LINES OF THE DAY

". . . But the past does not exist independently from the present. Indeed, the past is only past because there is a present, just as I can point to something over there only because I am here. But nothing is inherently over there or here. In that sense, the past has no content. The past -- or more accurately, pastness -- is a position. Thus, in no way can we identify the past as past." p. 15

". . . But we may want to keep in mind that deeds and words are not as distinguishable as often we presume. History does not belong only to its narrators, professional or amateur. While some of us debate what history is or was, others take it into their own hands." p. 153

Silencing the Past: Power and the Production of History (1995) by Michel-Rolph Trouillot

Friday, September 12, 2008

Bolivia, Venezuela & US

So far the most clear story of what's going on published here in the U.S. seems to be in the Miami Herald. You can read it here.

However, now Honduras has joined in solidarity with Bolivia and Venezuela, and says it will not recognize the new U.S. ambassador.

Brasil has also become involved in some way, since it receives 50% of its petroleum from Bolivia.

Vaquero is in Colombia right now, at a music festival, surrounded by periodistas from all the Latin American countries and the Caribbean too. They have some telling perspectives on all this that we probably shall not see in most of the reporting we'll hear, here.

Gasoline prices will continue to rise.

Here's how Vaquero explains the situation:

[ "the recent, proximate cause i haven't fully researched. but the flashpoint is bolivia. basically the US does not want either evo morales or chávez to be in power, much less the bolivarian alternative for an independent latin america that they are promoting. morales in particular is facing tremendous resistance from the elites of his country who have been trying to secede from bolivia ever since he came in. he just won a referendum, however, that is supposed to settle the matter. what the u.s. has been up to in this i don't exactly know, but they have surely been taking the side of the elites and perhaps offering them various forms of assistance." ]

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