tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4080946.post880666696945583463..comments2024-03-26T00:37:34.943+01:00Comments on Venezuela News And Views: Is Mockus the best thing since sliced bread? (UPDATED)Danielhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12128609182544333477noreply@blogger.comBlogger17125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4080946.post-32796201384648107752010-05-08T17:00:52.814+02:002010-05-08T17:00:52.814+02:00I agree and also think that Colombia must be more ...I agree and also think that Colombia must be more like Venezuela in entertaining a certain distance towards immigrants.<br /><br />However in the end my philosophy is that we must adapt to the country we immigrate to.That is the way I saw it.I never tried to impose or teach US customs to people.I learned new customs and joined Venezuelan life from the grass roots point.To me this was deeply fascinating and satisfying.I learned so many wonderful things that gave me an edge ( in terms of integration) that many other foreigners did not have.<br /><br />I loved the Lithuanian community too and I very much became a part of it, however I must admit that most folks from Lithuania, even after having lived in Venezuela from a tender young age, still only served their Lithuanian fish on Xmas eve instead of the traditional Hallacas.<br /><br />They were a VERY traditional and insular community.I could never imagine any of them adapting profoundly to Venezuelan ways, and of course this produced a shared internal separation.<br /><br />I guess it goes both ways though.One part of the puzzle fits with the other.firepigettehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17348890269608169297noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4080946.post-3957827810180386112010-05-08T09:58:27.413+02:002010-05-08T09:58:27.413+02:00Boat People, you don't believe me? :-) Beauty ...Boat People, you don't believe me? :-) Beauty and features are in the eye of the beholder.<br />A memory leak, for instance, could look like a very nasty, scandalous bug for most people...but for some hackers it could become a wonderful way to manipulate the data they want. If the hacker is actually part of the institution willing to buy the software and if the institution supports what the hacker wants to do, the bug becomes a feature: revolutionary vote optimizer v 1.10Keplerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11125538872924743270noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4080946.post-69325054044254754752010-05-07T21:42:42.973+02:002010-05-07T21:42:42.973+02:00My point about Venezuela and European immigrants i...My point about Venezuela and European immigrants is that despite material success those immigrants, when compared to countries such as Argentina and the US, had a harder time feeling that they actually belong to their new country. Of course, there are always exceptions, but for some reason it was easier for, say, Estonian or Serb immigrants to feel true citizens of Argentina or the US than for them to feel true citizens of Venezuela. (Perhaps that's because Argentina and the US have a longer history of accepting waves of immigrants.) <br /><br />My guess is that Colombia is closer to the Venezuelan case than to Argentina, but that's only a guess--I don't know Colombia.Kolyanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4080946.post-67659004383306103202010-05-07T16:23:04.121+02:002010-05-07T16:23:04.121+02:00I was intimately connected with the Lithuanian com...I was intimately connected with the Lithuanian community in Venezuela.Most of them adored Venezuela.Many were called back to restore Lithuania from the Soviet 'destruction' of their country and most did not go back.<br /><br /><br />However the Lithuanians had the same problem that many foreign people had in Venezuela, including US citizens :the problem was relatively mild but in a general sense, we were never considered real Venezuelans by some despite naturalization.<br /><br />On the other hand I found that in my case I was so criollo in some ways( my speech,playing the cuatro and generally fitting in well with the popular classes).. I was more integrated than the average foreigner.I think in Venezuela it is like everywhere.The more one accepts and is similar to the common people, the more they accept you, even if your color and looks are different.On the contrary I think many people liked me more because I was from the US but took on Venezuelan customs and ways of being.It was a compliment to them.firepigettehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17348890269608169297noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4080946.post-91382574322331224562010-05-07T15:52:46.497+02:002010-05-07T15:52:46.497+02:00A bit late for this thread, but a couple of though...A bit late for this thread, but a couple of thoughts. I may be wrong, but somehow I think that a person whose parents were immigrants from Lithuania would be largely immune from the "good savage" myth. This particularly applies if Mockus's parents arrived to Colombia after, say, 1939. I'm generalizing, but as a result of Nazism and Communism, Eastern Europeans are less prone to the "good savage" myth, which in post-WWII Europe was more of an indulgence of (some) members of the Western European and US intelligentsia. <br /><br />Kepler, I don't know how it was in Colombia, but as far as Venezuela is concerned I can tell you that immigrants (and their children) from central and eastern Europe, despite prospering, had a harder time in becoming accepted as true citizens than in countries such as Argentina, Chile, US and Canada. That's why, when compared to those other countries, a significant number of such "new Venezuelans" ended up leaving even before Chavez.Kolyanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4080946.post-59354815685552806272010-05-07T13:18:18.335+02:002010-05-07T13:18:18.335+02:00And given how they only had to replace the card to...And given how they only had to replace the card to fix things, it's clearly an OPTIONAL feature. Ojo.AIOnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4080946.post-81773562899549194512010-05-07T06:36:52.803+02:002010-05-07T06:36:52.803+02:00Kepler,
Yes, it sure sounds like a feature.Kepler,<br /><br />Yes, it sure sounds like a feature.1979 Boat Peoplenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4080946.post-42020579213605013952010-05-06T21:50:54.017+02:002010-05-06T21:50:54.017+02:00Boat People,
