Soft diet
Adolfo Fernández Sainz lives among stories like this one; he turned 61 yesterday, six of them locked in Canaleta prison since the Black Spring of 2003.
That afternoon the last of his canine teeth would be extracted. He had spent days on it, helped by another inmate who was skilled in extracting teeth, even molars. The collection of what had been pulled had been put under the pillow, and there they would stay until the time came for throwing them, with their yellow enamel, through the tiny window of the cell.
If all went as expected, the coming week he would be showing his smooth-gummed mouth to the doctor. He would say they had fallen out on their own, as had happened to the character in the film Papillon, which he had seen as a boy. In that film the prisoner had suffered from scurvy, but he, no. He had renounced his teeth to get access to the soft diet given to prisoners who could not chew. The preparation of plantain and sweet potato was more flavorful than the rancid food served to the others, so it was a question of survival to do without these useless things surrounding his tongue.
Cojo (The Cripple), had prepared the instruments as if he held a diploma in dentistry. Before going to Cojo’s bunk he studied his canine for the last time in the polished tin that served as a mirror. There was nothing to be sorry about; it was full of cavities, twisted to the right and stained with nicotine. This little obstacle that would emerge from his mouth was not going to stand between food and his needy body. He gave it a few knocks to loosen it and walked over to where several prisoners were waiting for an extraction. On the mattress, a piece of a spoon and a small metal bar would take the place of a hammer and chisel to weaken the tooth; an improvised pair of pliers, made from two pieces of wire, would remove the root. Payment for the makeshift surgery would be in cigarettes, about twenty he had saved over several days of not smoking.
Later he would go to sleep with the throbbing around the hole that had once sheltered his eyetooth, but happy to be able to join the brotherhood of the toothless. Others in their beds would also be controlling the pain, while dreaming the whole night through of an aluminum tray brimming over with soft puree.
Diciembre 18th, 2009 at 11:12
impresionante lo que pasa cada dia, se estan riendo de la humanidad. EL GOBIERNO CHECO PIDIO PRESION PARA CASTRO DADO A EL ENCARCELADO EX PRIMER MINISTRO Y EL ESTUDIANTE CHECO.CREO QUE ES NECESARIO LA PRESION PERIODISTICA INTERNACIONAL EN CUBA Y QUE LOS PERIODISTAS SE ALOJEN EN LAS CASAS DE LOS DISIDENTES!!!!! QUE NO VAYAN A LOS HOTELES. MUCHA PRESION INTERNACIONAL CASTRO EXPORTO SU CORRUPCION Y SABE QUE ESA ES LA MUERTE DE SU GOBIERNO
Diciembre 15th, 2009 at 20:40
yoani si algun dia no te dejan escribir mi blog esta preparado para tu expresarte como quieras sin limitaciones es para todos los dicidentes cubanos
te felicito, te considero la mejor bloguera del mundo, y la mejor en expresion y valentia, te repeto mucho tu pagna bloquero pablo
Diciembre 6th, 2009 at 13:17
Beyond chilling :(
Diciembre 5th, 2009 at 19:43
HASTA CUANDO??
Diciembre 5th, 2009 at 00:02
84
Exile
Diciembre 2nd, 2009 at 17:49
………Carbo, try not to be a pillock. I set the blog up over four years ago long before anyone had heard of this bird……….
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
So what……. you still acts as a member of the cyberbrigade……. there is a lot of agents like you in hibernation status out there…….. you have become active….. that’s it……… it is easy to identify the bird for its depositions!!!!!
Diciembre 4th, 2009 at 18:07
Just sad reality
Diciembre 4th, 2009 at 12:21
change without violence:
I am not a pacifist yet I agree with the idea of change without violence.
Retribution (for example) creates a chain of acts that can go on for a long period of time, we see this in family feuds, in some of the mentalities of the middle east and in juast about any society system that does not have tolerance for differences.
I realize is perhaps just a dream to believe in a peacefull society but …
The commun thread of dictatorships is the spilling of blood for “the cause” after the slogans are created, repeated till they are believed … the holds of a society are broken & replaced by the bestiality of the totalitarian regimes.
Perhaps it is in our human nature to be violent, just as well it is in our humanity the capacity (perhaps trhu discipline) to be tolerant, forgiving & constructive.
Right now in Cuba … this qualities are not there to influence the conduct of the present regime.
The consecuences are such that even the people ruled by this regime is affected; it has generated as well some of the most vitriolic antagonists to freedom I have seen.
Either way .. change happens even if not wanted, what we control (if we do) is the way change takes place, when it takes place.
Till then we keep the faith, we thank Yoani and all the others, the silent voices are just as strong and their echo resonates loud & clear …
Diciembre 4th, 2009 at 03:01
I know that half of these prisoners have done nothing & are totally innocent.If men who have raped,molested or murdered have to do this,i have no objection,but men who done virtually nothing,i have many.I fail to understand how they get this motivation to just survive;to take our their teeth so they can have something a little better.
Here prison’s are different;you have prison’s for prisoners,& they have to go through some hard & inhumane times themselves,though not this hard,atleast not to my knowledge,& then you have political prisoner’s;who,with the connection’s they have,can turn their prison sentence a getaway from their families.These day’s you can get not only good food & an actual bed,but also,television,& even a laptop..
Diciembre 3rd, 2009 at 17:34
Julio.
With honor and hope I read your comments. When I moved to USA from The Netherlands and confronted some of the cuban community, I got the perception of a freedom based on materialistic achievements, did not hear about individuls freedoms for all groups of the cuban society, the word homosexual, prostitutes and other groups were tabboo, it was when I asked myself? what kind of freedom is my people achieving here in exile? we are not better than the cuban goverment if we denied respect and liberty to all cubans.
Diciembre 3rd, 2009 at 15:56
Andy,
Give your arse a rest as I have already said that I misspelled the name. It is actually Salim Lamrani and his contact details,including e-mails, are here:
http://www.rebelion.org/autores.php?id=61
Just get in touch with him or his university, OK? And stop wriggling.
Diciembre 3rd, 2009 at 14:50
Agree Cubano
I will tell you this. I am on the side of the repress. We can not create a new society that claims for freedom of one group of people while it limits the freedoms of some other group of people.
