guardiancomment: The immense support that Chávez still has after 13 years in power is rarely captured accurately by outside accounts of the country. I myself was reminded of this fact just before the elections, when I had the good fortune of sharing a few drinks with a Venezuelan film colleague in a Caracas night spot affectionately referred to by locals, somewhat disconcertingly, as Stab Alley. The district is Chavista turf, miles away from the upper class clubs that attract the city’s well-to-do. It was no surprise to see the comandante on the bar’s battered television. Our conversation predictably turned to politics. Between sips of Cacique rum, my friend and I went back and forth on a range of topics, I was playing devil’s advocate in criticising the government for its paternalism and failure to truly change the country’s oil rent economy; he was defending the administration on nearly all fronts. I continued to pigheadedly press my colleague until he starkly turned to me and stated in a rather grave and unsettling tone: “I would not hesitate to sacrifice my life to defend this president. He’s the only one who has done anything for the Venezuelan people.” Hugo Chávez still has a hold on Venezuela’s people – he’s one of them, says Edward Ellis Photograph: Luis Acosta/AFP/Getty Images Interesting read on the election In Venezuela.

guardiancomment:

The immense support that Chávez still has after 13 years in power is rarely captured accurately by outside accounts of the country.

I myself was reminded of this fact just before the elections, when I had the good fortune of sharing a few drinks with a Venezuelan film colleague in a Caracas night spot affectionately referred to by locals, somewhat disconcertingly, as Stab Alley. The district is Chavista turf, miles away from the upper class clubs that attract the city’s well-to-do. It was no surprise to see the comandante on the bar’s battered television.

Our conversation predictably turned to politics. Between sips of Cacique rum, my friend and I went back and forth on a range of topics, I was playing devil’s advocate in criticising the government for its paternalism and failure to truly change the country’s oil rent economy; he was defending the administration on nearly all fronts.

I continued to pigheadedly press my colleague until he starkly turned to me and stated in a rather grave and unsettling tone: “I would not hesitate to sacrifice my life to defend this president. He’s the only one who has done anything for the Venezuelan people.”

Hugo Chávez still has a hold on Venezuela’s people – he’s one of them, says Edward Ellis

Photograph: Luis Acosta/AFP/Getty Images

Interesting read on the election In Venezuela.

Oct. 8 2012
Via Guardian
#Politics #Chavez #Venezuela
43 notes

Notes

  1. thecakeis reblogged this from guardiancomment and added:
    I actually support Chavez. Haters gonna hate :3
  2. aboriginalpressnews reblogged this from guardiancomment
  3. atencion reblogged this from thenoobyorker
  4. oppositioneller reblogged this from guardiancomment
  5. lightinwinter reblogged this from thenoobyorker
  6. mickeymousehasgrownupaclown reblogged this from guardiancomment
  7. apocalypsesunshine reblogged this from thenoobyorker
  8. youngmoviestar reblogged this from guardiancomment
  9. luigimonstre reblogged this from thenoobyorker
  10. coquelicots-et-jonquilles reblogged this from guardiancomment
  11. areagua reblogged this from guardiancomment
  12. cumberbitchacho reblogged this from happyseabear
  13. sawyeriii1776 reblogged this from zeitvox
  14. zeitvox reblogged this from thenoobyorker
  15. jojothehappyhobo reblogged this from thenoobyorker
  16. pbnpineapples reblogged this from thenoobyorker
  17. This was featured in #Politics
  18. nohourisevereternity reblogged this from guardiancomment
  19. thenoobyorker reblogged this from guardiancomment and added:
    Interesting read on the election In Venezuela.
  20. guardiancomment posted this