Do you know howCentral American countries got the name Banana Republics

[malaise]

Study that history of terror by US corporations, their own military and right wing goons and we arrive at tear gas for migrants and their children fleeing a mess created by the big bad imperialists and the neo-imperialists.

I am sick to the stomach.

[mucifer]

1. I thought it had to do with United Fruit Company

Dole and Chiquita bananas owning the countries. I probably am wrong about that tho. I could google. But, you know I'm lazy.

[SharonAnn]

2. They were the primary cause. Read "War is a Racket". US Military used to control them

[mucifer]

3. I remember reading about it a long time ago. I think here we often forget how messed up our history

is and we act like all this evil started under trump.

[PaulX2]

12. Pinochet

EOM

[sandensea]

14. To say nothing of Videla in neighboring Argentina. He was twice as bad in less than half the time.

I sometimes think that's where Cheeto's people got the idea for the child separations.

[blue-wave]

13. Oh Wow

You mean the book written by Smedley Butler? The rightwingers wanted him to help overthrow FDR, Butler exposed them. It's a very interesting story. One I think all Americans should study. Butler's awakening makes him a true American hero and patriot in my book.

[malaise]

6. UFC was the grandfather - the banana corporations then took over

And don't forget the Spanish Catholicism.
For centuries Western powers have fucked up our hemisphere and now they have thrown the people into IMF neo-liberal shit, low paying jobs and all the guns they want. And now they wash their hands and tear gassing the toddlers.
Fuck this shit. Chavez gave Obama a great book. Everyone should read it.

https://m.

PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad and Tobago, April 18 -- With the media watching their every gesture, President Obama and President Hugo Chavez of Venezuela continued their getting-to-know-you phase with a gift and another handshake, this one for more than one camera.

Before Obama began a closed-door meeting with the leaders of UNASUR, an association of the 12 South American nations, Chavez walked around the u-shaped table and handed him a book, "Las Venas Abiertas de America Latina," or "The Open Veins of Latin America." Cameras clicked, tape rolled.

The work, originally published in 1970, is probably the best known by Eduardo Galeano, an Uruguayan writer of socialist leanings. It explores the history of European colonization of Latin America and what Galeano believes is the malign political and economic influence the United States has exerted over the region in recent decades.


Galeano was persecuted in the 1970s by military juntas in Uruguay and Argentina, both recognized by the U.S. government. He now serves on the advisory board of TeleSUR, a South America-wide satellite channel based in Caracas, Venezuela. Chavez's communications ministry oversees the channel.

[pangaia]

18. I have been reading that on and off for 2 or 3 years.

I just can never jeep going. Too damn depressing and frightening....

[mitch96]

11. "United Fruit Company"

My elderly aunt who was born in 1907 told me about this scam. Turns out a bunch of senators had controlling interests in United Fruit.. God forbid if their fortunes would go down in a banana republic. "They" set up a false flag operation so they could send down to US troops to protect their assets... er I mean the fine, hard working people of Central America. aHem...
m

[Richard D]

25. This is so.

[brush]

4. Yep, decades of coups, assassinations and occupations in our hemisphere...

why Venezuelans are starving now and no one can tell me we didn't meddle in that country, so of course those who can, try to get to a better situation here.

[malaise]

7. I know

We had our share of it in the late 70's and 80s.

[brush]

8. My ex was a cousin of Maurice Bishop so I was touched by it.

Malaise, what country are you in?

[malaise]

9. Wow

Last edited Mon Nov 26, 2018, 04:44 AM - Edit history (1)

I'll never forget the day he was murdered and the invasion that followed.
That affected many close friends.

[shadowmayor]

15. Zelaya in Honduras

Tossed out in coup in 2009 and we supported the over-throw. Not exactly decades ago.

[malaise]

21. Brazil

Weeks ago - RW fundies and racists

[Small-Axe]

5. Chickens come home to roost.

[RockCreek]

10. Open Veins of Latin America

By Eduardo Galeano
Taught me about it, and is beautifully written.
I did not eat bananas for months after I read it for the first time.

[malaise]

22. Mentioned it above

Everyone should read it.

[dhol82]

16. Goes back a ways:

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_occupation_of_Nicaragua

[dhol82]

17. I think I first heard about this in the movie "Cheaper by the Dozen"

At least i think it was that movie.
It was a very young Jeanne Crain marching against the Marines in Nicaragua.

[Nitram]

19. Yes, I know where the term originated. I grew up in Central and South America, and my

high school U.S. History teacher was a Colombian woman with a PhD in history from Harvard. My high school was in Bogota, and she taught me a great deal about the parts of U.S. History that are usually left out of the curriculum.

[malaise]

23. Then you really know

:fist bump:

[Roy Rolling]

20. Caravans have a Cause

The same cause as refugees everywhere in the world. They are fleeing violence and economic exploitation. Refugees don't seek refuge from nothingness.

There's a reason there's worldwide migration, and most of the time it's human-made. The best way to stop Central American refugees is to not become partners with the violent gangs and corrupt governments exploiting ordinary citizens.

[malaise]

24. Most of the time it is human-made

Well said