That will be unjust and I do not believe anybody after been treated for 50 years with utmost unjustice will go for reversing the role from repressee to repressor from torturee to torturer. This is not about reversing roles is about changing a society so that all Cubans can contribute with ideas and solutions. A new society we can all be proud. Where liberty and freedom are protected from people like the Castros. Power hungry people have existed and will exist and we the people need protection from their kind. Because their interest is not the interest of the people. Their interest is the “Honey of Power” our interest is to give that power back to the rightful owner. The people of Cuba and to keep it there. That is done in a democracy when people can elect the leader and belong to the party they want without fears.
Let me repeat again something we have mentioned many times here before
I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it.
from Voltaire.
We want a society that anyone can contribute even the communist and the fidelist.
What needs to be done is to change the constitution so nobody can rule forever. We need term limits and also freedom and all the universal human rights may need to be included on the constitution.
Diciembre 3rd, 2009 at 14:11
degrading and judging your brothers and sisters, won’t make a better Cuba. How are we going to be free looking down on others, we have to built institutions that respect everyone with their own differences. To be a prostitute does not make an individul less a human being. How are we going to be free if we do not accept and tolerate our fellow human beings?
Diciembre 3rd, 2009 at 11:57
I will emulate M.L.King and say “….I had a dream … A Cuba where every Cuban have the same rights…. The Humans right…..Where we could have opposing views and come together …..and build that beautiful Island!….”
Diciembre 3rd, 2009 at 11:45
Please people
I know they have done a lot of bad things and is very hard to forgive and I am not asking for it neither I am asking to forget what they did to all of us.
But we can not start a new society with blood in the same way they did.
Specially if they do contribute to the pacific change in the society.
Violence does engender more violence. Fidel Castro and cronies do not deserve to be martyrs.
Diciembre 3rd, 2009 at 11:44
This is the great Health care that Cuba is famous for??? If you read some posts on some various TRAVEL forums from Cuban Voceros, Terry (Cheers) and Steve XYZ you would think that Cuba was a great place to live. The reality from someoone living inside is very different. When will the Cuban people take to the streets to aire their differences??? Be like Yoani, Gorki or Ciro and grow some BALLS.
Diciembre 3rd, 2009 at 11:41
Castro has always a big Whore on his side(”Cuban People”) and even talk about on 1988 speech coping this from Julio’s Silent Voice”. I see then that for him is more important to squeeze a few dollars out of the very poor he is ruling and their families abroad. About him pimping Cubans into prostitution. I am not kidding I saw in horror as the great leader on TV somewhere explaining why Cuba’s gineteras (”whores”) had law degrees and were doctors in medicine and he look to me like he was proud to have the most highly educated whores in the world .
Diciembre 3rd, 2009 at 11:41
Castro has always a bog Whore on his side(”Cuban People”) and even talk about on 1988 speech coping this from Julio’s Silent Voice”. I see then that for him is more important to squeeze a few dollars out of the very poor he is ruling and their families abroad. About him pimping Cubans into prostitution. I am not kidding I saw in horror as the great leader on TV somewhere explaining why Cuba’s gineteras (”whores”) had law degrees and were doctors in medicine and he look to me like he was proud to have the most highly educated whores in the world .
Diciembre 3rd, 2009 at 11:30
Barracuda, Yoani is the beginning of a new civil society. Saddam is dead….so what. Look at the state of Iraq now. Lets avoid those mistakes.It is not a question of exiles/fidelistas good/bad or bad/good. There are many people in Cuba open to be persuaded. This happened in eastern europe and there they knew that you cannot just kill all your enemies. Were the eastern europeans weak?
Liam
Diciembre 3rd, 2009 at 11:10
I just to dream that something like Romania w/ Nicolas Ceausescu will happen on Cuba w/ the Castro’s family . But i will say that god wont aloud that to happen it. I prefer a peace transfer of power.But may dream is one day all Cubans from all sides of the planet will come together , and enjoy the real freedom .
Diciembre 3rd, 2009 at 10:49
I hope we can cacth castro before osama bin laden,osama killed like 3,000 thousand people in 9-11 , castro is been killing people for fifty years thats this makes any sense,.cuba is only 90 miles afghanistan is on the other side of the world closer to the moon.
Diciembre 3rd, 2009 at 10:42
CUBA,,,IS LIKE A ROACH HOTEL YOU CAN COME IN BUT YOU CANNOT COME OUT.
Diciembre 3rd, 2009 at 10:38
A lot of people dont like the cubans exiles in miami because they know how to dress and they drive bmw,s and corvettes,but the fidelists that follow fidel catro all day wish to dress like them and would love to have the things their own.
Diciembre 3rd, 2009 at 10:31
Gramma wont aloud to use a blog style like this one or the Miami herald or other news blog around. They know to well, what will be the reaction.Listening to Castro’s speech was really boring was always the same. First a historical description , second blaming the American , and third proms that will never be fulfill.
Diciembre 3rd, 2009 at 10:27
LIAM,,,,,,,thats why the UNITED STATES had SADDAM HUSSEIN HUNG BY A ONE INCH ROPE where is the NEW civil society you are talking about.
Diciembre 3rd, 2009 at 10:21
CARACOL,,,,,,,,, I agree with you, people that have not lived under the castro regime or have experience situacions like have family members killed or drown trying to come to a free world have a different mentality and their opinions are weak.THIS IS LIKE PULLING ORANGES OUT OF A APPLE TREE.
Diciembre 3rd, 2009 at 10:16
Caracol,with all due respect to your passion and feelings,your last post is exactly what the cuban government say that the miami exiles want. They will use your wish for hanging bodies in public to discredit opposing views and restrict the building of a new civil society.Do not fall into this trap. The days of coups,assassinations and terrorism are over.
Liam.
Diciembre 3rd, 2009 at 10:07
Having a more complex view of the way forward is not acting as a ‘castro agent’.Curtailing the debate means we are just talking to ourselves and inluencing no one, especially the casual visitors to these sites. This is exactly what we accuse the cuban government of doing.
Contructive views or even strong, opposing,emotional views have to be faced up to and debated. There is no ‘off the shelf’ solution waiting to create a new society. A transition will be painful and we cannot physically ‘wish away’ people in Cuba who have different views.
Liam.
It is still my view that with her excellent writing style Yoani could be more critically positive about some aspects of cuban life.
Diciembre 3rd, 2009 at 10:06
FIDEL CASTRO; For 50 years its been killing humans and sinking boats in the straights of florida full of childrens in front of the childrens moms eyes, some of this mothers have gone crazy because what they have experience, their children have drown and die in front of their faces, kids of all ages.i cant believe that some people want to seat in a table dialouge and make deals and peaceful transition with this murders. this murders wont pay for what they have done even if you use lethal injection to execute them they should be hung in miami so all cuban exile can say we have come to closure.
