In my younger days I was an ardent devotee of the Sandinista revolution in Nicaragua (I was 16 when the Sandinistas toppled the brutal Somoza dictatorship in 1979). I subscribed to Barricada Internacional for a number of years and thought about becoming a Brigadista* for a while, but never did. When the Sandinistas lost the election in 1990 to the opposition, I was devastated. The Sandanistas went on to lose the elections again in 1996 and 2001. But polls indicate that Daniel Ortega is leading in elections set for today in Nicaragua, and there is a good chance that he and the Sandinistas will be back on top again after 16 years as the opposition party.
But I wonder how much things have changed since the old days. Will it be worth having them back? For example, the Sandinistas recently voted with the majority to ban abortion in Nicaragua, Ortega has a former Contra spokesman as his running mate, and apparently they've even replaced the black and red Sandinista flag with a more voter friendly pink and turquoise version. It seems the former revolutionary heroes have turned into mere politicians. The old days, it seems, are gone forever.
*Volunteer workers from the US who went to Nicaragua to try to offset the damage done by US imperialism.
Early election results are showing Ortega in the lead with 40% of the vote. His closest rival, Conservative candidate Eduardo Montealegre, is trailing with 33%. If these results hold up it means Ortega will win outright and avoid a second round of voting.
So that means one more left-leaning nation in Central/South America to add to the growing list. But with Mr. Ortega's top priority this time around being "to secure foreign investment to help to ease widespread poverty", I will remain cautiously optimistic.
Originally posted by SeitseI was never a big fan of the Shining Path. How come the South Americans have never actually won any of their revolutions since the days of Simon Bolivar? At least the Sandinistas won and kicked Somoza out. The Cubans too. So the Central Americans at least win once in a while.
Switch your love to Sendero Luminoso or the likes.
The more to the South, the bigger the nuts.
In South America people do know how to organize a revolution.
The "upper" Latin Americans (from MX to Panama) we are just sissies.
Originally posted by rwingettNice point. Cuba remains a mistery to me, since they are by nature
I was never a big fan of the Shining Path. How come the South Americans have never actually won any of their revolutions since the days of Simon Bolivar? At least the Sandinistas won and kicked Somoza out. The Cubans too. So the Central Americans at least win once in a while.
so undisciplined. The military skill, though, lies in South America and
the guerilla knowledge in Central America and the Caribbean.
Edit. On a second thought, forget my statement. I am just bitter by
the situation in MX :'(
Originally posted by SeitseIt seems the left in Mexico can't even win an election, let alone a revolution. What's Subcomandante Marcos doing these days?
Nice point. Cuba remains a mistery to me, since they are by nature
so undisciplined. The military skill, though, lies in South America and
the guerilla knowledge in Central America and the Caribbean.
Edit. On a second thought, forget my statement. I am just bitter by
the situation in MX :'(
Originally posted by rwingettSupporting the right wingers... the idiot was, is and will always be
It seems the left in Mexico can't even win an election, let alone a revolution. What's Subcomandante Marcos doing these days?
an instrument of the conservatives. The real left is among the
poor people, not in the parties nor the classrooms.
The real left is fighting the army in Oaxaca and building an alternative
government.
And by the way... read about the elections in trustworthy sources. The
election was not lost. It was a fraud with the whole machinery of the
right working.
Originally posted by rwingettYou should have went to Nicaragua. We might have met.
In my younger days I was an ardent devotee of the Sandinista revolution in Nicaragua (I was 16 when the Sandinistas toppled the brutal Somoza dictatorship in 1979). I subscribed to Barricada Internacional for a number of years and thought about becoming a Brigadista* for a while, but never did. When the Sandinistas lost the election in 1990 to ...[text shortened]... r workers from the US who went to Nicaragua to try to offset the damage done by US imperialism.
Originally posted by rwingettYou need to be deported...ASAP! Anywhere that is hot, humid, and communist....
In my younger days I was an ardent devotee of the Sandinista revolution in Nicaragua (I was 16 when the Sandinistas toppled the brutal Somoza dictatorship in 1979). I subscribed to Barricada Internacional for a number of years and thought about becoming a Brigadista* for a while, but never did. When the Sandinistas lost the election in 1990 to ...[text shortened]... r workers from the US who went to Nicaragua to try to offset the damage done by US imperialism.
Originally posted by chancremechanicIt has always irritated me that the Sandinistas were branded as "Communists" and Ortega is routinely referred to as a former "Marxist-Leninist." The Sandinistas were a leftist government, but they were never communist. Capitalism was never abolished under their administration, nor was it ever intended to be. They were advocates of a mixed economy.
You need to be deported...ASAP! Anywhere that is hot, humid, and communist....
But thanks, I'm doing just fine up here in my cold, blue state of Michigan. You stay south of that Mason-Dixon line, or I'll have to lay another Gettysburg on your a**. 😛