I did not want to write a third consecutive reflection, but I can not leave this until Monday.

There is one accurate response to Bush’s "democratic capitalism:" Chavez’ democratic socialism.  There couldn’t be a more accurate way to express the great contradiction that exists between North and South in our hemisphere, between the ideas of Bolívar and those of Monroe.

Bolívar’s great merit was having stated it at a time when modern means of communication did not exist — not even the Panama Canal.  There was no U.S. imperialism.  There were just the English-speaking Thirteen Colonies which, united, gained their independence in 1776 with the support of France and Spain.

The Liberator, as if he were capable of seeing through centuries ahead of his own time, proclaimed in 1829:

"The United States seems destined by Providence to plague America with misery in the name of liberty." 

Hugo Chávez is a Venezuelan soldier. In his mind, Bolívar’s ideas germinated naturally. Suffice it to observe the way in which his thinking went through different political stages, starting from his humble origin, school, military academy, his readings of history, the reality of his country and the humiliating presence of Yankee domination.

He was not a general; he didn’t have any armed institution under his command. He didn’t perpetrate a coup d’état; nor could he do so. He did not want to wait; nor could he.  He rebelled; he took full responsibility for events and turned prison into a school.  He conquered the sympathy of the people and gained their support for his cause while being out of government.  He won the elections under a bourgeois Constitution.  He took an oath under that agonizing document and swore allegiance to a new Constitution.  He clashed with both right and left preconceived ideas and started the Bolivarian Revolution in the midst of the most difficult subjective conditions in the whole Latin America.

For 10 years, as president of his country, he has not ceased to sow ideas inside and outside his homeland.

No honest person should have any doubt that there is a true Revolution in progress in Venezuela, and there is also an exceptional struggle being waged against imperialism.

It is worth mentioning that Chávez does not rest, not even for a single minute.  He struggles inside Venezuela and at the same time he systematically travels to the capitals of Latin American countries as well as to important nations in Europe, Asia and Africa.

He communicates, hour by hour, with the national and international press.  He is not afraid to address any issue; he is listened to with respect by the main leaders in the world.  He makes correct and efficient use of the real power his country has —the largest proven oil reserves in the world, in addition to abundant gas— and he is designing an unprecedented national and internationalist program. 

With the signing of an association agreement between Russia’s Gazprom and Venezuela’s PDVSA for the prospecting and exploitation of hydrocarbons, he has created a consortium in that field that is equal to none in the world.  His economic association with China and Russia, certain countries in Europe and others in Latin America and Africa with abundant resources, has released the liberating forces that will pave the way towards a multipolar world.  He did not exclude the United States from the energy supply or the commercial exchange programs.  That is an objective and balanced conception. 

He thinks about a socialist revolution for his own homeland, without excluding important productive factors.  At this historical juncture, after being hit by nature and the criminal ravages of the decadent empire, our country is truly privileged t be able to count on Chavez’s solidarity.

We have never heard a more internationalist and fraternal phrase than the one he said to our people:  "The country of Venezuela is also your country!"

Imperialism is trying to get rid of him politically or eliminate him physically no matter the cost, without realizing that his death would be a disaster for Venezuela as well as for the economies and the stability of all other governments of Latin America and the Caribbean. 

My conversations with him are characterized by one point of view I defend: at this point in time, the most important thing is to save Venezuela from the political onslaught of the U.S. government. During his last visit we discussed the magnitude of the assistance he is giving to us as well as the assistance he wishes to give to us, and our suggestion that he should concentrate the largest possible amount of resources on the domestic battle that he is waging today against the offensive launched by the media and the conditioned reflexes that imperialism has been creating for many years.

From now until November 23, the battle to be waged will be of great transcendence, and we don’t want his support for Cuba to be used as a pretext for damaging the Bolivarian Revolution.

The 92 Venezuelan construction workers who are members of the Socialist Voluntary Work Brigades sent to build houses in Pinar del Río are a real symbol of our times.

We are living through very important moments.  The popular referendum to approve the new Constitution in Ecuador the day after tomorrow will be of great significance.  Chávez will meet with President Lula in Brazil on Monday.  Tonight there is a televised debate between Obama and McCain. All of this is important news. 

That is why I did not want to leave writing these lines for Monday.  Tomorrow, Saturday, Chávez will be back in his country and on Sunday he will address his people.  He always uses something from these reflections in his battle.

(Translated by ESTI)

http://www.granma.cu/ingles/2008/septiembre/lun29/40Reflex3.html

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