There’s a cold front whipping through Miami today with temperatures dropping to an arctic 60 degrees F and nothing is better for warming you up when it’s frigid outside than a nice steaming bowl of ajiaco cubano….
First, Child of the Revolution notes that the Cuban government will begin allowing cruise ships to dock at Cuban ports, despite this statement from cadaver castro:
“We have these floating hotels, with their floating restaurants and their floating entertainment, visiting poor countries just so they can leave behind their rubbish, their empty cans and used toilet paper, for a few miserable cents,”
Blog for Cuba reports on comments from Cuban author Amir Valle at the Frankfurt Book Fair:
“All of the violations against freedom of expression in Cuba are permitted by the system and the Constitution,” said Valle. He described Cuba as a country which has converted art and culture into a political weapon.
Cuban-American Pundits has a letter from an Italian Cuba-traveling reader:
I have cried because I have seen the resignation of some people, the unawareness of others and the hope in the oblivion of the future.
I have cried because they have asked me some money, some suits for their children, a soap.
Uncommon Sense tells us about harrassment of yet another independent Cuban journalist:
These are my fellow journalists and my fellow Cubans. They need me to keep going, to tell their stories, so I keep going. Me getting a little tired is nothing compared to what they face each day, knowing that the story they write may be all the excuse the police need to throw them in jail.
Screw you, Fidel Castro, you won’t silence me.
Cubanology has a an audio post from Tomas Estrada Palma, with an anti-fidel blog synopsis.
El Cafe Cubano sticks it to the MSM:
I had this strange sad feeling that no matter “how much” you really try to discuss the truth concerning Cuba, people don’t listen. Can you imagine the political prisoners and how they feel? That is why I have no tolerance for the media and the journalist who have spread lies and supported the myth of the dictator.
Mizzoubanazo has thoughts on chavez and the UN Security council:
VERY good. A council that should bring security and (ultimately) peace could end up with a member who is referring to the voting process as “battle grounds.” Lovely.
El Confeti’s got the corkscrew handy:
I have had a bottle of champagne chilling in my refrigerator since God knows when. I do rotate the bottle to keep it fresh, remember champagne does not age well like wine. The bottle has been there for the day when Cuba’s sumo hijo de puta draws his last breath. Oh, please do not be offended, I am not celebrating “someone’s” death; I am celebrating a people’s prospect freedom.
Our resident meteorologist at the 26th Parallel welcomes the ajiaco weather:
A great morning to stick Beethoven’s “Pastoral” Symphony in your car’s CD player, forget about the traffic and enjoy the weather!
The Real Cuba talks about reports that chavez traveled to Cuba to say buh-bye to his mentor cadaver castro:
El Universal is quoting “highly trusted” Venezuelan sources as saying that Chávez traveled unannounced to the Cuban capital last Saturday to say goodbye to the Cuban dictator.
In a report by its correspondent in Washington, El Universal quotes Venezuelan and international sources as saying that Castro went into a comma on Wednesday October 18.
Enjoy your ajiaco and please, keep warm…
As much as I feel sorry for the repressed people of Cuba, I’m starting to feel even more sorry for the people who seem to care/obsess about freedom for Cuba far more than 99.99% of the people who actually live *IN* Cuba.
Let’s face it: The vast majority of the smart Cubans fled Castro long ago (or do so as soon as they are old enough to make the trip), while the overwhelming majority of people remaining in Cuba are loyalist zombies who are content to march through life like Fidel’s little sheep.
Even if the Castro brothers die tomorrow and Cuba is “free,” the outlook for Cuba over the next 2 decades is bleak. Cuba is completely devoid of potential leaders and the general population is devoid of self-starters.
This post isn’t meant as a troll; I just needed to rant. I hate to see so many people all-consumed in a “goal” that does not seem to be shared by the potential beneficiaries. If 99.99% of the Cuban people are content to live under Castro, receive meager wages and live off remittances from abroad, why should we waste so much energy? It might have made sense in 1965, but it’s absolutely senseless today.
33139,
So what youre saying is that, in your opinion, the Cuban people do not deserve better lives? because it’s quite simple to make such a statement from the comforts of freedom, but I suspect that if youd been indoctrinated all your life and had every single aspect of your life controlled by your government, it might take you a while to come around to those things that are completely foreign to you, such as independent thought and individualism.
