SBA hosts Venezuelan immigrant
Campus event meant to increase student awareness of international politics
Theresa Schneider
Issue date: 2/26/09 Section: Campus News
Political immigrant Daniel Vieira said stories repeat themselves, and he has seen this personally. His parents' story is the same as his own - they left Chile for Venezuela for political reasons, just as he left Venezuela for the United States. Vieira shared his and his family's history with the Spanish for Business Association Tuesday afternoon in the Presidents Room in Davies Center.
Junior SBA President Amanda Holker said the purpose of bringing in speakers to the SBA is to give students the chance to see life outside the university and give speakers the opportunity to share where they come from.
"It's good to bring in a different approach," she said.
And Vieira's story is one that is very different than what many students on campus are familiar with. Vieira's parents, who were part of Salvador Allende's communist government in the 70s, fled to Venezuela after a military coup by Pinochet overthrew the communist president, leading to a 20-year dictatorship.
Growing up in Venezuela, Vieira saw Hugo Chavez come into power and said he even came close to voting for Chavez during his first election because he was a young politician who came from a poor family and could have brought change to the country. But eventually, Vieira said, he had to leave Chavez's Venezuela because of Chavez's growing dominance over the country.
Vieira said the Chavez administration is no longer a presidency, but has translated into a dictatorship - one that manipulates the country's poor and strips workers of rights. In office, Chavez has amended the constitution more than 30 times, including a recent amendment to the constitution that lifted term limits on the presidency, giving Chavez unlimited time in office.
Vieira said he used to be a political activist in Venezuela, participating in marches demanding political freedom, but after a march in April 2001 where the government killed 33 participants, he became disillusioned.
Vieira reminded the audience, however, that Chavez is not a reflection of Venezuelans, just as the Bush administration was not a reflection of individual Americans.
Junior SBA President Amanda Holker said the purpose of bringing in speakers to the SBA is to give students the chance to see life outside the university and give speakers the opportunity to share where they come from.
"It's good to bring in a different approach," she said.
And Vieira's story is one that is very different than what many students on campus are familiar with. Vieira's parents, who were part of Salvador Allende's communist government in the 70s, fled to Venezuela after a military coup by Pinochet overthrew the communist president, leading to a 20-year dictatorship.
Growing up in Venezuela, Vieira saw Hugo Chavez come into power and said he even came close to voting for Chavez during his first election because he was a young politician who came from a poor family and could have brought change to the country. But eventually, Vieira said, he had to leave Chavez's Venezuela because of Chavez's growing dominance over the country.
Vieira said the Chavez administration is no longer a presidency, but has translated into a dictatorship - one that manipulates the country's poor and strips workers of rights. In office, Chavez has amended the constitution more than 30 times, including a recent amendment to the constitution that lifted term limits on the presidency, giving Chavez unlimited time in office.
Vieira said he used to be a political activist in Venezuela, participating in marches demanding political freedom, but after a march in April 2001 where the government killed 33 participants, he became disillusioned.
Vieira reminded the audience, however, that Chavez is not a reflection of Venezuelans, just as the Bush administration was not a reflection of individual Americans.
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