Spectre of socialism haunting Latin America, says Chávez

From Juventud Rebelde

CARACAS.— Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez spoke at the third day of the eighth World Meeting of Intellectuals and Artists in Defense of Humanity, and at the General Assembly of the World Forum for Alternatives, both taking place in Venezuela.

The meetings are dealing with political, economic, social and cultural issues related to the transition to socialism.

“The spectre of socialism,” said Chávez, “haunts Latin America, through our towns, fields and streets. But this ethereal phenomena urgently demands incarnation.” He added, “We are called upon to create those conditions within a process of the comprehensive integration of ideology, culture, society, politics and economy. In that way, socialism will not only become incarnated and grow roots, but also will be able to consolidate and endure.”

Speaking of this phantom, Chávez said that he was confident that “we can impel that incarnation, that revolutionary wave that is arising in the region.”

As an example, he cited three of the region’s new presidents: Ecuadorian head of state Rafael Correa, who is promoting an anti-neo-liberal constitution and a socialist realignment in his country; Bolivian President Evo Morales, who is struggling against imperialism and oligarchy; and Fernando Lugo, who was recently elected as the president of Paraguay.

Chávez said that it was time to realize that socialism is the path to follow. “At a time when humanity is facing a chaotic situation due to the attempts made by Bush and his henchmen to save capitalism from death, we have to take one of the many paths that socialism opens before us, always adapting these choices to our circumstances and the reality of each country and region, so that it is born as our socialism, home-grown socialism.”

Chávez used Cuba as an example, praising its people, its historic leaders and especially Commander-in-chief Fidel Castro. “When the left remained silent,” Chávez noted, “only the Cuban Revolution survived, and it is now the star leading us.”

“In Venezuela,” he said, “we’re constantly experimenting, because there are no formulas, and creating socialism is a heroic deed. We’re living in a period of transition, with strengths and weaknesses. There’s a previous experience, but this is an ongoing process, a process of searching. For socialism to reach the point of no return and to start to consolidate, we must give a boost to politics, economy, culture and society in a comprehensive way.”

In conclusion, Chávez invited the intellectuals and artists gathered at the ALBA Caracas Hotel to support this effort with their thoughts and action. “As Fidel said, there is a financial crisis, an economic, ecological, food and energy crisis. Actually, it is a series of crises, but as (Castro) said, the sharpest of them all is the ideological crisis,” Chavéz said.

“That is the objective of this meeting, to contribute with ideas and suggestions to make the socialist alternative feasible. Let’s fight together for the overthrow of imperialism, the deconstructing the capitalist model. Let’s be the buriers of capitalism and let’s open the path to socialism, for the wellbeing of humanity,” he said.