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Newsweek publishes abridged version of my short letter re Venezuela

Posted by emersberger on November 4, 2009, 1:52 am

http://www.newsweek.com/id/220527

The Nwsweek version:

'LIGHTS! CAMERA! REVOLUCIÓN!'
Mac Margolis refers to Venezuela's democratically elected president as a "strongman." Hugo Chávez came to power through elections monitored by the likes of the Carter Center and the Organization of American States. Like Venezuela, Canada has a National Film Board that produces and distributes films. Does that make the Canadian government equivalent to the Nazis? And Margolis states that Chávez has aided the Colombian FARC rebels. This accusation has never been substantiated before any international court of law.

Joe Emersberger Windsor, Canada

The version I sent:

RE: Lights! Camera! Revolución! by Marc Margolis October 24, 2009
_http://www.newsweek.com/id/219360/page/1_
(http://www.newsweek.com/id/219360/page/1)

Why does this article refer to Venezuela's democratically elected president as a "strongman"?

I am also puzzled by this passage

"Like the 20th-century autocrats he emulates, Chávez is fascinated by the power of cinema. Ever since Hitler turned to Leni Riefenstahl, dictators have dreamed of harnessing the epic force of the big screen for their political script."

Is the author aware that Chavez has won elections monitored by the likes of the Carter Center and the OAS? Is he unaware of polls doesn by independent outfits like Latinobarometer that confirm his popularity.

Canada has a National Film Board. Does that make its government equivalent to the Nazis?

Margolis states as fact that Chavez has aided the Colombian FARC rebels. This is an accusation made by the Colombian government which has the worst human rights record in the Western Hemisphere. These accusations have never been substantiated before any internalational court of law. Don't your readers have the right to know that?

Disregard for basic facts, and wild accusations do not bolster the credibility of any of the other opinions and observations Margolis offers about Venezuela or its government sponsored cinema.

Joe Emersberger

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saving space?

Posted by emersberger on November 4, 2009, 2:04 am, in reply to "Newsweek publishes abridged version of my short letter re Venezuela"

They shortened an already short letter and left out the fact that the accusations of support for the FARC come from the Colombian government which has the worst human rights record in the Western Hemisphere. I suppose they could say they saved space - about one whole sentence. Would be hilarious if they claimed that my comments about Colombia lacked supporting evidence (which anyone with access to HRW or AI web sites could provide) given the unsubstantiated and outright false claims they let Margolis publish about Venezuela.

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Re: Newsweek publishes abridged version of my short letter re Venezuela

Posted by Kebz on November 4, 2009, 6:45 am, in reply to "Newsweek publishes abridged version of my short letter re Venezuela"

Clearly like the BBC, they don't like publishing any criticism of themselves either. Your point about the Columbia Government is crucial, yet they stripped it out to make it look like you are concerned only about 'legality'.

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