Ill add that what we do here isnt an obsession, it’s a duty and a responsibility that we take on gladly. if you dont share our interest in teh future of Cuba as a democratic nation, then why are you here wasting your time?
You are forgetting that a lot of people have been born since 1965. It’s a stretch to say those people choose to live in castro’s Cuba. Your arguement has some validity, but it’s overbroad.
33139,
I would like to point out that most major political changes throughout history have not initially been supported by the “majority”. So it really doesn’t matter that a high % of the Cubans within Cuba do nothing to make changes. There are those brave and enlightened few who WILL be the catalysts for change.
33139
I am surprised at your comments. It is one thing to voice opinions. It is quite another to malign an entire population with ignorant baseless statements.
YOU SAY: “The vast majority of the smart Cubans fled Castro long ago (or do so as soon as they are old enough to make the trip)”
Really? How do you figure? And, I’m sure you include yourself in the “vast majority” of smart people? So there are no smart people left in Cuba who have been unable or unwilling to leave due to a variety of circumstances? Your ignorance knows no bounds.
YOU SAY: “the overwhelming majority of people remaining in Cuba are loyalist zombies who are content to march through life like Fidel’s little sheep.” Another ignorant statement. This doesn’t even merit a response!
Allow me to revolver la mierda a bit. I am one of those who believes that the Beast and his cronies are in power because the people have not had the will to rise up. I know it’s not a popular opinion but it’s what I believe. The small group of dissidents, doing God’s work every day, are a strong voice. But they are nothing compared to the potential of thousands of voices crying out like them in opposition to a government that has virtually destroyed them. When a people want to rise up — and the operative word in my sentence is “want” — then change inevitably comes. It has always been thus.
The ultimate power resides in the people. They have to want freedom as much as we want them to have it for their to be meaningful change. I’m afraid the situation is that simple.
You are correct, George. The dissidents you mentioned are doing important work by focusing attention on the need for change. But bringing about that change will require a mass movement. It has been disappointing not to see signs of that during the three months Fidel has been out of commission. Once it is confirmed that he is dead, maybe that will be the spark Cubans are waiting for to take to the streets. If they don’t, I’m not sure what we can do for them.
I was getting ready to type a response but George L. Moneo and Marc Masferrer have perfectly summed up my position.
Sr. Prieto — Don’t fly off the handle on me. I’ve seen you make similar statements here, so the thought has obviously crept into your mind. I want freedom for Cuba as well, but I wish a lot of exiles would start living a little more themselves. I know old grudges die hard, but after 40-plus years, we need to resolve ourselves to the fact that exile efforts are largely meaningless. The vast majority of Cubans couldn’t care less what exiles think, as long as they make the monthly trip to Western Union to send this month’s welfare check back to the island.
LittleGator — I’m sorry if you disagree, but after 40 years and ZERO demonstrations, large-scale dissident movements, etc., it sure looks like the vast majority of Cubans are content with their lives. Again, as much as we argue about the embargo, etc., the Cuban people are not in the dark. There are 1 million Cuban exiles in the world who are in constant contact with friends, relatives, etc.
If East Germans managed to overthrow their government, in total isolation, then Cubans could have managed SOME sort of effort after 40-plus years. Do you really think the average Cuban still thinks communism is a popular worldwide movement? Of course not. They KNOW they are living in a failed system, and for every dissident, there are 1,000 pro-Fidel loyalists. That’s the sad fact, whether anyone wants to accept it or not.
33139,
Im not flying off the handle, as the fact that you are still posting comments here proves. I took exception to your characterization of those of us outside of Cuba who work for change as “obsessive” and I also took exception to your statement that “the majority of smart cubans have fled the island.” Both statements are ridiculous on their face.
I may agree with you that the Cuban people need to rise up and help themsleves, but i sure as heck cant agree with you when you state theyre not smart enough to do so.
Val — That seems like a contradictory position. It’s one thing to wait 40 hours or 40 weeks or maybe even 40 months, but to wait 40 YEARS? How smart is that?
The fact is, there is ABSOLUTELY NO indication that anyone (other than maybe 50 to 100 dissidents) in Cuba is mobilizing for a free Cuba. I’m not even talking about a million-man march, or a Tiananmen Square type of moment. I’m waiting for *ANY* sign of rebellion, and 40 years later, I see none.
Huge changes in this world have come from the simplest, smallest efforts, and yet what have Cubans done? Nada. Not a damn thing.
