I've read and heard on podcasts, a lot about Venezuela. The government is
struggling because oil prices are down and its social programs depended on
proceeds from oil and because US sanctions are starving the people and because
the government has not managed the situation as well as it might have. There is
a government opposition, a moderate reasonable opposition and a far right
opposition, supported by the US. The OAS and the European Union are supporting
the US. Many experts on Venezuela as well as a majority of countries, are
calling for talks to resolve a the solutions.
The picture of Cuba that Telex From Cuba shows, is the sugar cane plantations
and factories run by Americans. Most Americans and some wealthy Cubans, live in
comfort with servants in a colonial setting similar to what you've read about
in Kenya or India. There are hotels and restaurants where Cubans aren't
permitted. Cane pickers have been shipped from Jamaica by United Fruit to do
back breaking labor. They are practically slave labor. Black Cubans are
servants in many of the big houses. They live in shacks. United Fruit arranged
for Batista to take over the country in 1952 because he would do their bidding.
Big recognizeable names are involved in all of this.
The Bay of Pigs crisis was in the background for me. I had started working as a
social worker at the Industrial Home for the Blind and was involved in a
flirtation with Fred, who would become my husband two years later. I knew it
was happening and that it was dangerous, but I don't remember being emotionally
invested in the fact that we might have a war with Russia.
Miriam
-----Original Message-----
From: blind-democracy-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
<blind-democracy-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> On Behalf Of Carl Jarvis
Sent: Sunday, January 27, 2019 11:01 AM
To: blind-democracy@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [blind-democracy] Re: U.S. hands off Venezuela!
Agreed. Kennedy would not have listened to popular protest. But he did listen
to those powerful voices that were heavily invested in Cuba. As for John/Jane
Q. Public? What could we know when our democracy was cloaked in secrecy? In
1961, I was 26 years old, just married and soon to be a proud daddy. I thought
I was well read, picking up the Wall Street Journal and the New York Times
along with my Seattle Times. I listened to the nightly news, which was more
news than entertainment back then. But I can't recall ever hearing of the
American military seizing a piece of Cuba. Guantanamo Bay was a name I had
never heard. But I had made note of the poverty forced upon the working class
Cubans. I saw the glitzy hotels and gambling casinos and the rich people in
their finery stepping out of their limousines, with not a single face of color
among them...other than the hotel staff wrestling their luggage.
But the curtain of secrecy parted enough for information to be leaked to the
American Public so we could be proud that "Our Caring Government" was opening
its arms and allowing the rich Cuban rats to abandon their sinking corrupt
government, and bedding them down in Miami. Remember how "our government"
treated the Jews fleeing from certain death during WW II?
I honestly must say that I have no idea as to whether the Lawfully elected
government in Venezuela is corrupt, or not. If it's consistent with most
governments around the Globe, it probably has its share...as does the
government of the American Empire.
What I find both interesting, and amusing, is that Donald Trump and his gang of
Trumpsters can scream about Russia and China meddling in "Our" internal
affairs, while at the very same time their hands are dirty up to the armpits as
they grab for control of Venezuelan Oil.
Carl Jarvis
On 1/27/19, Miriam Vieni <miriamvieni@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
I'm reading a novel called, telex From Cuba. It describes the old
Cuba, the one that was run, essentially, by the United Fruit Company.
The action takes place during the 50's, just before and during the
revolution. I believe that the author actually lived there as a child.
Anyway, it is a reminder of the true power and the behind-the-scenes
dealing of the US in countries where it has business interests. It's
also a reminder of the racial and class attitudes of white Americans,
particularly the very wealthy and those who aspire to wealth. It's
just a coincidence that I happen to be reading this book right now,
but it's relevance to Venezuela is obvious. And I would suggest that
if people had known about The Bay of Pigs invasion and sent petitions
to Kenedy telling him not to go ahead with that plan, he wouldn't have
listened.
Miriam
-----Original Message-----
From: blind-democracy-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
<blind-democracy-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> On Behalf Of Carl Jarvis
Sent: Saturday, January 26, 2019 10:34 PM
To: blind-democracy@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [blind-democracy] Re: U.S. hands off Venezuela!
Frankly, I have no idea. But when the president or his flunkies
include me in their war plans, I feel forced to protest. In this case
I'm pretty certain that I'll get a reply...in the form of a form
letter. I think that my protests are benign enough so as not to put
me on a list, or investigate me.
Carl Jarvis
On 1/26/19, Miriam Vieni <miriamvieni@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
Interesting. I wonder if all these petitions and emails from the
public influence politicians or if they only pay attention to big
donors and influential groups. I do think that Trump putt off the
government shutdown because someone told him that his base might
become angry at him if some of them weren't getting paid or if they
wanted to fly ant their flights were being delayed or cancelled
because of lack of personnel at the airports.
Miriam
-----Original Message-----
From: blind-democracy-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
<blind-democracy-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> On Behalf Of Carl Jarvis
Sent: Saturday, January 26, 2019 11:56 AM
To: blind-democracy@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [blind-democracy] Re: U.S. hands off Venezuela!
