Date: Sat, 15 Mar 1997 15:18:04
-0500
From: khalid.ali@utoronto.ca
To: lee@faces.ula.ve
Subject: My "Wintery Opus Magnum"
Dear Franz,
Thanks for your "pandemonious" description of what I see as a Venezuelan prescription to disaster perhaps hell. To apply "practical experience" of daily life to our debate, I will comment on your report of the actual venezuelan situation.
It would seem as though everyday, there is a political earthquake shaking the foundations of the country and yet the yes-men (Caldera and his goons/ruling class) continue unabatedly to rule without a semblance or concern for the suffering of the masses- no surprises..!
In the meanwhile, it would seem also that the people have given up or are tired of taking action to the magnitude that was evident under Perez, more especially ever since the wanton slaughter of over 1000 protesters in Caracas in 1989. To my mind, the fear factor has engulfed the minds of the people since then, and at the same time the 'left' have failed miserably to articulate a credible alternative strategy to lead the masses out of the present morass. Result- the people are left to their own demise, in death, pain and untold suffering. Indirect effect- the ruling class remains unchallenged, and are so confident that they can afford to play out their differences publicly (COPEI, AD,..) in competition for more power and control of resources.
What bothers me is the lack of grass root action? Clearly, there is a deep crisis of confidence in everyone. Secondly, the people are so "lumpenized" because of the hardships they are facing they have resorted to the "Survival the fittest strategy," until reality bell tolls. here in Canada we are inundated with information of the horrors of the Venezuelan reality. The Canadian government have already given up on Venezuela and have no economic plans or intention to promote investments in Venezuela until there are changes. It is only the Yanks that continue to have great interests in the region, not even the EU.
While the crisis pervades, Caldera's spin doctors notably Asdrubal Aguiar have been telling the international media that the greatest threat to the am not surprised they are promoted as the scapegoats and the battering rams for all the evil that is going on in order to sanitized the political integrity of the government. More especially after the kidnapping and torture of students (Feliz Faria Arias and others) by the DISIP (Ven. FBI) which has gained tremendous international condemnation, including the case of William Ojeda.
The news of strikes (CANTV/FETRATE), torture, and political ineptitude is glaring to everyone so much so Canadians are warned not to visit Venezuela.
Because of freezing rain and another snow storm which started yesterday reading your mail until the weather situation improves - maybe in a next few days. I am one of only a few that is risking doing "the freak out dance" on the ice because of the slipperiness by venturing out of home on foot- did had some funny moments coming in and saw some people falling flat on their batty.
On the question of when I will follow your footsteps, well, one: I don't have banana or coconut trees here and two; your steps are too big compared to mine to fit. I am not crying foul but only stating a fact. I spent all morning going through Venezuelan News on the Internet, now I retire, hoping to avoid a "batty fall" on the icy conditions outside.
Good luck, oops!
Greetings,
Khalid.