Diciembre 3rd, 2009 at 10:02
These are new times and new people and we will respond with energy the
full energy of words to the regime’s violence. We are many many more that they are
and we are also on the side of reason.
Diciembre 3rd, 2009 at 08:54
I remember from Cuba the intellectual letter , I think it say w/ the revolution every thing , W/out nothing .
My Idea that R.Castro is trying to use this theory in Yoani. And to Saboteur this blog w writing trying to lower the value of Yoani.
Diciembre 3rd, 2009 at 08:53
Liam,
I believe the great majority of us will like to see a peaceful transition to a democracy and a market economy for Cuba. Enough of our brothers and sisters have died or are languishing in horrible prisons for wanting freedom.
It is on the current Cuban government power to make this peaceful transition possible.
One way or the other it will happen. They are in a corner.
Do not respond with violence toward pacific people. That will be the worst you could do. That will really accelerate the downfall.
Prison is violence, beating is violence, manifestations setup by the regime is violence.
All these people that write from Cuba and outside are the true patriots.
We are asking for Freedom. All the freedoms as stated in the Universal declaration of human rights.
Diciembre 3rd, 2009 at 08:35
Dear Hank
“I agree with you. Your post way back in #43 and later are right on. Wouldn’t it be interesting if the other side could at least tender someone able to articulate a rational argument and defend it? The problem is, as it is becoming increasingly clear, they can’t”
You have nailed my friend!
They can not produce someone that can do and follow a rational argument because no logic will be able to justify the murders, no logic will be able to justify use of violence against pacific people. No logic will be able to justify how they keep Cubans as slaves. No logic will be able to justify repression and lack of freedom.
For example I was reading this wonderful post at
http://tomarlapalabra.wordpres...../#more-283
and the first thing I notice is what the editors put on the top (These are people that work for the Cuban regime)
NOTA DE LOS EDITORES: El siguiente texto es una contribuciĂłn de un lector. Tomar la Palabra no se responsabiliza por su contenido. Las ideas aquĂ expresadas no coinciden necesariamente con las de los editores de Tomar la Palabra.
Note from the editors: The following text is a contribution by a reader. Tomar la palabra Take the word is not responsable for what is written. The ideas express are not necesarily the same ideas of the editors of Take the word.
They place that disclaimer not only because the editors are afraid of the consequences for what they published there even if it is something written by someone else. But because by doing so, they remind everyone that the Cuban regime is watching and they are free to take retributions against you.
So it is really done with the objective of limiting the freedom to speak.
Yet people are posting there because people have loss fear of the regime!
You see, my friends we that want freedom for Cuba are the majority.
Those that want repression and to keep the status quo are the minority.
That is something the regime knows well. They know the end is near.
Diciembre 3rd, 2009 at 07:49
Why are we wasting our time and energy with someone we know is not worth keeping a discussion?
Castro’s agents are numerous, one of their objectives is to keep us busy and engaged in explaining both our position or Yoani’s, instead of us focusing on the real issues that affect us all; ignore them and they will go to another blog who pays attention and continue with their agenda. Have a good day!
Diciembre 3rd, 2009 at 05:48
Hi,
Caracol in entry 78 is way off beam. You want the situation in Honduras?!!!! That is not the way forward for Cuba. Military coups belong to the era of Reagan et al.Maybe the exiles in Miami want that but the people in Cuba do not,no matter which side of the argument they are on.None of the cubans i live and work with support the coup in Honduras. Lets leave that sad scenario to the crazies in Miami.
Whatever happens in any transition it has to include the tens of thousands of cubans who see themselves as ‘fidelistas’whether you like it or not. Kill them all? Put them all into a gulag? Exile them? Lets get back to the real world of how to build a lasting, harmonious society.
Liam. (PS. I read Miriam in ’sin evasion’regularly. I have the same comment about her as i have about Yoani. Sometimes they are both right BUT both are still unrelentingly negative,especialy Miriam. )
Diciembre 3rd, 2009 at 01:37
Andy,
Excellent! There comes a point when enough is enough already. We ARE winning!
Strange at it may seem, I think the fact that Raul has not responded to Yoani is proof positive of this point. We are winning. Raul has no legitimacy and he knows it. If he had any legitimacy, it would have been so very easy for him to write a few lines to her and be done with it. He could take out a full page add in Granma and answer the questions. But he didn’t and he won’t. The longer his silence goes on, the worse it becomes. What absolute fear he must feel.
Here’s Raul’s dilemma:
Option (a): If I respond to Yoani’s questions, I legitimize her. I elevate her to my level. I can’t do that because then all the other bloggers and ordinary citizens in my country will be emboldened to also speak out about their concerns. Maybe they will even take to the streets and protest. That’s bad for me - very bad. I can’t do it because I can’t tolerate dissent (my brother taught me this years ago). It is dangerous to the status quo; my regime; and my survival. Ergo: Option (a) is a definite “No Go.” Or, in the words of the famous astronauts, “Houston, we have a problem.”
Option (b): If I do not respond to Yoani’s questions and ignore her, I maintain the high ground. I choose not to hear her because she does not matter and is just a single voice among millions of others. She’s a traitor who deserves no attention. But this doesn’t work either. The problem is that she and others will slowly pick away at what I stand for. They express themselves using ideas. Harmless, defenseless ideas. Not weapons or threats. If I don’t provide at least some sort of response, more and more people in the world and within Cuba itself will start asking questions that I don’t want to be forced to deal with. But if I do answer, I am back to option (a), which we all agree is bad for me.
What the hell do I do!?
Raul, Here’s what you do: Take option (a). Man up and deal with it now. Get into the dialog or you will be left behind. I even offer to help you write your response. Let me know.
Your friendly neighborhood Hank.
Diciembre 3rd, 2009 at 00:37
John Two,
15, 20 years. I struggle to comprehend what that means. Right now, today, people who have done nothing more than to say what they think languish and rot in jail after a closed one-day kangaroo court trial? What do we do about this, John? I gather from your writing that you are more involved in this than most of us. What do we do to help these people?
When I was a boy, I remember my mother meticulously gathering items to send to a distant uncle who I never met. His sentence was 20 years in a Cuban prison. She sent him medicine and prescription glasses, that’s what I remember. I have no idea if these things got to him. He’s dead now and I never met him. None of us did.
What can we do about this, John?
Diciembre 3rd, 2009 at 00:23
Other thoughts: There has been a lot of energy on this comment section lately and a real turn to serious topics. I’m sure much of this is due to the topics of some of Yoani’s posts and the things she has been writing about.
