Lots of folks jumping on the bash Bush bandwagon over his breifing yesterday vis-a-vis Cuba. To those folks I say, dont worry about fastening your seatbelts, bandwagons with no wheels dont move much.
Jay Nordlinger makes my point quite succinctly at NRO:
Conservatives are down on President Bush, often unreasonably, I believe. I also think they’re a little ungrateful — ungrateful, spoiled, and smug. They will miss him sorely when he’s gone, I feel sure. This is true whether a Republican or a Democrat succeeds him.
One thing they will miss, I predict, is his truth-telling. I don’t believe they realize how rare it is to have a man in the highest office who over and over again tells the truth — boldly and unapologetically. I thought of this, not for the first time, when reading the speech Bush gave about Cuba yesterday. I hope you will want to read it all (here). But let me offer a couple of snippets:Cuba’s rulers promised individual liberty. Instead they denied their citizens basic rights that the free world takes for granted. In Cuba it is illegal to change jobs, to change houses, to travel abroad, and to read books or magazines without the express approval of the state. It is against the law for more than three Cubans to meet without permission. Neighborhood Watch programs do not look out for criminals. Instead, they monitor their fellow citizens — keeping track of neighbors’ comings and goings, who visits them, and what radio stations they listen to. The sense of community and the simple trust between human beings is gone.
Cubans have made this point to me over and over again. One woman told me — in words I’ll never forget — “It takes a martyr-level courage even to function as a decent human being in Cuban society”: not to steal, not to inform, not to sell sexual favors, not to buy them, not to lie.
In the president’s speech, I was also interested and pleased to see the following:Cuba’s rulers promised freedom of the press. Instead they closed down private newspapers and radio and television stations. They’ve jailed and beaten journalists, raided their homes, and seized their paper, ink and fax machines. One Cuban journalist asked foreigners who visited him for one thing: a pen.
The president had in mind Raúl Rivero, the former political prisoner — a poet and journalist now in exile in Spain.
Finally, consider this stirring paragraph:. . . The socialist paradise is a tropical gulag. The quest for justice that once inspired the Cuban people has now become a grab for power. And as with all totalitarian systems, Cuba’s regime no doubt has other horrors still unknown to the rest of the world. Once revealed, they will shock the conscience of humanity. And they will shame the regime’s defenders and all those democracies that have been silent. One former Cuban political prisoner, Armando Valladares, puts it this way: It will be a time when “mankind will feel the revulsion it felt when the crimes of Stalin were brought to light.” And that time is coming.
I hope that is true; I’m not sure it is. The Western Left — soft and hard — has invested a great deal in Castroism, for the last 50 years. It will be very, very hard for them to give it up — to admit what Communism has done to Cuba and Cubans. I’ve argued about this with Armando before. But, again, I hope he is right; I hope he and the president are right; and that my skepticism is ill-founded.
To say once more: The president has told the truth. He has said things about Cuba that you will never hear from the major university faculties, or the major newspapers, or the major movie studios. And I, for one, will not forget it.
Yes, he spent too much in his first term; yes, he had steel tariffs in place for about two seconds; yes, the prescription-drug benefit is sketchy; yes, there have been mistakes on the war; yes, Harriet Miers — etc., etc. But do you realize how rare this president is? If you don’t now — I have a feeling you will later.
I cant recall who said it on last night’s Radio Hour: The castro regime’s worst enemy is truth.
I take credit for that pearl of wisdom.
I know I will get attacked for not being thrilled, but so he said it. Okay what will change? What effect will it have? It does make be feel better, but feelings will not change a thing. I am glad for you and that it has done something for you and I genuinely mean that. But for me its just STDD (same thing differebt day). It is that in Cuba as well. What he said will never be heard.
pototo,
I can understand your skepticism, we’ve been pandered to, lied to, betrayed and screwed over many a time. And perhaps youre right, maybe his speech wont change a damned thing. But I for one, will take it as a positive because I refuse to wallow in pessimistic agony over things that I cannot change directly.
the sad truth – and I know, for sure, Ill get raked through the coals for this – is that nothing in Cuba will change, nothing, nada, nicojones, until the Cuban people demand that change for themselves. Some wil criticize me for saying this “oh but theyre too busy searching for food. Their too busy trying to survive. theyre too busy resolviendo.” And that is an unfortunate given in the equation. But you know what? freedom isnt going to knock on their doors and ask to come in. It isnt going to arrive in a package from Hialeah or in the suitcase of a family member coming from abroad.
