Tuesday, September 21, 2010

SPI114 Friendly Dictators...Memorization Techniques

I love the freedom I have in teaching Interpreting skills. One very important skill that every interpreter should have is the abilty to remember. As an interpreter, you have to be able to listen to what's being said, remember it, change it into a different language, and then repeat it. Fortunately, we are Community Interpreters, therefore our messages are very long and there's a waiting period between speakers. Imagine how difficult it would be to remember a speech at a conference or a closing arguement.

Before I share some of Memorization Tricks, I thought it would be interesting to give you a list of things for you to remember and we could see how you learn them. 

Friendly Dictators...

Hmmm why are they called friendly, trust me it's not because they're nice, these men are truly dictators in every form of the word. They just happen to be "friends" of the US or at least at one point in their dictatorship it is alleged that they were our friend. Apparently, we ignored their murdering, raping, pillaging, torturing, drug-selling, and all other crimes due to their anti-communist views. Makes me wonder what is so evil about communism that killing people...excuse me murdering women, men and children is justified....possibly another topic.

1. FULGENCIO BATISTA:
President of Cuba seized power via coup in 1932 overthrown in 1959 by Castro.

2.  RAFAEL LEONIDAS TRUJILLO:
President of the Dominican Republic put in power by US in 1916 assassinated in 1961 by CIA.

3. FRANÇOIS & JEAN CLAUDE DUVALIER
Presidents-for-Life of Haiti Papa "Doc" and Baby "Doc" terrorized Haiti for 30 years.

4. MAXIMILIANO HERNANDEZ MARTINEZ
General of El Salvador seized power in 1931 and was kicked out of the country in 1944.

5. ANASTASIO SOMOZA, SR. AND JR.
Presidents of Nicaragua controlled, terrrorized, and destroyed Nicaraguans for 45yrs.

6. GENERAL EFRAIN RIOS MONT
President of Guatemala ruled from 1982 - 1983 short but bloody term.

7. ROBERTO SUAZO CORDOVA
President of Honduras 1978 to 1984.

8. GENERAL MANUEL NORIEGA

Chief of Defense Forces, Panama began his relationship with the US in 1976 and was indicted for drug charges in 1987.

9. VINICIO CEREZO

President of Guatemala elected in 1986 - 1990.

10. ALFREDO CRISTIANI

President of El Salvador from 1989 to 1994.

11. GENERAL HUMBERTO BRANCO

President of Brazil led military coup 1964 and ruled until 1985.

12. COLONEL HUGO BANZER

President of Bolivia military take over in 1971 remained in power until 1978
13. GENERAL JORGE RAFAEL VIDELA

President of Argentina, known for the "Dirty War" = state sponsored violence from 1970s to 1983.

14. ALFREDO STROESSNER

President-for-Life of Paraguay military coup 1954 ruled for 35 years.

15. GENERAL AUGUSTO PINOCHET

President of Chile...seized power from President Salvador Allende 1973 remained in power until 1990.

For this "test" you need to be able to match the Dictator with his Country.

If you'd like to read more about these men, their time in power, and their connection with the US check out the Friendly Dictators Trading Cards...yes...Trading Cards...that is pretty sad.

http://home.iprimus.com.au/korob/fdtcards/Cards_Index.html

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