Access Denied!

by Mary MacElveen

People often marvel at the Bolivarian revolution that put President Hugo Chavez Frias into power where he did so based upon the philosophies of Simon Bolivar. They marvel that ordinary people but people of great strength can take their country back from the elite. Then-candidate Gov. Howard Dean’s message was take back your country and those primary voters could have by making him our candidate in this past election.

I want to remind the American people that they too have the same power where our founders stated so in the Declaration of Independence by including this clause within it:

"We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness

— That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed,

— That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness."

Are these just meaningless words to many Americans now?

Many visit Washington, D.C. to gaze upon this sacred document as if it were an art exhibit, but rarely connect that these powerful words were put there for a specific reason. If there ever were a destructive government, we are seeing it before our very eyes. I could recite chapter and verse just how destructive this government really is, but it is your duty as American citizens to search that out for yourselves.

All I ask of you right now as you read this piece is to read this clause over and over again then think what it really means.

Why do I want you to learn from this?

As you may know President Chavez’ security detail was not allowed off the plane to protect him ... as every foreign leader deserves when visiting a country to conduct the business of his people. Bush brings an extensive protective detail to countries that he visits, is never denied that protection and is offered protection by host countries.

Why are arrogant actions by this government accepted by the people?

Are they failing to connect with the clause above?

When hearing first about this situation, I was in contact with my elected officials and properly identified myself as a columnist for VHeadline.com asking them to comment on this situation. One elected official stated "That should be directed to the State Department!" While that statement is true, this elected official. who has often spoke up against Bush could have used her power to address this very situation and she should have confronted him.

* Another elected official pretty much said the same thing, and I am still waiting an answer back from the press secretary of yet another elected official.

Mind you, these are the same elected officials that I contacted to accept the aid coming from Presidents Chavez and Castro. By failing to go up against Bush, they ... through their inactions ... added to a destructive government.

If they truly are against many of his policies and often speak out against him; they could have paid for private security personnel to protect President Chavez. Some have the monetary means to do so ... and just think of what message that would have sent Bush.

You may be asking yourself why I am so angry about this, well here is the answer.

On Friday, I had the ’once in a lifetime’ chance to actually meet with President Hugo Chavez, only to find out (when I arrived at the Venezuelan Mission to the United Nations) that the press conference was canceled and one of the reasons was that he did not have adequate security to check the gathered media who came to interview him.

Presently, there are four body guards provided to protect not only President Chavez, but others diplomats as well. President Chavez turned down (US) Secret Service protection for obvious reasons ... he does not trust them ... and I do not blame him, considering the fact that Pat Robertson, a close friend of Bush, threatened his life ...and still walks free.

While I wish I could have attended his Bronx appearance, in many cases columnists who write for alternative news sites such as VHeadline.com are not paid. So with the expenditures paid, Friday, I did not have the funds to pay for another day’s journey into New York City.

You may be asking yourself, why do we do this? Many of us who write for e-publications like VHeadline.com do so out of a labor of love.

I feel once again that my (USA) government let not only me down but you who read my articles. I also want to let you know that those of us who write for e-publications like this one do not have press credentials, but with back and forth communications between the Venezuelan Mission my editor here at VHeadline.com, Roy Carson was able to have my name added to the media list. Roy also sent a cover letter via email to act as my tangible press credentials to present at the door. With all that said and done, and the rest of the media gathered, some were visibly upset ... we were told by this (USA) government, access denied! As we hung around the mission it was as if we were hoping by some miracle that the press conference would take place.

I do not know what questions the other correspondents would have asked, but as I traveled in to New York City by train, I started writing my questions down, had I had the chance to report to you his answers.

So, here was my list of questions:

1) This government just approved a US$60 billion reconstruction bill to help the victims of Katrina. How do you feel, President Chavez, when $300 billion has been spent funding the Iraq War?

* I would have loved an answer to that one.

2) What is your message to the Katrina victims, President Chavez when any aid you wanted to give them was not accepted by this government, including two hospital ships along with food and water?

* I feel that the victims of Katrina should have heard his response to this question and where many have felt that they were abandoned by this government.

3) Do you think we have the moral obligation to rebuild Iraq after we bombed it as we will be doing for this storm ravaged region? With the budget deficit climbing, how is it possible for this government to pay for not only a storm ravaged region, but Iraq as well?

* I think Americans and the world have a right to know.

4) Do you, President Chavez fear an economic collapse due to our ever increasing debt and how do you see that affecting the world and not only the United States?

* This of course is a fair question.

5) Do you feel with the United States using 25% of the world’s energy ... as stated in your speech before the UN ... that at some point we will run out? Do you also feel that we have passed the threshold where alternative energy sources can be implemented?

* We have all heard from politicians running for office who are environmentally friendly claim we need to do this, but I wrote in a recent column, "Will oil-supply disruption give Bush carte blanche to invade Venezuela?" ... some fear we have passed that threshold already.

6) In the United States many rely solely on cars to get around and how would you as our president encourage our citizens to rely on mass transportation? What steps would you take in order to adequately fund mass transportation projects around our country?

* I think that is a fair question and seeing the amount of traffic in New York City on Friday in my travels to the mission is something that we should be talking about within this country and then actually doing so.

As I was traveling back home on a very long train ride, I wondered if I will ever have another chance to meet President Hugo Chavez. Was this my only chance in a lifetime? I feel through this (USA) government’s actions by not allowing for his protection detail to leave that plane, they basically told me and others, ACCESS DENIED!

If this column ever finds its way to President Hugo Chavez, I want him to know that this American was looking forward to meeting him and that there are very few elected officials in this country who do inspire me.

* There are so few politicians within this country who actually work on behalf of the people, but will pay lip service only.

It is my hope that I will get another chance to meet President Hugo Chavez.

God’s speed President Hugo Chavez.

Mary MacElveen xmjmac@optonline.net

http://www.vheadline.com/readnews.asp?id=46006