By Fabiola Cardozo / español
12/26/2025 – To begin, I want to make it clear that this opinion piece is just that: my personal opinion, from my perspective. When I thought about writing an opinion piece, the first thing I knew was that it would be impossible to please everyone, and that’s precisely the nature of opinions—they can’t please everyone. Within the patriarchal system, as a woman, I’m expected not to speak out, not to be arrogant, not to pretend that my opinion matters, not to make people uncomfortable with my questions, and of course, as a mother, to dedicate myself to the tasks that should be my priority: motherhood and domestic chores in the private sphere. Therefore, to break into the public sphere with my opinion as a Latina, as a mother, as a Venezuelan, as a sociologist, as a feminist, as an activist for peace and against military conscription, on politics, conflicts, or international relations is considered an offense. However, I will do it, because there is something we cannot let pass, and that is the opportunity to speak out against the injustices of the world, even if not with academic and erudite words, but rather with the voice of our emotions and frustrations that want to be released…
The last few years in Venezuela have been truly exhausting in many ways. Surviving the constant climate of political uncertainty, a product of tensions, sanctions, and the imminent threat of a possible military intervention, becomes like a monster lurking under the bed in the dark.
You never know exactly when it will emerge to devour you… It’s terrifying. You sleep, but you remain alert to a possible attack: how, when, where…
Will it wait until I’m asleep, or will it strike when I wake up? How painful will it be? There’s no doubt it will be painful, I just wonder… how much? Will I be able to bear it? Will I be able to maintain my sanity? Or will irrationality override any shred of judgment?
I know it’s still lurking, watching me, sensing me, but terrified, I decide to move, to stand up, and quickly turn on the light. I laugh loudly, not because I’m not afraid—I remember the movie My Neighbor Totoro: if you laugh hard, the monsters disappear… and maybe it won’t disappear. I’m content that it becomes less terrifying, smaller, and that it uses my hopes to grow. I stubbornly insist on getting up and moving despite the fear…
We Venezuelans are swimming against the current, surviving daily with economic hardship, the precariousness of basic services, and, in some areas of the country, even more severely, bewildered by social inequality and levels of corruption. On the other hand, we listen to speeches filled with false promises of freedom and progress that only mask the intention to seize our sovereignty and resources, and to foster violence, classism, racism, and fascism, regardless of how many lives are lost in the supposed attempt at liberation. This dichotomy has never been a true synonym for democracy or the expression of diversity, and Venezuelan politics reinforces this. We are presented with only two inconclusive paths: choosing between US military intervention, allowing ourselves to be dominated by the empire of war, or resigning ourselves and not demanding that the Venezuelan government be more efficient—and I am certain that it can be more efficient. The sanctions represent enormous obstacles, but I still believe that commitment, will, and true revolutionary consciousness can find more accurate strategies to guarantee the well-being of the Venezuelan people.
And no, I will never be in favor of war, military intervention, or the many forms of violence that oppress the peoples of the world, because even in my most pessimistic days, I still believe that peace and social justice are the only path that can bring the greatest possible happiness to everyone. As a mother, I hope my daughter never experiences firsthand the devastating ravages of war; this uncertainty and constant alert are exhausting. It seems there’s no way to live, enjoy life, or make plans without thinking that conflict might erupt soon, but no, I refuse to give up. Like many Venezuelans, I am characterized by perseverance, hard work, and optimism. I continue to seek out and create spaces for enjoyment, sharing, and thinking beyond the chaotic atmosphere created by the threat of intervention. We light a candle in the darkness, and on those days, the monster doesn’t terrify us.
Source: https://www.peacecampus.org/united-states/a-mothers-report-from-caracas/
Fabiola Cardozo
Sociologist, specialist in International Humanitarian Law, Master’s student in Women’s Studies at the Central University of Venezuela, Venezuelan mother, collaborator in social research organizations against war and the military recruitment of young people and children.
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Update: The U.S. bombed Caracas, Venezuela, on January 3, 2026, in a military operation that captured President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, marking a significant escalation of tensions and direct military action against the Venezuelan government. The strikes targeted military infrastructure and Maduro’s compound in an overnight mission named “Operation Absolute Resolve” or “Operation Southern Spear,” leading to Maduro’s removal and flight to the U.S. to face charges.