Chavez and Fear

Once again, Venezuelan president Hugo Chavez has taken to spouting anti-U.S. rhetoric in order to rile up the common people and shock the North.

His reaction and his speeches are exaggerated responses to what is, put simply, a disagreement between him and President Bush, whom he humourously dubs "Mr. Danger," on two issues: the FTAA and the U.S. embargo on Cuba.

It's possible to disagree without the need to alienate others, but perhaps Chavez never learned this particular skill. As for calling Bush "Mr. Danger," I don't like Bush much either, but that name's not even catchy. Mr. Danger sounds like a comic book character, not like the enemy of the Cuban people who doesn't want [them] to eat, as Chavez puts it.

I realize we can't all get along, but can we at least leave the namecalling at the schoolyard?