As we often say: it is not a bug, it...Boat People,<br /><br />As we often say: it is not a bug, it is a feature.Keplerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11125538872924743270noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4080946.post-42990318375888873912010-05-06T19:51:25.951+02:002010-05-06T19:51:25.951+02:00Suspicious Memory Card Flaw in the Smartmatic vote...Suspicious Memory Card Flaw in the Smartmatic vote counting machine <br /><br />"<br />Philippine election counting machines work on second mock polls<br />"<br /><br />http://www.digitaljournal.com/article/291649<br /><br />After all these years, Smartmatic still has this Memory Card Flaw problem???.1979 Boat Peoplenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4080946.post-39548004485860296672010-05-06T04:50:52.296+02:002010-05-06T04:50:52.296+02:00I would posit a third possibility beyond "the...I would posit a third possibility beyond "the good savage" or ignorance. Too many people on the left are simply willing to make excuses for leftist authoritarians. Many of the left quick to overlook Castro's actions when they would condemn them if they were taken by someone like Pinochet. I fear Mockus may suffer from the same predilection. The comment about sending Uribe and Santos to Ecuador also implied naivety, a minimum. International standards are fine as long as all (or most countries) abide by them. The authoritarian leftists think such standards should only apply to their enemies, not themselves. Thus, Uribe should be held to account for violating the sovereignty of another nation, but whenever Chavez does it (by aiding the FARC), he is exempt from such laws because he is "aiding the people." If Mockus is willing to send Santos to face justice in Colombia, he should be demanding Chavez be sent to Colombia for the same reason. If elected, he very well could end up being Chavez's patsy in Colombia.ConsDemohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15312125878554292999noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4080946.post-8401887859944540952010-05-05T22:54:02.051+02:002010-05-05T22:54:02.051+02:00Agree with Paul. He's got the looks,totally, h...Agree with Paul. He's got the looks,totally, he's quacked the quacks enough times for anyone to hear. And there's no doubt whatsoever that Chavez would prefer him there to Santos. That's quite enough for me. Go Santos!Martinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07605250739418926462noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4080946.post-33199995983457736122010-05-05T21:42:45.611+02:002010-05-05T21:42:45.611+02:00Daniel,
Of the 2 options you offer as an explanat...Daniel,<br /><br />Of the 2 options you offer as an explanation for Mockus's attitude towards Chavez.." good savage" or ignorance I definitely opt for the first one.<br /><br />A moderately well informed person would know the basic facts about what's happening in their neighboring country and I am sure that a politician like Mockus would not be THAT ignorant.<br /><br />Once you accept the good savage theory of one who has come to redeem the backward masses in the third world, these inconvenient facts are just minor blemishes .<br /><br />In some ways Mockus reminds me a bit of someone like Henry Falcon who although being a good manager and politician has basic left wing ideas.<br /><br />Then we have the example of the Spanish socialists who although being more moderate in their internal politics, will tenderly embrace Chavez .I don't think Mockus will lag behind in this regard.Just look at the fact that he sided with Alba member Ecuador against the representatives of his own country.<br /><br />Although Chavez acts like a fascist he has his communist ideology to back him up as someone who is concerned about the greater good of the masses.This wins him the support of left wing sympathizers everywhere.<br /><br />Ignorance excuses an educated man way too much.It's not so much that the information is not available it is that these people do NOT want to hear it.<br /><br />Strong belief in ideology trumps correct information every time.firepigettehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17348890269608169297noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4080946.post-36434901922688729952010-05-05T09:26:35.820+02:002010-05-05T09:26:35.820+02:00I was surprised about Mockus's comments on Cha...I was surprised about Mockus's comments on Chavez, but I still think he would know how to keep the right distance. Let's see further what he says in the following days.<br />Now I see the Colombian conservatives are airing this add about Mockus's atheism. What a bunch of Torquemadas!<br /><br />As for this:<br />"We are both the sons of European immigrants in a country where such people historically have had a hard time to make their mark, always looked at as foreigners no matter how much more we know about our country than the "natives" criticizing us. "<br />Please! Surely you must have received some insults and stupid remarks. I am sure those remarks and treatment you had have been a tiny tiny fraction of what our black or very Indian looking compatriots get to hear time after time.Keplerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11125538872924743270noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4080946.post-5096521912403140152010-05-05T01:52:44.990+02:002010-05-05T01:52:44.990+02:00Like many I'm sympathetic and intrigued by Moc...Like many I'm sympathetic and intrigued by Mockus and I dislike Santos. Mockus's comment on Chavez (including his follow up on it) gave me great pause, though. Who would be a better president for Colombia? My heart says Mockus but, despite my distaste for him, my head says Santos. <br /><br />One more thing: I'm positively impressed by the Colombians that so far Mockus has been relatively immune from poisonous attacks that concentrate on him being both an academic and an intellectual. I expect, though, that such attacks will become more common.Kolyanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4080946.post-18864501068340737452010-05-05T00:35:42.894+02:002010-05-05T00:35:42.894+02:00Good post. You're a very good political analys...Good post. You're a very good political analyst. <br /><br />To me Mockus although fascinating as president is an enigma. His achievments as Major were more on the image side than on actual execution. Mostly he continued what PeƱaloza built. If he does the same with Uribe's work that would be good, but is he capable of that? What kind of people is he going to surround himself with?TechMindhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07908635937338724898noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4080946.post-80955531358561784982010-05-04T23:39:39.168+02:002010-05-04T23:39:39.168+02:00That stupid hippie beard, coupled with his backgro...That stupid hippie beard, coupled with his background as an academic, were all it took to set off my alarm bells. My instincts are being proved correct little by little.Paulhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06843411100678811292noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4080946.post-13788345041511993052010-05-04T22:28:30.727+02:002010-05-04T22:28:30.727+02:00finally someone makes some sense out of this. you ...finally someone makes some sense out of this. you just resumed my fears of mockus, i like the guy, but i fear him as president.<br /><br />thnaks for the post, you just reminded me why ive been following this blog for so long.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com