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Fly High Dad

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Human life is finite, and it is up to you to leave marks that last through time—not to fill your ego, for that will also die with you, but so that those who follow you may make better use of their seconds in this world. My father was born in October 1960, in Mérida, Venezuela. He was part of a large, humble family, raised by a strong mother who took on the role of both parents in the absence of a father figure. He was the favorite of his sisters, the youngest of the boys, affectionately called "Julito"—until I was born, but let's not get ahead of ourselves. In San Juan de los Morros, where he spent much of his childhood, he was nicknamed "la sardinita" because of his love for swimming, something he did well in what I believe was the only Olympic-sized pool in the capital of the plains. In Caracas, he lived through some wild times, where they called him "Julio Pepino." I wasn't around then, but I imagine it was because of his nose. Like all hi

Vuela Alto Papá

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La vida humana es finita y queda en ti dejar huellas que permanezcan en el tiempo, no para llenar tu ego, ya que él también muere contigo, sino para que los otros humanos que te siguen aprovechen mejor su tiempo en este plano. Mi papá nació en octubre de 1960, en Mérida, Venezuela. Formaba parte de una familia numerosa y humilde, que tuvo que forjarse con la fortaleza de una madre que asumió su rol sin la presencia de una figura paterna. Fue el consentido de sus hermanas, el menor de los varones. Le decían Julito de cariño, hasta que nací yo, pero no nos adelantemos en la historia. En San Juan de los Morros, donde vivió gran parte de su niñez, le apodaron "La Sardinita". Su afición era nadar, y lo hacía bien, en lo que creo era la única piscina olímpica de la capital llanera. En Caracas vivió una época de parranda. Allí le decían Julio Pepino, yo no estaba presente en esa época, pero imagino que era por la nariz. Como todos sus hermanos, desde joven le tocó asumir respo

Venezuelans Want to Go Back

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The recent U.S. electoral campaign has highlighted the sensitive issue of uncontrolled immigration, using Venezuelans as a focal point of debate. While the United States is a nation of immigrants and still needs more to maintain its status as a global power, the lack of border control poses serious threats to internal security and can overwhelm public systems in cities. As of 2023, the immigrant population in the United States stood at approximately 50 million, representing nearly 15% of the total population. The pressure on resources and security infrastructure has significantly increased due to recent migration flows. Venezuela, my country of origin, has recently come under intense scrutiny from President Trump. In recent years, we have witnessed the largest uncontrolled migration flow to the United States, making our nationality a central topic in negative discussions. According to data from the U.S. National Immigration Institute, there were over 330,000 asylum applications from

Los Venezolanos quieren volver

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La reciente campaña electoral en Estados Unidos ha puesto de relieve el delicado tema de la inmigración descontrolada, utilizando a los venezolanos como un punto central de discusión. Aunque Estados Unidos es una nación de inmigrantes y aún requiere más para mantener su estatus de potencia, la falta de control en las fronteras plantea serias amenazas para la seguridad interna y puede colapsar los sistemas públicos de las ciudades. En 2023, el número de inmigrantes en Estados Unidos ascendía a aproximadamente 50 millones, representando cerca del 15% de la población total del país. La presión sobre los recursos y la infraestructura de seguridad ha aumentado significativamente debido a los flujos migratorios recientes. Venezuela, mi país natal, ha sido recientemente el blanco de las críticas del presidente Trump. En los últimos años, hemos sido testigos del mayor flujo migratorio descontrolado hacia Estados Unidos, destacando nuestra nacionalidad en los debates por razones negativas. S

Venezuela Will Prevail

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The dictator Nicolás Maduro has plunged, without remorse, into the darkest depths of infamy, ordering murders, arbitrary detentions, unimaginable torture, and the abduction of minors. He has marked houses with symbols of terror, incited his followers to spy on and denounce their own neighbors, banned free speech, censored media and social networks, expelled international observers, and detained journalists. How many more abuses will he commit in his desperate attempt to silence the voice that constantly echoes in his mind? A voice that screams: VENEZUELA DOESN'T WANT YOU! In his delusional quest to cling to power, Maduro believes that with a campaign of terror and enforced silence, he can remain in control indefinitely. But he forgets that the victory led by María Corina Machado and realized in the election of Edmundo González Urrutia was achieved amidst this same landscape of abuse and systematic violations of civil rights. And yet, with unyielding dignity, the brave Venezuelan

Venezuela Vencerá

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El dictador Nicolás Maduro se ha sumergido sin escrúpulos en las sombras más oscuras del oprobio, ordenando asesinatos, detenciones arbitrarias, torturas inimaginables, y secuestrando a menores de edad. Ha marcado casas con símbolos de terror, incitado a sus seguidores a espiar y delatar a sus propios vecinos, prohibido la libre expresión, censurado medios y redes sociales, expulsado a observadores internacionales y detenido a periodistas. ¿Cuántos abusos más será capaz de perpetrar en su desesperado intento de silenciar la voz que resuena constantemente en su mente? Una voz que le grita: ¡VENEZUELA NO TE QUIERE! En su delirante afán de perpetuarse en el poder, Maduro cree que con una agenda de terror y una imposición de silencio, podrá mantenerse eternamente. Pero olvida que la victoria liderada por María Corina Machado y concretada en la elección de Edmundo González Urrutia se materializó en medio de este mismo panorama de abusos y violaciones sistemáticas de los derechos civiles. Y

Venezuela This Time Is Different

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Reaching July 28 was a titanic task. I confess that, after having lived through many of the cycles of these more than two decades of struggle against chavismo on the front lines, my expectations were very low a few months ago. WHAT CHANGED MY MOOD? During the electoral campaign, we witnessed a growing civil and popular movement. Despite repression, arrests, abuse through raids, business closures, and confiscation of work equipment, humble Venezuelans steadfastly supported Venezuela's democratic leader, María Corina Machado, and filled the atmosphere with hope—something unimaginable in a society that had already fallen into a certain political apathy. I emphasize humble people because, unlike previous movements led by organized civil society, students, parties, or federations, this time the reality of the country pushed the most dispossessed to take the lead in this libertarian cause. That signal, that fear had disappeared, opened up an interesting scenario. It was the e