Freedom is going to hide behind hunger. Its going to hide behind pain. its going to hide behind sacrifice. Its going to hide behind bruises and in a pool of blood. And its only going to be found when it is painstaking sought after. sought after with extreme hunger and empty bellies, with broken bones and bloody hands and with sheer desperation.
there are 11 million people in Cuba, yet you see merely a handful standing firm intheir convictions and against their government. Until that handful exponentially increases, not a damned thing will change.
So, you can criticize the President of the United States for dedicating a 40 minute speech to Cuba and not mentioning certain things, but, if youre going to do that, you better start at home first, brother. Because from where I stand, Pesident Bush has done more up to right now for the freedom of the Cuban people than most of the Cuban people have done themselves.
Cuba is not “a socialist paradise”. This is not the truth. If I remember correctly Huber Matos and other revolutionaries wanted to establish a socialist country and Fidel turned around and united with the comunists to establish a communist country. Canada and Cuba have two different goverments even if Republican capitalists and Michael Moore think otherwise. Yes, there are many “left wingers” in the US that see contemporary Cuba with rose colored glasses, but there are also many “right wingers” who feel that universal health care is akin to Socialism but are okay with giving wellfare to corporations as long as you starve the poor in the process, and I am talking about the real poor, not just people who live middle class but can “only” afford one car. Do not mistake criticism for anyone who doesn’t agree with Bush as actual truth. He also said that Castro was a threat,to who I ask? Who is in two wars and trying to start a third? Please be careful that you assumption that he is agreeing with you and will actually do something about the oppression of our families doesn’t get you to follow him blindly to somewhere you don’t like once you get there.
Amelya,
Pleeease. If youre going to have a debate on this blog, do us all that have been here a while a favor: dont use boilerplate, off the shelf, arguments.
Man, if I had a nickel for every time someone came in here with that “republicans” starve the poor shit…
Here’s the answer to your question. I work in marketing. As such my job is to sell products. In order to sell a product the people that you want to buy the product have to be aware of the product. Once you create awareness, you have to create consideration and then preference. We use communications like commercials to this. We use sampling. We use a wide variety of things. But you have to get the word out. In our case we are trying to sell the cause of Cuban liberty. If we have learned anything it’s that when the world is made aware of atrocities that the world will act. Think of apartheid in South Africa, the genocide in Darfur, etc. Our problem, and the reason this blog exists is that we haven’t done a good enough job advertising our story. And now MORE THAN EVER we need to advertise our story. Cuba is living through a critical moments that will determine what will happen over the next 5 decades. Last night on the radio hour we discussed how small decisions made by unlikely people affect world events.
The president is helping us ADVERTISE our story. Val could write 10,000 pieces over the next 10 years and it would never carry the weight of a 40 minute speech by the president. In that room were diplomats from Latin America. many of their countries have turned a blind eye to the regime’s repression and done deals with the devil. You don’t think the president’s words have any effect.
Pototo, you are free to believe whatever you want but unless you say what he should have said that he didn’t say you just come across like a malcontent.
Amelya,
True conservatives are against corportate welfare. But liberals see everthing as corporate welfare. Amelya, more than likely you work for a corporation. Why don’t you tell us about how your employer is exploiting you and making you poorer.
Please.
Ameyla,
BTW capitalists come in all the colors of the rainbow and political ideologies.
