Leon, Nicaragua -- afternoon

I just finished a conversation with a woman who participated in the Sandinista revolution. She was 14 years old at the height of the revolution in 1979. She first provided me a history of the revolution, which I was already familiar with. She said she became involved through the student movement here in Leon.

I pushed her with a question as to why the revolution failed. She responded by saying essentially that the leaders of the revolution were co-opted once reaching power. Also, she said the rank-and-file lost their dynamic, revolutionary energy once the revolution was achieved in 1979. I was very surprised that she made no mention of the United States' involvement with the contras in the 1980s. Although this may have been due to my telling her that I was born in Colombia, but now live in the United States. But I really think that had no effect.

Then I pushed her with a question regarding the future of Nicaragua, considering it is the second poorest country in the hemisphere. I asked her how this problem could be overcome. She said that Nicaragua needs a broad-based popular movement organized to 'cleanse the justice system,' in lieu of ridding Somoza. That is to say, Nicaragua needs a movement exactly parallel to that of the 1970s, except that it replace the Somoza factor in the equation with the corrupt, inefficient justice system as the targetted factor. She believed that this was very possible. I disagreed with the viability of that approach, and told her that it was unrealistic, based primarily on the psyche of the nation, or the people to be more specific. I said that the people will not have sufficient faith and patience for another popular movement when that of the Sandinistas eventually failed miserably. I said that, based on my observation in Managua, the people have turned to two paths to cope with the present situation. I said this in response to her argument that the psyche of the people will be overridden by the need to work and to eat. I explained the two current reactions of the people. One, to crime. And two, to religion. The first is taking advantage of the weak police force and enforcement; and doing so to put food on the table. This, however, is dehumanizing both the criminal and his victim. This lack of respect (and self-respect) is also manifested in the large amounts of trash strewn everywhere throughout Managua and the surrounding countryside. The second option is turning to religion, to pray for a better life here and now, but really in preparation for life after death. The latter is really where the hope lies. This, too, is a lack of respect for this world and this lifetime. If possible, this is more dehumanizing than the first, since it reduces humans to mere physical bodies awaiting their turn to a better life after death. I further explained to the Sandinista woman that, as much as I wish her vision was possible, it will not truly become possible until several generations from now, when the 1979 Sandinista revolution will be something of the past. My words visibly shook her, but I told her that I was only being realistic.

Unfortunately, I see little hope for the Nicaraguan people for a popular movement. This time must be used for consciousness-building, and compromises will have to be made with the government in the meantime. Perhaps the revolutionary tradition of the Nicaraguan people will someday shine again. And may it learn its lessons from the past.