Yo sí tengo derecho a protestar porque a mí no me contaron, yo viví en un país donde en cualquier casa, por lo menos, la gente comía arroz con huevo, se tomaba un refresco, una chuchería diaria, se iba al cine semanalmente o a la playa, si se acababa el gas, llamabas para que trajeran la bombona a tu casa y si la luz se iba, era por una pequeña falla.
Yo sí tengo derecho a protestar porque jamás he votado por este gobierno. Porque cuando el chavismo asumió el poder en Venezuela, yo me estaba graduando de Licenciada en Educación y tenía muchos sueños, metas, que he tenido que olvidar, desechar, porque en Venezuela está prohibido soñar.
Yo sí protesto porque vi a mi padre morir por falta de medicina y porque la tristeza le llegó al corazón cuando todo por lo que había luchado en la vida, se lo quitaron. Porque mi sobrino pequeño, de 18 años, murió sin saber lo que era la felicidad de vivir en un país de libertades.
Yo sí protesto porque vi cómo mi único hermano salió de mi casa, con una pequeña maleta, con la promesa de volver y solo lo he visto a través de una pantalla de celular, porque aún no ha vuelto. Porque mi sobrino mayor tuvo que salir huyendo del país porque era un perseguido político. Su único delito: marchar en contra del gobierno.
Yo sí protesto porque como docente les he enseñado a mis estudiantes la necesidad de cumplir nuestros deberes, pero también la importancia de defender nuestros derechos. Porque dentro y fuera del salón de clases incentivo el pensamiento crítico, el trabajo, la inclusión, el respeto y muy especialmente, les hablo cada día, del talento que tienen, esa fuerza creativa que ningún gobierno podrá quitarles.
Yo sí tengo derecho a protestar porque el 28 de julio ejercí mi derecho al voto, porque al igual que millones de venezolanos, voté por un cambio y tengo derecho a celebrar. Yo sí tengo derecho a protestar porque la constitución, en su artículo 68, dice que tengo derecho a manifestar pacíficamente y que contra mí no pueden utilizar armas, ni agresión.
Yo tengo derecho a protestar, porque así como a un hijo le duele su madre y la defiende, así me duele Venezuela hoy.
[Versión en Inglés]
I do have the right to protest
I do have the right to protest, because I am Venezuelan, daughter of working parents: my mother a cleaner, my father a messenger. Both of them were only able to study up to 6th grade; however, they raised their 5 children and we all went to university. With what my parents earned, they gave us a house, education, food and even trips, but most especially, they taught us that to have what we wanted, we had to work hard and work a lot.
I do have the right to protest because they did not tell me, I lived in a country where in any house, at least, people ate rice with eggs, had a soda, a daily snack, went to the movies weekly or to the beach, if the gas ran out, you called to bring the gas cylinder to your house and if the light went out, it was because of a small fault.
I do have the right to protest because I have never voted for this government. Because when Chavism took power in Venezuela, I was graduating with a degree in Education and I had many dreams, goals, which I have had to forget, discard, because in Venezuela it is forbidden to dream.
I do protest because although I do not have children, I have nephews and nieces, and I want to see them grow up, bless them, see them succeed: I would like them to live in a country of freedom and opportunities, the one where I grew up, next to my own.
I do protest because I saw my father die for lack of medicine and because sadness came to his heart when everything he had fought for in life was taken away from him. Because my little nephew, 18 years old, died without knowing what the happiness of living in a country of freedoms was.
I do protest because I saw how my only brother left my house, with a small suitcase, with the promise of returning and I have only seen him through a cell phone screen, because he has not yet returned. Because my eldest nephew had to flee the country because he was politically persecuted. His only crime: marching against the government.
I do protest because as a teacher I have taught my students the need to fulfill our duties, but also the importance of defending our rights. Because inside and outside the classroom I encourage critical thinking, work, inclusion, respect and, most especially, I talk to them every day about the talent they have, that creative force that no government can take away from them.
I do protest because I do not want to leave my country, because I want to grow old here, buy a little house in front of the sea, invite my friends over for a few beers and a sancocho, chat until the sun comes up, read a book while I eat an empanada and if I want to sleep, sleep in my bed.
I do have the right to protest because on July 28 I exercised my right to vote, because like millions of Venezuelans, I voted for a change and I have the right to celebrate. I do have the right to protest because the constitution, in its article 68, says that I have the right to demonstrate peacefully and that no weapons or aggression may be used against me.
I have the right to protest, because just as it hurts a son to see his mother suffer and he defends her, so Venezuela hurts me today.
