Hugo Chavez is Still Alive

Rumors of Hugo Chavez’s death that have begun circulating after his return to Havana for cancer surgery have been quashed. A phone call from the Venezuelan leader has confirmed that, indeed, he is alive and kicking after a second surgery. Chavez has called the rumor on Twitter and other discussions part of  “the laboratories of psychological war, of dirty war”, but urges hailing on the “socialist revolution” in Venezuela.

Despite the face Chavez wears and the dialogue that dismisses rumors and doubts as (likely) part of western and counterrevolutionary talk to weaken the government, the real situation behind the curtain must be looked at, even if it’s just a quick glance backstage. Chavez has undergone his second surgery for cancer and has been bald from chemotherapy since last August. Even Chavez’s mother was worried about him while these rumors spread through the tweet-o-sphere. A second surgery and worries from people close to Chavez tell us a lot more than revolutionary rhetoric will.

It’s time to look past Chavez, whether you are pro or anti Chavez, his time as leader of Venezuela seems to be running out.

Intelligence agencies are likely speculating it, and maybe even Chavez has thought about it quietly. Both Fidel and Raúl Castro as well are on their way out. It’s time that we start thinking about what will happen when these men are gone. The inevitable will have repercussions for us in the United States and we need to be prepared to face them.

Should the Communist regime in Cuba collapse, could we be faced with a demographic shift regarding our Cuban-American population? What if Chavez supporters make a desperate bid for power if Chavez dies suddenly? There are many possibilities of what could happen in Latin America. Chavez and Castro remaining around forever is not one of them. The inevitable deaths or loss of power that these men will face is something that America and the Hispanic community in America need to prepare for. The deaths of these men could mean great benefits, or great tragedy. We could be witness to the rise of a Cuban Deng Xiaoping in our generation, who might usher in reforms. Or absolute chaos in these countries.

We’ve ignored Latin American issues for a while, our eyes have been focused on the middle east since September 11th, before that, Russia, now we’re glaring toward the rise of China. If we had our ears and eyes to our south, things like “illegal immigration” and drug cartels might be easier to understand and deal with.