Reagan Policy in Nicaragua
I have just completed an 8-week course at UCLA on “Revolution in Central America.”
I listened to scholarly people such as E. Bradford Burns, professor of history at UCLA, Norma Chinchilla, professor of sociology at California State University, Davida Coady, associate professor of mental health at UCLA.
These people gave me a historical retrospective of that area of the world beginning with the 1800s.
Their informed opinions were that our country has always overthrown democratic governments and supported repressive regimes. Franklin Delano Roosevelt is quoted as having said, “Somoza is an SOB but he is our SOB.”
The revolutions in those countries are, and have always been, a revolution by the people to improve their life. The poor and oppressed have no political ideology. They will support any government that will give them jobs, food and shelter.
The contras are remnants of the late dictator, Anastasio Somoza, and the oligarchy. If we do not assist the people’s government, we leave them no choice but to turn for help to Russia.
I am more informed now, but I feel impotent and enraged.
FRANCES KATZ
Los Angeles
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