From someone who was there with you, in Cuba, while you paraded around like naked kings and filmed your little movie:
Dear Luis and friends,
Why am I spreading lies about you? Just to let you know I only read the title of your e-mail that you sent me. If you want to continue a dialogue, I suggest you do it here in public where it began.
About my critique on the behaviour of you and your crew when you were shooting your film in Havana (which you call lies), well we could argue about this until we are blue in the face. In the end it is only for yourself to decide whether your actions were or were not appropriate. There is however a much bigger issue at stake and that has to do with the film itself.
Your friend who wrote the response in the blog was correct when he pointed out that no one has in fact seen the film yet and until that time one cannot give a fully accurate critique of the project. Yet judging by the strong reaction your film has already provoked in the public, you may have noticed that shooting a film in a Cuba is an extremely controversial action, an action that you will have to take responsibility for. Taking responsibility for his or her actions, whether you feel comfortable with this or not, is the main role of an artist.
Now being a filmmaker myself who has written, directed and produced several films, I know first hand what it means to take responsibility. It means treating your subject matter with respect (which in turn treats your audience with respect). Respect comes from having deep understanding of the culture/ people/ and subject matter that you portray in the film. This understanding leads to an empathy that allows you to depict your subject matter in an inoffensive way, even if the film is a critique of that culture. So how does a filmmaker come about having that understanding? Well when it deals with a foreign culture, it comes from living and working in that culture, interacting with the people on an everyday basis and doing tremendous research, research that often takes years to do.
So my questions for you are: How long had you been in Cuba before you began shooting? How much research did you do about the culture and people beforehand? Did you live there? Did you work there? Did you use Cubans as a part of the crew, allowing them to make serious, creative decisions about the script, the dialogue and about the portrayal of the Cuban people depicted in your film?
Perhaps you will respond by saying the film isn’t about Cuba. It’s about a man who goes to Cuba. but this is where you cease to take responsibility for your role as an artist. Simply by going to Cuba you have made a statement. By shooting a film there you have opened up a volatile can of worms. You don’t need my “lies” to trigger off the anger towards your own actions. You have already done this by using Cuba, your own Cuban heritage and the volatile political situation to spread your own lies- lies about your understanding of the integrity of filmmaking and about your understanding of Cuba and the Cuban people who are suffering tremendously day by day.
Yes I should wait for the film to come out before making this statement, but I feel confident enough by what I have already seen about the project and what you have to say in your defense, to come to the conclusion that you are exploiting the Cuban people and the whole subject of Cuba to sell yourself and your career.
I will make an effort to watch the film when it comes out, and if you prove me wrong I promise to take back my words and offer an apology.
In the end what I said about you and your crews actions in Cuba is insignificant gossip. It’s the film itself which will speak the truth.
Val, here is the video of the demonstration by the dissidents paying homage to the victims of the Remolcador 13 de Marzo.
http://www.somoscubanos.com/
LUIS MORO SHAME ON YOU.
SHAME DOUBLE SHAME.
Luis Moro
I hope you are reading this….and if you have one ounce of decency, dignity and self worth left in you. Please, think hard… understand where you come from, the pain and the tribulations of the Cuban people in Cuba and in exile!!
Please, examine your heart and soul, do some serious searching!!
What an embarrasement you are to your Cuban heritage!!
First of all Val,
Being in public is the only way to go, so thank you for the opportunity to shed some light on this subject. Unfortunately you would just ignore your own lies, and they become non-important. And yet most of these responses have been based on your lies, are you that unconscious or you just don’t care? As far as being responsible judge your own life first. You want questions answered yet you have not addressed one. Do you have family in Cuba? What does your family in Cuba say?
We had no idea who you were Val, so we checked you out a little. You are a blog hog for sure.
What films have you written, directed and produced? Definitely interested. Being that Luis is an award-winning indie filmmaker around the world with his first film ‘Anne B. Real’, but also has five other full length features he has just completed.
two have been accepted this year to many film festivals.
‘Love and Suicide’ was an act of love for his people, being that Luis Moro who is Afro-Cuban was born and raised in Cuba, then came to the United States, leaving behind most of his family that he was tearfully reunited with on our LEGAL trip. We stayed with the Cuban people, we gave them money to buy food, and ate in their homes. They also had creative input in the film, and had numerous locals act along with Cuban American’s in his film. We lived amongst the Cubans and spent very little time in the hotel, if at all. He has researched his beloved country for more than 20 years. He grew up, after leaving Cuba, in New Jersey, the second largest population of Cubans behind Florida- whom he has a huge fan base and supporters as well.
As far as taking responsibility, I had to laugh. I don’t blame you for saying things you simply don’t know. I will give you that since you have no idea who Luis Moro is. He is the most responsible film maker I know. What you wrote was great, what movies have you done like this? Where have you expressed your words as a filmmaker? I congratulate you if you have and I welcome you to practice what you preach if you haven’t.
