(Photo from The New York Times)“Arriba, los Pobres del Mundo!”
(Upwards, the poor of the world!)
School-bus-yellow letters backed by fuchsia proclaim as a solemn President Daniel Ortega raises a fist to the skies in apparent solidarity with his Nicaraguan people. These billboards scatter throughout the country, featuring Ortega as a casually clad everyday Joe in a pair of khaki slacks and a white polo; his receding peppered hairline and signature caterpillar moustache marking him as the politician at the people’s level.
I do not claim to be knowledgeable about the political situation here in Nicaragua. I speak from the level of the people, the campesinos in the countryside (the voiceless) and the taxi drivers of Managua (who I find to be some of the most politically opinionated and vocal individuals in the country). I speak from my personal experiences here throughout the past 13 months, from what I notice that holds everyday people prisoners to poverty and what the government seems to be doing and not doing about it.
What say the Taxistas of Nicaragua?
I love striking up political discussions with taxi drivers. Though we do not have taxis here in Cusmapa (it would be ridiculous if we did, as walking from one end of town to the other takes less than 10 minutes), every time I travel in bigger cities (mainly Esteli and Managua) I chat up every single driver I possibly can about their political opinions. Ninety-five percent of taxi drivers (in my unofficial count) I have ever talked to about Ortega are violently opposed to the man, angry that he’s in office, and would probably kick him in the teeth if they ever encountered him in a dark Managuan alley. I’m sure their main beef with Ortega has something to do with the spikes in gas prices this past year (we’re now up to more than $4 per gallon country-wide), but there’s also a real feeling of desperation I sense while talking to these men. In the current taxi market prices, I travel from one side of Managua to the other, a 40 minute ride for $2 US.
Ortega was re-elected in 2006 with 38% of the vote (he also served as the first true “democratically” elected president of Nicaragua with the FSLN party- the Sandinista National Liberation Front- in 1984). To learn more about this election, visit http://www.thenation.com/doc/20061120/ortega. Most of Ortega’s support comes from the Northern part of the country, the area where the Contra war was fought, the area with the least education and the most poverty.
In a 2007 CID-Gallup survey published in the Managua daily newspaper La Prensa, “Ortega's approval level had dropped significantly, 26% of Nicaraguans having a positive image of his handling of the job, 36% a negative impression, and the remaining a neutral impression. The poll also indicated that 54% were still optimistic about Ortega and the government, in particular the health and education policies. Additionally, 57% of Nicaraguans believed the country is on the "wrong track", and only 31% believed that the country is on the "right track". Sounds pretty similar to the political situation we have in the United States, minus the optimism in the healthcare and education sector. If anyone told me they were optimistic about the Bush Administration’s health and education policies I think I would be forced to rudely laugh directly in that person’s face.
Ortega’s policies are based on “moderate democratic socialism” and strongly influenced by his Roman Catholic beliefs. In 2006, though Ortega was not President, as an influential member of the parliament he pushed the Nicaraguan government to ban ALL abortions in the country, regardless of medical emergency or issues with sexual or inter-familiar violence (for more information, see Human Rights Watch: http://hrw.org/english/docs/2007/10/01/nicara16987.htm or the BBC’s report on Nicaraguan’s Ban on Abortion http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/6161396.stm). Ortega’s administration doles out 6-year prison terms for any persons aiding in providing emergency abortions- as in the famous 2003 case of a 9-year-old Managuan girl who was raped and impregnated by her stepfather (for more information on Rosita’s case, see http://www.lifesite.net/ldn/2007/nov/07111904.html). For me personally, this is the kicker. Though the anti-abortion law was approved on many societal levels (as demographics according to a 1995 census label 89.6% of Nicaraguans as Christians and this number continues to grow with Evangelicalism ever on the rise), I will never understand how forcing a raped child to have a baby could be considered “right to life”.
Ortega’s main diplomatic ties include Hugo Chavez of Venezuela, Evo Morales of Bolivia, and Iran’s Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. Thus, the Bush administration linking Ortega to socialism, fanatical leftism, and (GASP) … TERRORISM. Let’s just keep it simple at saying the US and Ortega are not good ol’ boy Yale buddies. In fact, before the 2006 Presidential election, Georgy’s little brother Jeb (fondly refered to as “Jab”) took out a full-page spread to bash Ortega, threatening Nicaraguans with what would happen if he were to be elected. A choice sample of Jab’s accusations: “Daniel Ortega is an enemy of everything the United States represents. Further, he is a friend of our enemies. Ortega has a relationship of more than 30 years with states and individuals who shelter and condone international terroism.” Ironically enough, after Ortega’s victory, Bush phoned him in congratulations. You’ve gotta love diplomacy. In a July 2007 speech, Ortega retaliated, refering to George Bush as “the world’s main tyrant” and challenging his policies which promote war-mongering while in reality taking away money that could be used as aid for promoting health and positive growth in developing countries. Apparently Bush and Ortega have reconciled their differences in one single phone call, (http://www.reuters.com/article/worldNews/idUSN0827392320070108) agreeing to work together on the Central America Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA) and the development of “free market democracies” through the U.S. Millenium Challenge Account. I’m sure if Bush backs these policies, they’re ultimately beneficial to the poorest of the poor here in the countryside (insert painful sarcastic eyebrow raise here).
