Chavez gives Obama book slamming US

[Jon88]

http://a.abcnews.com/images/Politics/ap_obama_chavez_090418_mn.jpg


Chavez Gifts Obama with Book that Assails US for Exploiting Latin America
April 18, 2009 9:21 AM

At President Obama's meeting with the heads of South American countries this morning, Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez stood, walked over to him, and presented him with a copy of "Open Veins of Latin America: Five Centuries of the Pillage of a Continent" by Uruguayan author Eduardo Galeano.

Mr. Obama politely posed for a photograph with Mr. Chavez, shook his hand, and accepted the gift.

The book, first published in Spanish in 1971, offers a critique of the consequences of 500 years of European and U.S. colonization of Latin America.

"The division of labor among nations is that some specialize in winning and others in losing," the book begins. "Our part of the world, known today as Latin America, was precocious: it has specialized in losing ever since those remote times when Renaissance Europeans ventured across the ocean and buried their teeth in the throats of the Indian civilizations. Centuries passed, and Latin America perfected its role."

Galeano writes that while the era of "lodes of gold" and "mountains of silver" has passed, "our region still works as a menial laborer. It continues to exist at the service of others' needs, as a source of oil and iron, of copper and meat, of fruit and coffee, the raw materials and foods destined for rich countries which profit more from consuming them than Latin America does from producing them."

At another point in the book, Galeano writes: "Our defeat was always implicit in the victory of others; our wealth has always generated our poverty by nourishing the prosperity of others."

The book also criticizes the U.S. for "spreading and imposing family planning… in Latin America it is more hygienic and effective to kill future guerillas in the womb that in the mountains or the streets."

Banned in Uruguay and Chile when it was first published, "Open Veins of Latin America" is considered a classic in Latin America.

In Isabel Allende's foreword to later versions of the book, the Chilean-American writer says that Galeano "has more first-hand knowledge of Latin America than anybody else I can think of, and uses it to tell the world of the dreams and disillusions, the hopes and the failures of its people.…Galeano denounces exploitation with uncompromising ferocity, yet this book is almost poetic in its description of solidarity and human capacity for survival in the midst of the worst kind of despoliation."

The copy of the book Chavez gave Obama appears to be in Spanish, a language Mr. Obama does not speak.

- Jake Tapper and Sunlen Miller

[the fake norm hitzges]

has obama ever met a socialist he didnt like?

[MetalHead]

has obama ever met a socialist he didnt like?

Birds of a feather flock together.

[Jordan55]

Birds of a feather flock together.

Artie, Right On! I'm surprised he didn't ask for it to be autographed by Chavez , in return I have heard he has a poster signed by all democrats in the House and the Senate denouncing America and our arrogance, Obama is sure to cover the same content in one of his forth coming speeches:rolleyes:

[Rackat]

Quick, someone name one Colony of the United States in Central or South America. For that matter, someone name one Colony of the United States anywhere.

[Hostile]

Quick, someone name one Colony of the United States in Central or South America. For that matter, someone name one Colony of the United States anywhere.Guam, American Samoa, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands. Not sure if the Marshall Islands still are or not.

[Bob Sacamano]

Guam, American Samoa, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands. Not sure if the Marshall Islands still are or not.

none of those are spanish

[Hostile]

none of those are spanishWhat does that have to do with his question?

Are you going to tell me Puerto Rico is not Latin?

[Bob Sacamano]

What does that have to do with his question?

Are you going to tell me Puerto Rico is not Latin?

people asked what South American colonies does the US have?

we have none

btw, Guam and all those are called US Possessions, not colonies

[lewpac]

Colonies or not, it's beside the point..............

The "Marxist" in Chief is, if nothing else, consistent. After telling all of Europe how sorry he is for American exploits and policies, he's continuing his "blame America" and "kiss up to our enemies so they like us" tour.

The French dude got it right. Your President is weak, unprincipled, an easy read, and a "walk-over" whimp ready to give up the full Monty of the U.S. to "appease" and make folks "like us". It's Chamberlain from England all over again.

