KPU and SOC Present: Ana Navarro
By: Winaly Simpson
This past week, I had the honor of managing a unique and thought-provoking event with Ana Navarro, cosponsored by The Kennedy Political Union and The School of Communication. Mrs. Navarro has been an inspiration and role model to me ever since I became interested in American politics. She is also from my home country, Nicaragua, which made managing this event memorable and personal for me. We both immigrated to Miami as young children because our families saw the opportunities that we would have in the U.S. compared to Nicaragua where the political instability makes it extremely difficult to succeed in life. Seeing a fellow Nicaraguan in action and held in such high esteem by members of the media and political industry fueled my pride and love for where I come from and where I am now.
During the event, Mrs. Navarro spoke about her own experiences as a young immigrant and how they shaped her political views and advocacy for immigrants. She mentioned how many Latinos in the U.S, especially those who immigrated from socialist and communist countries have Republican views once they settle in the U.S. I found this part of the conversation fascinating, because it’s a phenomenon that I experience often in the Miami community, but many fail to understand. She emphasized that many Republicans frame the entire Democratic party as promoting a socialist agenda, in an effort to gain their support. To quote Ms. Navarro, “When you fled communism, as I have and so many Cuban Americans, Nicaraguan Americans, Venezuelan Americans, and people who live in South Florida have, the idea of socialism has an emotional trigger.” I found this explanation critical for those who don’t have a background in how the Latino community is persuaded and convinced to vote in American elections.
As a Nicaraguan immigrant, my family and I also faced many of the problems that Mrs. Navarro spoke about. As a small child, I also didn’t have a say in the decision that my parents made when coming to this country, but I’m extremely grateful that they did because, as cheesy as it sounds, I would not be here if it wasn’t for them. Similar to Ms. Navarro, my family fled the country as a result of the Sandinista government, which has been in power in Nicaragua for almost 14 consecutive years and 24 years total. Due to political persecution, we were forced to flee the country as many before and after us did. When I asked Mrs. Navarro what her advice is for young Nicaraguans who feel the need to condemn the government that has murdered, stolen, and committed other human rights violations, she replied that there is an incredible amount of value in sharing our own experiences and continuing to spread awareness about what is happening in Nicaragua.
As I’m writing this blog post today, there are more than 600 political prisoners detained ever since the protests of 2018, more than 500 dead, and a continued crackdown on freedom of speech (Human Rights Watch). Ms. Navarro emphasized that it is a dangerous task to oust the inhumanity of the Sandinista government because they violently reiterate any action against them, but it is one that must be done. If you take anything away from this blog post, I hope it is an increased awareness about what is happening in Nicaragua, so that you can also share the tragedies and hopes of restoring freedom for the country.
In the name of self-improvement and awareness, I hope that we can all reflect Ms. Navarro’s advice: “I don’t particularly care about what anyone says about me. I know who I am, I know what I am, I know what I stand for, and I know what my principles are. Nobody defines me other than myself.”
I was grateful to have the opportunity to put this event together with the rest of the Kennedy Political Union team. These conversations are incredibly meaningful in creating change and establishing a better world for the future. I can’t wait to see what the rest of the semester has in store! Please use the links below for more information on what is happening in Nicaragua and how you can help Nicaraguan Refugees.
