BOLIVIA: What's in a name?
Bolivar and consequently Bolivia are the subject of a controversy which provides an excellent
example of different perspectives on history. As a defender of democracy at a time when dictators
controlled Latin America, and respecting Simón Bolívar as its champion, I gave the name Bolivar
House to the the Stanford building housing the Latin American research center. My old Oxford
mentor, the distinguished Spaniard Salvador de Madariaga, having with the years become very
conservative, wrote a massive biography of Bolivar, describing him as a misguided individual who
destroyed the great Spanish empire. Angry Venezuelans tarred and feathered him in and his
anti-book in vitriolic reviews. I wrote a luke-warm review which did not satisfy Madariaga, and our
relations suffered. I had run into the conservative Spanish view of Bolivar, whom liberal Spaniards
accept without such animosity.
I got another view of Bolivar when, in our TV program, Chilean Carlos López gave a historical
survey. Because of the War of the Pacific, Bolivians view Chile as the enemy, and Carlos returned
the compliment. Bolivia, formerly Upper Peru, had been detached by the Spaniards from the
Viceroyalty of Lima and placed under that of Buenos Aires. It was Sucre who linked it to Peru again
as a Bolivarian country. Bolivar had won the argument with Argentine hero San Martín at the
historic Guayaquil meeting, and Argentines resent him and his heritage.
Add to this the fact that in Colombia Bolivar is the icon of the Conservatives, Santander of the
Liberals. This gives perhaps ten interpretations of Bolivar and Bolivia. Now Hugo Chavez of
Venezuela views himself as the new Bolivar. He may end up like Bolivar, sad and rejected by his
people.
Ronald Hilton - 1/30/01
Good WAISer John Gehl produces a daily NewsScan, devoted to information technology. At the
end of each issues there is usually an "Honorary Subscriber" biography of some person deemed
worthy of memory. Today's biographyof Simón Bolivar was based on a book about Bolivar the hero.
One phrase should be modified: "Bolivia, named in his honor and over which he ruled as president."
In fact Bolivar had to rush back to Colombia from Peru, and Bolivia was ruled by his lieutenant
Sucre.
| Webmaster |