Venezuela, the day after...
By Aleksander Boyd
Caracas 04.12.06 | Many calls urging people to take to the streets. Many emails demanding information, evidence about fraud. Many people desperate, depressed, hysterical, behaving irrationally. Irresponsible announcements, Monday night quarterbacks viciously attacking Rosales on the airwaves, accusing him of being a coward, of having sold us, of having negotiated and compromised Venezuela's democracy. Many opposition folks affirming categorically that the Venezuela they grew up in died and took with it its freedom. The spectacle I saw yesterday at Rosales' campaign HQs was pathetic, surreal, but today's was even worse. And let it be known that I am not referring to the electoral results, rather to the behaviour of most people in this side of the divide. Now I understand clearly why the opposition movement, as an entity, has such a bad reputation worldwide. They put me to shame, apart from Miguel, Daniel and a handful of others, no one took the results stoically.
And the sun rose and the beautiful Avila was there, the city in the same place. To those kind readers that have sent support messages let me say this much: I am not depressed, I do not feel defeated nor cheated, I neither want to die nor to move back to London immediately. On the contrary I feel very much alive, eager to build a fresh political platform with a large base, I will put an end to this void, to this business of lacking political representation. I sincerely hope I'll manage to stay in this country permanently and find like minded people to start together the long road towards a bright, peaceful and progressive future. My commitment is second to none and my sole loyalty is towards this, my country, the only one I have got. My commitment is to its people, all 26 million of them. I harbor no hate for I refuse to be infected by nonsensical attitudes that can only lead to harm.
Losing an election is just part of the art of politics. I am not a sore loser, never have, never will. I want to congratulate publicly the winner, President Hugo Chavez that is, for he proved all of us that he is the choice of the majority. 62,57% of my compatriots approve of his performance and I am obliged, as a democrat, to accept and respect their will.
In equal measure I want to congratulate Manuel Rosales, for showing the way, for having taught me that pragmatic, commonsensical individuals can achieve things in this country's politics. A new time is ahead of us and daring is not an attitude one adopts temporarily, rather is a way of life.
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