But you know, I think a lot of it may also be due to a growing feeling that Yoani is winning. And for most of the commentators that means that we are winning.
Things ARE going to change in Cuba. It won’t be another 50 years, it won’t be another 10. The transition is close and it is real.
And so it’s time to talk about serious things. To prepare.
What a good feeling!
Diciembre 3rd, 2009 at 00:15
Alright — let’s talk about lies (and the lying liars who tell them [thank you Sen. Franken]) for a minute.
Exile: Please provide a link that is obviously credible (for example a photograph of your next door neighbor posted on your own blog would not qualify) to convince us that there is or ever was a professor at the Sorbonne named Salim Ramnani. Just that this person EXISTS would be a good starting point. Then we can look at them and their supposed evidence.
Lacking that I’m done with the conversation, though I can’t speak for anyone else.
Diciembre 2nd, 2009 at 23:58
Does not look swollen to me, and the point still stands that the media didn’t believe her either. It’s OK, if you want to take her word go ahead, but outside Miami most of the rest of us tend to be hostile to those who lie.
Diciembre 2nd, 2009 at 23:21
Anonimo, in #108
Brilliantly stated. Thank you. Hope to hear more from you.
Diciembre 2nd, 2009 at 23:13
Andy, Thanks. The Devils’ Advocate exercise is something I do a lot. The goal is to illuminate the strengths and weaknesses in your own position, to hone your argument. But it requires a profound understanding of all of the facts on both sides.
I agree with you, I don’t think I could do it in this case without adopting the tactics we see everyday here: distortion, fallacy, character assassination, and worse…the list goes on. You know as well as I do that this way of arguing is easy, because there are no rules. Logic does not apply.
Still, I am amazed that the other side has no one who can make a rational argument to justify the last 50 years or anything about the glorious revolution. Is there no one on the Cuban Government side with the guts to come here and make a sensible presentation? All that free education must have been good for something.
Diciembre 2nd, 2009 at 22:31
For those who might be interested in knowing a bit more about Adolfo Fernandez Sainz, there’s a writeup as well as a photo on the English PEN website:
“Profession: journalist
Year of birth: 1947
Details of arrest: arrested as part of a crackdown on alleged dissidents that began on 18 March 2003 and in which around 90 people were detained.
Details of trial: one of 35 journalists, writers and librarians sentenced during the one-day trials held on 3/4 April 2003 under laws governing the protection of the Cuban state. The one-day court hearings were held behind closed doors and it is reported that there was insufficient time for the accused to put together a cogent defence. Sentence: 15 years”
http://www.englishpen.org/writ.....ndezsainz/
Lest we forget.
Diciembre 2nd, 2009 at 22:28
Hank — your idea of one of us taking on the role of defender-of-the-regime is a good one. It’s a way to make you think really hard about all the subjects at hand. But you know, I think it would be nearly impossible in this case. I’m going to give it some thought though. The only way I could even think of to do it is to take Fidel out of the picture. Imagine, for example, that Fidel had died in 1961 say. Benignly - undiagnosed genetic heart disease or something. Then imagine the revolution had continued under the collective leadership of others. I’ll think about it. With that psychopathic narcissist in the picture… I can’t even conceive of it.
Diciembre 2nd, 2009 at 22:24
Julio,
I agree with you. Your post way back in #43 and later are right on. Wouldn’t it be interesting if the other side could at least tender someone able to articulate a rational argument and defend it? The problem is, as it is becoming increasingly clear, they can’t! Maybe one of us should play devil’s advocate and take on the role of defending the regime. Might be an interesting debate exercise.
Instead, we are left to contend with innuendo, flawed logic and, now, the feeble explanation that use of language doesn’t alter the points that one makes. Well, it does. Please, give me a break.
Diciembre 2nd, 2009 at 22:17
Taking the view that “the simplest answer is usually the correct one” may not get you very far in terms of knowing things about the world, Exile.
Information dissemination is not all together reliable. Even if it’s been disseminated in the US, France, and the UK. It’s particularly not reliable if news organizations all run the same story, instead of investigating ‘the facts’ on their own.
Language usage can indeed alter one’s intended point, but I digress; an adhominem attack is an informal fallacy, and arguments that contain ad hominem attacks or other informal fallacies should be rejected. In any case, it doesn’t make sense to call a woman a ’slag’ just because you don’t agree with her. But, my guess is that you’re not interested in making good arguments and would rather just name-call and spew out unreliable information. So, I won’t waste my time any further.
Diciembre 2nd, 2009 at 22:05
Interesting that the last two postings refer to extraction. Maybe if the truth was known Yoani(doubt still exist if there is ??) is expressing that she wants to remove herself from this dialogue against the home land and tell the truth and love of her wanting to stay and live life in Cuba. We all know she left only to return this in itself speaks volumes. Let us not forget that what on the surface would appear open in reality is an under lying desire for change for those who hold a false window of the new and vibrant Cuba.
Diciembre 2nd, 2009 at 22:00
Ok Exile, there was Orlando Pardo with her
did you see the pictures of the beating he got?
Do you think he beat himself up?
I saw a video from CNN interview and in the video I saw from Yoani the left side under her eye look like it was swollen.
This people they use are professionals they know where to hit people so it will not be noticed. Do you denied people were not hit on manifestations similar to Reinaldo in the 80s?
They used to hit them with eggs and beat them and scream obscenities at them.
I think that what the whole Castro invention so people will be afraid to go.
See the problem was that in the 80s he said that anyone that wanted to go could go and then people started to go he just thought that a few people will leave he did not know how unpopular he was already. So this attacks where obviously design to induce fear in people so that they will not go. After all it is a big statement that people do prefer to leave their own country.
Diciembre 2nd, 2009 at 21:38
If you want to claim that they are all telling lies then go ahead. I take the view that the simplest answer is usually the correct one and TV crews from the USA, France and the UK all showed scepticism about this woman’s claims.
My use of language does not alter the points that I make. Wriggle all you want: the little slag claimed to have received a hammering and it looks like she was telling porkies.
Now why believe a word that she says?
Diciembre 2nd, 2009 at 21:35
I was just reading Blue Peasant
This post is sad
http://retazosen.wordpress.com.....s-roberto/
about friends when they go on exile from the point of view of those who stay.
Why did we have to go on Exile Raul.
Why can Cuba be for all of us?
Why can Cuba have freedoms that allow everyone to contribute to society?
