Rethinking Ortega.

Luis J. Rodriguez writes: "I welcome Ortega's return.... He is older, maybe wiser, but also compromised--as his alliances with former Contra members and rightwingers testify" ("Ortega Returns," February issue). What Rodriguez fails to include here is Ortega's alliance with the Catholic Church and its doctrines, especially those that limit women's ability to control their reproductive lives. In Latin America, where the Church's anti-abortion doctrines reign, many women die or are harmed for life because of illegal abortions.

All too often, progressive views fail to take into account policies that harm specific groups.

Judith Beris

Columbia, Maryland 

Contrary to your article, Ortega is not a progressive as indicated. For years, he allegedly sexually molested his stepdaughter while he was president of Nicaragua. When she could not achieve justice in Nicaragua, she went to the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights, which found the case had merit. The Nicaraguan legislature promptly declared him immune from any liability. He allegedly continued to harass her until she was twenty-six, only stopping in recent years. The fact that he was elected again in spite of the people knowing of his behavior is sickening for women and portends ill for the future of women's rights. So, too, does the abortion ban passed with no dissenting votes, including from Sandinistas. How shameful, since Sandinista women fought and died alongside the men.

As with so many "liberation movements," men intend to liberate only themselves, not women. That is not by any definition progressive.

Dianne Post

Phoenix, Arizona 

I wanted to write to thank The Progressive and Luis J. Rodriguez for the compelling article about the rebirth of the Sandinistas in Nicaragua. As a Latin Americanist and radical, I often look south for inspiration and guidance. It seems that throughout Latin America incredible things are occurring, notably in Venezuela, Bolivia, and Ecuador. Hopefully, Nicaragua can be added to that list.

However, as Rodriguez points out, this time around things are quite different for the ruling cadres of the Sandinistas. Unfortunately, they have engendered many questionable alliances with former Contras and some notable religious figures. These realities have seen Ortega support one of the most draconian anti-abortion laws ever to see the light of day. We as progressives must not be under any illusions of the revitalization of the Ortega-led Sandinistas--or, as Rodriguez defines them, the Sandinista Lite.

That said, our goal as U.S. citizens is to block any attempts of our government to intervene in the internal affairs of our neighbors to the south. We also must join forces across borders and support our brothers and sisters wherever they may be and in whatever capacity is needed. Lastly, we should bear in mind that we are all Americans, regardless of our race, language, or religion.

Reading the words of Luis J. Rodriguez only serves to clarify those realities.

Jonathan McGovern

Charlotte, North Carolina 

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