Just "cow-toww" to whatever enemy we got, and "HOPE" that they respond to our condescending and self-depreciating tone.

They won't.

They'll see it as what, in reality, it is.............WEAKNESS.

Where's Ronald Reagan when you need him?

[Yeagermeister]

What does that have to do with his question?

Are you going to tell me Puerto Rico is not Latin?

Nope they are Puerto Rican :laugh1:

[Jon88]

If I'm meeting someone like Chavez and he hands me a book slamming my country, I don't think I'm going to be as receptive and happy. Like someone said above, he's weak.

[masomenos]

It's Chamberlain from England all over again.



Ummm, yeah.

:)

[Rogah]

If Chavez wanted to give Barack a publication slamming the United States, he should have found a copy of Michelle Obama's senior thesis.

:D Joke, people..!! Just a joke...!!! <ducking> :D

[masomenos]

If Chavez wanted to give Barack a publication slamming the United States, he should have found a copy of Michelle Obama's senior thesis.

:D Joke, people..!! Just a joke...!!! <ducking> :D

Oh snap!

:eek:

[TheCount]

people asked what South American colonies does the US have?

we have none

btw, Guam and all those are called US Possessions, not colonies

South America and Spain are two very distinct places, and I'm not sure how you can differentiate "possession" from "colony", unless you're talking about the original 13.

[Rackat]

Guam, American Samoa, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands. Not sure if the Marshall Islands still are or not.
It's a wiki link, but it does give explanation. The places you listed are territories, not colonies. A technical difference, I know. However, they are not classified as colonies. It can be argued that there is no/little difference.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Territories_of_the_United_States

[Hostile]

people asked what South American colonies does the US have?

we have none

btw, Guam and all those are called US Possessions, not coloniesRead the 2nd part of his question that I put in bold. I answered that. Possessions vs. colonies is nitpicking.

[Hostile]

It's a wiki link, but it does give explanation. The places you listed are territories, not colonies. A technical difference, I know. However, they are not classified as colonies. It can be argued that there is no/little difference.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Territories_of_the_United_StatesI think it is worthless to split the two. They have virtually equal rights and are subject to their territorial government in basically the exact same manner. If you want to say they aren't colonies, territories, or possessions and ignore the point that no matter which type they are they are still a subject land...so be it.

Edit...

That was an interesting read though. I forgot about the Philipines. I did see the Marshall Islands mentioned. I did good in remembering that.

[bbgun]

The only remaining colonies have "nudist" in the title.

[Beast_from_East]

Not that I am trying to defend the guy, but maybe Obama didnt read the title.

I mean, if you are at one of these "meet and greets" with foreign leaders and one of them hands you a book, it is not out of the realm of possibilities that you would just be polite and thank the guy and never even bother to see what the book actually was.

Kinda like during the election at a campaign event somebody handed Palin a scarf and she took it and just put it on to be polite and it turned out to have donkeys on it. Everybody tried to make a big deal out of this, but I never believed that it was a "secret message" or anything. She was just being polite and never noticed what was on the scraf, simple mistake with no devious meaning behind it or anything.

(I bet some of you guys thought I was going to slam Palin here instead of defend her, here is a picture of the incident):

http://raford.files.wordpress.com/2008/10/originalhw8.jpg


So my point is, just like Palin didnt realize what was on the scraf, maybe Obama didnt realize what the title of the book was? Maybe Obama just took the book from Chavez to be polite and never bothered to actually look at the title?

[lewpac]

Another "Not that I'm trying to defend the guy"..................and then the obligatory defense of the guy.

How many of these "outs" does the guy get?

Not that I'm trying to defend the guy, but:

He really didn't bow to that Saudi king............
He really didn't quite know what the book was about........
He wasn't really EVER listening at Rev. Wright's sermons........
He really doesn't know Ayers at all, just lives in the neighborhood.......
His wife really didn't mean what she said or what she wrote about how terrible the United States is.............
He really didn't say or mean all those "slam America" things in Europe.....

And a host of others too numerous to mention. It's at the point that we EXPECT him to diss America, it's peoples and it's policies. It's all he does and says, and the only people he buddies up with hate America. AND, he's been doing it, as far as we know, since the first day he announced his candidacy for President!