33139,
i dont know how long youve been coming here, but perhaps you should just take a day or two and go through the archives of this blog. You will find everything from reports from all over Cuba where “abajo fidel” signs are painted all over the island, to reports on the independent journalists in cuba to articles on el Maleconazo, teh Ladies in White, La assamblea and other organizations etc…To state matter of factly as you do that no one in cuba is doing anything is an absurdity.
I too happen to agree with George and Marc that change has to come from within, but if we on the outside dont make the plight of the Cuban people known to teh outside world, then the cuban people will never getthe support they need to foment that change.
So, you can continue to gripe about those dumb, lazy cubans on the island all you want and Ill continue to try to do something, however small in the big scheme of things.
Val — I know about the graffiti and that’s great, but with Castro possibly dead or dying, one would think this would be a time of great excitement and anticipation in Cuba. Yet, whether the reporting is from the far left or the far right, the reports are the same: Life is going on in Cuba EXACTLY as it was before Castro fell ill, and there hasn’t been so much as a hint of discord, rebellion, etc.
The rest of the world already knows about Cuba and doesn’t really care, because they see the same things I see. If exiles really want to inspire change, they should direct their efforts at their fellow exiles who continue to pump Fidel’s coffers full of money via Western Union, trips to Cuba, etc.
One of history’s great ironies is that Cuban exiles have almost single-handedly kept Fidel in power since the early 1990’s when the Soviet Union fell.
33139,
Keep in mind that the reports you get from Cuba, whether left or right, are all suspect as every single news source is monitored and censored, so take the reports with a grain of salt.
Val — Believe me, I want freedom for Cuba as much as anyone, and I believe it’s an enduring embarassment that the U.S. has allowed that communist piece of trash Castro to survive for 40-plus years just 90 miles from our shores. I just think we need to shift the focus from trying to raise international awareness, etc., to FORCING change by the only means available: By starving the bastard out of power.
As I said above, Cuban exiles have almost single-handedly kept Fidel in power since the early 1990’s when the Soviet Union fell. Until those remittances stop, communism will survive in Cuba.
I agree that if the Cuban people want freedom NOW, then they need to stand up and snatch it. Like George said, the ultimate power resides in the people. It is easy for us in our comfortable lives to say that and wish that for them. But when day after day is resolviendo, standing in lines with your miserable ration book and, shopping the black market, it is damn hard to rise up. Add to that armed police and CDR’s on every corner, actos de repudio, and the fact that most people know or know of someone rotting in prison for doing less. Very few people in modern times have been brutalized and kept in a grip of fear like castro’s dictatorship. I pary that they will rise up once his death is announced. Hopefully then, they will lose their fear and recognize their power. Those bearded bastards will quake in their boots.
33139 — You make some pretty bold assertions. Saying that 99.99% are castro robots is quite a stretch. I hope you’re exaggerating for effect. If not, then you either haven’t kept up with this blog or are sorely misinformed. No one believes in the system anymore — even many diehards are seeking change — any kind of change. Sadly, most are unwilling and afraid (at this point — gotta stay optimistic) to snatch their freedom from castro’s grasp.
Louis — Whether anyone “believes” in the system is largely irrelevant given that 99.99% of the people there are living within the system. (I don’t think I’ve ever seen a credible report of more than 1,000 known dissidents in Cuba, so that’s why I keep using 99.99%.)
Whether Fidel dies or Raul dies or any of the other guys die is also irrelevant. Right now, the guns are all in the hands of the government, so it makes no difference who’s in charge. The ONLY way things will change in Cuba is via widespread unrest/protest, and there’s no time like the present. Why wait for Raul, or the next guy, or the guy after that? How will circumstances be any more favorable by waiting another year or another 10 years?
Hell, I’m waiting for *ANY* sign of disobedience down there. Light some bastard’s house on fire or something. ANYTHING. We all know the U.S. isn’t going to invade Cuba, but if Cubans at least show some sign of life, I’m sure the Marines would roll in there at the first sign communism was falling. But someone down there has to get the ball rolling, and everyone seems to be waiting for the other guy to do it. At the current pace of the dissident movement, we’ll still be having this discussion 40 years from now.
33.3 por favor no hables sin saber o ignorando la historia, llegate por este enlaze para que aprendas sobre El Maleconazo, eso fue mas que demonstracion, fue casi que Hungria en el ’56.
http://www.cubademocraciayvida.org/web/article.asp?artID=2911
Ah, si, que bonito! The U.S. Marines…and then what? Start another 100 year cycle setting back Cuba’s political development as it occurred at the beginning of the 20th century? You need to review Cuban history. Cuba’s freedom and quest for democracy has to be worked out by Cubans–both in and outside the island–not by foreign governments, the USA included.
