The northern sister of Costa Rica, Nicaragua, struggles to accomplish economically and politically what its southern sibling has already achieved.                                                                   

Despite the United States being involved in so many negative ways with this amazing country since the 1849 California Gold Rush (see Cornelius Vanderbilt, William Walker, U. S. Marines, etc.), its people have endured, forgiven and continued dreaming of freedom and prosperity.  Nicaraguans could really use some inspired leadership to bring them out of the darkness and Comandante #2 may just be the woman for the job.

Dora Maria Téllez sits in her little hammock, hair a bit grayer, face now gaunt from lack of food on the 12th day of her hunger strike, protesting the actions of one Daniel Ortega. The strong hands of the former medical student and Sandinista Guerilla fighter no longer support the weight of a rifle, but now defiantly grip the thin wooden rod that supports the blue and white flag of her struggling country, Nicaragua.

Téllez has chosen to publicly hold her hunger strike, not in an air conditioned office or hotel room, but in downtown Managua with the heat of the equatorial sun sapping whatever it will from her.  Her eyes can bore 2 holes straight through steel when she becomes “Comandante Dos” (Commander #2), her call sign during the Revolution in 1978 to oust the brutal Somoza dynasty of one father and 2 sons that had held Nicaragua in their cruel grip for 38 years of  rule, starting in 1936.

With a microphone in her hand she will rally her troops once more with the strong voice and mesmerizing cadence that use to rally her soldiers of freedom during the war for the people when she was only 22.  Today, Telléz goes to battle again; this time she is the Voice of Nicaragua in a war to reawaken the dreams of freedom and economic success out of tired, hungry and demoralized souls. 

The economic potential of Nicaragua is almost limitless, being so large, having so many natural resources, beautiful tourist venues and if its economic health improves, “iron man-like” workers that would not flood into Costa Rica anymore. 

Dora Maria Téllez, who served as the Sandinista government’s first Minister of Health and is a woman whose lifetime of a dedication to Freedom for her country, deserves to be spotlighted as brilliantly as possible. 

DORA MARIA TELLEZ, 1978

Seeing the potholes in the road ahead, Téllez accurately predicted the squelching action of President Ortega who, through an Ortega supported Supreme Elections Tribunal, on June 11^th banned the electoral participation of political organizations like the MRS (Sandinista Renovation Movement), which she founded.

For the last 2 years Ortega has been thwarted trying to consolidate his power in ways the freedom loving Nicaraguan people have not failed to notice.  These days however, there seems to be fewer people willing to respond to a freedom fighter that has gone over to the "dark side".  Noticing and actually being able to stop an elected President from transforming himself into another Nicaraguan dictator are two different things.      

Unlike stable and prosperous Costa Rica, Nicaragua has struggled for over a century, fighting for the elusive goals of Freedom, Stability and Economic Achievement.  This beautiful country remains basically poor, except for the few powerful ruling families that keep getting “elected” and “placed” into high political positions.  A history of meddling by Great Democracies tipping the scales of Nicaragua’s political system in order to prevent their perceived enemies from gaining undue regional influence can neither be denied or swept under the rug.

We all learn from the past and this geopolitical puzzle has to be solved by Nicaraguans themselves.  The pieces that fit into place have to be found.  The puzzle pieces that fit the best would be red white and blue, despite the Vanderbilts, Walkers, Nixons, Reagans, Bushes and the current crop of "good friends" who prefer the color red.                 

We wish that there was a magic solution to the woes of Nicaragua, but with at least 9 different political parties and movements that President Ortega is in the process of eliminating in order to prevent opposition, and other well known political and economic “challenges”, Dora Maria Telléz has enough situations to keep her busy for a long while.

Unfortunately, President Ortega is continuing to align himself with “questionable” characters and enemies of the United States, which history shows can bring U.S. military involvement, or at the least, restricted flows of U.S. aid.

The more light that is shown on the activities of Dora Maria Téllez, the better chance there will be for help from either sympathetic democracies like the United States or individuals who appreciate what this “Nica-Warrior” has dedicated her life to.

Téllez continues to put her life on the line for the country she loves, even when it means, once again, risking it in a war for her people. Hopefully she won’t have to achieve martyrdom or end up by saying “Don’t Cry For Me, Nicaragua.”

In fact, If Daniel Ortega uses any intelligence at all; he will realize that it is actually in his best interest to see that Dora Maria Telléz stays very healthy. 

Here are some links to view more of Dora Maria Tellez.  Even if you don't speak Spanish, you can feel her emotion and dedication pouring out into the crowd.

Note:  The black and white photo of Dora Maria Tellez sitting in a chair is from the book by Margaret Randall called "Sandino's Daughters", first published in 1981.

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