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"...The problem of dictatorship is profound in some societies like Cuba where the people have lived for decades. They have been instilled loyalty and unconditional submission. In this case the population has become weak and are unable to offer any resistance, are unable to work together to achieve freedom from dictatorship, to trust one another or to do something on their own initiative ...”
In Venezuela the changes have been imposed little by little and we did not really realize the loss of freedoms, rights and quality of life in time. Some who did noticed and talked about it, were labelled as alarmists, they were the first to leave the country.
We said "I don’t believe it will be that bad". Our disbelief and confidence that we were the best country in the world made us blind and deaf to the warnings.
My humble opinion is that the worst thing we did is turn aside when they began to expropriate the land of the farmers, expropriated cement companies, sugar, dairy, hotels, the most important agrochemical company in the country,… and we did nothing.
I heard many times in the street saying: "The owners of these companies have money, they are rich and it is not good, all these companies and goods must be administered by the people" ... The blessed empowerment of the people, then.
Only María Corina rose at that time and told Chávez to his face "expropriating is stealing", and everyone mocked her and even called her crazy, but did nothing but tell the truth and call things like they were ...
It's like the tale of the emperor who comes out in his beautiful transparent dress and only a little boy dares to tell him that he is naked ... well!
We have been blind for a long time, only now we hear the young people of our beautiful Venezuela tell us: "... DON’T YOU SEE THAT I HAVE NO FUTURE ..." only now we realize that we are merely surviving, that some have not enough to eat and that getting sick is a luxury. We all have family members killed by robbery, kidnapping, illness, or ill treatment by a Cuban doctor. This list can be endless ...
But we have to reflect. I do not see how we can withstand this situation any longer. Today I want to write about some tips I read in the book De la Dictadura a la Democracia recommended by @freebornsociety.
It is very important to know what we are facing in order to act intelligently. Here are three realities that we must face if we want to find solutions to the problems of the country:
1.- "...Dictators generally ignore constitutional and legal barriers, judicial decisions and public opinion..."
Maduro reacts brutally, with torture, disappearances, military trials, political prisoners and death.
We have been living in Venezuela for some years, but we have been afraid to call things by their name, the word "DICTATOR" is as unmentionable even today for some people. But until we understand where we are, we cannot take action to solve it.
So much barbarity makes us think that only by violence can we end this dictatorship. We have seen many young people fight bravely, paying a heavy price in suffering and lives. Their achievements have been considerable, but we still do not have freedom.
There is something we must learn NOW!!!
"...By depositing the trust in the violent means, it has chosen precisely the mode of struggle in which the oppressors almost always have the superiority. Dictators can apply violence irresistibly. No matter how much or how much less these Democrats can withstand, in the end one cannot usually escape the harsh military realities... "
2.- "... Under a dictatorship, the elections CAN NOT BE USED AS AN INSTRUMENT FOR A SIGNIFICANT POLITICAL CHANGE.
Some dictatorial regimes, such as those of the former Eastern bloc dominated by the Soviet Union, simulated elections only for the purpose of appearing to be democratic. But these elections were simply tightly controlled plebiscites, to obtain the public approval of the candidates chosen by the dictators.
These, from time to time, because of the pressure to which they are subjected, could perhaps accept new elections, but these would be manipulated to place civilian puppets in the positions of government. Had the opposition candidates been allowed to run for election, and had been elected as happened in Burma in 1990 or in Nigeria in 1993, the results would have been simply ignored and the alleged "victors" would have been subject to intimidation, arrested or even executed...".
Not far from what we are seeing in Venezuela today. Has the national assembly not been assaulted by criminals sent by the government itself? I think it is very clear to all that the votes have been manipulated not only in the last elections for the National Constituent Assembly (it is amazing that we are so innocent to believe that Maduro won the elections against Capriles). In Venezuela Nicolás Maduro winning elections is a crime that is paid with jail.
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Maduro is not interested in an election that can keep him from his throne.
I am particularly betrayed by this generation of opposition politicians who claim to represent the people. Yes!!, they were chosen by the vote of the majority of us, but until now it seems that they played against us.
How can MUD move away from the mandate of 16J?
So far only some politicians like Antonio Ledezma and María Corina have spoken of not participating in the next Regional elections planned by our Dictator Nicolás Maduro.
Believe me: The resistance is of the people against the Dictator and against some opposition politicians too! At the end of the road some of these opposition politicians will be placed in the trash as well.
3.- Many of us in the country and those who have had to go into exile to escape do not believe that we can release ourselves. This is our third reality to face:
"... We believe that only international aid can be strong enough to overthrow the dictator ...".
As I explained earlier, we have seen that protest is not enough if you have to face an army ready to kill. So it is not strange that we entrust our hopes of freedom to the action of others. External forces can be: "public opinion", the United Nations, a particular country or international economic and political sanctions.
But in general, foreign saviours will not arrive. If another state comes in, it probably should not be trusted.
"...However, international pressures can be very useful when they support a powerful internal resistance movement. For example, international economic boycotts, embargoes, disruption of diplomatic relations, expulsion of the Venezuelan government from international organizations, condemnation by one of the United Nations bodies and other similar steps can contribute greatly. Nevertheless, if there is no strong movement of internal resistance, such actions by others are unlikely to occur... "
FACING THE HARD TRUTH
We must strengthen ourselves and have the firm conviction to resist. Resist mistreatment and government harassment.
We have been led to believe that every action of the government is a favour to us, that we should give thanks for having a bag of food every month.
We must understand that it is the rulers who must work for the welfare of the people, IT IS THEIR JOB TO KEEP UP THE BASIC CONDITIONS OF HEALTH, HOUSING, FOOD AND EMPLOYMENT.
They dare to still blame others for their own mediocrity! They have stolen and sold our nation for self-enrichment.
We must come up with solutions in social groups and institutions. Create a discussion in our community where the issues and actions to be followed are openly discussed.
We may lack leadership, but a comprehensive global plan for liberation must be developed.
It is not worth just criticizing from the comfort of our armchair. It is clear that some cannot come out to protest. But we all can die tomorrow anyway by a street criminal! We expose our lives daily!
I want to state clearly, I do not say that violent actions are the solution.
Some people far from the country feel disarmed and powerless for not being able to do anything about it.
My question for all Venezuelans is:
What skills do you have that can be exploited? ....
Are you a lawyer? What if you lent some free service to defend a political prisoner?
Are you a housewife? Please bring at least a refreshment to the kids who are protesting near your house! It can be just water.
Are you a doctor? Some of the doctors who have not yet left the country are doing fantastic work! Even if they have to take care of patients on the sly so they do not get arrested.
If what you like is talk and tell tales? Then share information (but be truthful please, real information), informed everyone of what is happening.
If your thing is to gather people for parties? How about meetings to discuss how to solve problems in your own community?
Search your own skills, we can all contribute a grain of sand ...
Doing good counts as a struggle for the Resistance. Unfortunately we are famous abroad for cheating our compatriots.
Please do good wherever you go, so we can let our country rise.
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All those threatened by tyrannical rule must unite against it. For a wise man once said, "The man dies in all who keep silent in the face of tyranny!" -Wole Soyinka
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