...that my past is catching up on me.
First I read that Daniel Ortega has been elected President of Nicaragua, then I discover that Jason Donovan will be on I'm a Celebrity Get Me Out of Here*.
And I'm ambivalent about both facts.
In the 1980s I identified in solidarity with the Sandanistas in Nicaragua. My support ranged from attending the marvellous Puerto Cabezas Festival in Manchester - twin cities, natch - to buying and displaying t-shirts and mugs with variations on the theme of "Nicaragua No Paseran!". I kind of regret that I was never adventurous enough to actually go to Nicaragua.
But I read How I woke up and smelt the coffee, which left a bitter taste in my mouth.
Reportedly, Bush was going to impose sanctions on Nicaragua if Ortega was elected, which seems all too reminiscent of the 1980s: we were in solidarity with Nicaragua not because we necessarily thought it was a socialist nirvana, but because we were angry at the overt and covert action by a corrupt US Government determined to destroy a democracy that was of the 'wrong' hue. Just like they are determined to destroy the popularly elected and socialist Hugo Chavez in Venezuela. Maybe one day Bush will learn the awkward truth that people are perfectly entitled to vote other than the way he and his bullying cronies want them to...
...Democrats seize control of House, Virginia key to US Senate control...
And I'm not sure that I can bring myself to watch the awfulness that is reality TV. I did try to watch Lee Sharpe on Celebrity Love Island, but I never made it past the first commercial break. I can understand why the celebs do it - easy money and an upturn in name-recognition. But it doesn't mean I am obliged ot watch it, or to acknowledge its existence, or care about what happens, or accord it any importance, even in the relative squalor of low-rent telly. But as a former member of the Jason Donovan Fan Club, as well as the Lee Sharpe Fan Club, it seems a betrayal.
I've heard Donald Rumsfeld has some time on his hands. Maybe he fancies a spot on a celebrity reality TV show. Probably be better if he turned prison visitor, though, go and cheer up his old mate Saddam.
* impressed or what - what other blogger do you know who could write an almost cogent blogpost linking Daniel Ortega and Jason Donovan?
Comments