Some time ago I googled, email contact for president Donald T I go
down to, Contact Us...if I remember, and eventually it gives me a
form to fill out, and the email is sent to the White House. I filled
out one for Donald Trump and one for Mike Pence. I know that someone
will read them. I've received responces in the past, using this form.
Carl Jarvis
On 1/26/19, Miriam Vieni <miriamvieni@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
How did you send that email?
Miriam
-----Original Message-----
From: blind-democracy-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
<blind-democracy-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> On Behalf Of Carl Jarvis
Sent: Saturday, January 26, 2019 10:58 AM
To: blind-democracy@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [blind-democracy] Re: U.S. hands off Venezuela!
When Mike Pence said that *ALL Americans supported his and Donald
Trump's interference in Venezuela's internal affairs, I shouted out,
"NO!!! I do not support the actions of the American Empire. Then I
sent an email to both Pence and Trump, telling them that when they
counted hands, they forgot to ask for a show of those who disagreed.
Therefor, I wanted my "Nay" vote to be registered.
Carl Jarvis
On 1/26/19, Roger Loran Bailey <dmarc-noreply@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
https://socialistaction.org/2019/01/25/u-s-hands-off-venezuela-3/
U.S. hands off Venezuela!
/ 11 hours ago
feb. 2019 venez- yankee (psuv)
Venezuelans took to the streets in August 2017 in response to
Trump’s comment that he would consider the “military option”
against Venezuela.
(Photo: PSUV)
Once again, the Wall Street-captured, war-promoting, servants of
the one percent—who administer the U.S. government at the pleasure
of, and solely in the interest of, corporate America—have deigned
to command a sovereign nation as to how to handle its internal affairs.
In a further escalation of the U.S. government’s long-running
campaign against the elected Venezuelan government, Vice President
Mike Pence pledged on Tuesday, Jan. 22, his “unwavering support”
for opposition moves aimed at unseating the elected president
Nicolás Maduro. The following day, in violation of international
law and the right of self-determination, President Trump formally
recognized U.S.
puppet politician Juan Guaidó as the legitimate Venezuelan leader.
On Jan.
24, The New York Times joined the war chorus, proclaiming, “The
Trump administration is right to support Mr. Guaidó.”
To the chagrin of U.S. robber barons, Maduro was elected in 2013 in
a process the Carter Center previously called the “best in the world.”
Maduro was then re-elected in 2018. Fearing another electoral
defeat and seeking to deny Maduro legitimacy, the rightist
opposition boycotted that election, with the strong encouragement of its
U.S.
sponsors.
This latest act of U.S. imperial aggression is not the first of its
kind directed against Venezuela or other countries in Latin America
and the Caribbean that refuse to march in lock step with U.S.
corporate interests. Other hostile actions include:
•The illegal, decades long economic blockade of Cuba.
•The invasion of Guatemala in 1954.
•The Bay of Pigs invasion of Cuba in 1961.
•The invasion of the Dominican Republic in 1965.
•The U.S. supported coup in Chile in 1973.
•The Contra war against Nicaragua from 1981-1990.
•CIA-backed Haiti coups, 1991 and 2004 & U.S. occupations.
•The invasion of Grenada in 1983.
•The invasion of Panama in 1989.
•CIA backed coups in Haiti in 1991 and 2004, including years of
occupations.
•The U.S. supported coup in Honduras in 2009.
•Material aid to Nicaraguan opposition groups from at least 2016 to
the present.
•Support for Jair Bolsonaro in Brazil.
•The U.S.-supported coup against Hugo Chavez in Venezuela in 2002.
•Economic sanctions against Venezuela from 2006 to the present.
•A special $5 million fund for Venezuelan opposition groups
established by Barak Obama in 2011.
•Coup attempts against Venezuela’s Maduro in 2015 and 2018.
The same corporate behemoths that push for cutbacks, layoffs,
offshoring, and austerity here at home—all to maximize corporate
profits—are behind the latest threats against Venezuela. Working
people in the U.S. only lose if the one percent succeeds in
imposing their will on the Venezuelan people or anyone else.
Many have justifiably criticized the capitalist Chavez and Maduro
government policies from the left. But in the current context,
under the threat of U.S. intervention, this is not the overriding
consideration.
Any changes or improvement in the Venezuelan government are for the
Venezuelan people alone to make.
The U.S. imperial machine has no progressive role to play in
Venezuela or elsewhere! The last thing U.S. corporate leaders want
is a truly mobilized, active, and empowered Venezuelan working
class. In the U.S., antiwar and working-class activists must take
to the streets to demand, “U.S. Out Now!”
Hands Off Venezuela! No to the U.S.-Sponsored Coup Efforts! No to U.S.
Sanctions and Military, Economic and Political Efforts to Bring
Down the Venezuelan Government! Not One Dollar for the U.S. War Machine!
End All U.S. Government Covert Operations! Fund Jobs, Education,
and Healthcare, not the Pentagon!
— Statement of the Political Committee of Socialist Action
socialistaction@xxxxxxx
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January 25, 2019 in Latin America. Tags: Venezuela
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Jules Verne
“ Reality provides us with facts so romantic that imagination
itself could add nothing to them. ”
― Jules Verne