We have no anger towards our own actions Val, we are proud. The ONLY ANGER we have received has been from this blog, and interestingly enough as soon as I started to respond all the commentators dropped off leaving two people. You and George. Hi George, missed me? We are not a breed of filmmakers that get scared off, at all really. Luis Moro is busy, WORKING on his book ‘Operation: Freedom for all’. His responses will be in his book.
You say he ‘has already done this by using Cuba, your own Cuban heritage and the volatile political situation to spread your own lies- lies about your understanding of the integrity of filmmaking and about your understanding of Cuba and the Cuban people who are suffering tremendously day by day.’ What lies? Lying about the poverty? Lying about the spirit of the Cuban people? Those lies? Or the lies that they deserve freedom. Not sure which lie your talking about. Integrity? Sir, I would look in the mirror before you cast that stone.
My dear, the only ‘selling themselves’ is you. Publicity hog. I see you have a lot of spare time to voice your holy opinion on cyber-space. We’re busy making movies, working hard, and I am having fun swatting the flies. So you talk a lot. What’s your opinion worth, really?
‘In the end what I said about you and your crews actions in Cuba is insignificant gossip. It’s the film itself which will speak the truth.’ This is what you said, Val, and this is the most accurate thing you have said. Unfortunately your ‘insignificant gossip’, or more accurately your false statements, lies (which makes you a liar), makes you a irresponsible filmmaker that is not depicting the truth accurately. Then shrugging it off, when confronted. Wow, what’s that about integrity?
As you know never has there been more momentum to change Cuba policy than right now. The U.S public overwhelmingly supports free travel to Cuba and even our Congress people realize that Cuba policy is outdated and only hurts the people of Cuba and the U.S. In 2003, majorities of both the House and the Senate took important steps to end the travel ban. There are so many organizations you could vent your hostility to, becoming apart of the solution, not the problem. Sign a petition, write to congressman that oppose the Embargo. To topple Fidel and his evil dictatorship.
Instead of uniting with ONE voice, you’d rather player-hate.
Sit with that for a sec. Are you player-hating Val? No, not a filmmaker with integrity like yourself.
Change is on the horizon, Val. Never has there been more momentum to change Cuba policy than right now. The U.S. public overwhelmingly supports free travel to Cuba and even our Congress people realize that Cuba policy is outdated and only hurts the people of Cuba and the U.S. In 2003, majorities of both the House and Senate took important steps to end the travel ban.
Every time I explained how as compassionate persons we have the same point, interested in the conditions of the Cuban people, you and or George, both, or your responders chose to simply ignore it. You refuse to have an open mind, you resort to belittling me and Luis Moro without even seeing the movie. But you have already acknowledged that.
You misunderstood the trailer, and believed one persons account of our visit which was totally inaccurate, she wasn’t even remembered, or know who she is-and where is she now? Get it strait. Was it you, or was it Rochelle? That had the privilege of being at our table? By the way-if it was you we don’t recognize your picture.
Why can’t you see empowering the Cuban people NOT FIDEL…would give them the strength to fight, and educate and free themselves from the opposition? They are too weak to overthrow anyone, they are starving, they are oppressed. We are both saying that Fidel Castro is an evil horrible monster. We both want the Cuban people empowered, free, and liberated. We want the same thing. You wish to see it the way you do, can you possibly see another position?
My personal descendant in my family was Richard Stockton, signer of the Declaration of Independence. Including a long line of Republican Congressmen. This is a line that I am proud to continue to fight for the freedom for. Thank God there were strong, brave, men that fought for what you and I have. They had oppressors, they had people calling them names, they were told they were disgusting, they were told they were low-lifes…but they stood strong. They believed in justice and freedom for all, and thank God for men like them.
Just to remind you people who live here in the United States who may have forgotten: The Declaration of Independence of the United States of America; July 4th 1776 (George Wythe; William Whipple; Josiah Bartlett; Thomas Lynch; Benjamin Harrison; William Paca; Samuel Chase; Richard Stockton; Richard Henry Lee; Lewis Morris; Samuel Adams…)
(Stockton, Richard, 1730?81, political leader in the American Revolution, signer of the Declaration of Independence, b. near Princeton, N.J. A successful lawyer in New Jersey, he tried to find means of reconciliation in the conflict between England and the American colonies. However, after his election (1776) to the Continental Congress he sought independence. Stockton was captured by the British while on an inspection tour, and although he was soon released, the effects of harsh treatment as a prisoner eventually brought about his death.)
Val and George, It is people like you that keep the Cuban people starving, poor, and living in deplorable conditions. Obviously you don’t care about that-your only concern is to be right. And you are being right about an embargo that you probably had nothing to do with creating, right?
You are following like sheep in a herd. The embargo has not worked in over 45 years, that is a fact.
