Last evening was "Nicaragua Night" in my small Vermont town.

[cali]

We have a sister town in Nicaragua, and this is the third year that we've held a dinner to raise funds for the project, which includes funding a library, providing scholarships, and bringing kids here, for the last few years.

The turn-out was amazing. Hundreds of people for two sittings of dinner, a short movie about last year's trip to Nicaragua, and live music by a father and son from that country.

Here are a couple of things I observed:

People from all walks of life and of all political persuasions were in attendance.

We recycle everything- including the plastic forks and knives.

Tons of beautiful little kids

and just something I noticed: Not a single really overweight adult or child.

Makes me proud of my economically strapped but generous community.

[knitter4democracy]

1. Nicaragua could use the help.

I was down there with a group in 94. The people we stayed with were the most generous I've ever met, beautiful, amazing people. The poverty was shocking, really, even though I'd seen Third World poverty before. It was hard to see such good people suffering like that.

[cali]

2. It's my understanding that there has been improvement since then

but there's still a long way to go. I'm glad to be part of a community that's dedicated to helping. When you have a town of under three thousand and over 700 show up to support this program, you feel really good about making a difference.

[knitter4democracy]

5. That's small-town love right there.

I grew up in a small town, and we took in more refugees from Cambodia than anywhere else in the area because of one dedicated church convincing the whole town that it was our duty to do so. I think it's easier to get people moving when they're more interconnected, like they are in small towns. :)

[Lord Wortherington]

3. So Reagan was right after all.

They musta come down through Canada, damn commie bastards.

[ThatsMyBarack]

4. Welcome to DU, Lord Wortherington!

:hi:

[cali]

6. huh?

I gather you're being sarcastic, I'm just not sure about what. And welcome to DU. :hi:

[Lord Wortherington]

7. Reagan said the Sandinistas would come up through Mexico.

Since I didn't see any in Arkanasas on their march to Vermont, they must have invaded through Canada. :sarcasm:

[cali]

8. Ah, yes that's what I thought you meant but

I was confused because except for the father and son who were visiting and playing music, we were all just a bunch of Vermonters- redneck, old hippies, young hippies and a few yuppies.