Diciembre 2nd, 2009 at 21:31
Exile:
“The CNN report is from a few days ago and you can find it at this link. By the way, the Cuban doctors who inspected her and found no injuries have been interviewed and the video is on-line. Do try to keep up…”
So CNN and Cuban doctors always report things that are true? You’re claiming that someone should believe everything that she hears in mainstream media or that comes out of the mouths of Cuban doctors (who very well may be coerced)—especially if there is an on-line video? Those are poor arguments. Were they meant to be persuasive?
“The point is that if the scabby wee slag can be proven to have told lies, then whatever credibility she had outside the ranks of the gusanos will vanish down the bog. All it needs is for someone to pull the chain.”
No matter how much misogynist language you use, it will not make your claims true. So what’s the point of using hateful ad hominem attacks when they only work to render your arguments more fallacious?
Diciembre 2nd, 2009 at 21:17
Guys,
Great thread going on here, I’m proud to be a part of this group. Wish I could post more during the day, but I am tied up with other things.
Friendly English Translator - Thank you for the work that you do. I like your byline, reminds me of one of my favorite super heroes, Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider Man! Keep it up!
Diciembre 2nd, 2009 at 21:15
what its the big deal if yoani went back to cuba, many cubans come to the united states and within 12 months they are visiting cuba and taking u.s. dollars to the island acting like some big shots buying sex.
Diciembre 2nd, 2009 at 20:22
I think John Two nailed on 94
Exile hope that single answer will satisfied you.
Just go about and read each of the post of Yoani or the other bloggers. What do they write about?
The real problems that Cuba has.
Why is the regime so set on shutting them up?
Why can they accept critical statements?
Why?
Raul Castro that will be a question for you additional to the questions Yoani have asked.
Diciembre 2nd, 2009 at 19:24
Concubino #93
http://www.desdecuba.com/sin_evasion_en/
There are different sites floating around for these blogs. This is the updated version of Sin Evasion in English. The translator usually gets the posts up within a day or two, so it’s up to date.
Maybe I will try to change the “look” to the new look of the Spanish blog.
Your Friendly English Translator
Diciembre 2nd, 2009 at 19:23
I second John Two in comment 94
Diciembre 2nd, 2009 at 19:22
I take comment 95 back .Sorry… sin evasion ..It is very updated..
Diciembre 2nd, 2009 at 19:20
“You are posting comments too quickly, slow down.”
I just got this message when I tried to post the comment below! I haven’t posted in a couple weeks so it must just be a computer burp… just thought I’d let you know in case other people get the same message. I just did a “back” and then tried again and it worked. (And my comment was still there… I didn’t have to retype it.)
Your Friendly English Translator
Diciembre 2nd, 2009 at 19:18
Julio —
I translate Yoani, Reinaldo and Claudia, and when he posts, Retazos (The Blue Peasant).
I used to do Miriam (Sin Evasion)… often with help from others… and could hardly bear to give her up because she really is just too brilliant. But… it got to be too much for me. Some days all 4 bloggers would post at the same time!
Now Miriam is translated by a brilliant Cuban exile… (who often did it even when I supposedly was doing it)… and I am tremendously grateful for her help. And I read all of Miriam’s columns. She has also been a “guest blogger” on Yoani’s Huffington Post site.
By the way — in recent weeks we have had a tremendous outpouring of people offering to help, so I think we will soon have several more blogs available in English! (And maybe other languages as well, including Portuguese and Japanese.)
Your Friendly English Translator
Diciembre 2nd, 2009 at 19:18
There’s an old bumper sticker I find quite offensive: “America - love it or leave it.” The reason I don’t like it is that any citizen using non-violent means has the fundamental right to try to bring about change in their own country without being told they should leave. It’s the essence of democratic freedom.
It’s fair game to question or disagree with the things Yoani Sanchez says or writes. It is not fair game to question her patriotism. I’m not Cuban but Yoani’s obvious love for her country and her dream of a better future for its people is what keeps me coming back to her blog.
Moreover, Yoani had every right to return to Cuban under international human rights law. Personally, I think it took tremendous courage to return to Cuba. With Yoani’s talent as a writer, and the friends she made in Europe as evidenced by the number of volunteers who now translate this blog into numerous languages, there is no question that she would have been very successful had she chosen to stay in Europe. But she chose to return and I choose to support her.
Diciembre 2nd, 2009 at 19:15
Julio: the traslation of Sin Evasion is very outdated The translators don’t like to traslate that blog because is an old Blog format..
Diciembre 2nd, 2009 at 18:32
Sin Evasion is actually translated to English also!
Translator do you do translations for all this blogs or just Yoani’s?
You do an awesome job!
Diciembre 2nd, 2009 at 18:27
Andy, Julio and others ,
Now that Andy has mentioned PD …if you think GY is great , Miriam and her blog SinEvasion is awesome.Her last post is simply a..GRAND SLAM. Please don’t miss it. I highly recomend it .
Andy: Try to use google translator, if you don’t get the whole idea let the Cubans of this section know. On my behalf I will more than glad to help with that post..outstanding!!
Diciembre 2nd, 2009 at 18:16
Andy,
You might like http://www.rebelion.org/ as a good source of information - just click on the Cuba link from the main page. http://machetera.wordpress.com/ is run by a young woman who translates lots of Cuban blog posts into English. If you can read Spanish, then you might like one of the Cuban blogs such as http://cambiosencuba.blogspot.com/ which is one of my favourites. The Miami gang try to claim that there is no internet in the country, but that is bollocks.
Diciembre 2nd, 2009 at 18:14
Well I actually use that on wikipedia. It was the first time I use it. I started an article on Opposition to Fidel Castro and later changing the article of Fidel Castro. etc
Here is my page on wikipedia
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/User:SilentVoice
:-)
Yes Concubino that is why my Pseudonym was Silent Voice is an oxymoron since a voice can never be silence! If we do not speak up at least it is keep alive inside of us.
Is awesome to be free to be able to express freely what you think. Without fear and attach your name to it :-)
Diciembre 2nd, 2009 at 18:05
Julio
Now I igot it …the silent voice .. Nice#85
Diciembre 2nd, 2009 at 18:05
I’m just looking for answers to my questions, pal, and no bugger seems able to provide them. OK, the piece does not contain cast iron evidence, but there is enough there to make the jaundiced reader even more dubious than he was before. Oh, and nobody is pressuring a Sorbonne academic or a Englishman living in Mexico to write anything. Only a denizen of Bananaland, otherwise known as Miami, could think that.
