Give Me Your Tired, Your Poor…Your Revolution
by Beverly Darling
Almost everyone is familiar with the Statue of Liberty and how it represents the immortal symbol of freedom and change. However, few people understand its origin and historical context. Without the aid of the French during the American Revolution, the U.S. probably would not have become an independent country. Almost a hundred years later, French intellectuals were discussing the American Insurgency in reference to their opposition to the oppressive regime of Napoleon III. As they spoke of their admiration towards America’s progressive and revolutionary spirit, one individual commented, ’Wouldn’t it be wonderful if people in France gave the United States a great monument as a lasting memorial to independence and thereby showed that the French government was also dedicated to the idea of human liberty?’ Unfortunately, somewhere between the American Revolution and the present day, the U.S. has forfeited the capacity to develop new ideas of revolutionary rights and to imagine a better world. Words like ‘Transformational Diplomacy’, ‘Rapid Response Teams‘, ‘Inoculation’, and ’Renditions’, cannot hide their true purpose, namely, imperialism, illegal invasions, more trade and economic sanctions, and torture encampments. It is ironic that America was birthed in revolutionary visions of rights and liberties and seceded from an empire. Yet, the U.S. has come to embrace ancient imperial ideologies and aspirations. Like the European and Asian empires of ancient times which were portrayed by aggressive nationalism, militarism, cultural superiority, and colonial resource wars, the U.S. is no different. Today, America is yearning to be free. Just as France sent a revolutionary symbol to the America., perhaps Latin America can re-invigorate U.S. economic, political and cultural rights. For example…
Venezuela, which just hosted the pro-justice World Social Forum, proclaimed the need for fair trade, debt forgiveness, social programs to improve education and health-care, gender equality, and the elimination of the global sex-trade. Tens of thousands of people marched through the streets protesting war and demanding the empowerment of the powerless. Although Cindy Sheehan (Ms. Hope), the mother who lost her son in the U.S.-Iraqi War, has continually been shunned by the U.S. President, President Hugo Chavez of Venezuela invited her to speak and even be a guest of honor. Venezuela is also raising up the masses by developing the New Education Initiative based on morals and values that ‘reject imperialistic values and poisonous media campaigns that over-value money and proclaim the poor are worthless.’ For Venezuelans, ’unity, brotherhood, and solidarity should be placed above competition. Creativeness should be practiced instead of consumerism.’ Another educational service, the Venezuelan Pilot Program Mission Robinson 2, recently hired 103,000 facilitators with 9,750 classrooms and is servicing over 1.3 million people to complete primary educational programs and completely eradicate illiteracy. President Chavez claims that ’being educated means being free, and reading should be a habit.’
Land reform is also being practiced as peasant farmers have occupied idol and foreign-owned cattle ranches in order to grow food for their families. In Venezuela, 13 cattle farms control over 350,000 hectares or 1,350 square miles. As foreign owners struggle to provide proof of land ownership, reverse-colonization and agricultural redistribution is becoming a reality. One rancher claimed, ’children are now running around everywhere…they are stressing the cattle and it is difficult to fatten them up.’ Not only is Venezuela providing nourishment for their children and encouraging them to run, but Indian Tribes in the Amazon are being defended. Venezuela recently ordered well-intentioned, but misguided missionaries, to leave the Amazon Forest because they wanted to destroy and replace a peoples belief system and culture with their own brand of religious fundamentalism. Venezuela is also defending the poor in the U.S. Throughout Massachusetts, Maine, Rhode Island, Vermont, Philadelphia, and the Bronx, Citgo, which is a subsidiary of the state-owned Venezuelan oil firm, is providing a 40% discount on millions of gallons of heating oil for low-income families, homeless shelters, Indian Tribal Reservations, and housing projects.
Bolivia is also becoming revolutionized in its election of Evo Morales. The first full-blooded Aymara, his goal is to promote the rights of the indigenous peoples, confront poverty, and look after the countries national resources that are being sold and exploited by transnational corporations. On taking office, he immediately cut his salary in half to only $1800 a month and hired new teachers. Another goal of President Morales is to attack corruption. Three new Corruption Chiefs have been appointed, two women and one man, to investigate taxes, customs roads, and establish new anti-corruption laws. Bolivia is already investigating the Spanish energy giant Subsidy of Repsol and its 9 million dollar tax evasion scheme. Politically, Bolivians have established 150 assemblies throughout the country with a membership of 750,000 people to meet on a regular basis and ’voice opinions, work for democracy, establish safety patrols, and promote Indian Communalism instead of Western Individualism.’
