A video urging Venezuelans to vote in the upcoming election on Sunday, July 28, has struck a chord with viewers by highlighting a situation painfully familiar to Cubans. The clip, shared on social media by the portal Mérida Noticias, aims to galvanize voter turnout by showcasing the anguish of families torn apart by the need to seek exile or emigrate for a better future.
Seated at a dinner table, the parents of a Venezuelan family engage in a heartfelt conversation with their children about everyday struggles. The son hastily eats fast food bought from the street, unable to cook due to work constraints. The mother expresses her concern over this.
The daughter cannot join them for dinner as she needs to finish a cake order for clients by the next day. The father worries about her working late into the night. "What time will you go to bed, daughter?" he asks.
"What can I do, Dad? I don't have anyone to watch my child, and I need this job," she responds, holding her young daughter. "It's so frustrating not being able to do more for you!" the mother laments, seeing her children lead lives filled with hardship and sacrifice.
"Of course you can, Mom! Tomorrow is the day!" the son replies. "I haven't lost hope that Victoria will get to know her country," the daughter tells her parents. "Go out tomorrow for me! And for me!" both young people urge their parents.
It is then revealed that the family conversation at the table is actually a video call with the children who are living abroad. They encourage their parents to vote and initiate a change in the country that could bring back hope and facilitate the return of millions who have left Venezuela for economic reasons or exile.
"We will, children!" the father responds to his children, who are now on the screen of a computer rather than at the table. "So that we can all be together at this table again," the mother prays fervently.
The camera pulls back to show the parents alone at the table, speaking to their children through a screen. "So be it!" the children reply to their mother's prayer.
The video strikes a deep emotional chord that connects Venezuelans and Cubans, two nations that have experienced massive exoduses of young people fleeing impoverishing dictatorships in Havana and Caracas. Whether escaping political repression, violence, or poverty, millions of Venezuelans and Cubans have made the tough decision to leave their homes in search of a better future.
The video's message underscores the sorrow of families fractured by these populist dictatorships, which have only brought greater misfortune to the societies of Venezuela and Cuba. It calls for participation in this Sunday's elections, which could signify a historic change for Venezuelans, despite the looming threat of losing power held by dictator Nicolás Maduro.
Impact of Venezuelan Elections on Families and Exiles
The poignant video has sparked discussions about the effects of political regimes on families in Venezuela and Cuba. Below are some questions and answers that delve deeper into the situation.
Why is the video emotionally impactful for both Venezuelans and Cubans?
The video resonates emotionally because it portrays the universal pain of families separated by the need to emigrate for better opportunities, a situation familiar to both Venezuelans and Cubans.
How does the video encourage Venezuelans to vote?
The video encourages Venezuelans to vote by showing the potential impact of their participation in the election. It portrays voting as a way to initiate change and reunite families separated by economic and political hardship.
What are the common struggles faced by exiles from Venezuela and Cuba?
Exiles from Venezuela and Cuba commonly face struggles such as political repression, economic instability, and the emotional toll of being separated from their families.