If there is one thing that I have learned from taking various anthropology, political science, and international studies courses at UR it is this: morals and the concept of morality are relative. This idea is exemplified when looking at the international relationship between Latin American countries (using Venezuela as our example) and the US. Venezuela is moving to become more of a socialist state. The US, infamous enemy of socialism and any other government product of radicalism, has been at odds with Venezuela, especially with Hugo Chavez. Chavez also would not hesitate to show his dislike and disapproval of American policy and government. He blamed American hegemony over all of Latin America and what he would consider America’s almost imperialist role there for the problems in Latin America. Chavez wanted to take back Latin America for Latin Americans and reduce US influence.
Although Venezuela and the US were at odds politically, when devastating Hurricane Katrina hit the Louisiana and Mississippi area of the US wreaking a lot of damage, Chavez and Venezuela were one of the first countries to offer aid to the United States. Therefore, although Chavez and Venezuela didn’t agree with US policy and relations with Venezuela, morals came into play and Chavez reached out to help those American people who were harmed by this natural disaster. The US however, chose to reject Chavez’s offer of aid and even denied to the press that he made any offer of aid. So the morals of Chavez and the Venezuelan people were clearly seen in their reaction to this natural disaster hitting their enemy nation. The morals of the US were clearly seen as well. They would rather not accept emergency aid for their own people dying and drowning and stuck in the hurricane wrecked cities simply because the one offering the aid has been speaking out against them in the recent past. Where do the high morals of the Christian-led American government lie now if they are opposed to accepting aid from willing nations, offering forgiveness, or turning the other cheek?
