Newsweek Discovers Latin Americans Don't Want US 'Help'
The story focuses on Venezuelans pushing back against 'privileged' Americans simplifying their complex reality. What Newsweek conveniently forgets to mention is the rather long history of American 'explanations' for Latin American crises often preceding, coinciding with, or directly causing said crises. From US-backed coups replacing democratically elected leaders with brutal dictators (Chile
1973, anyone?), to economic sanctions designed to kneecap economies and incite regime change, the 'struggle' is rarely an organic, isolated event. One might wonder if Venezuelans are tired of Americans explaining their challenges when USAID, purportedly a humanitarian agency, has a documented history of funding opposition groups and subversive activities in Venezuela (A leaked 2011 memo, for
example, detailed US plans to 'strengthen democratic institutions' by supporting opposition youth movements). Funny how the narrative often omits the US role in creating the very conditions it then seeks to 'solve' or 'explain.' It's almost as if 'privileged' Americans are privileged enough not to have to remember their own government's playbook.