Recently in class, my heart broke when we learned about the censorship and government controls in Venezuela. Chávez used his power to suppress and harm people, and it makes me so sad for those who had to experience it and are still living with the repercussions of his regulations. Not only did he suppress and censor the press, but he also arrested those who were against him. The Constitution of Venezuela states that freedom of expression and press freedom are protected, but Chávez violated his people in that citizens did not and still do not have this protection that they are promised. I cannot imagine not being able to have my own opinion on an issue or not being able to find information about an event because it has been censored. Hiding important details or lying about an event is propaganda, and I believe it is how Chávez was able to stay in power, which is disgusting.
On top of this, RCTV and its shutdown in 2007 was terrible. This did not just get rid of a network. It got rid of a lifestyle. Venezuelans were raised on telenovelas and heavily looked forward to watching their shows, but with the shutdown of RCTV, millions of people were hurt and silenced. The station had been pretty vocal about their distaste for Chávez and even had evil characters in shows that represented him, but the station should have been protected based off of the freedom of the press and the freedom of expression in their constitution. Silencing a population is repulsive and disgusting, and it pained me to hear about TVes, the station that the Venezuelan government replaced RCTV with. This station's name means "to see yourself" and claims to portray the identity of Venezuelans, but the only identity it portrays is the personality people were forced to have because if they spoke out against the government with their own opinions and ideas they could be jailed. Millions of Venezuelans initially felt their identities were portrayed in the characters they identified with in the telenovelas they watched, but this cultural connection was unjustly ripped from their hands in an instant. Thinking about losing the things I love most and the ability to freely think, feel, and act make me heavily empathize with those in Venezuela and other places who are oppressed and has led me to want to learn and do more for those who do not have a voice.
For my classmates, what stuck out to you the most in our class about Venezuelan censorship? Did the path that led to abolishment of RCTV's network surprise you? Why or why not?
I completely agree that for us it is incredibly hard to watch censorship in places like Venezuela. It really makes me feel privileged to be able to see so much without it being censored every day. I definitely think it is really interesting that for us, it is so obvious that Chávez is denying the people in Venezuela so much freedom and media, when it is so many people in the U.S.'s main stream of information. But, as Dr. A has described, Venezuela seems pretty split between people who are thankful for Chávez and those who understand how their rights are being violated every day by him.
ReplyDeleteI also think it is really interesting how you described the RCTV shutdown as getting rid of a lifestyle. I had not really considered it like that, but from the way Dr. A talks about the richness of the Venezuela telenovela world, it definitely seems like an integral part of so many Venezuelans' lives was stripped from them. I think "getting rid of a lifestyle" is a perfect way to describe it.
As a proud person to have the freedom of speech and expression, it makes my heart ache for Venezuela. Having this right taken from you is just wrong. Chávez should not have the power to violate that right. The fact that Venezuela allowed him to do it and continued to put him in office just amazes me. I can't fathom voting to put a person in office that does not allow me say what I think is important and acting on matters.
ReplyDeleteThe RCTV shutdown being stated as "getting rid of a lifestyle" is perfectly stated. I had not thought about it that way. Could you imagine the shows you watch today being taken from you? I feel if it brings you happiness and it is something you enjoy then what is the problem? If the Venezuelans feel a certain way about the government because of a telenovela then that is there right. The government should have no say in that.
La censura es algo terrible y creo que dificulta la vida diaria. Mi corazón duele por la gente de Venezuela que fue despojada de un derecho que nos parece tan básico en América. El camino a la censura me sorprende y me dice que sucedió. Me hace pensar que puede suceder de todos modos. También me gustó mucho su declaración de que RCTV era un estilo de vida que fue sacado de la gente. Se identifican con los personajes en la pantalla y los ven como uno propio. La gente perdió una forma de expresión y espero que algún día sea devuelta a ellos.
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