Chavez’s fascination with Bolivar shows
0 Comments | Sunday Gazette – Mail; Charleston, W.V., Jul 25, 2010 | by Christopher Toothaker
CARACAS, Venezuela – For Hugo Chavez, Simon Bolivar is more than a founding father to be feted once a year on his birthday. He’s the icon of an entire political movement. He’s a muse whose words inspire nearly two centuries after his death.
For Chavez, Bolivar is an obsession.
The president’s admiration for “El Libertador,” who has been his guiding light since Chavez was a rank-and-file soldier, goes far beyond the conventional reverence most Venezuelans hold for the independence leader who was honored Saturday on the 227th anniversary of his birth.
The socialist Chavez views himself as the modern emissary and disciple of Bolivar, and sees parallels between his hero’s efforts to free South America from Spanish rule and his own crusade to challenge U.S. influence in the region.
Critics say he is trying to cast himself as Bolivar’s reincarnation – an allegation Chavez vehemently denies.
Chavez’s fascination with Bolivar has been on display like never before this month as he has exhumed Bolivar’s bones in hopes of using modern forensics to confirm his identity – and investigate a theory that his idol was felled by a murder conspiracy.
Historians have generally concluded Bolivar died of tuberculosis, and some Venezuelans are saying Chavez has gone too far.
“It’s madness. Bolivar’s dead. His remains should remain untouched,” said Rosalinda Fuentes, a 53-year-old housewife who doesn’t support either Chavez or his political opponents.
On walls in Caracas, graffiti has appeared reading: “Let me rest in peace. Bolivar.”
On Saturday, dozens of government officials and supporters attended a Mass in which a priest blessed a flag to be placed over Bolivar’s tomb inside the National Pantheon. Venezuelans stitched stars on the flag this week as authorities drove it across the country. Fireworks exploded as the service concluded.
“Viva Bolivar!” pro-Chavez lawmaker Dario Vivas shouted
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