Definition of the word “Hero”
he-ro [heer-oh]
–noun, plural -roes
1. a man of distinguished courage or ability, admired for his brave deeds and noble qualities.
2. a person who, in the opinion of others, has heroic qualities or has performed a heroic act and is regarded as a model or ideal.
Also, see Armando Valladares
Last night I got to meet one of my heroes, Armando Valladares. For those who aren't familiar with him (and it's a damned shame if you aren't), Valladares was a political prisoner in Cuba for more than 20 years. He was an Amnesty International prisoner of conscience. When he was finally released into exile Valladares wrote his memoir "Against All Hope" in which he documented the atrocious conditions in castro's gulags. His book was an international best-seller in multiple languages and for the first time the mask of castro's Cuba was really lifted.
President Ronald Reagan made Valladares the U.S. Ambassador to the UN Human Rights Commission where Valladares successfully denounced Cuba's human rights abuses.
I met Valladares at an event last night where he was honored for his lifelong work in favor of human rights. It was a true honor.
Hot Damn! Valladares is truly "THE FIRE!" (La Candela!!!)
Politically-Incorrect then, now and forever, and not afraid to rattle some sacrosant cages--as he proves here:
http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2009/jun/18/their-men-in-higher-ed/
Indeed, no one has so discomfited Cuba's Stalinist rulers--by forcing the world to (at least partly and briefly) open their 'freakin eyes to the horror and swinishness of Castro-rule...If you foolishly overlook his book, Against All Hope, you simply cannot plumb the essence of Castroism.
Unreal
I was in High School when the hard cover English-language edition of the book was published. My parents bought it for me. I remember the cover jacket was brownish-almost leaning toward purple. I remember the b/w photographs of political prisoners. But what I remember most was the fact that people outside my own little world of Cubans paid attention to it. He was in the newspaper and on TV talking about what we talked about at home. He was serious, civil, and relentless. I can honestly say that while I have read better books about Cuban history, no book did more to drive my interest in Cuba and the history of the last fifty years than did this one book by an imprisoned poet. Henry, that must have been quite an honor last night.
But of course, needless to say, Valladares was never and would never be taken anywhere near as seriously as a Nelson Mandela. And that's not even about Mandela himself, because it's not the actual person that matters, it's whether or not the person fits the fashion and agenda of the powers that be, both in politics and the media, as well as other spheres. Same goes for Castro; it's not about him personally, it's about image and positioning and agenda. If Castro had been right-wing, he would NEVER have gotten so far or lasted so long--he was smart enough to figure that out, and sure as hell used it to enormous advantage.
Another Cuban political prisoner, Mario Chanes de Armas, spent 30 years in Castro's jails, longer than any other documented political prisoner in the world, including Mandela. How many people, outside Cuban circles, have ever heard of him? Who ever gave a shit about him in the MSM or Hollywood? Imagine that.
I had read that Washington Times piece linked by Humberto. It would seem that neither FIU nor the Herald give credence to Valladares, Chris Simmons or anybody else who has serious issues with someone like Marifeli Perez-Stable. As far as I know, she remains employed by both FIU and the Herald. Apparently, for some people, Valladares is just some "rabid" anti-Castro "intransigent" who doesn't merit serious attention. I wonder why that linked column appeared in the Washington Times, but not the Herald? Actually, I don't wonder at all.
asombra: it's no news that FIU or the Herald would respect or give the time of day to Valladares or anyone else that goes against their grain, and we shouldn't expect them to, given their track record; as with many other things, the leftist bench drools over image above substance, catering to an empty suit (skirt) like Perez-Stable and similar liberal androids who partake of the media-academia's agenda. Losers.
Lt. Col. Simmons "outed" at least a half dozen supposed spies in the past year but managed to not name the ones actually arrested for spying on the US. I can't blame the Herald or FIU (and trust me I have zero love for "Flunking Is Universal")for not taking him seriously. Waiting for some actual proof other than him saying someone is tainted. I don't know, I guess it's the gringo in me that actual believes in due process.