President Michelle Bachelet is now the new leader of Chile. Formerly jailed and tortured under the U.S. backed totalitarian regime of Augusto Pinochet, when she was released in 1973 she worked on the Reconciliation Committee and Economic Equality Board. Cardinal Errazuriz recently praised her for ’helping people to overcome hatred…she is a sign of great confidence.’ President Bachelet believes in an Equal Oppurtunity Government and has appointed women to half of her cabinet, such as Chief of Staff, Economic and Health Ministries, Defense Ministry, and Planning Ministries. In a country where Chilean women earn 30-40% less money than men, she has promised a redistribution of monetary power and gender equality.
Several years ago Argentina experienced an economic melt-down due to the unjust debt and bankruptcy laws imposed by the World Trade Organization and International Monetary Fund. Over 10,000 businesses failed and forced millions of people into unemployment, homelessness, and hunger. However, thousands of workers fought back as they barricaded themselves in their place of business and took over the machinery of over 100 failed companies. The laborers have influenced courts to pass new laws that make it easier to reinvest and restart bankrupt businesses. Hotels, glassworks, production facilities, and meat processing plants, are now managed by workers and an economic revival is benefiting millions of people.
Finally, Latin America can offer the U.S. a revolution of peace. America continues to fight a war in Iraq and Afghanistan, threatens to invade Iran and Syria, continues its sanctions against Cuba, Hamas and North Korea, while Venezuela, Bolivia, Chile, and Argentina are attempting to work towards a different goal: economic and political rights and liberties for all. Their processes may be different, but their goal is one. They do not attack other countries they disagree with, nor do they threaten or torture.
If actions speak louder than words, then the U.S. has lost its revolutionary courage. With 38 million hungry people in the U.S., 45 million individuals without health insurance, 13 million children living in poverty, 70% of convicts illiterate, secret energy department meetings with oil conglomerates, corporate greed and lobbying scandals, companies laying-off thousands of workers, educational funds being slashed, and a President with a $500,000 yearly salary, America desperately needs a new revolution of values, economic equity, and political redistribution. As President Hugo Chavez said, ‘Imagine if the U.S. government would declare peace on the world and retire all military bases and soldiers from the planet? Imagine that the $400 billion used for aggression were being used for education, health, and other human needs…the U.S. working class is a giant that needs to be awakened to join the struggle for justice!‘ Once again, America needs aid and assistance. Instead of pursuing destructive policies, the U.S. should embrace revolutionary principles coming from Latin America. This is one gift America cannot reject!
Almost everyone is familiar with the Statue of Liberty and how it represents the immortal symbol of freedom and change. However, few people understand its origin and historical context. Without the aid of the French during the American Revolution, the U.S. probably would not have become an independent country. Almost a hundred years later, French intellectuals were discussing the American Insurgency in reference to their opposition to the oppressive regime of Napoleon III. As they spoke of their admiration towards America’s progressive and revolutionary spirit, one individual commented, ’Wouldn’t it be wonderful if people in France gave the United States a great monument as a lasting memorial to independence and thereby showed that the French government was also dedicated to the idea of human liberty?’ Unfortunately, somewhere between the American Revolution and the present day, the U.S. has forfeited the capacity to develop new ideas of revolutionary rights and to imagine a better world. Words like ‘Transformational Diplomacy’, ‘Rapid Response Teams‘, ‘Inoculation’, and ’Renditions’, cannot hide their true purpose, namely, imperialism, illegal invasions, more trade and economic sanctions, and torture encampments. It is ironic that America was birthed in revolutionary visions of rights and liberties and seceded from an empire. Yet, the U.S. has come to embrace ancient imperial ideologies and aspirations. Like the European and Asian empires of ancient times which were portrayed by aggressive nationalism, militarism, cultural superiority, and colonial resource wars, the U.S. is no different. Today, America is yearning to be free. Just as France sent a revolutionary symbol to the America., perhaps Latin America can re-invigorate U.S. economic, political and cultural rights. For example…
Venezuela, which just hosted the pro-justice World Social Forum, proclaimed the need for fair trade, debt forgiveness, social programs to improve education and health-care, gender equality, and the elimination of the global sex-trade. Tens of thousands of people marched through the streets protesting war and demanding the empowerment of the powerless. Although Cindy Sheehan (Ms. Hope), the mother who lost her son in the U.S.-Iraqi War, has continually been shunned by the U.S. President, President Hugo Chavez of Venezuela invited her to speak and even be a guest of honor. Venezuela is also raising up the masses by developing the New Education Initiative based on morals and values that ‘reject imperialistic values and poisonous media campaigns that over-value money and proclaim the poor are worthless.’ For Venezuelans, ’unity, brotherhood, and solidarity should be placed above competition. Creativeness should be practiced instead of consumerism.’ Another educational service, the Venezuelan Pilot Program Mission Robinson 2, recently hired 103,000 facilitators with 9,750 classrooms and is servicing over 1.3 million people to complete primary educational programs and completely eradicate illiteracy. President Chavez claims that ’being educated means being free, and reading should be a habit.’
