Recently we presented on movies that we have been watching for our class related in some way to Nicaragua. My group presented on two separate films: The World is Watching and The World Stopped Watching. These movies have to do with the Contra War in Nicaragua during and then after the war. For the purpose of this blog I would like to focus on The World is Watching. This movie really touched me. In class we have discussed the Contra War and many of its aspects on several occasions but watching this movie allowed me to put a face to the Nicaraguan people specifically their experiences during the Contra War.

To begin with, this movie addresses the burden of scrutiny that Nicaragua faced in the media. They were one of 5 Central American countries that signed a supposed peace treaty but Nicaragua was the only country that was actually held to the standard of the peace treaty. Journalists that were sent to Nicaragua to document the war were only out to document conflict in order to please their editors back home. They ignored positive aspects of Nicaraguans because that wouldn’t attract as much attention as conflict. This is something that can be seen even in current times. Take the Iraq or Afghanistan war as examples. Think about the last time you heard about something positive occurring in those countries. It’s truly an abomination that we overemphasize the bad to the point where it becomes expected. Another point that was brought up was that editors in U.S. corporate offices are the ones who decide what is or what isn’t news. That was a much bigger problem in the 80s simply because the only source of information was the newspaper or TV, but now that isn’t as big of a problem with the internet. Nonetheless, very few sources provide unbiased reports of the news and by consequence control what the public thinks. During the Contra War, the media was brainwashing the public and convincing them that the Sandinistas were the enemies when in reality they wanted peace and the U.S. funded Contras were the ones wreaking havoc. Foreign Minister Miguel D’Escoto said in regards to Ronald Reagan, “You throw enough mud on the wall and then you hope that some would stick.” Thus, he was expressing the idea that the media and others including the President just say whatever negative things come to mind and eventually the public will believe something.

As the movie transitioned to specific stories of different Nicaraguans, I was amazed to see the actual damage done by the Contras. The first Nicaraguan interviewed was a young Sandinista soldier. He recounts losing is wife, brothers in law, mother in law and son just prior to the interview. They were not only killed but they were mutilated. It was a horrible story to hear. The soldier remarked that Regan is responsible for the war and all the Sandinistas want is peace. He responded with an unreal stoicism and it’s not that he didn’t care, but I believe that Nicaraguans were already so accustomed to this type of brutality occurring on a daily basis. The second story is of an elderly campesina woman and her community who had recently been raided by the Contras. They had no possessions to their name and this woman didn’t know where to go on from here. She comments that the sandinistas simply want to provide for the poor and the wealthy do not like this so they declare a war on communism when a communism doesn’t exist. Despite her circumstances, this woman had an eerie determination to move forward and not give up. I believe that this is the identity of Nicaraguans even up to this day. A couple of blog posts ago I commented on how the Nicaraguans that came to Dartmouth to visit us were so joyous and proud despite their poverty. This is what make them a unique people. What angers me though is that these stories were not included in the media, rather false lies of rebellious and communist country were spread in order to incite anger against the sandinistas when in reality they just wanted to live in peace.

I just briefly talked about this movie but what I took from it is that media has such a grand impact on history. The media can literally incite wars or end them and one can only imagine how many lives could have been saved and how much suffering could have been prevented if only the media portrayed the truth and not what was beneficial to their corporations. Even worse, is that the world eventually stopped watching Nicaragua and when the war was over these people were just forgotten.

This past week visitors from Nicaragua came to visit us in our class. Most of these visitors were part of a Dance group called Los hijos de Maiz which is a traditional folk dance group.  Along with them was the executive director of an organization called Compas de Nicaragua, Michael Boudreau. This organization focuses on doing community development work in Nicaragua and a project they have been working on since the beginning is their Women In Action (WIA) program. This program consist of 40 women who organize health and education projects in La Primavera, Nicargua. One of these women, Ana Narvaez, was also in attendance.

I was very excited to have actual Nicaraguans visit our class in order to give us some perspective on the Nicaraguan lifestyle. We had been reading about the problems and difficulties that they faced, but hearing a first-hand account is a completely different experience. What first fascinated me was Michael’s story. I was completely astounded by how from coming from NH, he became involved with Compas and completely devoted his life to this organization and its mission. He now lives in Nicaragua full-time and his story gave me hope in humanity because there are people that care and that are willing to sacrifice themselves to make a positive difference. I see Michael as a role model and hope to someday follow in his footsteps.

