|
"...the response to that (U.S. retaliation for Ecuador defending itself) will be at the regional level." --Rafael Correa
-----------------
"..no one will make us submit." This is echoing in my brain. "..no one will make us submit." I find it moving. It almost makes me tearful. "..no one will make us submit." It is so like how we once were in this country. Not just the early revolutionaries, but also the later anti-slavery movement, the labor movement, the women's suffrage movement, the "New Deal" movement (and the California populist movement), the civil rights movement, the anti-Vietnam War movement and I should say, the current Wisconsin movement (the new labor movement), for it certainly seems to be a rebirth of our past spirit of rebellion. "..no one will make us submit."
I would even include the anti-Franco (anti-fascist) movement here, and the attitude of our people during WW II (anti-Nazi movement). Though the capitalist powers could have, and didn't, prevent WW II, and though I don't mean armed resistance to injustice, the courage, idealism and nobility of the people who tried to defeat Franco and who did defeat Hitler, in the end (with Soviet Russia's considerable help), are remarkable, in my view, and I would say the same of the Vietnamese, whose ONLY GOAL, throughout that U.S.-inflicted horror, was that "no one will make us submit."
But what the political developments in Latin America, over the last decade, are most akin to, are the peaceful movements here, such as the labor movement and especially the civil rights movement. "..no one will make us submit."
The Latin Americans have done this peacefully by pulling together, by solidarity. It is especially awesome that the notion "..no one will make us submit" has crossed borders from Venezuela outward, south and north. That was the attitude of the million Venezuelans who poured out of their hovels into the streets, and surrounded Miraflores palace, during the 2002 U.S.-backed coup attempt. "..no one will make us submit" any more. It's over. U.S.-backed fascist government is OVER. 'We will NOT put up with it ANY MORE.'
And now it is region-wide. One key to it going region-wide is Lula da Silva and his utter refusal to obey Washington's dictate to "isolate Chavez" (circa 2006, just as Correa was being elected in Ecuador). Morally, Nestor Kirchner's reply, "But he's my brother!" set the tone. But practically and strategically, it was Lula who made it stick, bringing Brazils' weight to bear in favor of solidarity and regional independence, and in having Chavez's back. Lula may end up being considered one of the greatest leaders of the 21st century for his visionary recognition of the need for social justice region-wide and the consequent need for regional solidarity and cooperation (his and Chavez's "raise all boats" philosophy). Though Chavez has taken the brunt of hostility from our multinational corporate/war profiteer rulers, and was certainly the pioneer leader of this peaceful leftist democracy revolution, he could well have been "isolated" and the efforts of his awesome grass roots supporters could have been for naught. But Lula wouldn't have it--and what an incredibly wise decision that was!
I supposed it helped that, as a labor leader, Lula was persecuted and jailed by the U.S.-backed dictatorship in Brazil. But we have seen enough of leaders betraying their roots, and getting bought-and-paid-for, to know that background alone does not make great leaders. His consistent vision, from his steelworker days through his election as president of Brazil, close upon the Bolivarian revolution in Venezuela, and on to the election of so many other leftist leaders and the creation of UNASUR, has been rather amazing, considering the temptations of Brazil's prosperity. Particular decisions of his have sometimes not been so great. (His biofuels deal with the Bush Junta pretty much stunk.) But the trend of his thinking overall, and his courage and strength in defense of the region's independence, have been critically important. Rafael Correa is so right to credit him with the fact that Ecuador can now say, "..no one will make us submit."
I want to add, though, that these astonishing developments in Latin America have NOT been the work of any one leader, nor of leaders alone. They have been the work of the PEOPLE of Latin America, who have produced and then elected leaders who will act in their interest. That is very important to remember, as the U.S. corporate/war profiteer establishment plays its propaganda games, trying to "isolate" this leader or that leader as current "bogeyman." One of the biggest reasons that this transglobal "robber baron" U.S. establishment has failed, in Latin America, has been the genuineness of Latin America's democracy. I just have to guffaw when I read about USAID "democracy" programs. They are such an utter and cynical farce. Our U.S. establishment hates democracy. They are seething with hatred of it, here and elsewhere. Democracy is REAL in Latin America, and that is WHY they hate its leaders so much. The U.S. establishment's true attitude toward democracy is summed up in the Hillary Clinton-arranged fraudulent elections in Honduras and Haiti. There, we see U.S. elections in miniature. Elections are hugely fraudulent here. A far rightwing corporatiion even owns the 'TRADE SECRET' code in the voting machines. I mean, it is so blatant! And wherever the U.S. manages to force its way in, in Latin America, fraudulent elections and fraudulent leaders are the inevitable result. We recreate what we have become--a fraudulent democracy.
Latin Americans have shown the way. Not just Chavez, not just Lula, not just Correa, not just Morales, not just Kirchner. The poor mother in the barrio. The poor campesino on his 2-acre farm. The poor street vendor in Caracas. The poor maid who never got to finish grade school and wants to now. Also, the idealistic professional in the election monitoring movement--a very important person in all this. The music teacher who created the Venezuelan children's orchestra. The labor leaders, artists, students, clergy, medical professionals, writers, intellectuals, and social movement leaders of every kind. ALL created the leftist democracy movement in Latin America. Organized, got out the vote, monitored the vote, and hammered away, day in, day out, at the numerous tasks of democracy. They are an inspiration. And the result is that Latin American leaders like Correa can now say, "..no one will make us submit."
|