What say the Campesinos of Cusmapa?
Truthfully, not much. People here in the countryside are too focused on the day-to-day survival of their famlies to engage themselves in nation or worldwide politics. The furthest Cusmapan political opinion goes is the flying of the Sandanista flag and houses painted with colors of whichever party the family supports.
The news our pueblo recieves on the two television channels mainly involves reporters shoving microphones in the faces of people who have just been though a near-death experience, asking them how they feel and what happened. I suppose it’s this type of disconnect between what’s important in their country and the world and what’s locally sensational drives news worldwide, not just here in Nicaragua. We do not receive newspapers here, I’d even dare to say that 80% of people in Cusmapa have never SEEN a newspaper. Even if they had, the newspapers in Nicaragua have a bit of world news but mainly showcase features like a woman slowly undressing herself one article of clothing at a time to give you the weekly weather forecast. Brilliant engagement of the population, says I.
Here’s what I’ve seen at the campo (countryside) level of changes in the past year since Ortega’s election…
1) Families in the poorest communities are currently each being given one pig and one bull cow.
2) Electricity outages last year were from 7 AM until 3 PM until the celebratory month of December, when magically the blackouts ended.
3) Water shortages still permeate the countryside- last year during the dry season we went two weeks without water and people reacted like it was a NORMALITY.
These are the three main things that come to mind when I consider Ortega’s influence here on the pueblo level. I’m happy to have electricity again, it makes for less excuses when it comes to the work-day, and less headaches trying to teach keyboarding lessons. The water issue affects all levels of society- people are unable to grow vegetables or fruit, unable to drink sufficient amounts of clean water to sustain health, and are cooking and cleaning and bathing with parasite-infested water on a daily basis. This ultimately leads to much sickness and contributes to the prison of poverty. My question remains: what kind of sustainable development is he providing by giving famlies a MALE cow (which cannot even be used for providing milk) and ONE PIG (fattened up and eaten during less than one week’s time)? I believe these gestures placate the people into believing that Ortega’s working for lasting changes for the poor. They’ll vote for him in future elections because of the week of pork they received. I’m doubtful of his motives, to say the least.
So, while I do not agree with Jab Bush about Ortega’s status as a “terrorist”, I am reluctant to promote him as bringing upward the poor of the world. He’s yet to prove to the people on a local level that he cares enough about health and education to make lasting changes that truly benefit the PEOPLE of Nicaragua.
(Upwards, the poor of the world!)
School-bus-yellow letters backed by fuchsia proclaim as a solemn President Daniel Ortega raises a fist to the skies in apparent solidarity with his Nicaraguan people. These billboards scatter throughout the country, featuring Ortega as a casually clad everyday Joe in a pair of khaki slacks and a white polo; his receding peppered hairline and signature caterpillar moustache marking him as the politician at the people’s level.
I do not claim to be knowledgeable about the political situation here in Nicaragua. I speak from the level of the people, the campesinos in the countryside (the voiceless) and the taxi drivers of Managua (who I find to be some of the most politically opinionated and vocal individuals in the country). I speak from my personal experiences here throughout the past 13 months, from what I notice that holds everyday people prisoners to poverty and what the government seems to be doing and not doing about it.
What say the Taxistas of Nicaragua?
I love striking up political discussions with taxi drivers. Though we do not have taxis here in Cusmapa (it would be ridiculous if we did, as walking from one end of town to the other takes less than 10 minutes), every time I travel in bigger cities (mainly Esteli and Managua) I chat up every single driver I possibly can about their political opinions. Ninety-five percent of taxi drivers (in my unofficial count) I have ever talked to about Ortega are violently opposed to the man, angry that he’s in office, and would probably kick him in the teeth if they ever encountered him in a dark Managuan alley. I’m sure their main beef with Ortega has something to do with the spikes in gas prices this past year (we’re now up to more than $4 per gallon country-wide), but there’s also a real feeling of desperation I sense while talking to these men. In the current taxi market prices, I travel from one side of Managua to the other, a 40 minute ride for $2 US.
Ortega was re-elected in 2006 with 38% of the vote (he also served as the first true “democratically” elected president of Nicaragua with the FSLN party- the Sandinista National Liberation Front- in 1984). To learn more about this election, visit http://www.thenation.com/doc/20061120/ortega. Most of Ortega’s support comes from the Northern part of the country, the area where the Contra war was fought, the area with the least education and the most poverty.
In a 2007 CID-Gallup survey published in the Managua daily newspaper La Prensa, “Ortega's approval level had dropped significantly, 26% of Nicaraguans having a positive image of his handling of the job, 36% a negative impression, and the remaining a neutral impression. The poll also indicated that 54% were still optimistic about Ortega and the government, in particular the health and education policies. Additionally, 57% of Nicaraguans believed the country is on the "wrong track", and only 31% believed that the country is on the "right track". Sounds pretty similar to the political situation we have in the United States, minus the optimism in the healthcare and education sector. If anyone told me they were optimistic about the Bush Administration’s health and education policies I think I would be forced to rudely laugh directly in that person’s face.
