The earthquake of reality.

It’s incredible that something so striking has to happen, like the one we Venezuelans experienced on Wednesday, June 24... We lived through despair, frustration, and above all helplessness at seeing our own people die due to the inefficiency of a state— a state that, in theory, was built for the protection and defense of its people. 

I lost my best friend. That 24th, we went down at night to see where he was, not thinking he had died; we just imagined he was walking around, helping others. Along the way, the first signs that his building had collapsed came in. Even so, we didn’t believe it. We refused to believe it—it was impossible. Around 12, we finally arrived at the destination: Costa Brava Building, Los Corales. And yes, there was only rubble, fallen walls, desolation, anguish, and families running through the streets looking for help from the few firefighters who were trying with all their might to pull the victims out of this tremor. 

I know it may seem like a complaint, and perhaps deep down it is. Not about the firefighters, not about the family members fighting, but about the great negligence that has existed, exists, and will exist if things aren’t changed. I could list countless things that could have been done better, countless things that could have changed the course of what we live through, but urinating on the same tree over and over won’t change its fate. And I truly believe we can change, as a society, as good people. Because all of us are good people, only some decide to do evil for an egotistical good. I’m not talking about religion; I’m talking about morality. You lost a friend, and Venezuela lost many friends—many family members, many people who were essential for rebuilding this country.

Please, let’s build a country together; let’s rebuild from unity and not from hate. We still have what it takes to make Venezuela the country that all of us want and deserve. A hug to everyone who lost family members, and to those who didn’t as well, because we are all brothers and sisters of the same land.

Long live Venezuela and we will get through this. Because we are the land of the Warriors.

#venezuela #terremoto