I?m sure you know the definition of insanity, ?It?s doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different result.? Count each number one by one, 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10,11,12,13,14,15,16,17,18
19,20,21,22,23,24,25,26,27,28,29,30,31,32,33,34,35,36,37,38,39,40,41,42,43,44,45 years later
and the embargo has made no difference. (Do you have the courage to actually count out the numbers to yourself, one by one?)
How many more years do we do the same thing over and over again and wait for a different result? And one last question, do you have any family in Cuba?
Do any of your readers have any family in Cuba? What does your family in Cuba say about the embargo? Or perhaps what do the Cuban people have to say doesn?t count for you, or matter to you?
The same people you are ?defending? don?t want the embargo. But I guess 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10,11,12,13,14,15,16,17,18
19,20,21,22,23,24,25,26,27,28,29,30,31,32,
33,34,35,36,37,38,39,40,41,42,43,44,45 years later –
you and your readers know what works?
You all seem like a lot of talk and no action, so you write articles-anyone can write.
I look forward to the day we can all go visit a free Cuba, no thanks to you. You don’t care about the P.O’s there, or the woman who can’t feed their children, no- you support the embargo. Keep them oppressed. You don’t believe in the Cuban people. You don’t believe in the strength and power of free will. A will to take up arms, a will to fight, a will to change history. You want to continue to see them suffer. How twisted is that? But, hey, you probably never did anything for anyone?s freedom, but you sure now how to be a great critic.
Perhaps you will be the first critic with a statue or better yet, you guys can sign the declaration of criticizing? and go start your own country.
BAM
You may sneer at the blog, but it can be a canvass as surely as tape or film. Your failure to see the root cause of the starving or suffering as fidel and only him strains what little credibility you may have. Cuba trades with the entire world, except the U.S., and even the U.S. sends agricultural products of all sorts. I have doubts about whether the embargo can truly bring about the fall of the dictatorship simply because there’s no teeth to it. The lifting of the embargo will do nothing to help those with ration cards and nothing to help the poet in prison, the librarian in prison.
We have the same goals, all of us. Or we should, anyway. We may have very different ideas about how to get there. I think everyone should take a deep breath and tone down our rhetoric and find ways to work together, just as MBR has with her civil society efforts which have pulled disparate factions together. It is healthy to debate. We must do it civily.
BAM ? (It is BAM , isn?t it , cause last time In answered regarding the ?talents of Luis Moro, I made a boo-boo and it didn?t get posted ?
So, BAM..
First ? so you know there is no such animal as an Afro-Cuban. That is liberal politically correct bullshit that your type has invented to SEPARATE us as much as you can. Clever at the beginning, now just pitiful.
Now, the WHOLE litany you recite is KaSStro propaganda 101 . You have delineated every god damn clich? that a pro-Beast has at his/her reach without having the balls (or ovaries) to say ?Yeah I am pro-KaSStro?
I bet ya YOU are one of those who think the health system in Kuba . ROCKS , uh ? ?Mon be honest (if you can)
Now, what the FUCK embargo are you assholes talking about? Didn?t you just go to Kuba and made a film there and left USA dollars in the Island , so you either have a motherfucker of a poor attention span or are jut too stupid to realize your whole diatribe is a cesspool of contradictions.
You asked the question from Val. I am going to answer the question (I guess this in your mind will give me moir? credibility)
With the exception of my stepfather and wife ALL my family is in Kuba was in Kuba until last year where a few of the youngest mebers began throwing themselves in the water to reach the USA.
Now, what does THAT have to do with anything? All of them despise KaSStro with the exception of one cousin who is IN LOVE with KaSStro. She will find an excuse for anything The Beast will do because she loves him in a ?Biblical sense?
The younger generation of my family (2nd cousins) are living the Island and as soon as they can gather some $$$ to marry a Mexican , and Italian or a Canadian they get the fuck out. .
The last arrival on June 27th A man of 27 , preferred NOT to finish his medical career ( Some medical career he had no idea what Alzheimer?s was ) otherwise he would NOT be let out of the country .. Free education MY ASS. FREE is FREE . Now, in Kuba the word FREE takes Orwellian undertones. It is FREE but ?
Well if it isn?t 100% FREE it ain?t FREE . That bit of semantics happens in ANY language.
So now what is YOUR fascination with ?having family in Kuba?? Were you under the misguided impression that us with families in ?Hell Island? feel any different that those who do not.?
If you do you are just a moron ? a facile victim to cheap propaganda. I am sure you have heard the term ?Useful Idiot?, well you have achieved the honor of a lifetime membership.
Now, as far as Luis Moro. The guy may have been an award winning filmmaker, and that means WHAT? I have 5 award winning paintings on my wall ad I do not make my living as an artist.
When was the last time Sir Paul McCartney wrote a good song? What was Tatum O?Neills last Award winning performance? Heard anything from ?The Blair Witch Project? folks?
