Very moved by this Op Video and glad to find out what happened to Wuilly Arteaga. (I inherited a violin and have been playing only a handful of years -- so was very taken with his story when found about him via videos of his playing in the streets during the uprising.) His description of what Venezuelans have endured and the love in his voice despite the horrors brought unexpected tears to my eyes. Hope he loves his new NYC home. I'm not a NYer but my father loved the city (drove a cab for 25 yrs!) and via his experience ( esp living last years of his life, disabled in subsidized Bronx housing) I know- despite pervasive stereotype!- that his new neighbors truly look out for each other. Thank you NYT; coverage like this is the reason I subscribe.
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Venezuela is a bell weather of what is in store for California...the majority party here speak in the same language as Hugo Chaves in his earlier years.
There are many Wuilly Arteagas here. Remember, Trump is exporting immigrants from brutal regimes who hold TSP (Temporary Status Protection). Can we PLEASE open our collective arms to them and offer protection?
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As the violinist who performed for jailed dissident Liu Xiaobo at the Nobel Peace Ceremony in 2010, I support and commend Wuilly's heroic actions. His music is an inspiration and will bring truth to power!
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Not to make light of what's going on in Venezuela, but maybe he can teach all of us in the US to play violin as well.
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Thank you NYT for this story.A brave worthy man, sad story.There must be a better way for democracy to work than just through elections.
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Nice to have sponsors.
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Today's Victor Jara.
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I'm grateful to Wuilly Artega and to the New York Times for bringing us his story which magnifies the deep terror and distress being waged by the government on its citizens. Mr. Artega speaks for his country and for the future of Venezuela. They deserve our help.
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We need to help this country that has starving people, starving animals, no equipment in the hospitals. This is a type of holocaust that we all know about and are doing nothing. Where is humanity? What can we do to help? Can we drop food? Emergency!!!!
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much sympathy for Sr. Arteaga and his compadres ... but nothing here about the origins of the oppression and the struggle ? ... nothing here about the late great Sr. Chavez, who confiscated and redistributed the nation's wealth in order to win the peoples' votes ?... nothing here about any parallels we might be seeing in US politics, where Bernie and Elizabeth and Hillary and their ilk want bigger and bigger roles for government (i.e., themselves) and rail against capitalism and capitalists ?... let's not only be sympathetic to the violinist; let's learn some very important lessons from him
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We have our own Syria in Latin America, the only difference is only one side is fighting, the goverment. they do not have rebel groups fighting against them. It really breaks my heart to see how bad the situation has gotten. God, have mercy! This country and the rest of America should come together and put an end to this. How can you worry so much about tariffs, trade deals, NAFTA and not even metion this crisis? Venezuela deserves more attention, the people of Venezuela deserves at least to be mentioned in cable news. Can the rest of the news dedicate a few minutes to this?
Thank you NY Times. All these articles are the reason that I subscribed to the Times.
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If Venezuelans want freedom, they will need to take up arms and fight for their liberty. No one else is going to do it for them and violins are just not going to cut it.
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You really missed the point of this extraordinary story.
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Unfortunately, he got the point. This regime tolerates this guy, maybe to give a minor appearance of leniency. Whenever these thugs see fit, he’s gone.
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You missed the point of Navigator's comment.
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