The Pull of The Land
“No land has a pull on a man as the land of his childhood.”
Whittaker Chambers
Purpose of this blog
Those of us not living in Venezuela can be forgiven if all we think is that she’s spiraling into mass anarchy and despair. Although there is truth to that assessment, it is not the whole story. There is much that gives us hope that things overall will turn around.
First, we have the Venezuelan people themselves. Many of us have family, loved ones, and friends still living in the country. We hear from them; we sorrow with them; but we also laugh with them, for the Venezuelan people have a wonderful sense of humor, even in the darkest of times. And their sense of optimism is profound.
Second, a large measure of the population professes the Christian faith. Assuming their profession to be sincere, we can ask our Lord to be merciful and to do a mighty work in that country. Theologians tell us that is no assurance of a country’s deliverance. But there are numerous evidences in history of a people sincerely repenting and crying to God and, in response, His acting on their behalf. Can we confidently assert He would ignore the cry of the Venezuelan people?
Third, we have the country itself. Few lands have been so blessed with such stark, almost forbidding beauty in its geography, fauna, flora. But it’s more than just physical beauty. Whittaker Chambers wrote, “No land has the pull on a man as the land of his childhood.” I suppose that’s true for us all. But in the case of Venezuela, I believe that pull affects anyone who has lived even a short while there and has interacted sincerely with her people. Of course, this requires stepping out of air conditioned apartments or cars and visiting, shopping, playing, conversing, worshipping, in sum: getting to know Venezuela and her folks. It doesn’t take long. And its impact will last a lifetime.
I was born in Venezuela to an American citizen father and a Venezuelan mother. Chambers’ dictum clearly applies to me. But that “pull”, the one that affects all who know her, also applies to me. And I’ve seen it apply to friends and family who, although not born there, have visited that beautiful, stricken land and, many years since, still sense that country’s call.
This blog’s intention is simple.
First, I hope to share with you indications of what goes on in different places in Venezuela. Unless a study or a reference is specifically cited, mine will be nuggets of conversations with sources still living there. In other words, it’ll be principally anecdotal. And the sources will remain anonymous, for obvious reasons.
Second, I hope to share with you “snapshots” of Venezuela which may help give a bit of background to stories about her featured in the current news. For example, many do not know that Venezuela in the 1950’s was an epicenter for raw material supplies for the oil and steel industries, which were booming across the United States. Most do not know that Venezuela lost one third of its population to the unbridled carnage of its revolutionary wars in the 19th century. Etc.
It is my hope to help us understand the country and the provenance of its problems a bit better. In these hyper-political times, the intent is to show and tell about her in a more irenic fashion than what is seen in most contemporary straight reporting (of which we have in abundance).
Therefore, you will read what are seemingly disparate narrations — excerpts from a letter from a godmother; a 1958 newsreel reporting on Vice-President Nixon’s visit; a report on the current state of industry in the country; the great Cumaná earthquake as documented by Alexander Von Humboldt in the late 1700’s; the actions of Simón Bolivar; the depredations of Bove; and more. Over time, these will aid us in developing a more complete picture of Venezuela.
I hope you will find the blog interesting and entertaining, but also beneficial, as its overriding purpose remains constant: to help us better understand and appreciate that stricken land.
We intend to post once or twice each week.
This blog is dedicated to beautiful Venezuela and her people.
If you would like to email me, please do so at rmbarnesr@gmail.com.
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