Many people vastly underestimate or choose to ignore the revolution that came with Omar's ascension to power.

It was a social revolution that improved the lot of the lower classes for the first time.

The wealthy classes had never paid much attention to the majority of the poor people in the country.

But under Torrijos, there was investment in public health care and education, roads were built, public sector jobs were created.

In focusing on popular empowerment and bringing about a significant change in the social conditions and mobility of a generation of Panamanians, Torrijos won the lasting enmity of the powers that cared little for the majority of impoverished, dark-skinned Panamanians, the class from which I came.

Because of this social agenda, the United States, which was naturally aligned with the the tall, white-skinned oligarchy came to regard Torrijos as a communist.