Comments on: Getting past the fact that it was Hugo Chavez … http://brfootnote.theclawmagazine.com/2009/04/27/getting-past-the-fact-that-it-was-hugo-chavez/ Sat, 17 Dec 2011 13:12:30 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: pcraft http://brfootnote.theclawmagazine.com/2009/04/27/getting-past-the-fact-that-it-was-hugo-chavez/comment-page-1/#comment-20 pcraft Sat, 02 May 2009 05:35:33 +0000 http://brfootnote.theclawmagazine.com/?p=129#comment-20 The appeal of the book to Chavez, I believe, was to appear that he was giving Obama a scholarly account of Latin American suffering, that he was engaging the issue in a serious way, not sloganeering or preaching. But the New Republic article speaks strongly to my point, which is that book is no longer taken particularly seriously in Latin American/academic circles. Its general points, as Max says, are of value, but the book itself is not. The appeal of the book to Chavez, I believe, was to appear that he was giving Obama a scholarly account of Latin American suffering, that he was engaging the issue in a serious way, not sloganeering or preaching.

But the New Republic article speaks strongly to my point, which is that book is no longer taken particularly seriously in Latin American/academic circles. Its general points, as Max says, are of value, but the book itself is not.

]]> By: Will http://brfootnote.theclawmagazine.com/2009/04/27/getting-past-the-fact-that-it-was-hugo-chavez/comment-page-1/#comment-13 Will Wed, 29 Apr 2009 16:36:05 +0000 http://brfootnote.theclawmagazine.com/?p=129#comment-13 Did you see "Regift, Please!" at TNR? Did you see “Regift, Please!” at TNR?

]]> By: Max McClure http://brfootnote.theclawmagazine.com/2009/04/27/getting-past-the-fact-that-it-was-hugo-chavez/comment-page-1/#comment-9 Max McClure Tue, 28 Apr 2009 07:01:43 +0000 http://brfootnote.theclawmagazine.com/?p=129#comment-9 I feel like referring to Galeano's position as victimization is a little misleading - in historiographical context, the book's actually pretty empowering. Up until Galeano looked at the issue, there was no reasonable, comprehensive answer to the question of why Latin America was in such terrible straits - or at least not one that didn't blame the people themselves or compare them unfavorably to yanquilandia. Open Veins is not just a book of history, but a pretty trenchant policy suggestion (with, yes, a blatantly socialist viewpoint, if that's the sort of thing that bothers you). In it, Galeano essentially tells the people of Latin America that failure is not inevitable, and is certainly not part of their blood, but is simply a result of their lack of regional (read: class) consciousness. It's also worth pointing out, in all the flurry over the political significance of Galeano's leftist leanings, that Open Veins is one of the best-written histories of Latin America. Galeano is not just a compelling theorist, but an excellent prose stylist, and I think his book's rediscovery is overdue, if anything. Also: what did Che ever do to you? How can you not be charmed by a bearded motorcyclist? I feel like referring to Galeano’s position as victimization is a little misleading – in historiographical context, the book’s actually pretty empowering. Up until Galeano looked at the issue, there was no reasonable, comprehensive answer to the question of why Latin America was in such terrible straits – or at least not one that didn’t blame the people themselves or compare them unfavorably to yanquilandia. Open Veins is not just a book of history, but a pretty trenchant policy suggestion (with, yes, a blatantly socialist viewpoint, if that’s the sort of thing that bothers you). In it, Galeano essentially tells the people of Latin America that failure is not inevitable, and is certainly not part of their blood, but is simply a result of their lack of regional (read: class) consciousness.
It’s also worth pointing out, in all the flurry over the political significance of Galeano’s leftist leanings, that Open Veins is one of the best-written histories of Latin America. Galeano is not just a compelling theorist, but an excellent prose stylist, and I think his book’s rediscovery is overdue, if anything.
Also: what did Che ever do to you? How can you not be charmed by a bearded motorcyclist?

]]> By: Paul http://brfootnote.theclawmagazine.com/2009/04/27/getting-past-the-fact-that-it-was-hugo-chavez/comment-page-1/#comment-8 Paul Tue, 28 Apr 2009 04:26:32 +0000 http://brfootnote.theclawmagazine.com/?p=129#comment-8 I do agree with your implication that Mr. Chavez's choice of literature indicates an evenness, even moderation, of thought on his part. He did not, for instance, give Obama a book by Che, for instance. Nonetheless, the book is a rather narrow historical interpretation of Latin American history. As a student in Santiago, Chile I remember citing the work in a course on Latin American history. The Chilean professor rolled his eyes and assured me that there is more to Latin American history than the sort of victimization that Galeano traffics in. I do agree with your implication that Mr. Chavez’s choice of literature indicates an evenness, even moderation, of thought on his part. He did not, for instance, give Obama a book by Che, for instance.

Nonetheless, the book is a rather narrow historical interpretation of Latin American history. As a student in Santiago, Chile I remember citing the work in a course on Latin American history. The Chilean professor rolled his eyes and assured me that there is more to Latin American history than the sort of victimization that Galeano traffics in.

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