Update January 24, 2019: Please note that what you will read in this post is my personal political position in this matter. It is not Jung Il-woo’s. If Jung Il-woo has any problems with me using his image with a Venezuelan flag, I am sure he will let me know… know that my intention is that of self expression. I am American and as such I live in a democratic country that gives me the freedom to express my thoughts and my feelings. And this is an American website.
Yesterday January 23rd, 2019 the majority of Venezuelans have gone out to the streets to ask for the end of the dictatorship of Maduro, the current “elected” president of Venezuela as he looks to extend once more his term. Under his dictatorship, as he does not allow for legitimate elections, thousands of Venezuelans have died, more recently due to the lack of medicines and food. A quarter of the children are malnurished… and I could give facts and facts and facts about how this “socialist goverment” has destroyed Venezuela. You can read all about it HERE if you are interested.
Today National Assembly President Juan Guaidó, swore himself in as interim president of Venezuela. Many foreign governments, including Colombia, Brasil, Costa Rica, Peru, Canada and the United States have expressed their support for Juan Guaidó assuming the role as acting president of Venezuela. This is our Vice President speaking in support on January 22nd:
Nicolás Maduro has now given 72 hours to US diplomats supporting Juan Guaidó to leave Venezuela, but the US is saying it does not recognize Nicolás Maduro as a legitimate president.
Update January 24, 2019: Things are getting more complicated as now China and Russia have voiced that they will not support any intervention from the US, and they will support Nicolás Maduro. And in these countries the news is being told from the perspective of a ‘coup d’éta’ (An iligitimate overthrow of the government by a minority.) with the support of the US.
It is too soon to say what will happen, but I pray for a quick resolution and one where Venezuelans suffer the least. I pray that Venezuela is not divided into a North Venezuela and a South Venezuela… but it’s interesting to see the same nations line up in the same way in this situation. You have China and Russia supporting Nicolas Maduro (what would have been North Korea back in time and the US, the European Union and most Latin American countries supporting Juan Guaidó in what would be like South Korea. Communism vs. Democracy once more… but Venezuela is too tired and too poor for a war of this sort … the division of its people? A civil war with big powers at play? Oh god please, please!!! spare them!
This is from CNN:
Senior Trump administration official on Venezuela: “All options are on the table”
From CNN’s Liz Stark
In a background call about Venezuela Wednesday, a senior Trump administration official said that “all options are on the table” with regards to possible future actions, including sanctions against the country.
The remarks comes as President Trump announced earlier that he is recognizing Venezuelan opposition leader Juan Guaido as the legitimate president of Venezuela.
“In regards to the options, frankly in our sanctions, we’ve barely scratched the surface of what actually the United States can take from an economic sanctions front,” the senior administration official said.
CNN reported that depending on the severity of Nicolás Maduro’s response, Trump is also prepared to take a range of actions to punish him, including possible oil sanctions, two sources familiar with White House deliberations said.
Later when asked about possible actions that the United States could take, the senior official reiterated:
“When we say all options are on the table, it means all options are on the table.”
“Now if they choose the route of violence and seek to usurp the constitutional order and democracy, let us be clear, that we have a host of options. We will take every single one of those options seriously,” the official cautioned.
“The message to Maduro and his cronies will be that — if that is the route they choose — it will be very clear to them … they will have no immediate future. They will have no immediate livelihood. And therefore, one way or another, have their days counted.”
I am so overjoyed with the news that the US is supporting Venezuela’s new interim president. I am praying so hard for the end of this horrible regime and for the safety of all the innocent Venezuelans… especially the children. Our population is very young… take a look: (Cr. Statista.com)
Today, I pray it’s a day remembered by all Venezuelans. A day when Venezuela regained its liberty. Please is you can, pray for the people of Venezuela. We need all the positive energy in this world we can get in this moment!
Por favor… cuida de todos los Venezolanos en esta hora tan difícil! Bendice a nuestro país con prosperidad nuevamente.
And where does Jung Il-woo come into this equation? He is the prince that has saved my head time and time again from my Venezuelan sadness. I have watched my country go from being the fourth richest nation in Latin America, to one of the poorest. I have seen my family split up and we now live in five different countries: Panamá, the US, Germany, Spain and Venezuela. We are oceans apart due to the terrible situation in Venezuela. And we wonder if we’ll ever be able to celebrate as a whole family ever again. All of this and the constant terrible news has been very hard for me at times…
Jung Il-woo, I am thankful to you forever! For making my tears evaporate, for inspiring me, for making me daydream! I wish someday for you to see my country as the beautiful free democratic nation it once was! These are two places you can visit… they are so gorgeous:
I will end this post with music… this is our sentimental national anthem… it fills me with joy every time I hear it. Here it is performed by the wonderful musicians of our National Youth Orchestra led by Gustavo Dudamel, our most famous orchestra director:
These are the Lyrics translated:
Llanera* Soul
Yo nací en esta ribera
Del Arauca vibrador.
Soy hermano de la espuma,
De las garzas, de las rosas.
Soy hermano de la espuma,
De las garzas, de las rosas,
Y del sol, Y del sol.
Me arrulló la viva diana
De la brisa en el palmar,
Y por eso tengo el alma,
Como el alma primorosa.
Y por eso tengo el alma,
Como el alma primorosa,
Del cristal, Del cristal.
Amo, sueño, canto, rio
Con claveles de pasión,
Con claveles de pasión.
Para ornar las rubias crimes
Para ornar las rubias crimes
Del potro de mi amador.
Yo nací en esta ribera
Del Arauca vibrador.
Soy hermano de la espuma
De las garzas, de las rosas,
Y del sol, Y del sol.