How awesome is it that no one has actually countered my points, but only tried to belittle my arguments with insults? I agree that true conservatism is against social wellfare, but Bush is not a true conservative, so to tout him as a great leader seems misguided. I have actually worked for non profits and for corporations and went back to corporations because I know many left winged CBOs only know how to exploit the clients they think they are helping. That being said, the pro farming subsidies that are being supported by mainly Republican states (but also some Democratic) are causing such mass starvation that at the last G-8 summit a lot of developing nations walked out because the farming subsidies here are hurting farmers in many other countries. The Korean farmer who protested in Cancun with immolation just didn’t like fire. I don’t believe Democrats are the answer, but if you think the Republicans care about Cuba, care about freedom, care about exploitation, then why not do something for Haiti as well? They have been in a civil war for over six years? By the way, if you send me your address, I will send you a whole quarter, instead of just a nickel. And don’t forget to put it in the cursing jar.
Val, Henry great comments. Henry, you’re absolutely right – it’s the ones on the island that need to demand the changes. Personally, I’m tired of hearing how tough it is to do anything there – “la represion.” True, it is brutal, but the Romanians and East Germans faced the same style Police State and had the COJONES to confront the system and push it over the edge – why should Cubans on the island be any different? You hear many common Cubans say that they don’t want us (Exiles, US) interferring in their problems, but the next day they are holding their hands out for $ and goods to stay alive, or organizing a smuggling trip to the ‘Yuma’ so we can take care of them here. As Henry said, there’s only a few who have the courage of their convictions. Until the rest of the complainers start acting and stop whining, nothing will change. The US lost its nerve in 1961 and has never regained it, so don’t expect firm action to overthrow those bastards until the people on the island take to the streets.
As for Amelya – pathetic!
Countr you points? Be careful what you wish for….
Cuba is not “a socialist paradise”. This is not the truth. If I remember correctly Huber Matos and other revolutionaries wanted to establish a socialist country and Fidel turned around and united with the comunists to establish a communist country.
Communism, socilaism. Six of one, half dozen of the other.
Canada and Cuba have two different goverments even if Republican capitalists and Michael Moore think otherwise.
yes, thats right. In Canada I believe they have real “elections. I dont know why you would even mention that here in this thread. And what, exactly, does Michael Moore have to do with yesterdays briefing by the President?
Yes, there are many “left wingers” in the US that see contemporary Cuba with rose colored glasses, but there are also many “right wingers” who feel that universal health care is akin to Socialism but are okay with giving wellfare to corporations as long as you starve the poor in the process, and I am talking about the real poor, not just people who live middle class but can “only” afford one car.
Again, what does universal healthcare have to do with this conversation in this thread? If youre alluding to S-CHIP, then this is not the thread forthat discussion. And please, spare us the “republicans” are starving the poor bullshit, mkay? That is patently and blantantly absurb.
Do not mistake criticism for anyone who doesn’t agree with Bush as actual truth.
Im not sure what the heck you mean by this.
He also said that Castro was a threat,to who I ask?
i cant believe I would even have to answer this, but how about that family of yours that’s oppressed in Cuba? Will they do as a justifuication for castro being a danger? How about castro’s ties with the Mulahs and the Iranians? How about castro’s ties with chavez, who just today bought yet ANOTHER shipment of arms and weapons from teh Russians? How about medium range nuclear missiles? how about black friday?
Who is in two wars and trying to start a third?
Islamofascists. Why do you ask?
Please be careful that you assumption that he is agreeing with you and will actually do something about the oppression of our families doesn’t get you to follow him blindly to somewhere you don’t like once you get there.
No one is following anyone blindly. But if we happen to think that the speech the President gave yesterday is a good thing for the freedom of the Cuban people we will say so and supprot it, unlike you, whose preconceptions and prejudices prevent you from even admittingthe fact that maybe, just maybe, Bush may have actually done something relatively good.
its called Bush Derangement Syndrome and you have a severe case of it.
Ameyla,
Notice how you have rambled on so far about canada, healthcare, michael moore, the G8, farm subsidies, Haiti, capitalists, leftists organizations, etc… this is a post specifically aboutthe Presidents briefing about Cuba. Nothing more and nothing less.
make your point while confining yourself to the subject at hand. hard to do, I know, when your point is simply to bash Bush.