Give me a fucking break, only little minds with little talent would even THINK of pounding their chest with the haughtiness of an award, to excuse themselves for a catastrophic failure
So, stop it with the fucking arrogance!
ANYONE can win AN award!
CONSISTENCY of EXCELLENCE determines the quality of TRUE talent.
One award means NOT A FUCKING thing.
If we leave politics and concentrate on the movie. IT IS (based just on its story line) an absurdity, embarrassingly sophomoric piece of trash. A TERRIBLE plot so completely unrealistic and self serving that it just SCREAMS ?Give me publicity so I can sell this thing? . And ain?t that why this was filmed in La Habana.?
?mon be honest , you knew it would get press, you knew it was going to get the attention of other useful idiots and even the likes of US.
I am not saying you should?ve emphasized the Cuban life (The premise is just too fucking stupid to have a subplot) the way THEY see it or the way Cubans experience it , but you MASKED the reality.
Even the website for the movie is just conducive to projectile vomiting.
The shot with the people eating ?. How many ration cards did you use for that piece of fictions? ?Cause Cubans DO NOT eat that way unless they have PLENTY of DOLLARS!
All around this ?film? is so far removed from reality that all we the humble viewers can ascertain is that it was a love song to KaSStro?s regimen.
Why would someone who wants to kill himself need to go to Kuba to do it? Where is the connection? What about Hoboken? Jackson Heights? Where is the dismay of the protagonist when he sits down and PLANS a trip to a country where travel is so restricted, just for the utter nonsense of putting a bullet in his head?
So he wanted to die surrounded by Palm trees? Ok.. There Puerto Rico. No need to wait 7 weeks for a Visa to get in.
Or was the ulterior motive to fuck a 12 year old for $10 dollars? Now if even a little bit of honesty would?ve been given to the REAL reason the protagonist tracks to Kuba (Let?s say his grandfather was Cuban and he wanted to die there)
But in YOUR convoluted logic , he goes to Kuba because he feels it is a country that has overcome the need for material things? what a FUCKING CROCK OF UN ALTERATED COMMIE SHIT?. Of course it has you morons! There are NO material things in that shithole. Why do you think that rafts are coming north and not the other way around?
See where we go with this. You fitted Kuba into this movie just because you KNEW it would call attention to a bad movie.
Had you had the COJONES to even represent a fragment of what the real Kuba is like , I would be willing to overlook the train wreck that story line is. As it is you try to plaster shit with pig vomit !
Have you seen ?Who the hell is Jullietta??
I recommend ?Mr? Moro take a look, especially at the LAST scene of the movie.
He may learn something about film making and the REALITY that is KaSStro?s Now, in closing you have yet to tell us , how Moro got permission to FILM within Kuba , and how much of the proceeds of this piece of trash will go back to the Cuban people.
Being in public is the only way to go, so thank you for the opportunity to shed some light on this subject. Unfortunately you would just ignore your own lies, and they become non-important. And yet most of these responses have been based on your lies, are you that unconscious or you just don’t care? As far as being responsible judge your own life first. You want questions answered yet you have not addressed one. Do you have family in Cuba? What does your family in Cuba say?
If you will read through all the comments before, you will notice that I have addressed you once and once only. The person who penned this letter was there in Cuba with you and observed your behavior and dealings with the Cuban people and described same. If you have a problem with that, sir, then next tiome you go to a foreign country, try not be act like an entitled omnipotent tourist.
I do have family in Cuba, and if I may quote my uncle “Put a US naval blockade around the island and fidel castro will be gone in days.”
We had no idea who you were Val, so we checked you out a little. You are a blog hog for sure.
What films have you written, directed and produced? Definitely interested. Being that Luis is an award-winning indie filmmaker around the world with his first film ‘Anne B. Real’, but also has five other full length features he has just completed.
two have been accepted this year to many film festivals.
I am not a blog hog. Simply a blogger.
I have written and directed and produced no films as it is not what I do.
I wipe my ass with Luis Moro’s awards and films. My concern and what was addressed in this blog is not his repertoire of chic “indy ” films, but his behavior as a HUMAN BEING and a Cuban when dealing with cubans on the island of Cuba.
Apparently, this act of love did not transfer well to those Cubans whom he dealt with on a daily basis in Cuba, according to the eyewitness account herein.
I do not detract from Moro’s supposed love of his country. I would hope that he does share the same love for Cuba as most Cuban and Cuban Americans do. His leaving his family behind is a moot point, as we have all done the exact same thing. I am also glad that your trip was legal, and that you will not suffer any legal repercussions because of it. I find it incredibly interesting , however, that in a police state, where there are as many as 4 state security or police agents per block, that you were able to freely film your movie. Did you have to bribe many security agents? Did you have to obtain liscencing from the governemnt in order to do so? Did you have to pay for your ability to roam the country and film as such? Did it not bother you at all, not one little bit that those Cubans you profess to so love and respect couldnt do exactly what you did in their own country if they wanted to?
