Quite possible. My impression is that Carter had a 'que sera, sera' policy regarding Central America -- which didn't necessarily work well in a cold war setting. I'm a bit taken aback by the tremendous bitterness members of my family still hold against Carter given he's been out of office 25years! My family is native Honduran -- and even when they were cursing Reagan and his 'Reaganistas' who overran their country in the aftermath -- they put the 'blame' on Carter. And they are neither Republicans or Neo-cons. I don't know nearly enough about this as I should. And Foreign policy can be a very dirty game -- one which Carter was perhaps not willing or able to play. Does anyone have a recommendation of a decent book on this era? (I'll pass on Fao's recommendation ). Good civil discussion so far guys!
You had family in Honduras bnb? I have been on a humanitarian aid mission to Honduras with the Episcopal church--no proselytizing though!. I was there in 95 and we were in the northern reaches, about 4 miles from the Guatemalan border in a little town called Corinto. We brought medical supplies, clothes, TONS of soccer balls for the kiddos--some of the most inquisitive, bright and golden hearted children I have ever met. It was quite an experience... Anyway, I couldn't help but look to the cloud obscured jungle hills and sprawling Banana plantations and think of Sandinistas and Samosa's chasing each other in the bush. I once walked right up to the border with Guatemalan with the towns soccer team--I had no Idea where we were going--and turned back once I realized. I had these visions of masked, AK-47 wielding gunmen jumping out of the bush...it was a little unnerving as that could have been the case. Believe me, a 6'4" blond-headed American sticks out on a muddy, jungle road in Central America! Bullets and Ballots indeed....
That is interesting. I have a friend who's family is from Honduras but I hadn't heard any of their political views regarding Carter, just conditions in general.
I was there in 94! Watched the Houston/New York finals (and the Vancouver/Rangers Stanley cup) in at a bar in a small Guatemalan village. Perhaps they served some Samosas as appy's! Sam...add Guatemala to your travel plans. Absolutely awesome place. Given your post in Hangout -- I expect you'd love it.
Grant has been rehabbed a bit in recent years from 'really bad' to just plain 'mediocre' as people have focused on his accomplishments rather than his drunkeness and the numerous scandals that plagued his administration (mostly his cabinet was corrupt and not grant himself). Wilson has always been ranked as great or close to great by historians, his domestic agenda as a reformer is unmatched and untarnished; on foreign policy, he was one of the first true multilateralist idealist types re: the 14 points and the League of Nations. He literally worked himself to death trying to get the US to assume a global leadership role but he ultimately was unsuccessful, thanks to congress, and america retreated back into isolationism.
Where in Mexico, Sam? Always looking for interesting places down there. Great country. My folks went to Belize when I was a weee kid, so I only have pictures, but I've heard it's changed a lot, become more touristy, since.
San Miguel Allende, it is nice and artsy though quickly being overrun by aging gringo upper middle class ex hippies. I really don't know that much about Mexico travel wise....but if you have any questions about Mongolia, I'm your man.
Interesting,...I'm half-hispanic. My mother was born in Managua, and loved to go to Corn Island,...she still tells me how beautiful it was...Her father (My Grandfather) was a top officer for Samoza...Of course, my mother married my father (who is/was white) and lived in the states since 1971...All of my mother's relatives would rather have stayed in Nicaragua,...but in the late 1970's, ...they all came here, except my grandfather who died....the reason? The Sandinistas pure and simple...
I came to the realization two days ago that I am actually not going to be able to take enough vacation time this year to get to Uzbekistan or Kyrgyzistan.... I am being serious. Looks like Tashkent in 2005 then!
Sam, I will have a couple months off later in the year. If you would like to fund my trip, I will promise to send you a post card every day. We all know that's almost as good as being there.
God...3 seconds reflection, and this was as lame as it gets. Pathetic. Anyways, please overlook earlier idiotic attempt to be funny, and accept my sincere praise for walking the walk, my friend.
