Hugo Chavez died today. I saw the news on Twitter. I typically hear of breaking news like this from my husband, who reads news online whenever he gets a chance. (It's like his version of Pinterest, only without the pinning...or the chocolate.) Because he's always far more aware of world events than I am, and forms his opinions much more quickly, he's the first one I go to when I need to process news. I rely on him not only to keep me more or less up-to-date, but also to explain the many things I don't understand about world history, politics, economics, etc. I always learn something from his reflections on world events.
Since Taras reads news online several times a day (in three different languages, I might add), it is very rare for me to hear or read of something big before he does. So, of course, I was very proud of myself when I told him the news of Chavez' passing today via Google chat before he had a chance to see it himself. As always, though, he reflected quickly and with his characteristic wisdom. I thought it deserved to be shared:
Since Taras reads news online several times a day (in three different languages, I might add), it is very rare for me to hear or read of something big before he does. So, of course, I was very proud of myself when I told him the news of Chavez' passing today via Google chat before he had a chance to see it himself. As always, though, he reflected quickly and with his characteristic wisdom. I thought it deserved to be shared:
4:13 PM me: Did you see the news about Chavez?
4:18 PM Taras: Now I did! I can't say I am sad or disappointed, except only that he has likely died unforgiven for his many sins and heavy crimes.
4:19 PM me: Yes. I feel the same way.
4:20 PM I do hope that this will open a door for more freedom and hope in Venezuela.
4:27 PM Taras: I hope so, too, but I am also skeptical. Chavez, just like Stalin and Lukashenko [the president of Belarus] is not just a person, but a national mentality, and a nation's mindset does not die the instant the person's heart stops beating. It is a strange twist of irony from God that Chavez died on March 5, 2013, the 60th anniversary of Josef Stalin's death (back in 1953) when tens of thousands wept and stood in lines for hours to pay tribute to his body. The question, "Did Stalin really die or do his works 'ever live on' as the most glittering slogans of his day would have it?" is a very relevant one for today.
4:28 PM Especially for today