Please spare anymore of Moro’s resume. As mentioned above, I wipe my ass with it. It is not his career that is in question here, but his exploitation of the cuban people you hypocritally state that he so loves in an effort to further said career.
Did you film any prisons? Did you film the conditions political prisners live in?
Did you interview and opposition leaders and dissidents?
As far as taking responsibility, I had to laugh. I don’t blame you for saying things you simply don’t know. I will give you that since you have no idea who Luis Moro is. He is the most responsible film maker I know. What you wrote was great, what movies have you done like this? Where have you expressed your words as a filmmaker? I congratulate you if you have and I welcome you to practice what you preach if you haven’t.
Again, I have never met Moro personally, nor do I want the misfortune of having to do so. And while he may be a responsible film maker, of course, all evidence to the contrary as proven above, I find this venture to Cuba to film a movie in furtherance of his career not onkly distasteful, but morally abject.
Sure, you gave Cubans some money. But what about those same Cubans now? You were there how long? What about those that had to stay in Cuba because they are simply Cuban? What are they doing for money now? How is your having filmed a movie in Cuba improving their life?
I might not find your actions as offensive had you been filming a documentary or a fact filled expose of what Cuba really is, but you arent. Youre filming a fucking love story in a country where there are people fucking starving. DONT YOU FIND THAT REPREHENSIBLE? If you dont, then you are part of the problem. You are a de facto accomplice in their repression.
if Moro ‘s book represents anything related to his behavior and his inability to see the forest for the trees, not to mention his refusal to accept the obvious, then it will be a fine work of FICTION indeed. Worthy of placement on a rack as an impulse item at a Walgreens on Miami beach.
My dear, the only ‘selling themselves’ is you. Publicity hog. I see you have a lot of spare time to voice your holy opinion on cyber-space. We’re busy making movies, working hard, and I am having fun swatting the flies. So you talk a lot. What’s your opinion worth, really?
Just to help you out with your reading comprehension, since it seems you have done so much research into who I am and what I write, i feel I should inform you that I am not a woman, thus your little “My dear” does not apply. It does, however, plainly show your arrogance and condescension, and if you treat me that way, a person who has a voice and is free to express his opinions, I can only imagine your sense of entitlement and arrogance over those in Cuba who arent afforded any rights.
You will not see any press releases from this web blog, nor will do you see me advertising any of my work here. Nor do I do this for money, as you do.
Question is not what my opinion is worth, but what is having the freedom to express such opinion worth? You obviously take full advantage of your right to express your opinions, however myopic they be, while not doing a damn thing to help those that cant express theirs. You are obviously too busy “making movies.” And of course, condescendingly “Swatting flies.”
And if I may, do you have any hopes of having your film being shown in Cuba? Im curious because then this “anti-castro” message you say it proscribes might be a little problem for you in getting it into the Havana Film Festival. I guess time will tell on that one, huh?
‘In the end what I said about you and your crews actions in Cuba is insignificant gossip. It’s the film itself which will speak the truth.’ This is what you said, Val, and this is the most accurate thing you have said. Unfortunately your ‘insignificant gossip’, or more accurately your false statements, lies (which makes you a liar), makes you a irresponsible filmmaker that is not depicting the truth accurately. Then shrugging it off, when confronted. Wow, what’s that about integrity?
Again, I was not the writer of that open letter. It was written by someone who knows you all PERSONALLY, and was witness to your appalling behavior, who shared you table and food in Havana, and took the time to inform us of same. I have no reason to not believe this person as this person has absolutely NOTHING TO GAIN by coming forward.
So you can point your whiny little finger over here and call me a liar to your hearts content. My conscience is clean. Is yours?
As you know never has there been more momentum to change Cuba policy than right now. The U.S public overwhelmingly supports free travel to Cuba and even our Congress people realize that Cuba policy is outdated and only hurts the people of Cuba and the U.S. In 2003, majorities of both the House and the Senate took important steps to end the travel ban. There are so many organizations you could vent your hostility to, becoming apart of the solution, not the problem. Sign a petition, write to congressman that oppose the Embargo. To topple Fidel and his evil dictatorship.
Did you plagiarize this from some website? You really dont get it, do you?
Instead of uniting with ONE voice, you’d rather player-hate.
Sit with that for a sec. Are you player-hating Val? No, not a filmmaker with integrity like yourself.
Seems to me the only one hatin’ the player is you. I really could give a rats ass about you, moro, your little flick and your unlearned opinions.
You may want to check on the House and Senate votes a few weeks back to see where the public OFFICIALLY stands on Cuba relations. Its all there in black and white.
Every time I explained how as compassionate persons we have the same point, interested in the conditions of the Cuban people, you and or George, both, or your responders chose to simply ignore it. You refuse to have an open mind, you resort to belittling me and Luis Moro without even seeing the movie. But you have already acknowledged that.
