Reign of Evil: A Look Back at the Vicious Rule of Hugo Chavez
March 7, 2013
By Arnold Ahlert
It is no accident that the death of Hugo Chavez, while mourned by the usual suspects on the left, was celebrated by thousands of his fellow countrymen. In the Doral section of Miami, FL, home to the largest enclave of Venezuelans living in America, the strongmans demise was met with unrestrained joy. Daniela Calzadilla, who moved from Caracas five years ago, due to the skyrocketing crime rate and dwindling career opportunities, expressed a common refrain. We hope this is the path to return our democracy and that hopefully we can have the same country we once had, she said. Mary LaBarca put it even simpler. We are not celebrating someones death, she said. We are celebrating freedom.
Hugo Chavez was born July 28, 1954. Raised largely by his grandmother in the western state of Barinas, Chavez began nurturing his fascination with Marxism at an early age, boosted by Castros revolution in Cuba in 1959. His education led him to despise imperialist America, even as he idolized Castro and 19th century South American liberator Simon Bolivar. He eventually joined the army, after failing to fulfill his dream of becoming a major league baseball player.
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Reign of Evil: A Look Back at the Vicious Rule of Hugo Chavez