Land reform is also being practiced as peasant farmers have occupied idol and foreign-owned cattle ranches in order to grow food for their families. In Venezuela, 13 cattle farms control over 350,000 hectares or 1,350 square miles. As foreign owners struggle to provide proof of land ownership, reverse-colonization and agricultural redistribution is becoming a reality. One rancher claimed, ’children are now running around everywhere…they are stressing the cattle and it is difficult to fatten them up.’ Not only is Venezuela providing nourishment for their children and encouraging them to run, but Indian Tribes in the Amazon are being defended. Venezuela recently ordered well-intentioned, but misguided missionaries, to leave the Amazon Forest because they wanted to destroy and replace a peoples belief system and culture with their own brand of religious fundamentalism. Venezuela is also defending the poor in the U.S. Throughout Massachusetts, Maine, Rhode Island, Vermont, Philadelphia, and the Bronx, Citgo, which is a subsidiary of the state-owned Venezuelan oil firm, is providing a 40% discount on millions of gallons of heating oil for low-income families, homeless shelters, Indian Tribal Reservations, and housing projects.
Bolivia is also becoming revolutionized in its election of Evo Morales. The first full-blooded Aymara, his goal is to promote the rights of the indigenous peoples, confront poverty, and look after the countries national resources that are being sold and exploited by transnational corporations. On taking office, he immediately cut his salary in half to only $1800 a month and hired new teachers. Another goal of President Morales is to attack corruption. Three new Corruption Chiefs have been appointed, two women and one man, to investigate taxes, customs roads, and establish new anti-corruption laws. Bolivia is already investigating the Spanish energy giant Subsidy of Repsol and its 9 million dollar tax evasion scheme. Politically, Bolivians have established 150 assemblies throughout the country with a membership of 750,000 people to meet on a regular basis and ’voice opinions, work for democracy, establish safety patrols, and promote Indian Communalism instead of Western Individualism.’
President Michelle Bachelet is now the new leader of Chile. Formerly jailed and tortured under the U.S. backed totalitarian regime of Augusto Pinochet, when she was released in 1973 she worked on the Reconciliation Committee and Economic Equality Board. Cardinal Errazuriz recently praised her for ’helping people to overcome hatred…she is a sign of great confidence.’ President Bachelet believes in an Equal Oppurtunity Government and has appointed women to half of her cabinet, such as Chief of Staff, Economic and Health Ministries, Defense Ministry, and Planning Ministries. In a country where Chilean women earn 30-40% less money than men, she has promised a redistribution of monetary power and gender equality.
Several years ago Argentina experienced an economic melt-down due to the unjust debt and bankruptcy laws imposed by the World Trade Organization and International Monetary Fund. Over 10,000 businesses failed and forced millions of people into unemployment, homelessness, and hunger. However, thousands of workers fought back as they barricaded themselves in their place of business and took over the machinery of over 100 failed companies. The laborers have influenced courts to pass new laws that make it easier to reinvest and restart bankrupt businesses. Hotels, glassworks, production facilities, and meat processing plants, are now managed by workers and an economic revival is benefiting millions of people.
Finally, Latin America can offer the U.S. a revolution of peace. America continues to fight a war in Iraq and Afghanistan, threatens to invade Iran and Syria, continues its sanctions against Cuba, Hamas and North Korea, while Venezuela, Bolivia, Chile, and Argentina are attempting to work towards a different goal: economic and political rights and liberties for all. Their processes may be different, but their goal is one. They do not attack other countries they disagree with, nor do they threaten or torture.
If actions speak louder than words, then the U.S. has lost its revolutionary courage. With 38 million hungry people in the U.S., 45 million individuals without health insurance, 13 million children living in poverty, 70% of convicts illiterate, secret energy department meetings with oil conglomerates, corporate greed and lobbying scandals, companies laying-off thousands of workers, educational funds being slashed, and a President with a $500,000 yearly salary, America desperately needs a new revolution of values, economic equity, and political redistribution. As President Hugo Chavez said, ‘Imagine if the U.S. government would declare peace on the world and retire all military bases and soldiers from the planet? Imagine that the $400 billion used for aggression were being used for education, health, and other human needs…the U.S. working class is a giant that needs to be awakened to join the struggle for justice!‘ Once again, America needs aid and assistance. Instead of pursuing destructive policies, the U.S. should embrace revolutionary principles coming from Latin America. This is one gift America cannot reject!
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
Subscribe to Post Comments [Atom]
<< Home