You as compassionate persons? Again, and as stated above, all evidence to the contrary.
if you will read the comments to the original post, some readers were ready to give you and moro the benefit of the doubt. Instead of coming in here and explaining your work and what it is supposed to mean, you came on with the attack.
Dont bring a knife to gun fight, dude.
Why can’t you see empowering the Cuban people NOT FIDEL…would give them the strength to fight, and educate and free themselves from the opposition? They are too weak to overthrow anyone, they are starving, they are oppressed. We are both saying that Fidel Castro is an evil horrible monster. We both want the Cuban people empowered, free, and liberated. We want the same thing. You wish to see it the way you do, can you possibly see another position?
DO YOU LIVE IN FUCKING LALA LAND? Jesus H Christ. Read through the archives in this blog and then tell me that empowering the people is not what I want and what I work for. The problem is that IT WILL NOT HAPPEN AS LONG AS CASTRO IS IN POWER. IT WILL NOT BE ALLOWED. Stop swatting flies and get your head outta your ass, LOOK at the GOTTDAMN history.
ARE WE TO BELIEVE THAT THE US IS THE ONLY COUNTRY IN THE WORLD THAT CAN EMPOWER THE CUBAN PEOPLE? Is that what youre saying? Sure sounds like it.
Of course, the fact that Cuba trades and deals with every other country in the world is BEYOND you. And the fact that tourists from all over the world travel to Cuba and that the Cuban people remain in bondage is beyond you as well.
How unfuckingly believably arrogant you are.
And thank you for that brief genealogical tour of your ancestry. Alas, I fear these men may be spinning in theri graves realizing you are in fact their progeny.
Val and George, It is people like you that keep the Cuban people starving, poor, and living in deplorable conditions. Obviously you don’t care about that-your only concern is to be right. And you are being right about an embargo that you probably had nothing to do with creating, right?
yes, BAM. It is me and George that wield all the power and keep the Cuban people enslaved.
You are following like sheep in a herd. The embargo has not worked in over 45 years, that is a fact.
that topic has been covered here ad nauseum, AND WE HAVE YET TO HEAR ANYTHING BUT COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE EMBARGO, WITH OUT A SINGLE OTHER VIALBLE SOLUTION BEING PUT FORTH.
So I will ask you, HOW WILL THE LIFTING OF THE EMBARGO EMPOWER THAT CUBAN PEOPLE?
I look forward to the day we can all go visit a free Cuba, no thanks to you. You don’t care about the P.O’s there, or the woman who can’t feed their children, no- you support the embargo. Keep them oppressed. You don’t believe in the Cuban people. You don’t believe in the strength and power of free will. A will to take up arms, a will to fight, a will to change history. You want to continue to see them suffer. How twisted is that? But, hey, you probably never did anything for anyone?s freedom, but you sure now how to be a great critic.
Perhaps you will be the first critic with a statue or better yet, you guys can sign the declaration of criticizing? and go start your own country.
You know, I wont even respond to this last stupidity, only to say that at least, I am no hypocrite. And I sleep well at night knowing I havent exploited the Cuban drama for my own personal gains. that, my friend, is a lot more than I can say for you and Luis Moro.
Hmmm Check Mate to the minion in 3 moves !
But he REALLY had one louzy game opening going didn’t he
Ahhhh life is good!
Ol’ BAM is full of the same old mierda isn’t him? Those old, heavy, twisted, misleading and long statements handed down by the Cuban Communist “politburo” to any “friendly” who shows up for a free meal OR to help Comunismo to survive Castro.
Hitler also had the best “filmmakers” (I hope this does not make Senor Moro’s head bigger) of his time doing propaganda pieces in support of El Tercer Reich. I have seem beautifully filmed B&W pieces about nice German doctors and nurses taking care of the Jewish children. Very convincing stuff… and you all know what happened to the little Jews later.
Leni Rienfenstahl, is probably the better known of the Adolfo’s bleeding heart artists.
http://www.history.ucsb.edu/faculty/marcuse/classes/33d/projects/naziwomen/LarryOnLeniMain.htm
http://www.ihffilm.com/dvd-s-wwii-german-side-dvd-s-pre-world-war-ii-nazi-germany–original-propaganda-films-and-documentar.html
http://www.hsse.nie.edu.sg/staff/blackburn/powerandpropaganda.html
Indeed… “1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10,11,12,13,14,15,16,17,18,19,20,21,22,23,24,25,26,27,28,29,30,31,32, 33,34,35,36,37,38,39,40,41,42,43,44,45 years later” … and CASTRISMO still is devastating the Island and its people!
hey bam ….you look good in ur che guevara shirt.
come out the closet cumunista escondido
BAM….I got it!! you are the idiot writing to my personal email, sending me messages of ” peace and prayer”? is BAM your stage name like from BAMA-ALABAMA???You arrogant pathetic little person. I really feel we are giving you too much attention and positive energy at this point.
