Ruge: A Roaring Love for Venezuela 

A house with a white picket fence. Gainful employment. They make up what many call “The American Dream”, the indicators of prosperity and success. Throngs of people from around the world come to the United States to realize that vision, sometimes at grave risk.

Recently, migrants hailing from various Latin American countries set foot on U.S. soil — mainly through the states of Florida and Texas — with the hope of a better life. The states’ governors have since relocated the newcomers to other states along the Northeastern coast. The majority are citizens from the nation of Venezuela. Commonly known as “La Tierra de Gracia” (The Land of Grace), Venezuela and its people have a place deep in my heart. Why? To answer, I need to take you on a trip down memory lane. Ven conmigo (come with me).

Our trek through history begins Friday, March 31, 1995. The Spanish-speaking world mourned the loss of an icon, Tejano singer Selena Quintanilla-Perez or simply Selena. She was the victim of a senseless murder at the hands of her assistant whom I won’t name here. Months before, I became of huge fan of her music, not to mention her mesmerizing voice and beauty.

Selena was a fixture on Univision, one of the few Spanish-language channels available in my hometown of New Orleans. I was a beginning Spanish student and thought a great way to learn was to hear natives talk. I religiously watched the Mexican based series, “Dos Mujeres, Un Camino” (Two Women, One Destiny). It starred Erik Estrada — a well-known actor among English speakers — from the 1970’s series “CHiPs”. The telenovela also introduced starlet, Bibi Gaytán, who is very aesthetically pleasing. Selena made several guest spots on the show. 

Selena’s undeniable good nature and charm made an indelible impression on me. Her death left me heartbroken. She was on the cusp of crossover stardom, deep in the recording of her first English language project. It featured “I Could Fall in Love”, written and produced by my good friend, the legendary Keith Thomas. I fell asleep late on the night of Selena’s passing as Univision played that song. 

The next day, Saturday, the television was still on from the night before. My clock said 8:00 am, and I woke up to a roar, literally. The growl kicked off the theme song for “El Club de los Tigritos” (The Little Tigers’ Club), a variety show for adolescents. Univision carried the series in partnership with Venevision, a leading television channel based in Caracas, Venezuela’s capital city. 

I remember the show’s opening song so well:

       Si esta muy aburrido y buscas diversión
       (If you’re bored, and you looking to have some fun)

       Unete a nosotros y tendrá la solución
       (Come with us, and you’ll find the solution)

       El Club de los Tigritos tiene toda la emoción
       (The Little Tigers’ Club has all of the emotion)

       Dale libertad a tu imaginación
       (Set your imagination free)

       Baila, canta, salta, y vive la aventura
       (Dance, sing, jump, and live the adventure)

       Enseña tu sonrisa con sonido de locura
       (Show off your smile with a crazy sound)

       Vive la alegria de esa bella fantasia
       (Live in the joy of this beautiful fantasy)

       Y ruge, ruge, ruge
       (And roar, roar, roar)

       El Club de los Tigritos tiene toda la emoción
       (The Little Tigers’ Club has all of the emotion)

       Y tú puedes disfrutado por la mejor televisión
       (And you can enjoy it through the best show on television)

El Club de los Tigritos was a combination of skits, dance numbers, music showcases, and journeys to various places of interest in Venezuela. My favorite number from the show was a musical ode to their homeland: 

       Venezuela es Venezuela
       (Venezuela is Venezuela)

       Es Venezuela frente al mar
       (It’s Venezuela facing the sea)

       Venezuela es Venezuela
       (Venezuela is Venezuela)

       Es una tierra y un hogar
       (It’s a land and a home)

       Venezuela es Venezuela
       (Venezuela is Venezuela)

       Es Venezuela y es amor
       (It’s Venezuela and it’s love)

       Venezuela es Venezuela
       (Venezuela is Venezuela)

       Tierra del libertador
       (Land of the liberator)

I was so moved by their pride in country, devotion to family, and the overall exuberant nature of the show, I wrote a letter to one of its prominent cast members. She and I have been good friends ever since. While our friendship endures, the show ended its run in 1998. As I look back, its cancellation might as well have been an ominous sign of what was on Venezuela’s horizon: the ascendancy of the Hugo Chávez authoritarian regime, Chavismo.

Before Chávez, Venezuela was one of the world’s richest countries and the largest producer of oil. Petroleum is the primary driver of the country’s economy. Chavez’s failure to diversify the nation’s investments coupled with oil prices plummeting to an all-time low of $30 per barrel in 2016 devastated its fiscal growth. The national debt swelled to over $150 billion, and inflation ballooned to 1,946 percent.

