Re: [Louis Proyect: The Unrepentant Marxist] Comment: "NACLA on RCTV"

[Louis Proyect <lnp3@xxxxxxxxx>]

Eric Biewener:
Thank you for publicizing my work, but I should clarify that the article 
is not on the RCTV controversy (which I would be more than happy to 
discuss with you, especially if you accept the government's 
justification for it).  It is, rather, on the propaganda of the Chavez 
administration.

Reply:
Excuse me? Didn't the article include the following:

>>Often times the casting of the opposition as not a part of Venezuelan 
society is accomplished by simply ignoring its existence. For example, a 
large banner currently hanging in the capital district of Caracas reads, 
âFor the Television that we deserve. No to the Concession [of RCTV].â 
The banner clearly does not speak for the millions of Venezuelans 
against the governmentâs non-renewal of the television stationâs 
broadcasting licenseâ70% according to a recent survey. ChÃvez negated 
the legitimacy of widespread student protests against the move, claiming 
the students were being âmanipulatedâ by the opposition, which he called 
an âenemy of the homeland.â<<

Eric Biewener:
Your assumption that I have a "general hostility to radical measures" is 
completely ridiculous.  I think this world needs A LOT of radical 
change.  I think the capitalist, US-led economic system is a disaster. 
I think the global political organization of the nation-state system is 
a disaster.  I am all for "radical measures."  But that doesn't mean 
that I just go ahead and embrace every radical measure that comes along. 
 Nor do I embrace every megalomaniac that espouses socialist revolution.

Reply:
If you are for "radical measures," then why line up with the 
counter-revolution in Venezuela?

Eric Biewener:
I don't know much about the land distribution measures under Chavez, but 
it is clear that there are some problems.  When some rural poor people 
intimidate (burning their crops, death threats, etc.) a wealthy rancher 
into giving up his land and then Chavez legitimates the action, that is 
not a good radical measure.  In a country like Venezuela, in a region 
like Latin America, and in a world like ours, I am all for radical land 
redistribution.  But there are good, moral ways to do it, and there are 
bad ways.

Reply:
There are good, moral ways to do land reform? I would ask for examples, 
but you don't strike me as somebody with a lot of experience in Latin 
America. Genuine land reform is always accompanied by confrontation. How 
in the world can you expect the rural landlords to allow their land to 
be expropriated? I know that you are a bit young to be familiar with 
this, but I would recommend Armstrong and Shenk's "El Salvador: The Face 
of Revolution," which documented how death squads operated against 
landless peasants in El Salvador. Armstrong and Shenk were involved with 
NACLA before it went down the toilet.

Eric Biewener:
I moved to this country with the hope of seeing truly impressive, 
radical change from Chavez.  So far, I have not seen it.  I do not think 
Chavez's policies are really very different from those of his 
pre-1980s-debt-crisis predecessors, and he is sadly repeating many of 
the same mistakes.  You consider my piece "counter-revolutionary," but 
that is impossible because there is no revolution to counter!

Reply:
I have a feeling that you don't know much about Venezuela in general, 
not just about recent land reform measures. I invite you to read as 
series of articles I wrote about Venezuela here:

http://louisproyect.wordpress.com/2007/04/15/hugo-chavez-and-the-venezuelan-revolution/

http://louisproyect.wordpress.com/2007/04/17/hugo-chavez-and-the-venezuelan-revolution-part-2/

http://louisproyect.wordpress.com/2007/04/20/hugo-chavez-and-the-venezuelan-revolution-conclusion/

Eric Biewener:
What, specifically, do you take issue with in regards to my article? 
I'd prefer to discuss this matter in the comment section underneath my 
article on NACLA's website, so, if you don't mind, please post your 
criticisms there.  I will, of course, discuss it here though if you prefer.

Reply:
I take issue with your hostility to Chavez, isn't that obvious? His 
efforts to use oil profits to help the Venezuelan and American poor 
deserves support from genuine radicals everywhere.

Eric Biewener:
And while you may have lost your faith in NACLA, the most recent issue 
includes an interview with the important Venezuelan historian Margarita 
Lopez Maya.  She used to support Chavez, but no longer does.  I think 
her description of the situation under Chavez in Venezuela is very 
helpful and essentially how I have come to understand it.  If you are 
unable to obtain a copy of it, let me know and I'd be happy to provide 
you with the interview.

Reply:
I just took a look at it. It is simply dreadful. In the previous issue 
there was a debate between pro and anti-Chavez intellectuals. I 
suspected that the debate format simply gave NACLA the opportunity to 
air some rightwing propaganda while appearing impartial. Maya's 
interview confirms the continuing rightwing drift.

Eric Biewner:
Finally, to give you a clearer sense of where my feelings lie in regards 
to the status quo in our world, I encourage you to read my other blog at 
http://custodiansofhistory.wordpress.com.  It focuses on critiquing 
mainstream US media coverage of international relations.

Reply:
You should stick to blogging. And maybe focus on topics that don't give 
aid and comfort to the imperialism's looming assault on Venezuela.