Excuse me while I get Political
Daniel Ortega, a former Marxist revolutionary, is back in charge in Nicaragua, 16 yrs after being ousted. Is this a good thing? I'm not entirely sure. His reputation is not exactly spotless. He was arrested for bank robbery in the late '60's, he was released in '74 in exchange for hostages. And he's been accused of everything from corruption to sexual abuse.
Though, I must admit none of that really fazes me. When I think of how his re-election just urges the United States it makes me giggle inside. Also, the return of his party, the Sandinista National Liberation Front (FSLN), creates the possibility of real change, especially for Nicaragua's poor.
To hear the United States tell it, they are the pinnacle of all things democratic. But they did all they could to once again tie the hands of voters in Nicaragua. Only this time they lost.
To the US conservatives the Nicaraguans are all going straight to hell, for having committed the greatest sin of all - electing a leader not in favor in the White House.
For those of you that don't remember. The US imposed economic embargo's on Nicaragua in the 1980's. In the 1990's they made it very clear that those embargo's, as well as US funding to terrorist Contra forces, would continue if Ortega was re-elected. Those threats are thought to have played a major role in Ortega & the FSLN being pushed out of office in 1990.
During this years election the US went so far as to suggest that if Ortega were re-elected they would impose a block on all money being sent from Nicaraguan immigrants in the US back home to impoverished family members.
The US Ambassador to Nicaragua openly supported Ortega's opponents, an act that violates diplomatic protocol.
The US Secretary of Commerce suggested that millions in aid given to Nicaragua from the US & hundreds of millions in US investment could be brought into question if voters were to elect the 'wrong' candidate.
Jeb Bush ran ads in Nicaraguan newspapers associating Ortega with international terrorism. These were not new stories, they were full page ads, bought & paid for.
This is not the first time the US government meddled in the affairs of Nicaragua. In '81 Reagan condemned the FSLN. He believed they were consorting with Cuba & the Soviet Union. The CIA began financing, arming & training rebel troops, known as the Contras, to overthrow the FSLN. The result - a civil war that claimed the lives of a estimated 60,000 Nicaraguans & made it impossible for the FSLN to rebuilt a country already in ruins.
I for one am proud of the Nicaraguans for voting their conscience & not allowing themselves to be bullied into voting for pro-US candidates. I don't know if Ortega is the right person to lead Nicaragua & to rebuild the country. But really no one ever knows if their voting for the person who will inspire their nation or cause its downfall. Whether you live in Nicaragua or Canada, elections are a crap shoot. All any of us can do is educate ourselves about the real issues & go with God. When we watch elections, our own or someone elses, we often don't agree with the outcomes (Bush would not have been my 1st choice..or 2nd..or 3rd). But if we believe & value our democratic ideals then we can't simply dismiss them when they become inconvenient. That's the problem with the US. That's why country's hate them. Because they try to instill rules & ideals in other country's that they themselves don't live by. And its infuriating. Its like being lectured about not smoking by someone with Marlboro hanging out the side of their mouth while they walk to the store to buy another carton.
Though, I must admit none of that really fazes me. When I think of how his re-election just urges the United States it makes me giggle inside. Also, the return of his party, the Sandinista National Liberation Front (FSLN), creates the possibility of real change, especially for Nicaragua's poor.
To hear the United States tell it, they are the pinnacle of all things democratic. But they did all they could to once again tie the hands of voters in Nicaragua. Only this time they lost.
To the US conservatives the Nicaraguans are all going straight to hell, for having committed the greatest sin of all - electing a leader not in favor in the White House.
For those of you that don't remember. The US imposed economic embargo's on Nicaragua in the 1980's. In the 1990's they made it very clear that those embargo's, as well as US funding to terrorist Contra forces, would continue if Ortega was re-elected. Those threats are thought to have played a major role in Ortega & the FSLN being pushed out of office in 1990.
During this years election the US went so far as to suggest that if Ortega were re-elected they would impose a block on all money being sent from Nicaraguan immigrants in the US back home to impoverished family members.
The US Ambassador to Nicaragua openly supported Ortega's opponents, an act that violates diplomatic protocol.
The US Secretary of Commerce suggested that millions in aid given to Nicaragua from the US & hundreds of millions in US investment could be brought into question if voters were to elect the 'wrong' candidate.
Jeb Bush ran ads in Nicaraguan newspapers associating Ortega with international terrorism. These were not new stories, they were full page ads, bought & paid for.
This is not the first time the US government meddled in the affairs of Nicaragua. In '81 Reagan condemned the FSLN. He believed they were consorting with Cuba & the Soviet Union. The CIA began financing, arming & training rebel troops, known as the Contras, to overthrow the FSLN. The result - a civil war that claimed the lives of a estimated 60,000 Nicaraguans & made it impossible for the FSLN to rebuilt a country already in ruins.
I for one am proud of the Nicaraguans for voting their conscience & not allowing themselves to be bullied into voting for pro-US candidates. I don't know if Ortega is the right person to lead Nicaragua & to rebuild the country. But really no one ever knows if their voting for the person who will inspire their nation or cause its downfall. Whether you live in Nicaragua or Canada, elections are a crap shoot. All any of us can do is educate ourselves about the real issues & go with God. When we watch elections, our own or someone elses, we often don't agree with the outcomes (Bush would not have been my 1st choice..or 2nd..or 3rd). But if we believe & value our democratic ideals then we can't simply dismiss them when they become inconvenient. That's the problem with the US. That's why country's hate them. Because they try to instill rules & ideals in other country's that they themselves don't live by. And its infuriating. Its like being lectured about not smoking by someone with Marlboro hanging out the side of their mouth while they walk to the store to buy another carton.
The US often times reminds me of a spoiled child on a playground. Play the game his way or he's taking his ball & going home. And I just love it when a country calls their bluff & lets them know that they can take their ball, they'll play a new game or go get their own damn ball. You would think that the US would learn from their own history & stop meddling in the affairs of foreign & sovereign nations.
It's time the US stop spouting off about the high & mighty ideals of their country & start living by them.
"You do not lead by hitting people over the head - thats assault, not leadership".
Dwight D. Eisenhower
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