I have to guess that you speak for Moro? he does not speak for himself right?? too busy making films? is that it?? or perhaps BAM is really YOU MoroN in disguise?? did you leave your cojones behind when you decided to answer this “little blog”? can’t take the heat??
I must say that you are very interesting to read, so much CACA comes out of your brain; in Cuba they could have filled a few pot holes with your shit!! and what is with all the 1,2,3,4, and sequences of numbers??? trying to make your point? and insult Val’s intelligence??? make sure Val can count? I bet he counts in English and Spanish! and I bet you barely have enough neurons left to be counted!
Thanks BAM you really gave me something worth to laugh at. YOU!!!
and FYI there are no AFRO-Cubans in CUBA just like KC mentioned you asshole!! Cubans are a tapestry of Blacks, Whites, Mulatos and Jabaos!! so take your garbage somewhere else!!
Where are Val’s bloggers you contacted and are now dropping off???
Wow, I am surprised I haven’t been banned or blocked! From what some people have been e-mailing me, they have been blocked by having opposinng views from your site Val. Sounds like you are so obsessed with your little dictator friend K-K-KKKAASSTRO- your actually becoming like him!
Don’t worry, I am going to do myself the favor…keep all your pro-embargo followers to yourself, it’s too disgusting. Consider myself banned after reading your last display of frothing-at the mouth lunacy. Have fun in the mud together…dear.
BAM
BAM,
Give it up BAM. You got your lack of morals handed to you on a platter. A silver platter at that. We wouldnt want you to lose that sense of entitlement, now would we?
Notice how you once again deride the pro-embargo people and YET STILL DO NOT OFFER UP A VIABLE ALTERNATIVE. Standard operating procedure for the ill fimormed and ill intentioned self-serving liberal cadre.
You should stick to making your little movies and leave those of us that are serious about change in Cuba do all the work. You can come in later once the work has been done and do a little revisionist hystory flick ala Motorcycle Diaries.
Val…let “Dear BAM” go….really not worth the effort, he is getting exactly what he wants, exposure and by it, he is creating unecessary turmoil. People like him are called BIG THINKERS WITH LITTLE MINDS!
Looks like the post about pointing out our email shows up on our posts was deleted. Perhaps that wasn’t good Blog etiquete. Everyone hear can see each others mail anyway, so it’s in the public domain.
“leave those of us that are serious about change in Cuba do all the work”
To be serious about change in Cuba you have to have dialogue. There are lots of contradictions with Cuba. There are many points of view. I come here to read the stronger right point of view. Nobody likes to debate here? You want change? Why isnt’ there debate?
OK Meyer,
I’ll bite. What is your solution?
Oh this is fucking priceless!
DEBATE????, what is there to DEBATE ?
Some of us may quite extreme in their views against THE BEAST, but for 46 years SOMEONE at some level has been debating him , having dialogs. What has that gotten THOSE individuals in 46 years? Look at the pictures at The Real Cuba; look at the last wave of arrests. That, my friend, while the EU HAS been debating with EL SUMO HIJO DE PUTA.
You people think that DEBATE is the solution to deal with those who are sympathizers of the Monster?
Would you also advocate a debate regarding Hitler?s place in history? Cause that is what have here. You have a HITLER bound by the fact that Cuba is an island.
Actually Hitler brought Germany to the level of a World Power and then became a total prick. KaSStro hasn?t done that for Cuba. So he is a prick squared.
Debate is something you should persue where there are issues of contention, issues that have not been clarified. But EVERYTHING about KaSStro is CRYSTAL clear and ANYONE who defends ANY of his positions at ANY level doesn?t deserve DEBATE he/she deserves either contempt or a very nasty blow to the nape of the neck.
TO BAM:
The hardship, and poverty the Cuban people, and you experienced in Cuba is caused by Fidel Castro and his government only not by the embargo.
Cuba has been able and is able to purchase products, medicine, equipment, raw materials, services, etc from every other country of the world for 46 years as it is the USA the only country that has an embargo against Cuba.
There is no reason for the Cuban people to be lacking for anything as they are now.
While Cuba was receiving 3 billion dollars per year from the Soviet Union the USA embargo was never an issue because the Cuban government received enough money to sustain the government, and give the Cuban people barely enough food and service to keep the population controlled.
Cuba has been visited in recent years by tourists, businessmen, government officials, scholars, etc from countries with free market systems, with other forms of governments, with freedoms not available in Cuba, yet the Cuban people?s living conditions have not improved and the government is as repressive as ever.
Are we the citizens of the USA so egoistical to believe that by our trading and visiting Cuba we are magically going to inspire the people to revolt and demand change in Cuba?.
By lifting the USA embargo against Cuba we will immediately benefit the government we wish to topple, and more importantly lifting the embargo will allow the Cuban government to receive loans from international institutions that the Cuban government does not have access to now.
