Hiss UMC Class on Central America

New Class Forming

“. . . if you don’t think a place is important, you don’t learn about it.”

Frank McNeil, former U.S. Ambassador to Costa Rica,

writing in War and Peace in Central America: Reality and Illusion

After a successful venture into US international affairs with global implications, a nine week study titled Cuba / U.S. Relations, Hiss United Methodist Church in Parkville, Maryland will sponsor another similar educational opportunity. Beginning on September 29, a Tuesday, and lasting for nine successive weeks at 7:00 pm, Hiss Church will provide yet another chance to broaden one’s perspective on issues of vital importance to the United States.

This time the topic is Central America: A tumultuous era. The tumultuous era by this course definition is that period 1900 to 2000. In the opinion of the course instructor, for some inexplicable reason, the Maryland educational system is pitifully weak on this topic. History – both ancient and recent – of this hemisphere is largely ignored. Yes, U.S. history is studied, but lessons are few concerning the region south of the Rio Grande. An estimated 5% of one history course in high school is taught about all of Latin America. As a result of this country-wide philosophy, most North Americans – not just Marylanders – have scant knowledge of this hemisphere’s history. There can be no denying that Latin America is important to the U.S. economy and general well-being.

“ Central America is the most important place in the world for the United States today.”

Jeane Kirkpatrick, 1981

U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations

Some of the subjects to be explored are: The Independence of Panama and the Panama Canal; Somoza, Sandino, Ortega and the Iran-Contra Affair; The Removal of Jacobo Arbenz in Guatemala; and Battalion 316. Of course there are other topics as well, such as the School of the Americas, that will be covered during the nine week duration of the course.

The course also encourages high school and college students to participate. Classes will start at 7:00 pm and conclude promptly at 8:00 pm, thus there will be no impact on a students’ readiness for the next school day. In order to accommodate more students, a second weekly offering will be conducted on Sunday mornings at 9:30 am in Room208. The first Sunday class will be on September 27, 2015. So, if you miss a class it can be made up at the next session on another day. (See other side)

A fee of $2.00 will be collected on the first day of class. The fee covers the cost of duplicating handout materials. For additional information contact Don Wiley via email at donwiley@verizon.net.

“We do control the destinies of Central America and we do so for the simple reason that the national interest absolutely dictates such a course. . . . Until now, Central America has always understood that governments which we recognize and support stay in power, while those we do not recognize and support fall.”

Robert Olds, 1927

U.S. Undersecretary of State

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