FREEDOM AND DEMOCRACY

Since 2021, I have had the valuable opportunity to reside in the United States, a country whose values, culture, and history have taught me new perspectives and expanded my knowledge to understand a successful society. During these last few years, I have visited 15 of the 50 states of the American Union, and in each one, I have been able to discover new viewpoints and even ideas that define each state. I can affirm that every state I have visited has made me realize that it is similar to visiting a different country; no matter how close they are, the changes when moving from one state to another are evident. This is because each state effectively operates and functions independently; laws and regulations are adapted to the needs of the residents, allowing the well-being and progress of each community or city to be effectively guaranteed. Consequently, the differences between states are very clear; each state government represents the will of its residents, their values, ideals, and determines the future they wish to achieve.

In the United States, every citizen has the right to be free—free to express themselves, speak up, elect their leaders, and contribute to their community. This freedom has been defended for centuries and is a fundamental value within the sentiment of every American citizen. Being free is based on rights and duties, and because of them, Democracy is the political system that guarantees the compliance with laws and allows citizens to organize and decide the direction in which they want their community, state, or even country to head. I believe that the United States is a perfect example of success, progress, and order that demonstrates how democracy and freedom are fundamental pillars that must be defended for the prosperity and well-being of a nation.

The learning that the American culture has provided me allows me to draw a contrast with the situation that Venezuela is currently going through, which is totally contrary to that of the United States. Unfortunately, in Venezuela, democracy and freedom have been completely hijacked by the Chavista leaders who govern. This has translated into a dictatorship that has undermined and destroyed not only the democratic values and culture that also characterized Venezuela in the past but has also stripped Venezuelans of their fundamental freedoms and rights. And consequently, communities suffer from numerous shortcomings resulting from the inefficiency of the leaders, who in many cases do not represent the true will of the residents.

Venezuelans need to be able to elect their representatives in a transparent and free manner; a model must be established that guarantees the rights of its citizens as well as the corresponding civic duties. The leading role that an individual represents as a member of an organized society must be understood, where every citizen is allowed to contribute their grain of sand through the free expression of their ideas, contributions, and even needs, because an effective democracy is not about exclusion; on the contrary, it is about reaching agreements to address the main problems of a population.

Venezuelans must learn a lot from the example that our neighboring country, the United States, represents. We have the opportunity to follow a model that has succeeded and has proven to be solid for generations, and the struggle of its citizens has made these values endure over time. Venezuela needs a change that leads to the return of democracy and freedom, and we need to understand that the change must also focus on recovering the values lost during more than 27 years of Chavism. I believe that Venezuela is a country with a lot of potential, not only because of its economic resources but also because we can rebuild our country on a solid foundation of democratic values. We must persevere until we achieve the freedom that we all long for.