Update on the Pantheon of South American Revolutionaries

South America glides like a myth. To many outsiders it is a potent mystery with no clear approach or suggestion of understanding. The plain truth is that this continent is never asleep rather it is ever pulsating to reach the zenith of human endeavour. Ever since Columbus and this ilk landed on the continent the new existential struggle unleashed initially with savage annihilations of indigenous populations, first by military violence, followed by waves of disease explosion, in tow as inter-generational repression under the imprimaturs of politics, economic neolibrealism and even in God’s name. 

This continent and her peoples from Baja California to Tierra del Fuego have not rested on their laurels in their bids to stand up to defend and sustain their independence. In unique expressions of dedication to strategic and continuous revolution, it is an understatement to refer to these noble men and women across generations as revolutionaries.

The last century saw an intensification as the receiver of global hegemony designated that geography her backyard and padlocked it with impunity. Despite the ringing encomiums of freedom and democracy in the Norte, it is viciously emasculated and annihilated in the Sud just to maintain preferred choice and options against popular will. Even modest attempts to compromise majority expectation were savagely crushed in Guatemala, Chile and Grenada, Nicaragua and many other countries.

Still these heroic giants of peoples doggedly refused to submit to time-inflated potency of contingent power without popular support. In a gradual shift and opening the churning struggle and irrepressible power in the belly of indefatigable faithful took off in the last few decades finally turning the tide of fortune for the majority. On the shoulder of giants long gone and still alive, revolutionary zeal concentrated and embodied on foresighted minds to carry the touch.

The spectre of revolution once again exploded timely in Venezuela as majority of men, women, youth and children took a final stand that banished fear to its labyrinth leading to the emergence of Commandante Hugo Rafael Chavez Frias. Armed with history and popular mandate but on an initially slow start, impatience from below confirmed that currency of power cannot be shifted successfully with complacency at home and chicken heart abroad. Else like Simon Bolivar said, his will be another revolution ploughing the sea; in whose memory he drilled in popular participation on the exemplar of Dr Salvador Allende in Chile and armed to the teeth like Commandante Fidel Castro in Cuba. Total recovery of the state, unfetter redistribution of national wealth, withdrawal of subservience to the Empire, harassing and hounding poverty from national heritage among others collectively elevated Venezuela identity and brand. No more a territory once a year remembered for the apogee of post-puberty feminine elegance and pageantry for the privileged! No, Venezuela inhabits honourable men, women, youth and children, old and young, rich and poor.

After a decade his active participation turned to resilient inspiration achieving in the process what centuries denied honourable men and women of Venezuela with positive chain reactions across the Americas. Where high tenor of vicious condemnation from the North and Empire becomes the unequivocal barometer of his success! As the Empire pivots in tortoise-speed decline and bogged down in cancerous conflicts with her blind remoras in terminal inability to re-create greatness in a world whose geographical limits is confirmed, once again the pantheon of South American revolutionaries have updated with another permanent feature on its pedestal. That evergreen feature is Commandante Hugo Rafael Chavez Frias.