31 October 2007
28 October 2007
Open letter to Julia 1984
It is amazing that we live so close and yet know nothing of the other's culture.
It is particularly sad in my case since I actually have family in Venezuela.
I admit two things
1) is that I attend the free spanish classes at the Venezuelan Embassy in Port of Spain and that I until recently was more pro chavista than contra.
2) I thought a civil war would cure the ills in Trinidad until I visited Guatemala in 2006.
But I have changed.
Regarding 1- We were issued DVD's "Say the truth, based on the white book on RCTV" It is one of the most unbelievable propaganda I have ever seen.
Also when one student made the offhand comment that she did not want to study Chavista propaganda she was told when you are here He is your president.
Which brings me the to Trinidad. The current prime minister (Manning), has similar powers to the british prime minister, we were a british colony last, is proposing to change our constitution to an executive president.
Which Sir Ellis Clarke says will have all the powers of a chilean president.
Watching Chavez has made me realise I never want an executive president here.
Moreover, currently Manning does not have the power to grant a state of emergency thus giving the military shoot to kill powers etc etc.
But like Venezuela ( I noticed the increased importance of the military attache when they changed embassador recently), we are becoming more militant.
I no longer blink as I pass the soldiers on my way to work. They are part of the landscape.
This frightens me.
It is particularly sad in my case since I actually have family in Venezuela.
I admit two things
1) is that I attend the free spanish classes at the Venezuelan Embassy in Port of Spain and that I until recently was more pro chavista than contra.
2) I thought a civil war would cure the ills in Trinidad until I visited Guatemala in 2006.
But I have changed.
Regarding 1- We were issued DVD's "Say the truth, based on the white book on RCTV" It is one of the most unbelievable propaganda I have ever seen.
Also when one student made the offhand comment that she did not want to study Chavista propaganda she was told when you are here He is your president.
Which brings me the to Trinidad. The current prime minister (Manning), has similar powers to the british prime minister, we were a british colony last, is proposing to change our constitution to an executive president.
Which Sir Ellis Clarke says will have all the powers of a chilean president.
Watching Chavez has made me realise I never want an executive president here.
Moreover, currently Manning does not have the power to grant a state of emergency thus giving the military shoot to kill powers etc etc.
But like Venezuela ( I noticed the increased importance of the military attache when they changed embassador recently), we are becoming more militant.
I no longer blink as I pass the soldiers on my way to work. They are part of the landscape.
This frightens me.
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