Whatever it is, it's brought to the light, the liberal media goes into its obligatory "defend the guy/your a racist" mode, and it's conveniently erased from any conversation in short order. Then, it's on to the next "he really didn't mean it" moment shortly thereafter. Usually in less than a week or two. It's been one after another and another and another, but the "right wing" needs to be watched carefully for "anti-American" activity!

Yeah right. Mean time, all John McCain has to do is own more than one home, and he becomes the Great Satan. All Palin has to do is confess that she owns guns, and she's a dangerous kook who needs to be "exposed".

It's a dangerous time folks when the inmates are running the asylum.

[MetalHead]

Not that I am trying to defend the guy, but maybe Obama didnt read the title.

I mean, if you are at one of these "meet and greets" with foreign leaders and one of them hands you a book, it is not out of the realm of possibilities that you would just be polite and thank the guy and never even bother to see what the book actually was.

Kinda like during the election at a campaign event somebody handed Palin a scarf and she took it and just put it on to be polite and it turned out to have donkeys on it. Everybody tried to make a big deal out of this, but I never believed that it was a "secret message" or anything. She was just being polite and never noticed what was on the scraf, simple mistake with no devious meaning behind it or anything.

(I bet some of you guys thought I was going to slam Palin here instead of defend her, here is a picture of the incident):

http://raford.files.wordpress.com/2008/10/originalhw8.jpg


So my point is, just like Palin didnt realize what was on the scraf, maybe Obama didnt realize what the title of the book was? Maybe Obama just took the book from Chavez to be polite and never bothered to actually look at the title?

Excuses,excuses.

[MetalHead]

Another "Not that I'm trying to defend the guy"..................and then the obligatory defense of the guy.

How many of these "outs" does the guy get?

Not that I'm trying to defend the guy, but:

He really didn't bow to that Saudi king............
He really didn't quite know what the book was about........
He wasn't really EVER listening at Rev. Wright's sermons........
He really doesn't know Ayers at all, just lives in the neighborhood.......
His wife really didn't mean what she said or what she wrote about how terrible the United States is.............
He really didn't say or mean all those "slam America" things in Europe.....

And a host of others too numerous to mention. It's at the point that we EXPECT him to diss America, it's peoples and it's policies. It's all he does and says, and the only people he buddies up with hate America. AND, he's been doing it, as far as we know, since the first day he announced his candidacy for President!

Whatever it is, it's brought to the light, the liberal media goes into its obligatory "defend the guy/your a racist" mode, and it's conveniently erased from any conversation in short order. Then, it's on to the next "he really didn't mean it" moment shortly thereafter. Usually in less than a week or two. It's been one after another and another and another, but the "right wing" needs to be watched carefully for "anti-American" activity!

Yeah right. Mean time, all John McCain has to do is own more than one home, and he becomes the Great Satan. All Palin has to do is confess that she owns guns, and she's a dangerous kook who needs to be "exposed".

It's a dangerous time folks when the inmates are running the asylum.

Your post on page 1 and this one deserve a standing ovation.

[bbgun]

http://raford.files.wordpress.com/2008/10/originalhw8.jpg

Donkeys have large ears. Those are clearly horses.

[BrAinPaiNt]

Donkeys have large ears. Those are clearly horses.

Vote horses...is there another party with horses? :laugh1:

[BrAinPaiNt]

Excuses,excuses.

You're right...she is clearly a dem plant to make the republicans look crazy.

[ThaBigP]

I heard Chavez gave Obama DVDs slamming the US as well.



But they wouldn't play in US DVD players.:)

[BrAinPaiNt]

I heard Chavez gave Obama DVDs slamming the US as well.



But they wouldn't play in US DVD players.:)

:laugh1: :laugh1:

[Beast_from_East]

I heard Chavez gave Obama DVDs slamming the US as well.



But they wouldn't play in US DVD players.:)

In that case Obama didnt actually view the DVDs, so he didnt know what was on them.

:) :) :) :) :) :) :)