CNN report on discontent in Cuba

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Commenter BarrioChino alerts us to this report from CNN’s Havana Bureau about how Cubans are more publicly expressing their discontent about the situation on the island.
Beyond the obvious takeaway that one gets from the video I’m pissed at this report. First of all Morgan Neil the correspondent says that Cubans are now saying publicly what they have been saying privately. Well buddy the world doesn’t know what Cubans say privately because so-called journalists like you have become way too comfortable in using the same “man on the street” approach to journalism that is used in the United States. It doesn’t take a freaking genius to figure out that you can’t just get people to say what’s on their mind in a totalitarian dictatorship. Our media often obscures the identity of unsavory and criminal elements in our country to get their particular take on an investigation. How many times do we see former mafia hit men in silhouette with their voices changed. Yet you rarely ever see those types of reports coming out of Cuba.
The next thing I’m struck by is the way Tricky Ricky Alarcon dodges the question about travel outside of Cuba. He says he “wishes” that Cubans could see how the rest of the world lives in order to end the ideological battle in Cuba. Well, why don’t they just make it so? If Cuba’s system is so great and so obviously superior then why can’t Cubans go and judge for themselves? Of course the answer is that almost everyone would leave and very few would come back. You need slaves to have slave labor.
Also notice how he dodges the question about why Cubans are restricted from accommodations that are reserved for Cubans. The typical Alarcon answer on any hard question about Cuba is “The U.S. does it too and they are far worse.” The problem of course is that in this case the lie is so outrageous that the people in that hall that have been isolated their whole lives could not possibly believe it. Since the time of the Cuban patriot Jose Marti (who spent more time in the U.S. in exile than he did in Cuba) Cubans have been welcomed in the U.S. and particularly in New York. Professor de la Cova even wrote a book about a Cuban Confederate officer in the civil war and is currently researching the Cuban population in the U.S. at the end of the 19th century. Besides all of that Alarcon, with his diplomatic credentials, gets to do things in New York that even New Yorkers can’t like double park his car, etc.
Still I guess we should be thankful for small miracles. We’ll see how long CNN and Morgan Neil are welcome in Cuba if they keep up this kind of “inconvenient” reporting. Inconvenient is the word the regime used when it expelled Chicago tribune reporter Gary Marx and BBC reporter Stephen Gibbs.

7 thoughts on “CNN report on discontent in Cuba”

  2. I, for one, do not believe this tape got out of Cuba by “accident.” Although these students asked some pointed questions, I have to wonder why all of the sudden they felt comfortable enough to pose such difficult questions to a high-ranking regime official in front of cameras and perhaps hundreds of people, yet would never dare wear a t-shirt or hold up a sign in public with the same question. There is no way of knowing whether these students were honest and chose this moment to step out, but still, one has to wonder.
    Another question that should be asked is if this video is being shown to people in Cuba. My guess would be no. It is one thing for the regime to show its subjects expressing their frustration for foreign consumption, but it is another thing totally for the regime to allow the country to see the same.

  3. I, for one, do not believe this tape got out of Cuba by “accident.” Although these students asked some pointed questions, I have to wonder why all of the sudden they felt comfortable enough to pose such difficult questions to a high-ranking regime official in front of cameras and perhaps hundreds of people, yet would never dare wear a t-shirt or hold up a sign in public with the same question. There is no way of knowing whether these students were honest and chose this moment to step out, but still, one has to wonder
    I agree Alberto..Todo lo que sale de cuba tiene un proposito y un fin.

  4. Alberto,
    While what you say has some merit, my understanding from people who have lived through these “dialogue” and “opening” periods before in Cuba is that they encourage you to speak your mind to save the Revolution. Some people actually buy that line and start talking. Later no reforms come and the people who spoke out are punished somehow. Often it’s negative marks on the dossier which of course prevent the person from obtaining desirable employment etc. One friend of mine spoke out at such a meeting in 90s during the special period and got in trouble later. They do this to identify the most disaffected people and also to gauge the sentiments of the people. Remember the regime has a vested interest in knowing exactly how discontented the people are. They know if they don’t keep their hand on the pressure release valve the whole thing can blow up in their face.

  5. Alberto,
    While what you say has some merit, my understanding from people who have lived through these “dialogue” and “opening” periods before in Cuba is that they encourage you to speak your mind to save the Revolution. Some people actually buy that line and start talking. Later no reforms come and the people who spoke out are punished somehow. Often it’s negative marks on the dossier which of course prevent the person from obtaining desirable employment etc. One friend of mine spoke out at such a meeting in 90s during the special period and got in trouble later. They do this to identify the most disaffected people and also to gauge the sentiments of the people. Remember the regime has a vested interest in knowing exactly how discontented the people are. They know if they don’t keep their hand on the pressure release valve the whole thing can blow up in their face.

  6. I think what what may be possible with the release of the tape may be the beginning of the effort to sanitize the truths that will come out of Cuba. It is multi-fold. First Castro is on his last leg. This leads to the fact that the communits government is indeed losing its grip. The MSM must see that the end is near and they too must sanitize their stance by reporting some negatives. The communist leaders as well must look like they are reaching out for damage control.I believe the beginning of the end is finally in sight and this ia all reactionary. To publicly release truths a spoonful at a time is their effort to soften the reactions when all the years of abuses become public. Alaron was visibly shaken. The tide is turning. Thank God.

  7. I’m not buying this either. CNN siding with free thinking Cubans? The softer side of commies? Did Hell just freeze over?
    Becareful my freedom loving friends.

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