Now, we all know that, according to Sean Penn and Oliver Stone, Hugo Chavez is a really swell guy, and not at all a dictator. However, reality intervenes and sheds light onto his true nature. The Washington Times recently published an account of what happens when you disagree with the kindly communist dictator in Venezuela.
In Venezuela, Luis Enrique Acosta Oxford’s ordeal began June 30, when he posted a 120-character piece of financial advice on the popular micro-blogging site Twitter: “Ladies and Gentlemen, don’t say you weren’t warned… Pull out today… I’m telling you, there are just a few days left.” Eight days later, Venezuelan authorities incarcerated Mr. Oxford, 41, and a fellow Twitter user – Carmen Cecilia Nares Castro, 35. A court this week charged them with “disseminating false rumors” on Twitter to “destabilize the banking system.” They were released pending trial and face up to 11 years in prison.
Translation: They warned others, and have to be punished. That, and given the damage that Chavez has already done to the economy there, warning people of more economic downturns is not prudent, but a crime. In the socialist utopia, the truth is a crime. Here’s some more…
What’s more, Venezuelan authorities have indicated they may pursue similar charges against 15 others. “The assault on free, independent, and critical media in Venezuela has run its course,” said Thor Halvorssen, the Venezuelan-born president of the Human Rights Foundation (HRF), a New York-based nongovernmental organization that monitors human rights conditions in the Americas. “There is little left for the government to do, considering it has used every tool at its disposal to silence dissent,” he said, noting a crackdown on media critical of the government. “This is phase two – going after individuals in private action for simple freedom of expression.” Mr. Halvorssen said the Twitter arrests were carried out to have a “chilling effect.”
Chilling is right. They want to discourage anyone else from speaking out against Chavez. Come to think of it, why doesn’t Chavez have his media call anyone who disagrees with him a racist? Oh, that’s what happens here in the US, my bad.
“What began with the closing of Radio Caracas Television in 2007 and the harassment and closures of other media outlets has now trickled down to the silencing of ordinary citizens,” Mr. Lansberg-Rodriguez said. “These arrests, and the precedent they set, should concern all Venezuelans, regardless of political affiliation.” In March, he openly declared his intent to tighten Web restrictions for other Venezuelans. “The Internet cannot be a completely free space where anything is said and anything is done,” he said. “No, each country must impose its own rules.”
No Mr. Chavez, for you, and your “progressive” cousins here in the US, free speech interferes with your acquisition of power. People speaking out, sharing ideas, and even worse, exposing your failures, cannot be tolerated. Here in the US, they are just having the government, the Democratic party, a host of related interest groups, and the MSM marching in lockstep to silence any dissent. No jails, yet. For commentary from the US Government, let’s turn to Mark Lloyd, Diversity “Czar” at the FCC…
Hmm, I see he’s not really on our side here. Come to think of it, Cass Sunstein, and even SCOTUS nominee, Elena Kagan have made statements regarding limitations on free speech. Maybe the White House will be of some help?
Well, their mouthpiece didn’t seem very helpful, especially since what we were talking about back then is actually happening now. That, and she seemed to be encouraging people to turn in others for saying what we now KNOW to be true. Could it be that there are those in our own government that share the same views as the dictator Chavez? It’s more likely than you think.
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Matt
I believe that future generations should have the same opportunities that myself, and those that came before me, had. My parents taught me that I could do anything I wanted to do. I don’t want to have to tell my daughter, “You can do whatever the government tells you to do.” We are at a crossroads in this country; are we going to be free, or are we going to be slaves to the nanny state. I choose freedom.
Chavez only managed to come to this degree of control by “redistributing wealth.” The people didn’t recognize it in time. Once they did, they rebelled but it was far too late. He paid the poor to vote for him and his initiatives.
That is what is going on in the U.S. now, and this is why in November we must make a huge difference in the chambers.
I hate to say it, but I’m not sure we can survive two more years without some control. By 2012 Obama will have relentlessly paid the poor to vote.
The trick is, that they poor will stay poor. If they rise out of poverty, they won’t need the likes of Chavez, or Obama, anymore. Government makes promises, and gives a handout or two, but the poor are kept on the government plantation.
Hi Matt; Obama is taking lessons from his BFF hugo.
These psycho’s would like nothing better than to jail us for blogging and tweeting.
The truth is hated by them. Maggie is right, I don’t think we can survive two more years. At this rate, it’s looking iffy if we’ll survive 2 more months.
Sad to say, I have the same fear. The slime machine is just getting warmed up.
hey Matt..doesnt he look charming palling around with Hugo and Jermiah Wright and Alinsky..sick sick !!!!
Birds of a feather, Angel.
Leftism has no choice but to silence dissent, no leftist can ever retain power by allowing the people to speak freely and question them.
The reason for this is that leftism is designed to destroy and corrupt, it can only do that, but most ordinary people don’t want this and the only way to keep leftism in power/control is to crush any and all dissent.
Well said, MK. That’s what I have been saying all along.
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