I just returned from a two week stay in Talanga, Honduras.

Firstly, Zelaya was pushing for a constitutional convention, yet has denied pushing to change the constitution to extend his occupation. The proposed constitutional convention would not have taken place until after Zelaya's term had concluded this November. As to Zelaya's true intentions, I am uncertain.

Regardless, most all of the Hondurans with whom I talked and interacted were outraged that Zelaya was removed by military force and not properly via impeachment. Furthermore, They are in support of his return to power, not becouse they are being paid to say so, but because Zelaya has been one of the first presidents of Honduras to support the lower class (ie by increasing minimum wage).

People in similar economic conditions tend to share political views and opinions.Talanga is comprised almost entirely of the rock bottom of the lower class. Honduras' lower class makes up a majority, with 44 percent of Hondurans live off of the equivalent of $2/day or less (qtd World Bank). Thus I presume that the men and women of Talanga with whom I interacted share similar views and opinions to those of the majority of Hondurans.

Hondurans want Zelaya back. The military road blocks, curfews, and shootings are not imaginative fantasies aimed at discrediting the newly-elected "President" Roberto Micheletti. They are an attempt to restrain the very real protests and riots of the lower class--of the majority of Honduras.

It does not matter whether Zelaya's politics seem to share similarities with those of Hugo Chavez (in fact i would be very taken aback if they did not, considering Honduras and Venezuela themselves share many similarities with regard economic and social situations). What matters is that Honduras is a democratic republic, and yet the majority is being repressed by the military.

Even if Zelaya was tricking the lower class into trusting him so that he could in turn become a dictator and rule as the supreme law of the land, the fact remains that most of Honduras still wants Zelaya in power, and still respects him as the rightful president of Honduras.

And who are we as Americans to stand in the way of that? While we may disagree with the politics of leaders such as Hugo Chavez, I find it very difficult to believe that we as Americans know what is right for the people of Honduras better than the people of Honduras themselves know.

Thus I agree with President Obama that these "tensions and disputes must be resolved peacefully through dialogue free from any outside interference." It is not the United States' place to say who is in power in another sovereign republic, rather the place of the people of said republic to determine for themselves who ought to represent them in a humane and democratic manor.

"President" Zelaya is trying to change the Constitution of Honduras to extend his occupation as president by running for second term. Those supporters that are shown in this video are bought. Them, and many other people like them were promised money by Zelaya's personal wealth, to support him and his return. The issue with most Honduran citizens is that Zelaya is already sided with Hugo Chavez and the people don't want to turn into a socialist state and especially not have a president like Chavez.
I just pray that it won't get anymore violent.