berman@ihopb.UUCP (09/08/83)
Laura Creighton's reference to "Samoza" (probably a confusion of "Somoza"
and "Sandino") reminds me of an overheard conversation in an elevator
in 1961. (Remember 1961 - Vietnam was just barely, barely coming into
America's realm of consciousness. But more importantly, Africa was
in turmoil after the former Belgian Congo attained independence and
the CIA helped assassinate Patrice Lumumba and led that country into
civil war). The overheard remark was:
"I don't know where it is, or just what's going
on, but it's a terrible war in the Vietcongo!"
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There seems to be a need to straighten out our terminology, so
maybe it's time for a little historical background, and a glossary:
Somoza (followers: "somocistas" or "contras") - the family that ran
Nicaragua since the 1930's at the blessing of,
and with the backing of the United States. Extremely repressive,
greedy, and a total failure at development of the economy.
Had limited support in the small middle-class, which ultimately
was alienated as the Somozas virtually took over the entire
wealth of the country for itself.
Had virtually no support whatsoever among the peasantry and
poorer classes except for the hired guns within the National
Guard.
That Guard (La Guardia) was disbanded after 1979, but, due
to a rather lenient policy on the part of the Sandinistas
(no capital punishment, and a general amnesty) has been
able to re-group in Miami and Honduras, funded, armed and trained
by you-know-who.
Sandino - Popular revolutionary leader who fought against the
US -backed oligarchy of the 1930's. Assassinated when he appeared
for Peace talks.
Sandinistas - Revolutionaries, who founded the FSLN (Frente Sandinista
de Liberacion National) in 1961, which in 1979 toppled the Somoza
regime in a very bloody civil war that involved large numbers of
civilians fighting along side the FSLN at the final stages.
The Sandinistas take their political philosophy from the
nationalistic anti-imperialist writings of Sandino.
"Samoza" - Indian/Pakastani bread, in the form of little fluffy rolls.
Andy Berman