HISTORY

This follows the micro-history at node/20825. A few questions were raised. One, if Ortega, who lost the 1990 election, ever said that he thought it was ‘unfair’. (To think it was ‘fair’ automatically made any such free-thinker a fascist, according to some.) So I search for Ortega’s concession speech from then. I apologize for the length of this. (I am not trying to outdo NL's Flower Lady - she's a pro.)

First some points of that periods history:

A worthwhile read.

http://www.worldpolicy.org/sites/default/files/uploaded/image/WPJ-1987-N...

BTW, I have no idea if the author will meet the approval of some on this site, but here is some information that may help you decide.

http://www.worldpolicy.org/about

http://www.worldpolicy.org/andrew-reding

38 years ago today (December 27th 1974) was the assault on the house of Somoza Minister Jose Maria "Chema" Castillo which resulted in the release of Sandinista prisoners among them being Daniel Ortega.

In 1987 President Daniel Ortega spoke to the UN attacking the US policy of financing the Contra rebels and for having supported the Somoza dictatorship, which he said "bled the Nicaraguan people dry."

His most memorable quote from that speech: "... remember, President Reagan, Rambo only exists in the movies." Words directed at the former actor 'playing' his greatest role may not have missed their mark.

http://librivox.org/incidents-of-travel-in-central-america-chiapas-and-y...

by John Lloyd Stephens (1805 - 1852)

http://redandgreen.org/speech.htm

An article in The Miami Herald reports on a 30 year reunion of some ex-Contras. It offers a reminder of how involved the US was in the conflict and why you are likely to hear a different story about the 1980s from Nicaraguans in Miami then those who stayed in Nicaragua.

One new (to me) piece of information was the Argentine involvement in the start of the CIA-financed training of the Contras. I knew of the involvement but didn't know why.

Hey, since the discussion on this site oftentimes have been fruitful, I have decided to put this script out here as an exclusive preview of the book that I will publish in about a week. A Spanish version of this book translated by a Managuan English teacher will be out next, likely a few weeks after the elections. I am currently looking into setting up public presentations in León and Managua at least.

Link after the break!

An article by COHA, the Council on Hemispheric Affairs, presents an analysis of former US Secretary of Defense, Robert Gates' Latin American Policy. Gates retired last month.

When Columbus crossed the Atlantic in 1492, his journey prompted the exchange of not only information but also food, animals, insects, plants and viruses between the continents.

"It was a tremendous ecological convulsion - the greatest event in the history of life since the death of the dinosaurs," says Mann. "And this underlies a huge amount of history learned in schools: the Industrial Revolution, the Agricultural Revolution, the rise of the West — all of these are tied up in what's been called the 'Columbian exchange.' "

An article in caller, a Corpus Christi Texas paper offers up the story of the adventures of Henry Kinney. While the adventures of William Walker in Nicaragua tend to be covered in Nicaraguan history, I don't remember reading about Kinney before.

He created an empire on the Mosquito Coast of Nicaragua in 1854.

21: The Story of Roberto Clemente is a new book about Roberto Clemente described as a graphic novel. The book was written by Wilfred Santiago, a cartoonist.

A quote from the article:

“No. Today I am still a Sandinista but I am not an Ortegista. Ortega has betrayed the revolution. He is no longer a socialist but a capitalist. He has turned into a caudillo [a dictator with a military background]. Daniel has become a new Somoza. The people need to open their eyes and see what is happening.”

http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/magazine/2011/0507/1224295952855.htm...

A lot of Nicas are of the opinion that Costa Rica stole Guanacaste, Peninsula de Nicoya, from Nicaragua. I remember hearing many versions to the story but never got a history lesson on the subject while at school. I got my schooling during the Somoza school system. Maybe I wasn't paying attention or the subject was deemed not important to teach.

"The late John Brentlinger, friend of the Newton/San Juan Sister City Project and author of The Best of What We Are: Reflections on the Nicaraguan Revolution, was at the time of his death completing a sequel entitled The Circle is Unbroken: U.S. and Nicaraguan Communities in Solidarity. The following is an excerpt from the Introduction to the new book."

http://sanjuandelsursistercityproject.wordpress.com/writers-views/john-b...

He touches upon a lot of the things we do, just posted this FYI. I can think of a few that would like it,