Human Wrongs Watch
Editorial by Johan Galtung*, TRANSCEND – That his life and his deeds had black dots is part of the story; but that should not block seeing the greatness of a maker of history.
**Photo credit:José Cruz/ABr | Source: Agência Brasil – Foto no:130922 | Wikimedia Commons
First, in his own society, Venezuela, he lifted the bottom people up from misery, into economic wellness, political participation, cultural pride (of their often African, or Indian, blood), social dignity; much beyond Gini coefficients to measure increasing equality. Even the rich human rights language is too bland to reflect all that.
Second, he did the same for Latin America; he helped lift the bottom countries up, also under the name of the iconic Simón Bolívar: Cuba and Nicaragua, Ecuador and Bolivia, Brazil to mention some.
Of course the two policies are related. Colombia with its immense record of violence 1948-2013, is a pariah country and can only be lifted up by lifting its bottom up, attacking flagrant inequality.
HUMAN WRONGS WATCH 