Diciembre 2nd, 2009 at 17:54
Exile, I read the whole article and there is not proof in the post at all, it becomes she say he say thing and that is not acceptable form of proof.
If you want to debate here is Ok but bring real arguments not a she say he say thing.
Anybody can be obligated to say anything given sufficient pressure by the regime.
Diciembre 2nd, 2009 at 17:50
By the way, the source of all MY posts:
For those of you who have a reasonable grasp of spanish… or are adept at using Google Translator… let me recommend, again, the best site on the web for constant updates about all things Cuban:
http://www.penultimosdias.com/
Diciembre 2nd, 2009 at 17:49
As some here may remember when I started posting on this site I used to use Silent Voice as a pseudonym. I was afraid. I started thinking. Well if Yoani, Reinaldo and all this people are actually posting from Cuba why should I be afraid to post what I think? What I truly think?
That is call freedom, with freedom also you need to be honesty and there is also a sentiment of release of having taken a mask off. Of being naked.
I believe I have follow the example of Yoani and all the other bloggers from Cuba.
John Paul II mentioned to the Cuban people
Do not be afraid.
We can not be afraid to speak up. For those that can’t for those that are afraid and that have been repress for 50 years. I choose consciously to be on the side of the repress because I was one. I have to swallow my opinions because I had fears in Cuba even worst I had fears even outside of Cuba.
Not anymore. No more fears.
Thanks to Yoani :-)
If you go to the link to that blog that Andy pointed. Many many Cubans who live outside of Cuba are learning too not to fear and to post their real names.
Maybe sometimes I am a little hot head and say improper things because sometimes the behavior of the Cuban regime is appalling. Like beating a helpless woman or Reinaldo. There is no one excuse for such behavior.
There is no excuse to respond with violence to pacific people.
That article talks precisely about the real fear many have of not been able to return to Cuba if the decide to speak up about the regime without a mask. Or that retributions will be taken against their family in Cuba. etc.
Those are real fears. Each of you must overcome on their own.
Diciembre 2nd, 2009 at 17:49
No, Julio, you are taking what was written out of context. The writer states quite clearly that most of her friends don’t understand her return, and we know that she had problems finding work, which leads this writer to believe that her use of the pearl simile was meant ironically. Switzerland is great for then Swiss, but not so fine for the third worlders who do the crappy jobs there - and that was all Sanchez could get, obviously.
As for her abilities, well, remember that she has the support of some pretty powerful interests. The blog was set up in 2007 and within a year it had won the Ortega y Gasset prize that comes with a nice €15,000 bung. Sorry, not a bung, not a bung at all. An award - yes, that’s what it was. Perish the thought that she was being bunged a wad to further the cause of capitalism.
Carbo, try not to be a pillock. I set the blog up over four years ago long before anyone had heard of this bird.
Diciembre 2nd, 2009 at 17:34
That one is an excellent post from that blog. Andy I read the whole thing and agree.
Diciembre 2nd, 2009 at 17:10
More from the journalism students’ blog:
“Outside of Cuba swarm hundreds of NGOs and associations in favor of the Castro dictatorship, people fooled that when you put concrete examples of the lack of freedoms in Cuba respond “but Fidel is the only one who has brought face to imperialism” as if one thing will detract from that. Above imperialism, capitalism or any political term, is the personal freedom and dignity of these. And in a system like Cuba’s, those freedoms are only a chimera. Some even justify the continued violations of human rights in Cuba come to say “everything is not perfect, that is a dictatorship, yes, but left”. In this speech rancid garbage. Dictatorships, left or right, are dictatorships in the end.”
Diciembre 2nd, 2009 at 17:08
Caracol — let the old men die in their beds… terrified of what their god has waiting for them. It is enough. In fact it is better. It will not satisfy your need for vengeance but take all that angry energy and use it to rebuild your benighted country. Better a peaceful transition… the crimes and sins already committed are enough for many centuries. Enough.
Diciembre 2nd, 2009 at 17:06
Sorry — got distracted… Julio has already found the post I was referring to and it is worth reading.
Here are some excerpts, via Google Translator. This article was contributed by ‘a friend in Spain’… not a U. of Havana Journalism Student… but hey, they chose to post it on their blog.
“Today I woke up sad … Sad because in Cuba since the messages are in defense of the revolution and against Yoani Sanchez. And yes, it is possible to defend the Revolution and rant and rave about the blockade because ten years ago I had done the same. Many believed yesterday; and today, fortunately, no longer. But others still believe, and that causes me sadness but hope tells me that maybe, someday, will realize that the Revolution has betrayed us all. Of course there is the option that nothing they say is true and everything is an appearance to play the game the regime. We go, to defend something without believing it, to criticize the courageous Yoani Sanchez and don’t believe it. And this is worse. But either of the two possible options make me feel sad, very sad.
“The discussion is not whether Yoani Sanchez is state security. Anything is possible. The Cuban regime is skilled at making spies. The debate is whether or not it is appropriate that a person, whether or not we agree with his ideas, could freely express them. Talk? It ought not to be debatable.
“A journalist friend from Havana, which for obvious reasons I will not reveal his name, told me be careful with this blogger who is well paid for every word she types. Well look, it seems to me right that someone is paid for writing. I would like a job like that. And if I pay up in dollars or euros rather than the better Cuban pesos. And pleasant is also being paid to one for writing what you think.
Sadly I do not fucking believe what you write and you also get paid in Cuban pesos as do many of my friends Cuban journalists.”
Diciembre 2nd, 2009 at 16:57
[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Protagonists and Eternal Vigilance, Il Nito. Il Nito said: Soft diet http://bit.ly/7KggND [...]
Diciembre 2nd, 2009 at 16:33
ONE PERSON IN CUBA SPECIALLY A WOMAN MAKING STATEMENTS AGAINST THE GOVERMENT IS NOT GOING TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE, THE CASTROS BROTHERS NEED TO BE EXECUTED,PUT AWAY ONCE AND FOR ALL ENOUGH IS ENOUGH WORDS AGAINST A MAFIA GOVERMENT IS NOT GOING TO WORK,YOU ALL KEEP TALKING ABOUT THE HISTORY OF CUBA (THIS TALKING IN CUBA FROM WHERE IM FROM IS CALLED BABA)THE CASTROS HAVE TO BE REMOVED BY FORCE WITHIN IS FROM THE INSIDE OR THE OUTSIDE.HONDURAS IS A EXAMPLE.