33139- More than 10,000 Cubans signed Varela’s petition for democracy, considering the potential for punishment that hardly qualifies them as robots. There are about 330 prisons in Cuba today,up from 11 in 1959. There have been hundreds of thousand of political prisoners – por favor.
That’s good, but it’s still less than 1/10th of 1% of the people in Cuba. There’s also a big difference between signing a petition and actively moving for change.
When more people were happy in Hialeah when news of Castro’s illness broke than in Cuba, I became 90% sure there is no short-term hope for Cuba. If news of Castro’s death, when it happens, is met with the same indifference (or, worse yet, genuine sadness), then I will be 100% sure there is no hope.
I hope the Cuban people prove me wrong, but I’m not getting any sense they will do so.
33139 has an interesting proposition, save for labeling the cubans on the island as stupid somehow. And no, I’m not obsessed about anything either. As a matter of fact, the cuban exiles have made a pretty nice life for themselves (AND OTHES) here; you can’t make progress in a foreign land if you are obsessed with something else.
This subject has been debated back and forth in many forums. We should remember, however, that even a place like the soviet bloc was under the barbaric thumb of their dictators for many decades, and historically, ruthless empires have had a way of staying in power thru oppression, this is not the first instance of it.
That said, I totally agree that the masses in Cuba must at one point or another, desire to get rid of the yoke and do something about it, other that what’s been done. But it may be an idiosyncratic problem of Latin American peoples that seem to keep them almost resigned to live under dictatorships, the 20th century notwithstanding. And rmember, 33139, that it’s pretty damn hard to go out and revolt when you spend most of your waking hours resolviendo where to get your (and your children’s) next meal.
Gigi said: “And remember, 33139, that it’s pretty damn hard to go out and revolt when you spend most of your waking hours resolviendo where to get your (and your children’s) next meal.”
As cruel as it might sound, that’s EXACTLY why exiles need to stop sending money down there to the tune of $1 billion per year (or whatever it is). It’s the old “give a man a fish/teach a man to fish” principle. Right now, far too many Cubans are basically living off their exile friends/relatives, and they haven’t gotten hungry enough to raise hell. (When Fidel is paying you $20/month and your relatives are sending $100/month, where’s the motivation to revolt?)
Again, I know the remittances are sent with good intentions, but they’re causing far more injury than assistance. Without that billion per year in U.S. currency, Cuba’s economy would have completely collapsed circa 1995.
This is a complicated issue. There are many elements involved in the situation. It’s definitely no one single thing, even though some things may be more significant than others. Unfortunately, the various negative elements have a kind of malignant synergy which makes the overall situation all that much worse.
There’s no question that the Castro regime uses the Cubans on the island basically as hostages, for whom their relatives outside Cuba are expected and pressured to pay ransom in the form of money and goods, trips, phone calls, etc. It’s really a brilliant ploy that has worked extremely well for the government, and yes, the Cubans outside the island have largely danced to the regime’s tune. Some of that was unavoidable, but certainly not all of it. The trouble is that it can be very hard to resist what ultimately amounts to emotional blackmail.
As for other (democratic or free) countries doing more to help Cuba, that’s mostly wishful thinking in my opinion. It doesn’t really matter what they know or what they’re told by us; people can always see and hear what they want and ignore or evade what they don’t want to deal with. There’s a hell of a lot of hypocrisy and double standard, and I don’t see that changing.
The bottom line is that only Cubans themselves, in the island and outside it, can really make a difference. Everybody can do something, however small, which will vary depending on each person’s circumstances and possibilities. If enough people do what they can, there could be a positive synergy of efforts that would finally turn things around.
I agree it’s emotional blackmail but it’s blackmail exiles all too willingly go along with. Exiles have managed to keep the embargo in place and they go nuts if someone buys a box of cigars from Castro, but then they are the ones who send 95% of the money to Castro in the way of remittances and trips.
If the remittances were illegal, as they should be, then it wouldn’t be emotional blackmail anymore. Right now, exiles are afraid to cut off their relatives because it’s legal and because their neighbors are all sending money. Make them illegal and Castro gets 90% less money. Simple as that.