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Since 2 am this morning I have been receiving messages of people in Venezuela sharing about their experience, as well as messages from people from other parts of the world asking me how I am doing, so I decided to process how I feel by writing about it.
As a Venezuelan American, my heart is experiencing mixed emotions after the US military operations that resulted in the extraction of Nicolas Maduro, and I give thanks to God for giving me a heart capable of holding multiple, and at times conflicting, feelings.
I want to join the Venezuelan people who are overjoyed with the departure of Maduro, especially those who are still living there, my mother, my siblings, my relatives, my life-long friends, and my fellow Venezuelans.
This people have suffered for more than 27 years the decisions of a government that, in supposedly pursuing freedom from the chains of capitalism, and with promises to end corruption and implementing social programs to benefit all, destroyed the country’s freedoms, the democracy, the physical infrastructure, and the once first class education and health systems, among other long-term damages. When the Venezuelan people celebrate the extraction of Maduro, they get a renewed sense of hope, a sense that they almost lost after these many years of trying to elect other leaders in elections that very likely rigged.
As we approach the celebration of Epiphany, I find the words of the prophet Isaiah to be very fitting for the Venezuelan people at this time, “Arise, shine; for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you.” (Isaiah 60:1).
My heart is full of joy for my Venezuelan people, and my heart is also afraid of what may come to them.
The image that comes to mind given the US military operations is the image of a powerful bully who at the school cafeteria decides to grab the food of the kid whom they know can’t defend themselves. The bully attacks the vulnerable to show off their power in front of others, and they grab their food (or oil in this case) just because they can. It is all about power and greed, not about freeing the Venezuelan people as some may think.
When the US government says, within few hours of the operations, words like “we are going to run the country,” and “we will rebuild the oil infrastructure before a transition,” it makes me fear that the Venezuelan people may have shifted from one form of oppression to another. I don’t think this military operation was about the people in Venezuela, when here in the US we treat Venezuelans, and other immigrants of color, with cruelty.
Thinking about the reasons for the military operations being greed and power, my heart struggles, and I also find comfort in the words of the prophet Isaiah when he said “The descendants of those who oppressed you shall come bending low to you, and all who despised you shall bow down at your feet; they shall call you the City of the Lord, the Zion of the Holy One of Israel.” (Isaiah 60:14).
I give thanks to God for giving me a heart capable of holding multiple, and at times conflicting, feelings, and more than anything, I give thanks for all the prayers that the people are offering to sustain the people of Venezuela during this time of transition.
This season of Epiphany, I pray that the light of Christ that guided the shepherds and the wise men, may be the light that guides the people leading Venezuela to better times:
O God, by the leading of a star you manifested your only Son to the peoples of the earth: Lead us, who know you now by faith, to your presence, where we may see your glory face to face; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen
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