Comments on: Open Letter 2: A Nicaraguan Interlude

By: Max Gibson

Max Gibson — Thu, 12 Mar 2009 01:03:44 +0000

A beautiful article Karl. As you already know, the poetry club at WCC is more than willing to host a fund-raiser for Shaman Drum. Your bookstore is the soul of State Street–the soul of our community. Just let me know when.

By: Karl Pohrt

Karl Pohrt — Sun, 08 Mar 2009 23:52:09 +0000

Dereby ODonnell trivializes the complex political struggle going on in Nicaragua with his Beatles analogy. I don’t believe the quarrel between John Lennon and Paul McCartney is in any way similar to the relationship of Daniel Ortega and the Nicaraguan people. Or did he mean the analogy to apply to Ortega and Ernesto Cardenal? Whatever, this is not some pop culture smack down.

I was in Nicaragua for ten days and I make no claims to be an expert on Nicaraguan politics. However, I did accurately report what people—both Protestants and Catholics, many of whom were participants in the 1979 Sandinista revolution—told me. People from different class backgrounds feel that Ortega has betrayed the revolution. They said he and his clique are no longer Sandinistas. Instead, they have become Danielistas. Of course, it is always possible I spoke to a skewed sample of the population.

Two days before I left Nicaragua there were protest marches in nine cities. Marchers were pelted with rocks and many people were injured. I don’t recall that John Lennon ever sent stone throwing thugs to take down Paul McCartney’s fans.

By: steven gillis

steven gillis — Sat, 07 Mar 2009 17:19:01 +0000

I am, of course, well pleased by the success of your trip and your resolution to keep Shaman Drum going. It is a decision that I – and the whole of the community – should rally around. Enlightenment comes in many ways. You note that your travels seemed at first ill-timed but proved perfect in the end. I contend that in your heart you always knew keeping the Drum open was what you wanted to do and just needed a little extra inspiration. On to the next stage. Lets all of us do what we can for Shaman Drum.

By: Stephen Rush

Stephen Rush — Sat, 07 Mar 2009 14:30:48 +0000

Dear Karl,
Thank you so much for reminding us that MEANING is more important than GETTING. Joe Summers is a dear friend to me as well, and I’m so thrilled that you were able to make the trip to Nicaragua (where my wife works annually in Matagalpa at a Women’s Clinic- I’ve been there 5 times, too). To see your shining face with Ernesto Cardenal, who is honored in my home as much as Mohammed Ali (!), made me shiver with pride and support for your flailing shop o’ books. I will continue to funnel my students to Shaman Drum, have my textbooks be bought there, and attend gatherings. I can only hope people will see the jewel for what it is, and make a 10 minute human experience of parking a car and buying a book wonderfully valuable, instead of merely clicking away on Amazon.com in their rectangular universes. All the best to you and Dianne.

By: Derby ODonnell

Derby ODonnell — Sat, 07 Mar 2009 09:15:04 +0000

Daniel has done what he can to keep the reins from the hands of Violetta Chamorro and others to the right to preserve a semblance of the Sandinista way.
I traveled through the war zones as a photographer for Oxfam in 1984. I know Nicaragua from Somoza days to now. Those who oppose Ortega seem to be either anti-Catholic or feminist, splitting hairs. This is a country that can’t afford intellectual hair-splitting by comfortable 1st world armchair types. His pragmatism allows the revolution to persevere.
When Paul McCartney and John Lennon quarrelled, did we write off the Beatles?

By: Laurie Blakeney

Laurie Blakeney — Sat, 07 Mar 2009 02:01:31 +0000

well Karl, I guess you too have another horse to get back on!

welcome home, congratulations to you and Diane for living a meaningful life!

Love
Laurie

By: Stan Mendenhall

Stan Mendenhall — Fri, 06 Mar 2009 23:59:43 +0000

Karl:

Time for new priorities.

Take what you need, give the rest away.

Stan