President Bush has done more up to right now for the freedom of the Cuban people than most of the Cuban people have done themselves..
Val , President Bush has done NOTHING for the erradication of the Cuban problem
7 years wasted in the WH
What, specifically, do you want him to do?
The reason I liked President Bush to begin with was because he had integrity. He had unpopular stances and he didn’t give a rip who picked on him for it. In the last few years I have not seen as much of that integrity but yesterday, with nothing to gain, (and I don’t buy the whole Cuban vote/’08 election thing because I don’t think it will translate into that many more votes) he took a stand against castro. More than that, he had relatives of prisoners there with him. He couldn’t be much LESS popular right now if he tried- well, until yesterday’s speech. He’s already incurred the wrath of castro and Perez-Roque and I’d imagine he’s pissed off a bunch of people who thought he should have been fighting the fires in California with his own two hands (no disrespect intended to those suffering in CA)or carrying water to Georgia or attending to Iraq instead of “wasting” time on Cuba. So, whereas my support of him had been waning, he scored some points with me yesterday.
Claudia
What, specifically, do you want him to do?
why wait 7 years to give this 40 minute speech
actions no words…
like…
hacer respetar el embargo como dicta no el relajo que tienen como ventas de alimentos y demas
alimento que el pueblo no ve… ya que castro o lo revende o lo utiliza para sus fines
Ayudar a la disidencia even more , money in the pockets of the freedom fighters..
like allowing cubans to go to Cuba to fight if they so desire
y muchas cosas mas
Thanks for saving me the words abajo.
Look the President’s hands are tied. Look at all the trouble he got for insisting on Otto Reich
as Ass. Sec. State, for Latin America; mostly because he dared to challenge Sandinista and Chavista propaganda. He provided the circumstances by which Chavez could have been deposed; but much like Major Giroldi in Panama;
they didn’t have the guts to carry it out. Or Negroponte, because he acted on the realization that he learned from the Paris Peace Treaty that you don’t yield the enemy an inch and you back your own side; a viewpoint that Kissinger exiled him to the Consul General in Guayaquil for exercising. Look at all the wrangling required for approval of Radio & TV Marti, or providing seed money for dissidents (paging Oscar Corral).
That very same Juan Tamayo, back in the 80s was
always arguing against supporting the Salvadoran military; just like a young Air Force officer;
Capt. Bacevich, who made the argument that they
just couldn’t do the job. 20 years later, that
same figure is making the same argument about Iraq.
Abajo,
Ill grant you that they should prevent states from dealing with the castro regime in food and agricultural goods.
but thats about it.
There’s no way in hell they are going to let cuban exiles prepare and army to go fight in Cuba. It just aint gonna happen.
As for money to the dissidents, that was in the speech. however, this has a drawback as castroites will as usual pointthe finger at the US and acuse the dissidents of being US imperialist lackeys.
Look, the speech wasnt perfect by any means, but again, I wont look a gift horse in the mouth. he dedicated a whole 40 minutes to cuba without anything to gain politically.
It’s pointless to ask for what won’t happen or can’t happen. The bottom line is that the primary responsibility for Cuba’s downfall, as well as for getting out of that hellhole, belongs to Cubans themselves. Of course we could use all the help we can get, but we can’t demand it from those who clearly have other priorities and always will have.
It’s not their issue, and in most cases they don’t see it as their problem, even if to some extent it is, or could be. Perception, or misperception, can be just as potent as actual reality when it comes to making policy.
I still say that next to the rest of the democratic world, including our disgusting Latin “brothers” and our bitch of a “mother,” Bush looks mighty good right now. That may not be saying much, but it’s something, and we should try to make the best of it instead of asking for the moon.
Val,
I will not argue other issues, but this is indeed political. While he is not running the Republican party cannot afford to lose Florida.I do not think for a minute that President Bush has a burst of care for Cuba when he has shown little for 7 years.