I enjoyed hearing about the WIA initiative that exists in La Primavera. Ana described how the program was begun and it really inspired me. 40 poor women in this very poor neighborhood decided to get together and change the position that they were in. They didn’t wait for their government to bail them out or wait for someone to dole out money, rather took initiative. Through their constant struggle they have been able to accomplish marvelous tasks such as a soy food program in which nutritious and inexpensive food is made available to them. Another great program that Ana mentioned is their micro-lending program. One of the dancers commented on how those loans really help families in need and are the difference between economic stability and complete poverty. In her case, her mother was given a loan to purchase a vending cart which allowed her to sell fruit and other food on the street in order to make money for her family. Thus, these women do not wait for help but rather help themselves through contribution and problem solving and they have developed an excellent model that should be imitated.

The part of the class that really touched my soul was the reflections of our visitors. One of the dancers commented on how she was almost brought to tears by how much food is thrown out here at Dartmouth. She commented that people struggle in Nicaragua to get three meals a day and even recounted a story of her being hungry when she was a little child in school and not having anything to eat because the only food that was available in her household was given to her male brother. This really touched me because here we are in a developed country throwing away food or complaining about the quality of it, while little children in Nicaragua would do anything for a bowl of rice. I am definitely guilty of throwing away food or being gluttonous and her anecdote has given me something to ponder about when I am eating. In addition, what really shocked me was how the visitors responded after someone had asked if they would live in the U.S. They all adamantly responded that they would not. They explained that despite their poverty, they enjoy life and love each other. They don’t care about material things and are simply happy to be alive. Whereas in the U.S. people are obsessed with material possessions, but are filled with a gaping hole within them. Ana also recounted the story of a young boy who was so elated that he was going to have a substantial meal. This young boy ran to Ana to let her know the good news and even offered to share his measly piece of fish with her despite the fact that he was so hungry. All these stories just proved to me that happiness can exist in poverty. I learned so much from these guests and I hope to follow in their footsteps and not only help others, but also have the same love for life that they have.

My family is from Ecuador and my abroad experiences consist of going to Ecuador to visit my family. My mom did a good job instilling her culture in me despite the fact that I was born here in the U.S. and consider myself an “American”. Thus, I speak the language, eat the food, listen to the music etc. When I go to Ecuador I don’t consider myself a tourist simply because I’m in the presence of my family partaking of the culture that I believe to be mine. However, after many trips I have realized that I am indeed a tourist.

I do not like to be considered a tourist because I want to feel like I belong in the culture that I have been raised with. Nonetheless, I would see the different treatment I would receive when I would visit Ecuador. I’m the “American” and automatically I receive better treatment. My family makes sure that I’m comfortable, have everything that I need, and content in my vacation. I am a guest to them, an outsider. I’m from America and automatically that entails privilege and better treatment which I definitely see as problematic. I’m put on a pedestal that I don’t deserve, I simply want to be one of the many, however I can never be. I haven’t lived in hunger. I haven’t had to drop out of school to work. I have a household with hot water and a steady source of income. I haven’t suffered the struggles that they have and thus, I can never be considered one of the many.

I have learned to embrace my differences. While I definitely do not want to be treated better than anyone else, I have embraced my “American” culture and have shared it with my family in Ecuador. In the same fashion, they have taught me about the intricacies of their culture that I do not know about. Instead of fighting the difference, I have grown to cherish them and learn from them.

Hence, I’m a tourist even in the country of my family. While being a tourist has negative connotations, there are many benefit of tourism. The most important is the culture exchange that occurs. Both tourist and native are exposed to things that they might have never otherwise been exposed to. They learn new things about a people different than them. Tourism also humbles people. When I got to Ecuador I realize all the blessing that I have and I am more appreciative of what I have. Nonetheless, I do not pity the underprivileged, rather I feel compelled to help them. Tourism can also bring about negative things such as exploitation, but in the end tourism helps economies and helps people learn about one another. I’m a tourist and I’m proud, but as a tourist I have a responsibility to learn and to teach.