Ortega’s policies are based on “moderate democratic socialism” and strongly influenced by his Roman Catholic beliefs. In 2006, though Ortega was not President, as an influential member of the parliament he pushed the Nicaraguan government to ban ALL abortions in the country, regardless of medical emergency or issues with sexual or inter-familiar violence (for more information, see Human Rights Watch: http://hrw.org/english/docs/2007/10/01/nicara16987.htm or the BBC’s report on Nicaraguan’s Ban on Abortion http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/6161396.stm). Ortega’s administration doles out 6-year prison terms for any persons aiding in providing emergency abortions- as in the famous 2003 case of a 9-year-old Managuan girl who was raped and impregnated by her stepfather (for more information on Rosita’s case, see http://www.lifesite.net/ldn/2007/nov/07111904.html). For me personally, this is the kicker. Though the anti-abortion law was approved on many societal levels (as demographics according to a 1995 census label 89.6% of Nicaraguans as Christians and this number continues to grow with Evangelicalism ever on the rise), I will never understand how forcing a raped child to have a baby could be considered “right to life”.
Ortega’s main diplomatic ties include Hugo Chavez of Venezuela, Evo Morales of Bolivia, and Iran’s Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. Thus, the Bush administration linking Ortega to socialism, fanatical leftism, and (GASP) … TERRORISM. Let’s just keep it simple at saying the US and Ortega are not good ol’ boy Yale buddies. In fact, before the 2006 Presidential election, Georgy’s little brother Jeb (fondly refered to as “Jab”) took out a full-page spread to bash Ortega, threatening Nicaraguans with what would happen if he were to be elected. A choice sample of Jab’s accusations: “Daniel Ortega is an enemy of everything the United States represents. Further, he is a friend of our enemies. Ortega has a relationship of more than 30 years with states and individuals who shelter and condone international terroism.” Ironically enough, after Ortega’s victory, Bush phoned him in congratulations. You’ve gotta love diplomacy. In a July 2007 speech, Ortega retaliated, refering to George Bush as “the world’s main tyrant” and challenging his policies which promote war-mongering while in reality taking away money that could be used as aid for promoting health and positive growth in developing countries. Apparently Bush and Ortega have reconciled their differences in one single phone call, (http://www.reuters.com/article/worldNews/idUSN0827392320070108) agreeing to work together on the Central America Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA) and the development of “free market democracies” through the U.S. Millenium Challenge Account. I’m sure if Bush backs these policies, they’re ultimately beneficial to the poorest of the poor here in the countryside (insert painful sarcastic eyebrow raise here).
What say the Campesinos of Cusmapa?
Truthfully, not much. People here in the countryside are too focused on the day-to-day survival of their famlies to engage themselves in nation or worldwide politics. The furthest Cusmapan political opinion goes is the flying of the Sandanista flag and houses painted with colors of whichever party the family supports.
The news our pueblo recieves on the two television channels mainly involves reporters shoving microphones in the faces of people who have just been though a near-death experience, asking them how they feel and what happened. I suppose it’s this type of disconnect between what’s important in their country and the world and what’s locally sensational drives news worldwide, not just here in Nicaragua. We do not receive newspapers here, I’d even dare to say that 80% of people in Cusmapa have never SEEN a newspaper. Even if they had, the newspapers in Nicaragua have a bit of world news but mainly showcase features like a woman slowly undressing herself one article of clothing at a time to give you the weekly weather forecast. Brilliant engagement of the population, says I.
Here’s what I’ve seen at the campo (countryside) level of changes in the past year since Ortega’s election…
1) Families in the poorest communities are currently each being given one pig and one bull cow.
2) Electricity outages last year were from 7 AM until 3 PM until the celebratory month of December, when magically the blackouts ended.
3) Water shortages still permeate the countryside- last year during the dry season we went two weeks without water and people reacted like it was a NORMALITY.
These are the three main things that come to mind when I consider Ortega’s influence here on the pueblo level. I’m happy to have electricity again, it makes for less excuses when it comes to the work-day, and less headaches trying to teach keyboarding lessons. The water issue affects all levels of society- people are unable to grow vegetables or fruit, unable to drink sufficient amounts of clean water to sustain health, and are cooking and cleaning and bathing with parasite-infested water on a daily basis. This ultimately leads to much sickness and contributes to the prison of poverty. My question remains: what kind of sustainable development is he providing by giving famlies a MALE cow (which cannot even be used for providing milk) and ONE PIG (fattened up and eaten during less than one week’s time)? I believe these gestures placate the people into believing that Ortega’s working for lasting changes for the poor. They’ll vote for him in future elections because of the week of pork they received. I’m doubtful of his motives, to say the least.
So, while I do not agree with Jab Bush about Ortega’s status as a “terrorist”, I am reluctant to promote him as bringing upward the poor of the world. He’s yet to prove to the people on a local level that he cares enough about health and education to make lasting changes that truly benefit the PEOPLE of Nicaragua.
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