At least he didn't call us "only evil and inhuman". Chavez insults (Video), Americans remain calm:
Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez took his verbal battle with the United States to the floor of the U.N. General Assembly on Wednesday, calling President Bush "the devil."
The impassioned speech by the leftist leader came a day after Bush and Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad sparred over Tehran's disputed nuclear program but managed to avoid a personal encounter.
"The devil came here yesterday," Chavez said, referring to Bush's address on Tuesday and making the sign of the cross. "He came here talking as if he were the owner of the world."
The leftist leader, who has joined Iran and Cuba in opposing U.S. influence, accused Washington of "domination, exploitation and pillage of peoples of the world."
"We appeal to the people of the United States and the world to halt this threat, which is like a sword hanging over our head," he said.
In response to Chavez's insults, Americans did not riot. Americans did not burn Chavez in effigy. Americans did not call for his murder. Americans did not burn the flag of Venezuela.
Americans will likely react with the same consistent lack of violence when Madonna next insults America's Christians.
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A related dose of optimism from blogger The Anchoress
Chavez did not insult american people he praised them as 'wanting peace' ;he insulted the imperialist actions of the illegitimate, unelected war monger's who besmirch the name of your good christian people throughout out the world with their 21st century crusade
Comment by can'tfoolme — September 20, 2006 @ 1:23 pm September 20, 2006
United we sit.
Comment by Baubau — September 20, 2006 @ 1:26 pm September 20, 2006
"Americans did not riot. Americans did not burn Chavez in effigy. Americans did not call for his murder. Americans did not burn the flag of Venezuela"
Maybe its because they have allready "woken up..." More than 50 percent
of US citizens dont believe the US government on 9-11...along with the rest
of the world.
as for the implied slur of Muslims...youre arrogance is breathtaking....
Unless you are equating Bush with Jesus why would US citizens take offence
with comment of Chavez which they privately agree with??
I dont believe you will even allow this comment to stand...even though I am
the first to bother to respond to your article...
you guys live in cloud cuckoo land.
Comment by Ahmad — September 20, 2006 @ 1:35 pm September 20, 2006
Maybe the American citizens are not rioting, or burning
effigies because many believe the statements he made today
to be true. I am an American and I want my government to be
as good and true as it's people are. If our government would
tell more than just half-truths about the true state of affairs
maybe Americans would riot to end the injustices of the government.
Comment by William Pagina — September 20, 2006 @ 1:43 pm September 20, 2006
Right, Ahmad thinks the majority of Americans agree with Hugo Chavez, but we're the ones in cuckoo land? Funny joke, thanks for visiting and commenting.
Comment by The Editors — September 20, 2006 @ 2:12 pm September 20, 2006
The end of the speech shows healthy applause from the audience. These are not a couple of "old and crazy leftists", but the diplomacy elite of the world.
So I suppose americans would have to riot against the entire world?
Or maybe americans should listen to the message instead of dismissing the messenger and try to understand the sorrow and frustrations acumulated for dozens of years in the rest of the world and introspect and really "want peace".
Chomsky is an interesting read...
Comment by just me — September 20, 2006 @ 2:17 pm September 20, 2006
"the diplomacy elite of the world"
Very funny.
Comment by The Editors — September 20, 2006 @ 2:32 pm September 20, 2006
maybe we didn't riot because we agree...
Comment by Margaret — September 20, 2006 @ 2:56 pm September 20, 2006
Hugo - you are now the world's hero and the very best to you - you are courage.
Comment by max mitchell — September 20, 2006 @ 3:04 pm September 20, 2006
As a Venezuelan, living in the US for some time, I have to say that the badest of days under Bush's administration is heaven compare on what my country is suffering right now because of this "hero". A "hero" in who calls support for his "brothers and sisters" around the world, but forgets about his own people starvation, in a country where a person is denied a job and branded an outcast in his own family/community because he committed the sin of casting a ballot against the "hero". I'm certainly against Bush's policies in the middle east and the war, but I also think that there's plenty of other people who can intelligenly speak and debate about those policies without having to pay attention to a buffoon in front of the world audience. Whoever thinks that the "revolution" of chavez is an epic crusade against "imperialism" can go to Caracas and walk around the downtown to see what chavez's supporters will do against any people who doesn't look like them. When Hitler got to power in Germany some people also thought that he was some kind of "hero" for them, we all know what those "heros" can do for the hummanity.
Comment by Salvador Velasco — September 20, 2006 @ 6:42 pm September 20, 2006
Hugo is joking when he calls Bush the devil--that's why everyone clapped. But he's not joking about the effects the US is having on the rest of the world--and that too is why people clapped.
Comment by Fraser — September 20, 2006 @ 7:41 pm September 20, 2006
did not because we know it is true.hugo is right
Comment by mark — September 20, 2006 @ 9:20 pm September 20, 2006
Hugo may have problems at home, but I agree with him on these issues. As an American I am appalled at the degree to which many of my countrymen appear to be bamboozled by jingoistic brainwashing from the media. The real problem is that they enjoy it because is appeals to their needs for self-assurance. Pitifull....
Comment by Ross — September 21, 2006 @ 7:50 am September 21, 2006
You're comparing a one groups religious beliefs to anothers poltical ideas? Unless the American people are meant to see Bush as a prophet or messenger then the difference in perspective is clear. This not to support violence in the name of religion but to say: there will never be a horizon of resolution with the wall of ego and this need to draw a line in the sand between "us" and "them". You choose to not understand and so comments like these are made. Hugo is not right though... the comments made were unecessary inflammatory and devisive. This is not the way to conduct politics people. Finger pointing and name calling?. This is slowly becoming a game of little boys playing with grownup toys.
Comment by wesley — September 21, 2006 @ 9:13 am September 21, 2006
Classic projection Ross.
Comment by The Editors — September 21, 2006 @ 10:43 am September 21, 2006
One of these day we don't need to purchase oil anymore and that will be the day we get our sweet revenge. I'm not sure why we are depending on them, they should be depending on us, and thank us. Without our comsumption they will still be in stoneage and wiping their ass with leaves. And remember 9/11, we don't start the war, those lunatics pretending to be "hero" started the war. Remember people that are chanting on the street when our 3000 office workers are burning. Remember our last president did everything he can to bring peace on earth, but that does not matter to those who wants to kill us and call us evil. They accused us of conspiracy against their religion, in reality they think we deserve to die because we don't worship their God. Why aren't we chanting on the street and burning Chavez picture, just because we are much civilized than they are.
Comment by Jack — September 21, 2006 @ 10:45 pm September 21, 2006
The reason why people like Hugo is speaking out against Bush is because Bush is an imperialist. Bush represents the worst of capitalism. The same ideology that enslaved blacks and exploited other races and countries over generations for the sake of the wealthy keeping their wealth. Only now he must hide behind terrorism because imperialism is dirty word. The United States alone takes up more than a third of the world's resources and this unbalance is eventually going to result in things like 9/11. Hugo's comments represents the ugly reality of how the world views our president and our country. We are living in an American bubble where media feeds us one sided lies. Here's the truth America, let's face it. Israel is an imperialist colony. It is our headquarters for exploiting the middle east. Iraq is another colony also known as the future investment of American Oil. Guys like Osama Bin Laden are like Black Panthers fignting a militant fight for equality. Hugo and the Iranian President, leaders trying to work things out without resorting to violence. But our media paints these guys as Jew-hating genecidal terrorists. Take a look at this recent picture and tell me why you won't hear this on the news. http://www.nkusa.org/
Comment by harry — September 23, 2006 @ 1:57 am September 23, 2006