Daniel, Somoza
Esta la misma cosa.
Of all the chants, that was the one that cut the deepest. Voices would cry out
El pueblo unido
Jamás será vencido
and in the sweltering heat of a church filled with people I could close my eyes and feel myself in a theatre in Jalapa or a church in some town near the border with machete wielding campesinos chanting as we prepared to stand near la frontera with Honduras as a human shield against the contras. What would later become Witness for Peace. That was July 4th, 1983. 35 years ago. How did we end up here with
Daniel, Somoza
Esta la misma cosa. ?
I remember my first meeting with Daniel Ortega. As Chair of the Presbyterian Church national task force on Central America, I was introduced as el presidente de la iglesia to el presidente del pais. I kind of liked that. I asked the question we had prepared and Daniel answered the question he wanted to answer. To me he looked weary. (And why not, given what he faced on a daily basis? Only slightly older than me and going mano a mano with the US, my country, every day. ) . We walked out side by side, camera flash bulbs flashing much to the chagrin of our advisor who feared being used for propaganda.
My friend, Sister Peggy Healy, the quintessential Maryknoll sister, tireless peace and justice advocate, back then told me at her last meeting with Daniel, she said to him, Daniel, I love my job. Do you love your job? And that he stared at her with that stone face he could put on, then his eyes crinkled and he smiled a brief smile.
I'd like to ask, Daniel, que paso? I mean seriously, que paso?
This church is filled with people who have come from New York, New Jersey and Massachusetts as a declaration of SOS for their country. As an expression of love for their country. As diaspora nicarguenses to be with each other in a time of crisis in the life of their country. To feel the presence of each other. And to be touched by the music of Luis Enrique Mejia Godoy, Nicaraguan cultural icon. Solentiname painters were to art. He sang the soundtrack for the revolution. Songs like Cancion para mi pueblo, Amando en tiempos de Guerra, Yo soy de un pueblo sencillo. It was what we call the "Pete role," writing and singing the songs that sustain people through arduous struggle. Now he is writing again Las madres de abril, Madre Vandálica, musically chronicling the anguish of his people. Daniel has lost the voice of the people.
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| Luis Enrique Mejia Godoy and Robert Brashear |
After updates and introductions (and my welcome and sharing recent actions of the Presbyterian Church...see below..) and el himno nacional, Godoy is welcomed, blue and white national flags and white roses for the murdered waving. He begins with what could be another national anthem, hundreds of voices joining in. My friend Russ says, Can you imagine singing almost four thousand miles from home and everybody knows your words?
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| The music begins |
We know the details. The nearly 300 dead. The snipers. The suspension of liberties. Suppression of press. The mothers' day massacre.
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| Nicaragua is bleeding |
My question how can Daniel not understand? This is a culture that came to age in revolution. The chants, the manifestaciones, tap into the deep well of that experience. (On the one hand, familiar. On the other, they must feel, How many times do we have to go through this shit? They are not alone in that, reminds Russ...) They understand civil organization. People from the other Central American countries believe it's Nicaragua's culture of civil organization that has saved it from the deadly plague of drugs and gangs that has infested the "Northern Triangle." (Guatemala, Honduras and El Salvador.) Daniel came from these people. Somewhere inside he must know they won't be intimidated. Can't be done..Can power, avarice and greed so blind one from what they must know? From a reality they helped create?
It's important to share the stories. The biggest barrier in building solidarity for the restoration of democracy in Nicaragua is the reluctance of long time solidarity advocates to criticize Ortega. There's no denying what has been accomplished in many social sectors, eg, public health. But there is also no denying what has happened. The reality is that reactionary forces...especially those aligned with the Trump administration, circle like vultures. But that does not invalidate the just struggle of the people.
This struggle began with high school students and has grown. As a prominent banner declares, Solo el pueblo salva el pueblo. Only the people save the people.
West Park with its long legacy of supportive advocacy for movements for peace and justice, exploring the intersection of beauty and justice, is a fitting place for this event and Godoy's music.
The people came together and reinvigorated each other for this struggle. In the end they understand there will be no deus ex machina. It's in their own hands..
Solo el pueblo salva el pueblo.
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That the 223rd General Assembly (2018) direct the Stated Clerk and the Presbyterian Mission Agency (through its Presbyterian Ministry at the United Nations, Presbyterian Office of Public Witness, and Presbyterian World Mission) to speak out on behalf of the people of Nicaragua in response to violent repression taking place at the hands of their own government. The assembly directs these entities to work together to:
1. Develop a moral, theological, and prophetic framework in consultation with our mission partners in Nicaragua, in response to escalating violence and the growing outcry for international support, thus adding our faith-rooted witness to the growing chorus of voices denouncing the actions of the Nicaraguan government. The assembly asks that such a condemnation would take the form of a written statement and press release. Such a statement should make reference, but not be limited to, the following points:
a. Rejection of the use of firearms and other weapons used on civilians resulting in loss of life and injury.
b. Affirmation of the preciousness of each and every life bearing the image of God our creator.
c. Rejection of arbitrary arrest and imprisonment, and torture and humiliation in detention.
d. Rejection of any form of repression to the people’s right to assembly and expression.
e. Affirmation of God’s intention for humanity’s freedom to flourish and to live in peace with one another.
f. Rejection of attempts to suppress journalists, media coverage, and freedom of the press.
2. Develop an interagency and interfaith coalition to prioritize these issues, to continue to monitor the situation, and to respond appropriately to further developments.
3. Address the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights and the U.S. Department of State to pressure the Nicaraguan government to cease the killing of protesters and political dissidents, demand “the release of students arrested ... respecting their physical integrity” (Centro Intereclesial de Estudios Teologicos y Sociales [CIEETS]), “restoration of security and the free movement of citizens and the nonmilitarization of civil institutions” (CIEETS), and immediately “allow an international, independent, and transparent investigation in order to prosecute those responsible for the repression” (Resolution of European Parliament).
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