Chávez’s dictatorial legacy lives on through his successor, Nicolas Maduro. Maduro illegitimately held on to the presidency for a second six-year term in January 2019. He employs the military to oversee distribution, imports, and customs. 

International economic sanctions levied against Maduro, alongside the impact of the coronavirus pandemic, spurred severe shortages of basic goods: food, water, and medical supplies. In September 2021, researchers reported that 77 percent of the country’s 28 million citizens are experiencing dire poverty, the highest in Latin America. 

To give a small sample of living conditions in some parts, author William Neumann tells the plight of one family in the city of Maracaibo in his book, “Things Are Never So Bad That They Can’t Get Worse: Inside the Collapse of Venezuela”, which I bought recently. 

During one of the many power outages in 2019 and with food in short supply, Neumann notes the family’s cupboard was “so bare, so clean” it appeared “someone had run the palm of their hand across the shelf paper to pick up any crumbs that might have remained.”

As the average Venezuelan struggles to make ends meet, the political storm rages as the legitimate leader, Juan Guaidó — recognized as such by 57 countries across the globe (including the U.S.) — battles Maduro and works to steer the country towards democracy.

Although I fervently support Guiadó’s efforts, I realize the freedom which awaits the people of Venezuela won’t come from a remodeling of its government. Liberty and justice in the Land of Grace will begin through a heart renovation through Jesus Christ. Jesus says in John 8:32, “And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” He describes Himself in John 14:6 as “the Way, the Truth, and the Life”. He promises in John 8:36, “So if the Son sets you free, you are truly free.”

The goal of spiritual renewal is why I continue to have a ferocious desire to support churches in Venezuela in any way possible to spread the Gospel and provide daily necessities.

Therefore, my heart’s feral cry for the nation is the words from the Apostle Paul’s passionate plea in Romans 10: 1, 8-10 — in context, for Jerusalem — which I’ll feature in Spanish, “Hermanos, ciertamente el anhelo de mi corazón, y mi oración a Dios es por la salvación de (Venezuela). Pero ¿qué dice?: Cerca de ti está la palabra, en tu boca y en tu corazón. Esta es la palabra de fe que predicamos: Si confiesas con tu boca que Jesús es el Señor y crees en tu corazón que Dios lo levantó de entre los muertos, serás salvo, porque con el corazón se cree para justicia, pero con la boca se confiesa para salvación.”

Para cada venezolano, Dios te ama y te amo también. Estoy contigo.

Sources

Article: “Fla. Gov. DeSantis sent migrant flights to Massachusetts, his office says” by Eve Zuckoff – published September 15, 2022

Article: “Gov. Greg Abbott’s migrant busing program costs Texas $12 million” by Pooja Salhotra – published August 31, 2022

Biography : Selena Quintanilla-Perez (Selena)

Website: Univision 

Video: “Dos Mujeres Un Camino” Theme Song

Website: Erik Estrada

Show: “CHiPs” (Amazon)

Website: Bibi Gaytán

Song: “I Could Fall In Love” by Selena from the album, “Dreaming of You” – Amazon | Apple Music | Spotify | YouTube Music

Website: Keith Thomas (Producer)

Song: “El Club de los Tigritos” Opening Theme

Website: Venevision

Song: “Venezuela es Venezuela” (El Club de los Tigritos)

Profile: Hugo Chávez

Article: “Extreme poverty in Venezuela rises to 76.6% – study” by Viviane Sequera and Sara Kinosian – published September 29, 2021 

Article: “Venezuela: The Rise and Fall of a Petrostate” by Amelia Cheatham, Diana Roy, and Rocio Cara Labrador – published December 29, 2021

Profile: Nicolas Maduro 

Article: “Venezuela swears in an illegitimate president” by Financial Times editorial board – published January 10, 2019

Article: “Maduro remains Venezuela’s president two years after the US declared him ‘illegitimate’” by Hollie McKay – published January 12, 2021

Profile page: Juan Guiadó (Instagram)

Book: “Things Are Never So Bad That They Can’t Get Worse: Inside the Collapse of Venezuela” by William Nuemann – published March 15, 2022 (Amazon)

Scripture: John‬ ‭8:32‬*

Scripture: John‬ ‭14:6‬*

Scripture: John‬ ‭8:36‬*

Scripture: Romanos‬ ‭10:1, 8-10‬ ‭(Biblia Reina Valera 1995‬‬)*

*Scripture references are from the New Living Translation except where noted. Their links go to bible.com, courtesy of YouVersion, makers of the Bible App available for iOS and Android devices.