and it’s scary.
In this op-ed piece in the University of Georgia’s independent newspaper Red and Black, university student Paxton Campbell explains to his readers that US-Cuba relations are in need of an update.
I believe it is time for change, including the introduction of new technologies to increase the country’s infrastructure, such as transportation and standard of living.
Mr. Paxton passionately argues that in order to help the oppressed Cuban people, the US must end its embargo against the communist tyranny so that the lives of “low-income” Cubans can be improved. However, like many of the proponents of lifting the embargo, this student completely ignores the real reason behind the malaise of the Cuban population: a corrupt state-run economy that emphasizes enslaving its population to enrich its elite.
But here comes one of the scary parts:
Many of you may recall the Elian Gonzalez story that captured the attention of the American people in 2000. That saga revolved around a fight to keep custody of a boy who left Cuba and lived with his uncle in Miami after his father died on the boat ride from Cuba. After losing the case in the U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, however, the boy had to return to Cuba.[emphasis mine]
A simple search of news articles on the Elian affair would have apprised Mr. Paxton that it was Elian’s mother, not his father, who tragically perished in the Florida Straits. It would have also informed this passionate university student that the Clinton administration never allowed the case to be heard in court. But simple facts such as these are irrelevant to the fact that what Cuba really needs is new cars.
Think about this: Cuba has had no new cars imported since the embargo began in 1962.
Really? I guess all those Mercedes-Benz and Toyotas that the tourists have available for rentals are all pre-1963 models. And let us not forget all those pre-1963 Soviet Ladas that still roam the island.
You can almost forgive Mr. Paxton his obvious ignorance regarding the situation in Cuba when you read the first line of his editorial.
For most of us, the only things we know about Cuba are that Dictator Fidel Castro has ruled until recently and it apparently has the best cigars in the world.
Actually, many of us know a little more about Cuba than a dictator named fidel and good cigars. And most of us, Mr. Paxton, would invest a little more time in researching a subject before we write an op-ed piece criticizing it; something you obviously did not do.
One would expect that a university junior majoring in international affairs–the future of this country and the world–would have a better grasp on history and facts. This editorial, however, shows the opposite. And that, my friends, is scary.
Please, please, someone write to the newspaper!
Alberto did you write to the student or the newspaper? This is ghastly!
I gave a basic response under the pen name Alexander.
Mario Ramirez’ post on their site was about as perfect as it could have been. WOW! Good job Mario.
As a proud American citizen, proudly born in Atlanta Georgia in 1966 (but now a Yankee) from hard working Cuban émigré parents who fled the communist tyranny by coming here (not illegally as Campbell claims Cubans do) to the freedom of this great land, I was really sickened by the ignorance, no, the stupidity exhibited by Campbell. At first I thought I was reading an April fools joke since the article was posted on 4-1-08, but I realized this individual was dead serious. Talk about shoddy reporting – his article is filled with mistakes, half truths, and ridiculous conclusions. Actually, the professors and anyone that oversees the student newspaper should be bought to task for allowing such nonsense to be printed.
The only thing this “Cuba expert” got right was that Castro is a dictator – the rest is laughable and the same old propaganda college students in the United States are usually fed by their left leaning professors. The most disgusting part I found to be a non Cuban with the temerity to lecture us on what he thinks Cuba should be like.
Although Campbell has the Constitutional right to say whatever nonsense he wants, he should be a little more responsible when spewing outdated Castro family propaganda.
Cubans are experiencing poverty not because of the American embargo, which is justified because Castro seized billions of dollars of American property on the island and never gave it back, but simply because of Castro’s failed socialist economic policies – like all socialist economic policies, in the past or those in the future – all destined to fail miserably.
Oh, and regarding Elian’s mother, (She had a name: Elizabet Brotons Rodriguez) tragically died at sea not his father – shame on you, this journalistic mistake is inexcusable! Maybe you should team up with Jason Blair of New York Times infamy and write tall tales. Better yet, maybe you should send your resume to the NYT, am sure they will hire you.
Campbell states:
“…then why not try to help a country grow?”
OK, Campbell, fair enough, but only when the Castro dynasty frees all political prisoners, legalizes independent political parties, and labor unions, allows for a free press, holds multiparty internationally supervised elections – then we can talk.
In the meantime you need to look at another career choice, say, full time Cuban citizen living on the island with a ration book and being harassed by the local neighborhood watch committee and being told what you can or not do? I wonder what article you’ll write then?
This kid was about 14 when Elian got here and it seems like he is using his vague, pubescent memories of the news to write this pathetic article.
I’ll bet he’s eating his erroneous words now.
If this scares you folks, come visit where I teach, it’s even scarier at the secondary level.
Sounds like a future Democratic Presidential candidate to me!