US, Venezuela, Cuba and respect
4 January 2015 By Abi Giwa
President Nicholas Maduro has just reminded the world of "Abraham Maslow Hierarchy of Needs", with his demand of respect for Venezuela from the United States. It was at the second inauguration ceremony of President Dilma Rousseff of Brazil in Brasilla.
Venezuela having succeeded at quieting protesters at home can now seek respect elsewhere.
According to the BBC, Maduro reportedly confronted Vice President Joe Biden and said, "I have demanded this time what we had demanded from the US 1,000 times before: a relationship based on respect, nothing else."
Currently, the relationship between the US and Venezuela is at its lowest ebb. It remains where it has been during the lifetime of Hugo Chavez. Before now, Venezuela and Cuba were among the list of socialist countries in the Caribbean that have frosty relationship with the US, before the recent turn around between the US and Cuba. Cuba remains a socialist country like Venezuela, and recent report indicates that Cuba has not stopped jailing Cubans who disrespect its socialist tenets.
Maduro's demand is another quick reminder of the popular aphorism, 'What is good for goose is also good for the gander.' Observers say Maduro is indirectly telling the the US that if it respects Cuba to reconsider relationship with the socialist country, his own country - Venezuela - also deserves such respect, and that his country has been seeking the respect for a long time.
But unlike lucky Cuba, Venezuela has been on the negative side of the US response to political development in Venezuela. Just last month, the BBC report shows that the US imposed sanctions on top Venezuelan officials, who played roles in acts of violence against individuals in protest for freedom earlier in 2014.
There is no report that Biden responded in anyway to Maduro's demand. But a review of photographs at President Rousseff's inauguration shows Biden with a look that reminds observers of a time amid friends and foes.
Biden's one eye half closed and one eye wide open may mean that in romantic affairs as it exist among nations, there are times that demands scrutiny, when you don't look at the negative side of a partner, when emotion assails.
Of course, the riots in Venezuela have quietened enough for Maduro to be comfortable to demand for respect from a super power, whose relationship depends on sticks and carrots, and who does not care much about socio-political differences. It is why some people are saying America may soon open an embassy in Tehran, just as it has announced to do in Cuba.
Venezuela having succeeded at quieting protesters at home can now seek respect elsewhere.
According to the BBC, Maduro reportedly confronted Vice President Joe Biden and said, "I have demanded this time what we had demanded from the US 1,000 times before: a relationship based on respect, nothing else."
Currently, the relationship between the US and Venezuela is at its lowest ebb. It remains where it has been during the lifetime of Hugo Chavez. Before now, Venezuela and Cuba were among the list of socialist countries in the Caribbean that have frosty relationship with the US, before the recent turn around between the US and Cuba. Cuba remains a socialist country like Venezuela, and recent report indicates that Cuba has not stopped jailing Cubans who disrespect its socialist tenets.
Maduro's demand is another quick reminder of the popular aphorism, 'What is good for goose is also good for the gander.' Observers say Maduro is indirectly telling the the US that if it respects Cuba to reconsider relationship with the socialist country, his own country - Venezuela - also deserves such respect, and that his country has been seeking the respect for a long time.
But unlike lucky Cuba, Venezuela has been on the negative side of the US response to political development in Venezuela. Just last month, the BBC report shows that the US imposed sanctions on top Venezuelan officials, who played roles in acts of violence against individuals in protest for freedom earlier in 2014.
There is no report that Biden responded in anyway to Maduro's demand. But a review of photographs at President Rousseff's inauguration shows Biden with a look that reminds observers of a time amid friends and foes.
Biden's one eye half closed and one eye wide open may mean that in romantic affairs as it exist among nations, there are times that demands scrutiny, when you don't look at the negative side of a partner, when emotion assails.
Of course, the riots in Venezuela have quietened enough for Maduro to be comfortable to demand for respect from a super power, whose relationship depends on sticks and carrots, and who does not care much about socio-political differences. It is why some people are saying America may soon open an embassy in Tehran, just as it has announced to do in Cuba.
