Posted on 09/25/2007 3:49:57 PM PDT by presidio9
President Hugo Chavez railed against a new trend in beauty-conscious Venezuela, giving girls breast implants for their 15th birthday.
"Now some people think, 'My daughter's turning 15, let's give her breast enlargements.' That's horrible. It's the ultimate degeneration," Chavez said late on Sunday on his weekly TV show that lasted a record eight hours.
Venezuela is well known for its beauty queens, who have regularly won world crowns, and many women have plastic surgery in the oil-rich country where there is widespread spending on consumer items that would be considered luxuries elsewhere.
But Chavez, the anti-U.S., self-styled revolutionary who came to office in 1999, is seeking to change those attitudes to create what he calls the "new man" to build a socialist society in this South American nation.
Chavez complained about the new fad of giving the plastic surgery operation at 15 -- when Latin Americans celebrate a girl's coming-of-age -- during a diatribe against what he says are Western-imposed consumerist icons such as Barbie dolls.
While breast implants are advertised on TV and banks offer special credit lines for such operations, if girls do get the enlargements they are not expected to become sexually active afterward.
Venezuelans' have a habit of avid consumerism since the 1970s oil boom in the OPEC nation. They have won the nickname of the "Give-Me-Twos" in the tourist destination of Florida for buying double the amount of typical consumers.
Breast implants cost thousands of dollars in Venezuela.
Chavez's answer? He has told his supporters to give away any extra goods they do not need, urging them to leave out in town squares items such as fans or refrigerators.
"I am calling on your conscience, fathers of this country, mothers of this country, they are our sons, they are our daughters," Chavez said.
Still, Chavez, who happily describes himself as ugly, may struggle to change Venezuelans' mind-set to spending on plastic surgery.
In elevators, at huge, jam-packed shopping malls, women can be overheard openly boasting about their recent, conspicuous operations.
(Additional reporting by Patricia Rondon)
Why not...? They (and not only Venezuelans) put earrings on their girls, when they’re babies.
Latina boppers.
Are you comparing earings to breast implants?
It’s the first thing he’s ever said that I’ve agreed with.
It was a sarcastic joke. I lived in an American community where earrings on kids and organized crime were common.
Even a blind pig finds an acorn once in awhile.
The most interesting part of this story is how Reuters is trying to imply that Venezuela is like the oil rich kingdoms of the middle east. See? Everyone’s all nice and rich and happy - please don’t pay attention to the Africaesque situation where a treasured few rule through a dictator over the vast majority.
In this case it’s good they’re “Give-me-twos”
He should rail against the gift of alteration that Muslims give their little girls.

And of course he's right. 15 years old is way too young and shouldn't be condoned.
Now, if an adult want to do that... It's another matter.
My wife's been talking about it for years and, if it is going to make her happy, I'm pleased to support her.
Insurance doesn't reimburse for cosmetic surgery, unfortunately.
She's going to have her left breast enlarged this fall.
Then, if she's happy with the results, we can talk about having the other one done maybe sometime next year.
Around tax refund time, perhaps. We'll see how it goes.
I actually agree with him on this one. It’s a sickness.
teehee

Just something to chew on.
Well, it’s his broken clock moment. But Chavez’ Sunday morning show? A record 8 hours blathering on. He’s railed against the Church he used to get elected (remember how he tried to buy his citizens’ votes with his I’m a good Catholic shtick?). Now he has his own TV show airing Sundays? Someone thinks he’s their god...
“...he says are Western-imposed consumerist icons such as Barbie dolls.”
Sorry Hugo babe. The engorged-chest ideal became a latin
icon without poor maligned Barbie’s influence.
But true enough 15 y.o. is far too young for procedures as risky as this.
Hugo will continue his blathering until he is assasinated.
She told me that he never asked about the fake boobs again.
Just say no to fake tits.
You’re joking, right? You’re going to LET her get ONE enlarged...and then MAYBE the other...MAYBE next year? You’re just kidding us, right?
Well, one can hope they succeed in ousting him somehow. ;-)
What torture that show must be for the consumer minded, cosmopolitan Venezuelans, his blathering Sunday show. He can't turn back the clock so easily and pretend it's 50's era Cuba all over again - targeted for commie takeover, in a time before internet and cellphones and boutique shopping - and plastic surgery. Oh, he'll try.
Until then, it's full speed ahead with his el presidente-for-life socialist agenda. Ugh.
He can’t turn back the clock so easily
-
hehe that’s why he wants to move it forward 1/2 an hour
Uh, the preferred and polite nomenclature is "fake breasticles."
Yeah, I can see that. He does seem almost frantic, or urgent.
I know he sort of fooled people into choosing him, ie his 'good' Catholic act, reforms, etc, but who are the Venezualans who elected him? Surely they don't want to give up their lifestyle of boutiques and plastic surgery and cell phones and shopping in Miami for what Castro has done to Cuba?
I always got plenty of time to chew the fat!
;^)

Wowser, talk about implants!
I don't think I even have to ask my wife about this...

Your man will love you more!
Look, pandy. Another boob thread. lol
More boobs? I am so happy with mine I just can’t comment. EFG!
That’s great! Is he home from work yet?
Yes he is...roflmao I meant my own boobs. After reading the other thread I’ve decided I like mine just fine. No reductions or implants just plain old me is just fine. ~P~
I grew up in a family that considered pierced ears to be slutty.
Shouldn’t they at least wait untill the girl is old enough that her boobs have stopped growing? What if a 15 year old gets implants and then her boobs get so big she has to have them reduced?
Oops, I’m sorry. That was mean of me.
No just very funny & true ...~P~
“Hooters makes you happy....”
“but who are the Venezualans who elected him? Surely they don’t want to give up their lifestyle of boutiques and plastic surgery and cell phones and shopping in Miami for what Castro has done to Cuba?”
Those are the ones that voted against him. Many have left, I imagine any who have mobile assets and aren’t tied to something they cannot simply leave, or sell at this point.
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