We are now on day 11 of a leaderless Cuba. The head of the “succession” government – raul castro – has yet to be seen publicly and reports are that the oppression is getting worse by the minute on the island prison. The United States is the only country in the world that has publicly voiced its support for the people of Cuba. The EU and every other country or bloc has stood by silently as the Cuban government’s grip over the Cuban people has tightened.
There are exiles who believe that the US should do more. A naval blockade. Allowing Cuban exiles to return to the island en masse. Lifting the idiotic wet foot/dry foot policy.
Personally, I think the US is doing what it can. Im pretty sure there will be no US warships surrounding Cuba less there be provocation. Im pretty sure the wet foot/dry foot policy will not belifted to allow anoth massive influx of Cubans into the US given the current immigration issues and with WOT considerations.
The destiny of the Cuban people lies in the hands of the Cuban people after all. If they do not take a collective stand against what oppresses them, then how can anyone be expected to do it for them?
The people of Cuba desperately need a Ghandi, a leader who understands that the fate of the freedom of the Cuban people lies with the Cuban people.
I fear things will only get worse before they get better. No one is going to save the Cuban people but themselves. Recent events prove that. History proves that. I dont see change coming in Cuba at the end of a rifle, but of a brave few standing up against that rifle unarmed. Lives will most undoubtedly be lost. People will undoubetdly be hurt. There will probably be much bloodshed and much pain.
If freedom is in the destiny of the Cuban people, that’s the price that will have to be paid.
The destiny of the Cuban people lies in the hands of the Cuban people after all. If they do not take a collective stand against what oppresses them, then how can anyone be expected to do it for them?
That’s basically what it boils down to Val. Unless there are reformers in the Nomenklatura willing to act. And that’s looking more and more like it’s not going to happen.
This needed to be said. I am tired of the bashing the this country gets about Cuba. Yes, we could do more, but the Cubans on the island have to wake up.
“I dont see change coming in Cuba at the end of a rifle, but of a brave few standing up against that rifle unarmed.”
That was done with the Varela Project and it failed miserably, resulting in 70+ dissidents being thrown into castro’s gulags. I truly believe the only way to free Cuba is by force from either the inside or outside.
Face it, all the true dissident leaders have either fled the country or in prison. You read it in the papers everyday of wives of dissents being terrorized by castro’s thugs. People are terrified to speak out.
Now I leave you with my favorite Thomas Jefferson quote:
“The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants. … God forbid we should ever be twenty years without such a rebellion; what country can preserve its liberties if their rulers are not warned from time to time that their people preserve the spirit of resistance? Let them take arms.”
http://www.cubanet.org/CNews/y06/ago06/10a1.htm
Santiago de Cuba en estado de alerta por posible éxodo masivo
There are many very brave opposition leaders in Cuba that have spoken out in last few days! Dr. Darsi Ferrer has called for civil disobedience and the courageous prisoner known as Antunez made an eloquent plea to his fellow Cubans from jail where he has been for about 16 years!!! The repressive regime will not be able to keep our valiant brothers and sisters down for much longer.
The destiny of the Cuban people lies in the hands of the Cuban people after all. If they do not take a collective stand against what oppresses them, then how can anyone be expected to do it for them?
Nail in the head Val, I see Yoan has the same opinion.
The people in Cuba who would lead a rebellion are all in jail. Just last night I saw/heard a statement given by Jorge Luis Perez Antunes from a Cuban jail in which he has been for 16 years. He was telling the Cuban people and the military to resist oppression! This take “guts” and I guess since he’s been there so long he has nothing to lose.
These brave Cubans need our support now more than ever!
Very well said.
“The moment the slave resolves that he will no longer be a slave, his fetters fall. He frees himself and shows the way to others.”
Gandhi on Non-Violence in Peace and War (1949)
what val said is totally right,but according to history,in this kind of countries,like cuba,with a “revolution” supported by most at the beginning,the changes will come from the top,although i hope that we can be an “exception” to the rule and maybe we have a surprise from the bottom,something that i doubt but i believe in miracles..so,time will tell..
The US government is doing what is needed,in this
trying time of very complicates geopolitical situation on a world scale,the Cuba case is seen
with patience and wisdom to say another thing is stupid.The changes in CUBA are coming,but not in a hurry,not at full tilt,but they are there,to
accelarate them would means violence and loss of
precious cuban lives.It is time of Courage and
the same time of wisdom,isn’t it?
The United States has had plans for 45 years or so. Do you think the US has no contacts on the island? Do you think the US can’t get intelligence out of Cuba? Do you think the US can’t get weapons on that island?
As usual, Val, astute and realistic analysis.
Sadly, the non-violence movement of Ghandi and Martin Luther King will only work with civilized people. It will not work under a totalitarian communist system which by its very nature and defintition is uncivilized. Ask the Chinese students, the people of Prague in 1968. Only if the military; those with the weapons have the morality to say that they will not shoot and kill their own people but will stand with them will change come. The communists do not care about public opinion so long as they have support from their co-conspirators.
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Mike,
Well, then, we might as well pack it all up and get back to our lives and look forward to vacationing in Cuba just like the Canadians and Europeans do. We can be the elite tourists while the Cuban people remain in bondage.
