OCTAVia PAZ
381
itarianism in Latin America is the regime of Fidel Castro , which has
reproduced the bureaucratic-military structure of the Soviet Union.
Cuban influence has been decisive in Nicaragua, where the process
of Sovietization is quite advanced, as objective observers such as
Alan Riding have reported. In El Salvador, the terrorist practices of
the guerrillas reveal a totalitarian mentality. Once again, however, I
hasten to declare that to criticize the process of Sovietization in Nica–
ragua or the totalitarian tendencies of the Salvadoran guerrillas does
not mean I am closing my eyes to the crimes and atrocities of the
Rios Montts and the D'Aubissons. Miguel de la Madrid, the Presi–
dent of Mexico said not long ago , "It seems to me that intelligent ac–
tion may assure the nationalist character of (he revolutionary move–
ments of Central America ." I interpret that statement to mean that
the regime in Nicaragua and the various revol utionary movements
in Central America should shake off Russo-Cuban influence and
domina(ion . I would add that those groups should, aside from be–
coming nationalistic, become democratic .
;------- ---Spnng1984lssue------- --.
A
philosopher In praise of blrd-watchlng-
William K. Frankena.
Virginia WooIfs battle of the books and the sexes–
Sandra
M.
Gilbert.
Modem physics and the Grand Unified
Theory-Sheldon Lee G/ashow.
The
'passing' of Elsie
Roxborough-Kathleen
A.
Hauke.
Fantasia on Klertl:egaard
&.
The
areen
Knight-David Lehman.
$3.50Icopy ·
$
13iyear
~.
The cultural
&
literary journal
fM ew
of The University of M ichigan
____________________________
~
_______=______
J
The University of Michigan . 3032 Rackham Building . Ann Arbor. MI48109-1 020 • (313)764-9265