Diciembre 2nd, 2009 at 16:29
Andy I read one of the post
this one
http://tomarlapalabra.wordpres...../#more-283
there and I like it
specifically this
“Las voces de los cubanos de afuera son las voces de los que dentro no pueden hablar”
“The voices of the Cubans outside of Cuba are the voices of the Cubans inside that can not talk”
That’s matches exactly my feelings that I express in #15 here
“I do it(speaking out) for the millions of anonymous Cubans that do not have a voice like me when I was back in Cuba. ”
We that can, should speak up and not be afraid.
Diciembre 2nd, 2009 at 16:02
This is for Raul Castro
Raul, it will be good for you to answer Yoani’s questions I believe you have not answer them yet because in your logic you are probably thinking that doing so will mean you are giving legitimacy to Yoani and the bloggers.
If that is your way of thinking I will tell you your reasoning is fallacious. Simply because Yoani and the bloggers are already legitimate. They have earned that by their actions as the voice of the Cuban people. The voice of those that are afraid to speak up.
My advice will be that you answer the questions that Yoani posted for you. I will even go father than that. I will organize a blogger conference including everyone.
You can not keep ignoring the issues.
Diciembre 2nd, 2009 at 15:59
Exile
Diciembre 2nd, 2009 at 15:16
………..OK, the first three days of postings at my blog……..
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Your blog?????……. hahahahaha……. it is not your blog, it is one of the hundred of sites in the web the tyranny has created to try to discredit Yoani Sanchez. No single cuban citizen has access to the information you handle in your virtual-pogrom…. you are not a single person but a team of cyber-thugs trying to spread false accusation and raise doubts not only against Yoani but against every single person that is opposed to castro regimen.
Diciembre 2nd, 2009 at 15:54
First a little background.
The journalism students at the University of Havana have a blog(the famous “blog of Elaine”):
http://espaciodeelaine.wordpress.com/
But… apparently it’s a little too controlled, so they just started a new one…
http://tomarlapalabra.wordpress.com/
There is always a possibility I’ve made a mistake as I am reading what’s going on — in Spanish — so if I’m wrong about these facts feel free to correct me!!!
Now stand by for some interesting perspectives from the new blog… relating directly to Yoani and whether or not she is… an agent of anybody.
Sneak preview… as someone points out on the new blog… the journalists who are attacking her virulently for “taking money from the empire” for her work (which they have no proof of)… are, of course, being PAID FOR EVERY WORD THEY WRITE BY THE CUBAN GOVERNMENT… AND WHAT EXACTLY IS THE DIFFERENCE?
Diciembre 2nd, 2009 at 15:49
68
Estatue of Liberty
Diciembre 2nd, 2009 at 14:58
Carbo Servia
The people that put Castro in power were never interested in taking him down, if you analyze The Bay of Pig, you will see which administration let us down on the beaches of Cuba; the present administration is almost identical.
Do you know who is going to topple Castro? The new generation, the generation that is voicing their concern and discontent, the bloggers, the dissidents. The time is coming!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Did you read the link I posted?????……… well this link confirm what you say….. the same administration that let us down in Pig’s Bay helped castro decisively to take the power………
About who is going to topple castro…… I am not so enthusiastic like you….. without USA’s will nothing happens in latinamerica…… and I doubt about USA’s will to change the actual status in Cuba to a real freedom of the country.
Diciembre 2nd, 2009 at 15:46
Exile, I will make a quick comment on this
“Una de dos, o Yoani no está en sus cabales para decidir dejar la Perla de Europa y regresar a Cuba, o la vida en la Isla no es tan dramática como la descripciĂłn que ella presenta.”
“Either Yoani is crazy for her decision to abandon the perl of Europe and return to Cuba or life in the island is not as dramatic as she described it”
This is call false dichotomy fallacy
Those are not the only reasons why she may have decided to return to Cuba.
I can give you one more.
Maybe just maybe she decide to return to Cuba because she did realize while she was far that she misses Cuba too much and that she wanted to return to make Cuba change.
Take ownership of changing Cuba instead of letting those up there on the top rule as they please.
Exile, you have to agree with us in one thing. She is very very successful at what she does! Even a blind person would recognize how popular she is. This is something verifiable. So the regime is in real trouble.
Yoani is not going away as a matter of fact there will be huge bunch of more Yoanis soon.
There is already a Claudia and Eva a Reinaldo and many more. This phenomenon is catching on. They really do not know how to deal with it and is not going away.
If they try repression it will be really the worst solution they could apply, in my opinion if they like to do something good it should be to go thru each of her complaints and start to honestly try and solve them and tell about what they are doing.
I am not sure why they have not think on that one. But they are too lazy. Solving problems require real work.
They even have people like Pepe from Juventud R (news paper) that are also critical even from the point of view of the system itself.
So you see they are face with change something they keep dragging their feet on. They are afraid of change because it could really undermine their power.
And as we know that is something they are not willing to give up just yet.
Diciembre 2nd, 2009 at 15:26
Exile, while many here are able to read Spanish maybe you should try translating that text to English so that other people that can’t read Spanish will be able to participate on the discussion.
Diciembre 2nd, 2009 at 15:16
Great - I seem to be in a moderation queue, probably because I added to many links to the post. OK, the first three days of postings at my blog cover all the ground that people have asked about, and the Lamrani piece is stored here:
http://www.rebelion.org/noticia.php?id=95894
Let’s see if this one posts.
Diciembre 2nd, 2009 at 14:58
Carbo Servia
The people that put Castro in power were never interested in taking him down, if you analyze The Bay of Pig, you will see which administration let us down on the beaches of Cuba; the present administration is almost identical.
Do you know who is going to topple Castro? The new generation, the generation that is voicing their concern and discontent, the bloggers, the dissidents. The time is coming!
Diciembre 2nd, 2009 at 14:45
Julio, As I have already said, all the questions that I posted came from archived sources, such as the Cuban consulates in Berne and Paris. All you had to do was follow the links and then read them for yourself. However, since so many of you seem to be a brick short of a load, the Lamrani piece is here:
http://www.rebelion.org/noticia.php?id=95894
My take on it is here:
http://exile-blog.blogspot.com.....nchez.html
The video that seems to show Escobar about to pony his strides, as well as the links to old scrawny’s earnings are here:
http://exile-blog.blogspot.com.....ident.html
You could have done all that for yourself, but that seems to be a bit hard. Maybe that’0s why you believe everything that old scrawny writes?
Diciembre 2nd, 2009 at 14:28
You know, my grandfather just to say that when the dove was in his shoulder sheet him.
