“His life was gentle: and the elements
So mixed in him, that Nature might stand up, And say to all the world, This was a man!”
(Julius Caesar, act 5, sc. 2)
Comment. Here are the words of Cindy Sheehan,
“Hugo Chavez, Presente! Presente! Presente!
I am devastated that my dear friend, President Hugo Chavez lost his valiant battle with cancer today. His message was a true message of hope for everyone who struggles for economic justice and peace. The struggle will continue and the Bolivarian Revolution with never die–and neither will Chavez as long as we honor his memory and be half as brave as he was.
Long live Chavez and long live the Bolivarian Revolution: I will never forget you and neither will history”
And these are the words of Dan Shea of the Veterans For Peace Movement Chapter in Portland Oregon.
“As am I, Chavez has died a hero of the people of Venezuela and all the people of Latin America. Chavez showed the world that another world is possible.”
Cindy and Dan’s words reflect the heavy heart brought about among millions by today’s sad news. There are a few people in history whom we can recognize as brothers of the soul and we carry them with us in spirit as if they were indeed our brothers. Hugo Chavez was one such noble brother. He will live in our memory always, as a beacon of peace and the symbol of another better world, as Dan says.
And we can also add with Shakespeare, ““Now cracks a noble heart. Good night sweet prince: And flights of angels sing thee to thy rest!”
For our international visitors, Cindy Sheehan is an American anti-war activist whose son, U.S. Army Specialist Casey Sheehan, was killed by enemy action during the invasion of Iraq. In August 2005 she conducted an extended antiwar protest at a makeshift camp outside George W. Bush’s Texas Ranch. Sheehan ran for Congress in 2008 – gaining wide support but she could not beat the iron-clad monolithic system. She is a strong critic of Obama’s foreign policy.
In the play. Antony recognizes the value of Brutus, his fallen enemy at the battle of Philippi, as we recognize the courage of Hugo Chavez in all his battles, including his last.