Some of the immediate benefits of lifting the embargo will be for the people that have families in the USA to receive money, and goods from their families in the USA. What about the millions of Cubans that do not have families in the USA?
The benefit of lifting the embargo will be experienced by the Cuban people in the same way the Cuban people are now experiencing the benefits of Cuba doing business with companies from Canada, Spain, etc. You and the rest of the United States citizens who will travel to Cuba will have the advantage of being guest at tourist only resorts where the Cuban people are not allowed to attend, you will be have the advantage of eating in restaurants where the Cuban people are not allowed to eat in, you will have the advantage to rent cars the Cuban people are not allowed to rent, you will be able to rent telephones that the Cuban people are not allowed to use.
Val,
I don’t know the solutions. What I mean to say is more dialogue between anti-Castro people that share different views. Kind of the opposite of this Moro thing.
“Some of us may quite extreme in their views against THE BEAST”
Really? I never noticed. I don’t think people on this blog realize that not all Cubans are on the same page about their country. Moro is exhibit A. And you’re off to bad start before knowing hardly anything about him or his film.
BAM,
First of all, thanks for reading my site. I am honored. Two things, though. First, the label “Afro-Cuban,” as we use it does not refer to people; it is a cultural reference. For example, an “Afro-Cuban religion” might refer to Santeria, or variants of the Lucum? or Yoruba faiths; “Afro-Cuban music” refers to a specific style of playing with native instruments and using native rhythms. I have never heard a “black” Cuban referred to as an “Afro-Cuban” as you erroneously stated (Webster’s Dictionary notwithstanding); we just call them “Cubans.” Second, you took the quote from my site completely out of context, but that’s OK. What that quote refers to is that no matter where you were born, you can be an American if you embody the American Spirit, and who we have had to defeat, by force of arms, when it is threatened. I feel strongly that fidel is as grave a threat as the gentlemen mentioned in the quote. We did not dialog with them, and we do not dialog with fidel. Period.
But here is the most important part that you have to take away from this “intercourse” all of us have had: I am a Cuban. In my bones, in my soul. I cannot deny the culture that brought me forth. I tried for years, but I gave up. I am what I am. Whether it’s Mart?, Maceo, Celia Cruz, Amadeo Roldan, Desi Arnaz, or Beny Mor?, there is a uniqueness to our culture that is with me in my DNA.
You cannot pretend to be Cuban. We can make you an honorary Cuban, if you are worthy of it, but you can’t make it up.
It is obvious to me, and to others as well, that you know next to nothing about Cuban culture. I am not talking about what you have read, or heard, or have gleaned from a few visits to the prison island. No. I am talking about the culture that has been lovingly kept alive, right here in Miami, for 46 years. My mom, my grandmother, my grandfather, all the other moms, dads, grandparents, uncles, aunts, ex-political prisoners, Brigade 2506 veterans, the books, the music, the photographs, the memories, of what Cuba was like before castro — before le deluge.
You see, you are no one to lecture us on what we have to think about Cuba. We have lived it. Every day. Every, single day for forty-six years. My parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins lost everything to escape fidel. Many gave up their lives ? and some preferred to be eaten by sharks in the Florida straits — rather than stay in Cuba. Have you read the letter I am translating that is posted on Babalu? Ask yourself this question: why on Earth would a paraplegic — I am adding that he was born after the revolution, so you don’t immediately classify him as a “Batista stooge” — risk everything to leave Cuba? Have you even given all of these people even the slightest benefit of the doubt? Do you think that their voices don’t matter? And this guy is not in favor of dropping the emabrgo. What a shock.
My great-grandmother died of a stroke in 1960 watching (on castro-TV) the son of a friend of hers’ get executed on the pared?n by this wonderful guy you want to dialog with. So please, don’t expect us to be sympathetic to fidel — he is the only one who will benefit from dialog and the lifting of the embargo.
And, he has spilled too much innocent blood for us to EVER forgive or forget.
And the people on the island, do you think they like the apartheid that exists? You benefited from that apartheid. You were eating at the tourist spots, not the hell-holes the “people” have to eat at ? when there’s food. You were an enabler to the system of repression that exists on the island. You, and Luis Moro as well. Just by being there and granting him legitimacy.
I am saddened by people who are so blind to the reality of Cuba. You would rather dialog with a monster, than defeat him. You would rather give him your money, than repudiate him. There is no moral basis for a decision like that. None. I do not break the embargo. I do not send money to my relatives, and I do not visit. When I go, it will be in a Cuba free of fidel castro, so I can reinter the bones of my grandparents who died in exile crying for the land they lost to a monster. This monster, Bobbi — fidel castro — whom you want to make nice with.
I will have none of it.
Meyer, your email address is bogus. It got bounced.
Meyer:
We can see the red streak … from fucking Jupiter at night with an overcast sky!
How many assholes like you do you think we have met in 46 years .. just a rough guess.