Cardinal; I vehemently beg to differ with your accusations against him. Simmons can't "out" the ones actually spying because he'd get in trouble!! The man worked those issues for the US Government and knows exactly what he's talking about. However, he treads very dangerous waters when he puts out information, so he has to be careful what he says. He's been very courageous in what he's done and you're way out of line in claiming otherwise.
Here is the article Valladares wrote about Cuban spies in academia.
http://washingtontimes.com/news/2009/jun/18/their-men-in-higher-ed/
Three years ago, when bloggers posted the debriefing of DGI defector Jesus Perez Mendez accusing Marifeli Perez-Stable of being a Castro spy, she got ACLU attorney John de Leon to send threatening letters to Val Prieto and Henry Gomez claiming "For settlement purposes only." The debriefing was later posted in numerous websites, including Oscar Corral's Miami Herald blog.
Now Valladares makes more explicit accusations of espionage against Perez-Stable in the Washington Times, one of the nation's leading newspapers, and she and de Leon do not protest. Their silence speaks volumes.
how is he courageous? if the information he divulged was so sensitive don't you think he would have been slapped down? You couldn't turn on the TV in Miami for three weeks without seeing the guy, he obviously revels in the attention. It makes no sense whatsoever what you said Mambi - he couldn't out people who are actually spying? So what does that make the people that he outed? Again - show me the money...show me something...show me anything that any one of these people he named are spies. The only thing they all have in common is that they all oppose the embargo. There is the distinct possibility that one or all are spies but it is wrong to accuse, point a finger and not back it up with anything at all other than the fact that they disagree with you. This is wrong! This is our own version of the CDR - it's pathetic. It stifles debate and discussion. When are we ever going to learn to stop slinging mud at one another? Haven't we learned anything in 50 years. Discuss and debate...not slander and slime. Focus on issues not personalities.
Cardinal: You're a mess! Did you read what I wrote? He is a government employee who works spy issues, if he reveals who we are tracking he'll end up in jail God Dammit - or do you still not understand that!! And YES, he is courageous, because he's revealing facts (whether you like them or not) knowing that the US Government and others are watching everything he says in order to screw him over. He knows his business, and he has great contacts because of that.
I'm not even going to bother logically explaining it anymore. It sounds to me like you're an apologist for those scumbags. Next time, read up on the person before you go attacking him. You're out to lunch on this one.
Here is some background information on Castro agent Marifeli Perez-Stable to discuss and debate.
http://www.latinamericanstudies.org/espionage/marifeli.htm
Here are some of her comrades
http://www.latinamericanstudies.org/cuban-espionage.htm
Mambi my lovely Mambi - I read what you wrote of course. So let's see if I understand...he can't reveal who the government is tracking, right? So he didn't reveal anyone that the goverment actually had any inclination in believing that they are spying. Ergo - the names he revealed are of people that the government is not tracking and well...we have no proof that they are actually spies. Sympathetic to the regime, perhaps, embargo opponents, definitely, but spies? Who the eff knows? Except, of course, the all-knowing, all-powerful, all-prescient Lt. Col. Simmons. Speaking of which, where does it say that he is still employeed by a govt intelligence agency and can get in trouble for talking?
I never knew who Marifeli was until the 2008 Babalu post, but I did meet her physician dad in the late 1980's on a medical referral from UM; only saw him once, and he seemed a nice man. So her last name rang a bell b/c it's unusual. From her bio, she appears to be another typical 60's liberal, raised in the Cuban "burgeois" culture, living off her dad's support, and ending up performing destructive leftist activism at taxpayers' expense. Public universities, though not alone, have become nests and incubators for subversive elements. IMHO.
Gigi - funny you mention that. I was talking to my mother who remained perplexed by Chavez lackey #2 Correa. She didn't get how Correa could be such a socialist pig when you consider that he had been educated in the US. Mom is bright and has a high opinion of higher education (she works at the better of the two large institutions in the area). Anyway, mom's all confused and I told her that the problem with Correa is that he's a commie bastard cuz he was the only kid in class how actually believed all the BS the professors threw his way.