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Your style is interesting but I'm not always sure I'm following 100% whether you are speaking to me (Peter) or to Americans in Nicaragua, or just in general to anyone who wants to listen.  As for myself personally, sure I had minor and major runins with Sandinistas, liberals, etc.  You could say I'm a bit worse for wear, but no pain no gain, right?

For several years I didn't write about Nicaragua (or any other subject) publicly.  Last fall, several people encouraged me to share more, however, and so I have done so.  You are right, of course, that to become involved in the politics of a foreign country is generally a mistake; but to take note of the politics, and to understand it so that one can make informed decisions is not a mistake.

Yes, I've been to some places in the Matagalpa - Jinotega area, though not much.  I never had extended conversations about race with the people there but would be interested to hear your ideas about what I might have learned.

I did talk about race with many others in Nicaragua - los que dicen 'somos indios', y los que dicen 'no lo soy'; los que hablan de matriculacion y ruben dario y los que no hablan de nada sino comunican por sus dedos. Son dos años de hablar poco español desde que salí de nicaragua pero no me lo olvidó, claro que algo si. me hace falta ahorita escucharlo! 

What you seem to be saying in your story is that America is no longer the light of the world, that is has been infiltrated by selfish, dishonest persons who have more in common with Ortega than they do with the Americans of 1900?

So what do you think, is the U.S. the light of the world, or is it the world's oppressor, or is it both?