November 9, 1982

Leonor A. Huper, Consul General of Nicaragua, lectured on “Turmoil in Central America: A Post-Revolution View” in the Josselyn Living Room. Huper began by speaking about United States-Nicaragua relations: “From 1799 to 1942 the U.S. has invaded Latin American 92 times,” he said. “Nicaragua has been intervened in 10 times out of the 92.”

Tracing a series of invasions dating back to the middle of the 19th century, she said, “In 1912 a Marine force entered Nicaragua and remained for 20 years…. The last Marine left Nicaragua in 1932, but the U.S. decided to leave Nicaragua with an aarmy. The man chosen as general of the army was a friend of the American minister. In 1934 he ousted the president of Nacaragua and became president for life.”

“In 1979,” Huper declared, “that was the beginning of revolution. Revolution means change. We wanted a change that would come from the people up.” Much good, she claimed, had come from the Sandinista overthrow of the U.S. supported Somoza dictatorship, saying, “Do you think a revolution that does something for its people is bad? We have had a taste of freedom. Everybody, men and women, know what to do to defend their country, and they are willing to do it.”

The Miscellany News