and tends to be addressed from one's own standpoint and where one's sympathies lie. In my view, since I tend to see the wood and not just the tress, I have the distinct impression that there has been a raising of consciousness in Ecuador in every sense, as there has been in many S. American countries in the minds of the excluded, primarily due to the influence of the Bolivarian Revolution. Thus, as each day passes the chances of new right wing candidates being elected is receding with every day that passes. For this reason, I believe that A. Noboa has little chance and as for Bucaram - he received hardly any or very little support in the 2003 elections, less than 20% if I remember correctly.
Anyway, thanks for your interest and for pointing out my error or confusion, which is very much appreciated.
Carlos Herrera
Top of Page
|
