May I Speak?

On Thurs., Sept. 29, the World Language Society presented "May I Speak?", a documentary about the political, economic, and social divide in Venezuela.

The documentary was followed up with a presentation by Edgar Ochoa, one of the four Venezuelan students currently attending Plymouth State University. Ochoa came to New Hampshire from Venezuela five years ago. He is a student that has experienced Venezuelan culture and politics first hand.

The presentation that followed was in a question and answer format that included the three other Venezuelan students: Sharon Grace, Frank Martinez, and Marys Mata.

The documentary "May I Speak?" is a full-length film by Sol Productions that focuses on a divided Venezuelan society. The primary focus of the film is Hugo Chavez and the rising political opposition on the road towards re-election.

The makers of the film spent a lot of time in Venezuela interviewing citizens on both sides of the political spectrum. The film crew interviews ranged from the poor living in the infamous lower class barrios to a number of students and professors attending the Central University of Venezuela. The responses were all different, but one thing was made clear, the Venezuelan political system isn't working as an effective democracy.

The documentary is most concerned with the growing power of Hugo Chavez and the movement towards an authoritarian system of government. Sol Productions interviewed Margarita Lopez Maya, professor of history at Central University of Venezuela. When asked about her concerns with the polarized political system in Venezuela she said, "My concern is that, within this context of polarization, they will get rid of representative democracy."

The film further solidified fears of an authoritarian movement by adding in multiple clips of Hugo Chavez speaking at rallies and making comments that could suggest actions that are undemocratic. The film quotes Chavez saying, "There is no room in Venezuela... for any other project then the Bolivarian Revolution."

The film used a variety of similar quotes to prove their point, and  was a successful, though biased, representation of Venezuelan politics.

The Venezuelan students that attend Plymouth State University all had similar opinions in regards to the film. The general consensus was that it missed certain key points and there were a few misrepresentations of the Venezuelan people. Edgar Ochoa said, "It was a very balanced video, but it needed more details and missed key points."

When asked to comment on Hugo Chavez and the condition of Venezuela under his presidency, Sharon Grace said, "I think it's a reality for the very poor people that have little knowledge of the real situation... Chavez buys the people, they think of him as a god and vote for him." This was a key underlying issue in Venezuelan politics and an obstacle for political change.

The presentation came towards the end of Hispanic Heritage month and was an event that illustrated cultural diversity here at Plymouth State University.