Picture by Francesco Ungaro, from Pexels
Luis R Castellanos
I was born in Caracas (Venezuela), and despite being reluctant to leave my country, I was forced to come to the United States. I never thought I would be politically persecuted nor did I want to leave my country.
In those days when I was still in Venezuela, it was still possible to discuss on Social Media with a certain civility, and many times I shared my opinions on them about what was happening in my country. Of course, with some concern and care, since I could be arrested if I wrote something inappropriate that offended the regime.
Upon moving to the United States, I also began to express my opinion about what I was seeing. I realized that many of the things I was seeing, and that I naively shared, I had already experienced.
Years later, I heard a saying that summed up that feeling. Maibort Petit, a Venezuelan journalist based in New York, always said in her reports: «Venezuelans come from the future.»
But online discussions became sterile. People were no longer arguing. They no longer shared ideas. They only dedicated themselves to insult and disqualify others, without justifying their actions. Some even began to support censorship. «Democracy must be protected,» and to do so, censorship must be resorted to. But depending on who does it, then censorship is good or bad. And for me that is a hypocritical and accommodating position. I don’t agree with censorship, wherever it comes from.
I chose to more carefully select the people with whom I could establish a healthy discussion, and I stayed in that comfort zone.
Don’t misunderstand me, I love arguing, and I love arguing with ideas. Contrast my ideas with other people’s ideas, admit that I was wrong or admit that I was right. Without offending or insulting. As some people say, to have high-level discussions.
As years went by, I started having deja vu after deja vu. As Petit says, we Venezuelans (well, some) come from the future.
Time has passed, and I think I already have a certain weight, I have been paying taxes for a few years, and I consider that I am a valuable person in my community. Despite what many think, that in the United States there is freedom of expression and freedom of the press, it seems to me that it’s the opposite. You have to think carefully about what you say and write, so you don’t offend some people… If you express an opinion that won’t please a group, you run the risk of being canceled and censored.
Through some publications that I will begin to share, I will exercise the right granted to us by the First Amendment and its five pillars, which are nothing more than the right to freedom, religion, expression, press, assembly and petition.
Offering the opinion, perspective, or glance of a newcomer, who is no longer so «recent» or «new».
The First Amendment provides that Congress make no law respecting an establishment of religion or prohibiting its free exercise. It protects freedom of speech, the press, assembly, and the right to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.
Bill of Rights. US Constitution.
