Dear
Barack Hussein Obama:
Congratulations
on your becoming the 44th President of the United States! I am
writing to you as my humble contribution for a full restoration of
diplomatic and friendship relations between Venezuela and the United
States.
You
have already gathered the support from the high levels of the
Venezuelan government for this normalization. The communication sent
to you by the Ministry of the Popular Power for Foreign Relations of
the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela shows a recent, unexpected
disposition to heal wounds. If we combine that eagerness with your
experience in race and class divisions, that should entail a positive
summit between President Chávez and yourself whenever both of you
feel it fit and safe to meet.
However,
the polarized current state of local politics is a formidable barrier
that is interested in keeping alive the cold war atmosphere, and that
is unfortunately damaging the relationship between our two great
countries. I recently wrote a similar conciliation letter to
President Chávez which has not been well received by several
Venezuelan government supporters and opponents alike.
On
one hand, many within the opposition did not wish you to win your
election. They now fear that you might eventually become a weak
puppet for Chávez socialist ideas. They foresee that if you shift
the political process in your country too far to the left you will
succeed in destroying the checks and balances currently available in
the American political system and that you will transform the U.S
into a totalitarian régime. Some opponents were even considering the
possibility for the U.S to impose sanctions to Venezuela such as
those still in effect against Cuba. There are also signs of racism
still alive in Venezuela, perhaps even more accentuated than in the
United States, thus many people were hoping for a U.S. government led
again by a Caucasian male.
On
the other hand, many sympathizers of Chávez government are utterly
skeptical on the reach of your electoral victory. They claim that
despite your racial condition as an African-American, you still do
represent an evil empire whose real rulers continue being the
lobbyists and multinational corporations that helped finance your
campaign. Their aspiration is an immediate, unconditional surrender
of the U.S. foreign policy in regards to Cuba, Palestine, Guantánamo,
Iraq and Afghanistan. They are convinced that Latin America, again,
will only be considered as a backyard of the United States and will
continue to be taken into consideration solely as a source of cheap
raw materials; its exploitation would continue being encouraged by
the industrialized powers. In conclusion, many Chávez supporters
have as a long term goal the final extinguishment of capitalism as an
economic system, even though that goal might require recurring to an
asymmetric war.
Nevertheless,
the opposing points of view from some opposition and pro-government
Venezuelans converge through their mutual mistrust to your person,
your new government and your country. In light of these constant
disagreements, it is likely that the message of reconciliation
recently favored by Hugo Chávez and the higher spheres of his
government may be withdrawn during the next impasse or
misunderstanding, due to the pressure that will continue being
exerted by both major polarized and highly vocal groups.
I
am an ordinary Venezuelan citizen. My only weapon is the education I
received through the generosity of Dr. Armand Hammer, whose legacy in
scheduling meetings and agendas for the benefit of various Presidents
of the United States and Secretaries General of the Union of
Socialist Soviet Republics I am now trying to extend further into the
21st
century. I have already received worldwide support in forwarding
these ideals to you, which require dealing simultaneously within
capitalist and socialist frameworks. Hopefully this pacifist call
will be well received by the people and governments of Venezuela and
the United States, leading toward a comprehensive proposal to solve
the aforementioned issues.
Sincerely, Rubén Rivero
Capriles on November 10, 2008
Rivero & Cooper, Inc.
