Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search

Judi Lynn

(160,217 posts)
Fri Jul 8, 2016, 11:28 PM Jul 2016

Venezuela and When People Are Forced to Eat Shit!

Venezuela and When People Are Forced to Eat Shit!

July 8, 2016
by Andre Vltchek

In a powerful short novel by the Colombian writer Gabriel García Márquez, “No One Writes to the Colonel” (El coronel no tiene quien le escriba) set during the period of “La Violencia”, an old retired colonel struggles to survive, forgotten by the government which promised him a substantial pension some fifteen years earlier. The state is corrupt and brutal, and it had abandoned almost all of those who had fought for the country during the fierce “Thousand Days’ War”.

And so, no one writes to the colonel. No letters, no envelopes with his pension are arriving. The old man and his wife are living alone. Their son had died a few years earlier. Their savings are gone. There seems to be no hope.

The colonel has a rooster. It is a mighty fighting cock. He trains it; the bird is his only chance of survival, it is all that he has left, as well as his pride. At the end of the story, he is approached and offered money for the rooster. He turns the offer down. He would rather go hungry, but he will not be humiliated!

His wife approaches him, asking whether he sold the rooster. He tells her that he did not.

More:
http://www.counterpunch.org/2016/07/08/venezuela-and-when-people-are-forced-to-eat-shit/

2 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
Venezuela and When People Are Forced to Eat Shit! (Original Post) Judi Lynn Jul 2016 OP
sounds like a good read Backwoodsrider Jul 2016 #1
It's true that the Venezuelan people are not benefiting from COLGATE4 Jul 2016 #2

Backwoodsrider

(764 posts)
1. sounds like a good read
Sat Jul 9, 2016, 12:43 AM
Jul 2016

Some times I need a good read like this because I can take it for granted that us humans are doing pretty well in the Pac NorthWest so assume the world population is healing itself....but then I open my eyes and see in other places of the world people are not benefitting from the current economic system at all

Nice post

COLGATE4

(14,732 posts)
2. It's true that the Venezuelan people are not benefiting from
Sat Jul 9, 2016, 10:59 AM
Jul 2016

the current economic system (Chavismo) at all. In a mere 15 years Venezuela has gone from being one of the wealthiest countries in Latin America to now beginning to look like the functional equivalent of Zimbabwe. Inflation in (at least) triple digits, a currency devalued by 1000 and shortages of basic consumer items like food, medicines, toilet paper, etc. an everyday occurrence. The poorer Venezuelans are now trying to subsist on a diet composed mainly of mangoes ( in season, now) and whatever else they can obtain by standing in in interminable lines at markets waiting to see what (if anything) will show up on the shelves today. Those less fortunate on the economic scale who rely on government hospitals for care are almost at more risk going to the hospitals than staying home. No drugs, most equipment broken, no water or electricity for hours a day no incubators and surgeons forced to operate on tables covered with the prior patients' blood mean that patients of all ages are at serious risk if they go there. And still the elected President (currently ruling by decree) does nothing to alleviate the suffering of a significant part of his population, preferring instead to hype the fear of 'Yanqui invasion' in a vain attempt to distract people from their suffering. No, you're right. The Venezuelan people are not benfiting from their current economic system at all.

Latest Discussions»Issue Forums»Editorials & Other Articles»Venezuela and When People...