Rubén Rivero Capriles

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Issues for a Chávez & Obama summit / Asuntos para una cumbre Chávez y Obama

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Dear Barack Hussein Obama:

Congratulations on your becoming the 44th President of the United States! I am writing to you as my humble contribution for a full restoration of diplomatic and friendship relations between Venezuela and the United States.

You have already gathered the support from the high levels of the Venezuelan government for this normalization. The communication sent to you by the Ministry of the Popular Power for Foreign Relations of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela shows a recent, unexpected disposition to heal wounds. If we combine that eagerness with your experience in race and class divisions, that should entail a positive summit between President Chávez and yourself whenever both of you feel it fit and safe to meet.

However, the polarized current state of local politics is a formidable barrier that is interested in keeping alive the cold war atmosphere, and that is unfortunately damaging the relationship between our two great countries. I recently wrote a similar conciliation letter to President Chávez which has not been well received by several Venezuelan government supporters and opponents alike.

On one hand, many within the opposition did not wish you to win your election. They now fear that you might eventually become a weak puppet for Chávez socialist ideas. They foresee that if you shift the political process in your country too far to the left you will succeed in destroying the checks and balances currently available in the American political system and that you will transform the U.S into a totalitarian régime. Some opponents were even considering the possibility for the U.S to impose sanctions to Venezuela such as those still in effect against Cuba. There are also signs of racism still alive in Venezuela, perhaps even more accentuated than in the United States, thus many people were hoping for a U.S. government led again by a Caucasian male.

On the other hand, many sympathizers of Chávez government are utterly skeptical on the reach of your electoral victory. They claim that despite your racial condition as an African-American, you still do represent an evil empire whose real rulers continue being the lobbyists and multinational corporations that helped finance your campaign. Their aspiration is an immediate, unconditional surrender of the U.S. foreign policy in regards to Cuba, Palestine, Guantánamo, Iraq and Afghanistan. They are convinced that Latin America, again, will only be considered as a backyard of the United States and will continue to be taken into consideration solely as a source of cheap raw materials; its exploitation would continue being encouraged by the industrialized powers. In conclusion, many Chávez supporters have as a long term goal the final extinguishment of capitalism as an economic system, even though that goal might require recurring to an asymmetric war.

Nevertheless, the opposing points of view from some opposition and pro-government Venezuelans converge through their mutual mistrust to your person, your new government and your country. In light of these constant disagreements, it is likely that the message of reconciliation recently favored by Hugo Chávez and the higher spheres of his government may be withdrawn during the next impasse or misunderstanding, due to the pressure that will continue being exerted by both major polarized and highly vocal groups.

I am an ordinary Venezuelan citizen. My only weapon is the education I received through the generosity of Dr. Armand Hammer, whose legacy in scheduling meetings and agendas for the benefit of various Presidents of the United States and Secretaries General of the Union of Socialist Soviet Republics I am now trying to extend further into the 21st century. I have already received worldwide support in forwarding these ideals to you, which require dealing simultaneously within capitalist and socialist frameworks. Hopefully this pacifist call will be well received by the people and governments of Venezuela and the United States, leading toward a comprehensive proposal to solve the aforementioned issues.

Sincerely,

Rubén Rivero Capriles

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Estimado Barack Hussein Obama:

¡Felicitaciones por su elección como el 44° Presidente de los Estados Unidos! Le escribo esta carta como mi humilde contribución para una completa restauración de relaciones diplomáticas y de amistad entre Venezuela y los Estados Unidos.

Usted ya cuenta con el apoyo en los altos niveles del gobierno venezolano para esta normalización. El comunicado emitido para usted por parte del Ministerio del Poder Popular para relaciones exteriores de la República Bolivariana muestra una reciente disposición para curar las heridas. Si este entusiasmo lo combinamos con su experiencia en divisiones entre razas y clases, pudiéramos augurar una cumbre positiva entre el Presidente Chávez y usted mismo en lo que ambos consideren oportuno y seguro el reunirse.

Sin embargo, el estado polarizado actual de la política local es una barrera formidable cuyo interés es mantener viva la atmósfera de la guerra fría, y que desafortunadamente está dañando las relaciones entre nuestros dos grandes países. Recientemente le escribí una carta similar de conciliación que no fue bien recibida, tanto por muchos simpatizantes del gobierno venezolano como de la oposición.