Because the way I see it, realistically, no one is going to raise a damned finger to foster change in Cuba. the US certainly isnt going to invade Cuba. The EU doesnt want their cheap jinetera laden vacation spot to change. The Canadians dont either.
And we Cuban exiles cant agree on shit so obviously we aint gonna do it.
Someone in Cuba has to take the lead. Whether a civilian or a military person. because if they dont, aint nothing going to happen. Nada. Not a damned thing.
And by the Grace of God, I hope that should the people take to the streets, that the military would have the cojones to lay down their arms and not murder their own.
Val I hope and pray the same thing. Maybe there’s some good still left with some in the military who’ll have the courage to say enough is enough.
Val, I admire your guts for telling it like it is. We can analyse, speculate, look for solutions but unfortunately, it has to start in Cuba. Ni mas ni menos.
I think real change has already started in Cuba. The mere fact that raul castro has been in the closet for the last 11 days is a sign that things are not really as calm as the government wants us to think they are. The current “leaders” are obviously scared with fidel either dead or totally incapacitated. This is a critical time for us to encourage all freedom loving Cubans that we need to work for a Free Cuba and accelerate the collapse of that rotten system.
Para Cuba, Ya es Hora!!!
I can assume that the book “The Losers” by Bethel has been read by many on this blog and if not it should be. I came across this book when it was referenced by Fontova. Last night I finally sat down to read it and the timing could not have been better. There have been negative comments as of late regarding criticizing the US policy toward a change in Cuba. Please read the following quotes from his book on Cuba.
“This book is critical of US policy wherever we need more protest, not less, for sound policy develops only from sound criticism.”
he goes on to say in reference to the then Soviet involvement in Cuba which has application today with other countries “…this force of conquest will never stop of its own. It will be stopped only if there is mobilized a stronger resolve in the United States and the Americas to help Cuba become free and thereby keep our domain free and inviolate. We cannot have the one without the other.” This book was written in 1969 and is as true today as it was then.
Does change have to come from within? Of course it does, but there are many who have already paid the price for it and are rotting in prisons for their efforts. There are other dissidents as well who are doing their part.But there needs to be a greater spark and short of a total uprising of ALL the people it cannot happen from the bottom. I agree with whoever said yesterday that a military presence off Cuban shores would send a great statement to dissidents that we are behind them and ready to help if they make an effort to overthrow castro. Too many people are insinuating that the Cubans on the island are not doing anything, but that is not the case. The issue is that not enough people are doing it. I believe and it is my opinion that since they are controlled by fear, a fear that none of us know, we could help alleviate their fears with at least a statement that should they choose to make a move we would support them IN THE CHANGE and not just after. Those words of encouragement could change the future of Cuba.
another thought. If castro is alive I promise you that he will provoke. He must as he has promised a US invasion for 47 years. I believe that a mass exodus from Cuba will be a provocation for US ships to be seen off Cuba’s shores. Perhaps this whole things was his desire that the US would attempt miliray action? Who knows.
I believe I saw the first signs of hope when I heard Dr. Darsi Ferrer interviewed last night on “A Mano Limpia.” He delivered a message calling all Cubans, both on the island and in exile, to peacefully demonstrate their opposition to the government beginning on August 13th.
After his statement he was asked if he was afraid of the repercussions he would face for making that statement. His reply is one that all Cubans on the island should take to heart. He said he was more afraid of the prospect of living under this oppressive system even a moment longer.
The first lesson that people in Cuba will need to learn about freedom, is that “freedom is not free.”
killcastro’s reports does a good job of exposing what are brothers in Cuba are dealing with today. No es tan facil.
Pototo,
When has achieving anything of value ever been easy?
Val,
never has been easy never will. All the more reason to lend support if they make the ultimate sacrifice.
“Un funcionario del partido que pidió no ser identificado nos dijo que esas medidas se estaban tomando porque estaban dadas las circunstancias objetivas que podían desencadenar un éxodo, y que en estos momentos políticamente no se podía permitir nada que alterara el orden en el país, ya que podría considerarse como una provocación y dar lugar a una intervención norteamericana.”
I’m rooting for a mass exodus.
Most certainly something significant will occur on the 13th (i.e., someone will speak to the crowds on Fidel’s birthday), maybe Fidel, himself, will find it the appropriate time to address his people. But it will definitely not be a day without news–as it has been the past couple of days. E-mails are being scrutinized at the med school in Camaguey–that being said, all faculty and students must show their e-mails to certain people in the computer labs before being sent or received–the source, my sister.
I think a hurricane through Cuba would help right now.
Too many people are insinuating that the Cubans on the island are not doing anything, but that is not the case. The issue is that not enough people are doing it. I believe and it is my opinion that since they are controlled by fear, a fear that none of us know, we could help alleviate their fears with at least a statement that should they choose to make a move we would support them IN THE CHANGE and not just after.
Obviously, there aren’t enough people doing what needs to be done. But facts are facts, and it’s certainly not helpful for certain dissidents to come out and plead for calm in moments like these. Slaves are calm in the face of oppression, those who want freedom agitate.
Mark Twain on fear:
“Courage is resistance to fear, mastery of fear, not absence of fear.”
Yoan,
Wasn’t aware that any were. If so they are hindering freedom.
Or perhaps they are not truly dissidents at all!