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Nicaragua for Beginners (A Writers & Readers documentary comic book)

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The history of the nations of the Western Hemisphere south of the Rio Grande is a violent, repressive one. The people who governed them have largely been dictatorial in nature, a large percentage of the population has been held in what amounts to slavery. The United States has often intervened, regularly with political muscle and in some cases militarily. Nicaragua is a nation that has felt the force of American domination; the phrase "banana republic" could have been coined to describe it. This book is a history of Nicaragua, using the form of cartoons, images and text.
While the presentation sometimes reaches the level of America bashing, the facts are essentially correct. The American mercenary William Walker was president of Nicaragua for some time and no person could ever achieve the presidency if they did not have at least the tacit approval of the United States. When any leader of the country dared carry out any policy that could be construed as against American interests, they were either removed or forced to recant. Anastasio Somoza was a brutal dictator who even stooped so low as to loot the relief aid that poured into the country after the earthquake in 1972. Since the book was published in 1984, there is no mention of the subsequent guerrilla war carried out by the groups known as the contras.
Knowledge of the past is an essential precondition for American citizens to make informed decisions regarding their opinion of U. S. foreign policy. This book shows some of the darker aspects of that history. While it is easy to be complacent and not consider such knowledge important, you should always keep in mind that the people of other nations know what has happened and will not forget.