Por una parte, muchos opositores no querían que usted ganase las elecciones. Ellos ahora temen que usted eventualmente se convierta en un títere débil que difunda las ideas socialistas de Chávez. Ellos temen que si usted rueda el balance de poder demasiado hacia la izquierda usted logrará destruir el sistema de chequeos y balances actualmente vigente en la política estadounidense y que usted transformará a los EE.UU. en un régimen totalitario. Algunos opositores incluso habían considerado la posibilidad que los EE.UU impusiesen sanciones a Venezuela, similares a aquéllas todavía vigentes contra Cuba. Todavía subsisten signos de racismo en Venezuela, quizás más acentuados que en los EE.UU., y por ello muchos estaban esperando que el gobierno estadounidense sea liderado nuevamente por un hombre caucásico.

Por otra parte, muchos simpatizantes del gobierno de Chávez están sumamente escépticos del alcance de vuestra victoria electoral. Ellos opinan que pese a su condición racial como afroamericano, usted todavía representa un imperio malvado cuyos verdaderos regentes continúan siendo los "lobbyists" y las corporaciones multinacionales que financiaron su campaña. Ellos aspiran a una rendición incondicional e inmediata de la política estadounidense respecto a Cuba, Palestina, Guantánamo, Irak y Afganistán. Ellos están convencidos que América latina, otra vez, sólo será considerada como un patio trasero de los Estados Unidos y seguirá siendo tomada en cuenta como fuente de materias primas baratas para fomentar la explotación por parte del mundo industrializado. Por último, muchos simpatizantes de Chávez tienen como objetivo a largo plazo la destrucción final del capitalismo como sistema económico, así sea necesario para ello recurrir a la guerra asimétrica.

Sin embargo, los puntos de vista opuestos provenientes de venezolanos opositores y oficialistas convergen a través de su desconfianza mutua hacia su persona, su nuevo gobierno y su país. A la luz de estos desacuerdos constantes, es probable que el mensaje conciliatorio favorecido por Hugo Chávez y las altas esferas de su gobierno sea desmentido durante el próximo impasse o desavenencia, debido a la presión que seguirá siendo ejercida por ambos grandes grupos polarizados y muy vocales.

Yo soy un ciudadano venezolano de a pie. Mi única arma es la educación que recibí a través de la generosidad del Dr. Armand Hammer, cuyo legado en concretar reuniones y agendas a beneficio de varios Presidentes de los Estados Unidos y Secretarios Generales de la Unión de Repúblicas Socialistas Soviéticas yo ahora estoy tratando de extender hasta bien entrado el siglo XXI. Ya he recibido apoyo mundial para remitir a usted estos ideales, que requieren lidiar simultáneamente con las estructuras capitalistas y socialistas. Albergo la esperanza que este llamado pacifista sea bien recibido por los pueblos y gobiernos de Venezuela y los Estados unidos, y que ello conlleve a una propuesta pormenorizada para solucionar los asuntos anteriormente descritos.

Atentamente,

Rubén Rivero Capriles

 

Comments

Tya Writer said:

Rubén,

I think your letter is well presented, in a non-threatening way, and will be very well be received.  Good work!

# November 10, 2008 3:23 PM

W. said:

Thank you Ruben and good work!

Seems like there is too much pessimism in Venezuela. How could you help to change that? From my personal experience its best to start with yourself/your surroundings.

# November 11, 2008 7:40 AM

cxxguy said:

I would say that freedom would be the best antidote to pessimism in Venezuela.  If you are not permitted to produce, optimism is irrational.  If you cannot speak out, optimism is misguided.  If you are trapped in government imposed poverty, even if you actually believe that Socialism is the way to wealth, your eyes will overwhelm your imagination, and your optimism will be short lived.

# November 11, 2008 2:34 PM

The Haitian said:

Ruben,

I think both of your letters represent an element of hope that these governments and people can change their ways. I am a skeptic of humanity, myself, but at the same time, I believe that with enough momentum there is room for what you suggest. Indeed as someone said above, one needs to motivate some of the (quiet or scared?) voices in Venezuela.

# November 12, 2008 6:59 AM

Thaelman said:

Felicitaciones Rubén, por este texto honesto e inteligente. De hoy en adelante seguiré tu blog con interés. Saludos,

Thaelman

# November 14, 2008 12:52 PM