It’s not about fidel

7 thoughts on “It’s not about fidel”

1. What’s astounding about all of this is that there is no doubt in my mind that if Apartheid South Africa, Pinochet of Chile, Stroessner of Paraguay, the Shah of Iran, Somoza in Nicaragua, Marcos in the Philippines, Cedras in Haiti or any of the other so-called right-winged bogeymen of the late 20th century had tried such a lame and blatant monarchical succession, instead of asking for a lifting of an embargo, the MSM would have vociferously demanded an immediate tightening of existing sanctions in editorial after editorial, opinion piece after opinion piece and article after article.
   I, also, have no doubt that their insistence to lift the embargo even after the shameful and blatant succession that took place last week is based on racism. To American “intelligensia” [in their deluded and confused mind] Cubans are third-world “brown” people who have no ambition and can’t really govern themselves. They need a strong man to govern them and if that strong man gives them “free education and healthcare” that’s enough. After all, they swallow the Castroite propaganda line, hook and sinker that Cuba was a backwards, poverty-stricken country akin to Haiti and that Castro provided Cubans with free education and heathcare. As a result, they believe the lie that today Cuba is the most literate country in the world with the lowest infant mortality in the world, etc..
   To them, Cubans–who are seen as inferior–are like cattle or sheep that have no need to be free and are contented as long as they are provided shelter and good grain to grow fat and sleek on.
   So, what does it matter if its Fidel or Raul? They really don’t care.

2. Henry, respectfully, your sentiments reflect the policy that has not worked in 50 years. It must have been a surreal moment for our community in Miami to see how little influence they have in the future of Cuba when Castro resigned. Why? Because our policy, a policy based upon isolation and humiliation achieves marginalization and resentment. Cuba is marginalized and we have marginalized ourselves and the resentment continues on both sides. Isolation, marginalization, and humiliation do not set proper conditions for a discussion or improvement of human rights or much else in the context of foreign relations. And the tragedy is that our community could have great influence in Cuba, but it chooses self flagellation through this insane embargo policy. The only thing we are good at is influencing elections, but not change in Cuba. How does it feel to be ineffectual? But even that electoral influence is disingenous because the politicians pay lip service rather than be honest and say that the U.S. is not going to ever resolve Cuba’s problems in the manner the hardline rightwing would like or dreams of.
   And you want to continue this policy?

3. Explain to me how Europe’s policy of engagement and dialogue has worked out. Why isn’t it a surreal moment for all those European leaders that claim to want democracy and human rights for Cuba?
   I can’t re-write every post I’ve ever written on why U.S. policy is the correct policy every time someone like you comes along and throws the same tired arguments on the wall. Needless to say I’ve written thousands of words about it. Check the archives. You can do a search. That’s all.

4. Explain to me how Europe’s policy of engagement and dialogue has worked out. Why isn’t it a surreal moment for all those European leaders that claim to want democracy and human rights for Cuba?
   I can’t re-write every post I’ve ever written on why U.S. policy is the correct policy every time someone like you comes along and throws the same tired arguments on the wall. Needless to say I’ve written thousands of words about it. Check the archives. You can do a search. That’s all.

5. The United States is the linchpin, not Europe. Why? Because there is a community of people of Cuban origin or related larger than anywhere else. And the problem is with the United States and Cuba, not Europe and Cuba. And besides, Europe already spoke loudly like the rest of the world did in the United Nations General Assembly calling for us to end the embargo.
   And respectfully, in spite of all the arguments made, the fact is, based upon results, the embargo is a failure and has done precisely what I described above, marginalize and isolate and breed more resentment. Castro’s resignation and transition should be the biggest wake up call to our community and this country.
   Henry, we need to try something else. Like a wise gardener pointed out, if you want flowers, you grow them in a forest, not in a desert.

6. The only country in the world that is putting ACTUAL pressure on the regime as opposed to rhetorical pressure is the United States. By acquiescing to the regime and removing that pressure the United States joins the scores of other countries that in essence approve of the regime and its tactics. Also by doing business with Cuba’s jailers the United States becomes an accomplice.
   There is no EVIDENCE whatsoever that increased trade and tourism with the regime does anything to foster change in Cuba. On the contrary, once money started flowing into Cuba from foreign investors, tourists and later from Venezuela the regime rolled back the moderate reforms it had implemented.
   Don’t you see that the regime does not want to change? What you want to do is give the drug addict more money so he can do more drugs rather than letting him hit rock bottom and realize there’s only one way out.
   Sorry. No matter how much blah blah you post, doesn’t change those facts. There is in a fact a lot to lose by changing policy now. I don’t understand why you want to come here and debate with me all day. Your chances of changing my mind are ZERO. Not because I am closed minded. But precisely the opposite. Before I looked at this issue frontwards and backwards top to bottom I used to be naive and think “if we could just flood Cuba with blue jeans and rock music, castro would be gone in a flash.” But the problem is that the regime gets to determine what comes in and what doesn’t and who comes in and who doesn’t. The regime gets to determine who works for joint ventures with foreign companies and the regime determines their wages. The regime gets to buy those goods and re-sell them at whatever price it wants with no competition. In short it’s a monopoly that exhibits the worst characteristics of monopolies. The idea that somehow change is going to be introduced through the back door with some sort of capitalistic trojan horse when Cuba hasn’t liberalized its economy is incredibly naive.
   Once and for all, if the leaders of Cuba want to improve the situation of Cubans then it’s CUBA THAT HAS TO CHANGE, not the U.S. The regime has the power to begin the reconstruction of Cuba today, this very minute. Instead of exercising that power they are more interested in perpetuating the dictatorship, their own power and their privileged position.
   Until that changes, the U.S. should hold their feet to the fire. Case closed.

7. The only country in the world that is putting ACTUAL pressure on the regime as opposed to rhetorical pressure is the United States. By acquiescing to the regime and removing that pressure the United States joins the scores of other countries that in essence approve of the regime and its tactics. Also by doing business with Cuba’s jailers the United States becomes an accomplice.
   There is no EVIDENCE whatsoever that increased trade and tourism with the regime does anything to foster change in Cuba. On the contrary, once money started flowing into Cuba from foreign investors, tourists and later from Venezuela the regime rolled back the moderate reforms it had implemented.
   Don’t you see that the regime does not want to change? What you want to do is give the drug addict more money so he can do more drugs rather than letting him hit rock bottom and realize there’s only one way out.
   Sorry. No matter how much blah blah you post, doesn’t change those facts. There is in a fact a lot to lose by changing policy now. I don’t understand why you want to come here and debate with me all day. Your chances of changing my mind are ZERO. Not because I am closed minded. But precisely the opposite. Before I looked at this issue frontwards and backwards top to bottom I used to be naive and think “if we could just flood Cuba with blue jeans and rock music, castro would be gone in a flash.” But the problem is that the regime gets to determine what comes in and what doesn’t and who comes in and who doesn’t. The regime gets to determine who works for joint ventures with foreign companies and the regime determines their wages. The regime gets to buy those goods and re-sell them at whatever price it wants with no competition. In short it’s a monopoly that exhibits the worst characteristics of monopolies. The idea that somehow change is going to be introduced through the back door with some sort of capitalistic trojan horse when Cuba hasn’t liberalized its economy is incredibly naive.
   Once and for all, if the leaders of Cuba want to improve the situation of Cubans then it’s CUBA THAT HAS TO CHANGE, not the U.S. The regime has the power to begin the reconstruction of Cuba today, this very minute. Instead of exercising that power they are more interested in perpetuating the dictatorship, their own power and their privileged position.
   Until that changes, the U.S. should hold their feet to the fire. Case closed.

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