A better notion of History - Message to New York Times

I’d like to make some remarks concerning the article  “Latin America after Chavez”, by Mr. L. I. Lula da Silva, NYT, March 6^th  2013, and concerning about what the History will affirm of the role of Mr. Chavez in our region.

During his time as a Venezuelan leader, Mr. Chavez missed the chance of turning his country into a Chile-like one in 5 to 10 years. He missed the chance to begin the transformation of Venezuela in a Spain-like one in 10 to 20 years as well.

As a matter of fact he succeeded in turning Venezuela in a big Cuba (“Cubão”, in Portuguese), loosing all advantages of an oil rich country and a relatively small population.

For whom the bells toll? For each one of us, as the poet John Donne stated a long time ago, in “Devotions upon Emergent Occasions” (1624) --- not only for Mr. Chávez. They toll specially for those who die without reaching a better standard of life, due to the action --- the very poor action --- of the Latin American politician.

This is what the History will affirm concerning the role of Mr. Chavez.

If Mr. Lula had a better understanding of what really matters for people in the long run then he would never have used the same procedure for getting the support of poor people in Brazil as Mr. Chávez in Venezuela, and last but not least, he would have a better notion of the History records as well.