Companera Sonia and the FMLN Victory - a personal story and video

[magbana]

Over the past several days, I have been thinking about my FMLN friends who live in DC but went to El Salvador for the election. One of them, Sonia, much to my delight showed up on Democracy Now video (http://www.democracynow.org/ at the 3:33 minute mark). I was so happy to see her and the joyous look on her face. But as Roberto Lovato said on Amy's show, the saying in El Salvador today is "let the joy wash away the suffering." And my dear friend, Sonia has suffered.

I first met Sonia at an FMLN fundraiser several years ago. She nabbed every new person who came through the door and offered a short course on the civil war. She was warm and energetic. Over the years, as we became friends, I learned about the "suffering." Sonia served as a field nurse for the FMLN. One of the most gripping stories she told is about the numerous times peasant women would show up within minutes of giving birth and some with the babies in a breech position. At first, she would try to move the baby into the correct position and, as a last resort, attempt a crude C-section. Most often it was impossible with the simple medical implements they had and both mother and baby would die.

One day, Sonia and I were at an anti-war rally in DC and the police cordoned off an area, but gave a last chance for anyone who wished to leave to do so. She jumped up and told me she had to go so she could get something to eat. I thought this odd, but she explained that during the war food was scarce and she would not eat for as long as week at a time and, ever since, when she gets hungry, she panics because she gets a severe pain in her gut that has never gone away.

Well, dear Sonia, I hope some of the pain went away last night as you stood at the victory rally. You and your country deserve alot more joy than you have had for the last 20 years!

Viva FMLN!!

Magbana

[Judi Lynn]

1. Great article by Amy and Roberto Labato, and there was your friend, right where you said she'd be.

What a wonderful time for her to be there. She did look so happy.

Did not know Funes lost his brother to that war. He has something real at stake in this, as well. Peopele who know how precious real freedom is are the ones worthy of real leadership. It was great hearing Labato say that he is light years brighter than the conventional conservative politicians they've had who speak in generalizations, platitudes, and that this man is deeply informed in a vast number of areas, and totally prepared for the job.

It's wonderful seeing the faces of the people who've seen the PEOPLE win, finally, after 130 years of rule by oligarchs, and military dictatorships.

Thank you, magbana, hope your friend Sonia will make it back in good shape, and have a much brighter future than she had dared to hope.

[EFerrari]

2. LOL! That made start crying all over again.

So many happy people, Magbana! :woohoo: