Teaching Mussolini

So school has begun here at the American School. I have been amazed by the respect and courtesy my students have shown me so far. They smile and greet me with 'hello meester' and a hand shake. I can't imagine even well-behaved American kids being so amiable. Of course, the good behavior will wear off soon enough...but i'll take it for now.

Things have already been interesting in the classroom. My first unit is on Mussolini and Fascism, and though we have been officially instructed not to discuss the political situation here in Honduras, it's impossible to pass up the golden opportunities and parallels. My students are all seniors. They aren't naive. They know what's going on and many of them have parents that are very well-connected politically and otherwise. As I talk about the global misperceptions of Mussolini in 1925 as a genius and hero of democracy, you could hear a pin drop. I've never had more attentive students. They feel like the Italians of the 20's as the world praised a man they knew to be a thug and a swindler. The difference is that here the thug has been removed from power and in Italy he was just getting started. What a teachable moment. Living history first hand.

The situation here is very contained. On CNN I'm sure you see pictures of protestors and burning buses but here we know that there are only a small mob of angry, poverty-stricken farmers that set tires on fire and roll them downhill--not because they support the convictions of Mel Zelaya, but because they are understandably upset by their station in life (a station that has been severely worsened by their savior, President Zelaya, a man who has made a couple hundred million in foreign aid disappear.)

It would be like the elephant in the room not to talk about this, so that's why I've decided to give you an update. We are very safe and as I've said the situation is far from widespread. Our school is the most secure location in the city if anything should happen, and our apartment is within sight of the school. They are taking very good care of us and are working closely with the American Embassy. So, in the States it could appear that the situation is touch and go but it's not. Not yet. Life goes on. Business as usual. Oh-bla-di. We watched Honduras defeat Costa Rica 4-0 last night in World Cup qualifying and 2 million cheers went up around the city. Fireworks filled the skies and today happy people are walking down the sidewalk underneath the tropical plants just outside my classroom window.

Do not worry but do pray for us as we teach our students. Pray peace for the people of Honduras and wisdom for the powerful people that make the decisions. But we are safe and happy and God is all-knowing, all-good and in control.

Estar Bien!