Nanu, I have seen the opposition’s behavior before from the same level. My experiences are coming from Guatemala, El Salvador, and Honduras. All those countries had civil unrest in the 80’s and I too witnessed or talked to relatives that did go through the shootings of protests against the governments. What it was clear to me is that it did not matter if the leftist opposition people were killed; the press and TV always reported the leftists did it. (all the time they will kill their own to win propaganda points, you know), also the truth commissions of those countries revealed a pattern: the private media will hide the abuses of the rulers if they are in favor of them. Take into account that the government media was of course following the usually fraudulently elected ruler too.
The situation in Venezuela after the coup would have turned that nation into a copy of Central America in the 80’s I will just ask:
Would you sincerely had shown to protest the coup if all the local media was now saying it was a democratic move and there were no abuses being made, while at the same time other sources were telling a different story?
The reason why I said you were not paying attention is because more than once you were assuming that I am in favor of Chavez, once again: I would be glad that he is gone but thanks to elections. And just to get ahead: so far it looks that then you always come back with the point that the opposition is ONLY demanding that, however, making sure people suffer by going on strike (and it is a strike mixed with lockouts) is not the way to get people on your side IMO. (Internationally speaking it sounds much worse, pass the word to the opposition).
I do notice though that you are an exception in acknowledging that the opposition is not truthful in their cohesion and information brought forth. But I think many denizens of these boards do notice a hint of duplicity (not by you mind you, I have said that you are different.) by the opposition saying one thing when the facts are another, IMO that is what makes me to PRAGMATICALLY tolerate Chavez for the time being.
Although I sound chavista to you, I am really trying to help: having people that were in favor of the coup on the opposition is still a deal breaker. If you think the opposition shows strength by saying to everybody that they are so united, even to the point of not separating themselves from coup supporters, I don’t think people will ignore that come election time.
With some people changes, and a new leader that will indeed DO something for the poor, Chavez will be toast. But somehow I am not holding my breath on the opposition doing that.
And seeing that the BBC has verified many reports from vheadline once again I say that one has to check other sources.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/2701873.stm
One more thing: If the private owners are misleading many in Venezuela, are you hinting in all our conversation that you are glad that people will vote against Chavez IN PART because they got misleading information from the private media?