Posted by The Dean of Cincinnati

Photo courtesy of here.

Guest article by Rixio Barrios

I am Venezuelan residing in the States. I was born in a middle class status, my parents the son and daughter of poor and humbled folks who came to Caracas to find a better life. I grew up among my middle class friends, never struggling for much, always having what I needed but not what I wanted—which was fine by me. 

During my high school years Venezuela encountered a series of violent events due to an uprising by the people in response to government changes which caused inflation to rise at alarming rates. Everyone went out into the streets and protested day and night against these measurements, clearly imposed by great world powers. This situation left many of us barely above the poverty status and most below it. But nothing truly changed.

At the age of 19 I left Venezuela for the States looking for a better chance, since my country seemed to not have much for us middle and lower class youth.  Most of my friends stayed but a lot of us left to the US and Europe, most likely forced by the situation.

The failed coup d’état against the fascist government of the day in 1992 gave us hope. Hugo Chavez told Venezuelans after his capture that he was guilty along with his fellow soldiers and that new ways must take our country through a different path.  My heart felt this man, the fact that he, like a true hero would give himself up and face the media with showing no remorse for what he tried to accomplish. He went to jail unlike all the corrupt crooks like Carlos Andres Perez.  He was the leader we were looking for then. 

In 1998 he was by an overwhelming majority of votes and ever since that moment he continues to work for the average Venezuelan to create a better country and a better Latin America. That is why I support Hugo Chavez, The Bolivarian Revolution and the changes that the world is experiencing and the massive private media refuse to show everyone. I thank the Cincinnati Beacon for existing and giving everyone a chance to read my story which is our story. The story of humanity.

I feel this is not my Revolution; this is our revolution, the revolution of humanity against corporations and profits over people. We are in a process of evolution once again and it is time to evolve or perish.

To reach Rixio Barrios please write to

Rixio is the coordinator of an international grassroots movement called the Bolivarian Circles and they are all around the world. The circles support Hugo Chavez, The Bolivarian Revolution and a social democratic alternative of governing.

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