Diciembre 2nd, 2009 at 14:04
63
caracol
Diciembre 2nd, 2009 at 12:35
I THINK THAT THE PEOPLE WHO HELP CASTRO COME TO POWER ARE THE PEOPLE RESPONSIBLE TO TAKE HIM OUT OF POWER.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
It is a little too long and tedious to read but here you find the real force behind castro’s power “taking”
http://www.latinamericanstudie.....-smith.htm
Diciembre 2nd, 2009 at 14:01
60
Exile
Diciembre 2nd, 2009 at 12:01
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
OK, now you are taking your mask off…… this is good…….
Diciembre 2nd, 2009 at 13:52
Liam
There are many factors that could affect the outcome here the biggest problem they have is the one the Fidel Castro himself created.
Make himself the center of all powers.
That over centralization of power in just one individual is exactly what will conduce the system to collapse.
Even if Raul is still on power when Fidel is gone. The existing system will not last too long. Independent of any help he gets from Chavez and friends.
Raul is a pragmatic person and he knows this. That is why he is moving away from the fail system of his brother. In my opinion he is doing it too slowly. He needs to produce tangible good changes that people can see. Like food on the table and real soon. Otherwise he will be face with total rebellion and full collapse of his mandate.
Hope he is reading.
Raul, you do have in your hands the power to make Cuba’s transition less bloody. If I was you I will release all the political prisoners and have talks with the opposition. And then proceed to return Cuba to a real democracy with real representation of the people.
Talks should also include people in exile. We are as important as people in Cuba.
Exiles are one of the most important sources of income for Cuba. Never forget that.
We need a nation were is sufficient to be Cuban.
No more qualifications, like you need to be revolutionary or leftist or rightist
Just simply Cuban.
Diciembre 2nd, 2009 at 12:35
I THINK THAT THE PEOPLE WHO HELP CASTRO COME TO POWER ARE THE PEOPLE RESPONSIBLE TO TAKE HIM OUT OF POWER.
Diciembre 2nd, 2009 at 12:18
Liam, the article you posted is a very good analysis of the possible alternative future for Cuba.
Diciembre 2nd, 2009 at 12:07
Exile
Extraordinary claims required extraordinary proofs do you have proof of what you say?
We can seat here and claim Fidel Castro revolution was financed by Mars communists (planet Mars), but were is the proof?
Diciembre 2nd, 2009 at 12:01
Yes, it’s Salim Lamrani, which serves me right for writing in a blackout and getting one letter of the surname wrong. Mustn’t allow these gusano types any leeway.
Leidy,
I think I know why she went back to Cuba: Switzerland was not the land of milk and honey that she expected. She could only find manual work as her claim to be a graduate is not true. A lot is now coming out about this woman, especially on the Cuban and Spanish language blogs.
So, what we have here are a bunch of semi-hysterical types who believe in Sanchez because they want to believe, not because they have evidence that proves that she is anything other than a bought and paid for asset of the USA.
Coming up next - where does the money come from to pay for Operation Sanchez?
Diciembre 2nd, 2009 at 11:33
Leidy, you are very welcome.
I like you to remember that Yoani is for the normal cubans the one they call “el cubano de a pie” translated means “the cuban without means” as oppose to the Cubans in top positions that have cars and are detach from the normal Cuban reality. The one that Yoani so expertly describes on every post.
This people they always use the same tactic of defense. Notice they do not try to attack her message but the messenger.
They can not attack her messages because it is true and can be verified.
Diciembre 2nd, 2009 at 11:26
Liam
I am still reading the link you sent
here is a quick comment on this
(1) the continuation of the status quo;
My observation: This will not be possible. We already know the regime is trying to change and it has change a little bit. Not as much as we want but they will not be able to sustained the status quo without the whole thing exploding or should I say imploding!
(2) a growing militarization and repression without economic change;
My observation:Repression and specifically a blood bath will really put the regime down very very quickly. If they do dare to shut at unarmed people they will be doom. As example I will put the protest of people chanting liberty when they try to pursue with force Cubans trying to reach Miami with the Boat on Havana. This was the fact that motivated Castro to let people go and created the nightmare for American authorities at the time.
(3) a shift towards the Chinese-Vietnamese model of political authoritarianism and market socialism;
I believe they may be considering this alternative. Since this will let them keep power for a little while. Now the issue here is that once that a great majority of people do not depend from the regime economically then there is nothing that will hold them back in freedom of speech and other things so it will ultimately conduce also to the regime demise.
(4) democratization and market-oriented economic reform; and
(5) a breakdown of the regime by legitimate electoral means, a military coup, or mass insurrection.
If they do not change on their own towards a democracy and market oriented economy then this will happen. It is best if they do it on their own. It will be better for them and better for the Cuban people. I will hate to see a blood bath. So my simple advice to the Cuban regime is to move on their own towards a democracy and market economy.
Diciembre 2nd, 2009 at 11:16
Thank you Julio for enlightening me.
Although, family issues is still not enough for me to understand I will leave it at that.
Although my mother is Cuban, my father is Brazilian and I was born in Orlando, FL I have very mixed feelings on these issues and therefore am open to different ideas and different points of view on the matter.
I feel for Yoani and what she goes through on a daily basis and I really feel pain for the Cuban people when she posts pictures up on her blog.
Which I guess is mainly why I dont understand why she went back.
Diciembre 2nd, 2009 at 11:02
One other comment Leidy about this
“to bite the hand that feeds her”.
Fidel does not feeds Yoani she does work on her own helping German tourist learn Spanish.
Yes there is many people that are feed by Fidel Castro’s rationing book something they are trying desperately to dismantle under his brother’s reign!
Because it is a real drain on the system. I think they themselves mentioned you can not gift what you do not have!
Before they were able to give things because they took it away from the rich in Cuba. But now there is no more rich. So no more wealth to redistribute.
Robin Hood can not be Robin Hood in a country where everyone is really poor!
Diciembre 2nd, 2009 at 11:01
Hi,
The link to the ‘Sam Farber’ article is:- http://www.isreview.org/issues/48/cuba.shtml
Contains a great quote from Thomas Paine where he talks of a universal right of ‘conscience’. “toleration is not the opposite of intoleration, but is the counterfeit of it. Both are despotisms. The one assumes to itself the right of withholding liberty of conscience, and the other of granting it”.
Liam
Diciembre 2nd, 2009 at 10:53
Hi Liam
Glad to see you here. Can you post the link
Thanks