Jose Hugo Fernandez, a writer for Cubanet, really didn’t like a recent paper of mine (pdf) on Raul Castro’s economic policy, and published his comments on Cubanet. He focused on a short section of the paper where I recount some of the Cuban state media’s coverage of economic problems. Readers will make up their own minds, but I’ll point out that I didn’t discuss the role of the Cuban media, much less conclude that “instead of covering up problems, its articles and reporting are exposing the country’s real difficulties,” as Mr. Fernandez says. Some of his criticisms are directed at phrases in quotation marks that I didn’t write. One phrase I used is “state media,” which I think is self-explanatory.
Your paper is a very good factual summary of the economic policies and actions of the past three years. Even though I know your not exactly a "hard-liner" I didn't find anything to be opinionated or draw conclusions about the validity or effectiveness of the recent announcements and actions. As a businessman living in Cuba for several years, I can definitely say you have summed it up nicely and have correctly concluded where things currently stand.
ReplyDeleteThe problem with the Cubanet type people is that they have tunnel vision and are only happy when there is strong condemnation of the current system. Anything less is unacceptable (even if it is pure fact).
Hopefully Obama will mark a paradigm shift in American attitude towards Cuba that allows people to consider the facts and calmly way an appropriate way forward that includes engagement and move away from the Bush ideology of ignore, isolate and condemn.
yeah, keep hoping
ReplyDeletebalanced reporting about cuba is something the hard right can't abide. peters report covers what is happening, showing reality. but unless it's total condemnation it's not good enough for the Cubanologists.
ReplyDeletecuba has more than its share of problems, shameful so many want to make it worse for purely political reasons
the Castro regime doesn't need any help making life worse for the Cuban people...they do a good enough job on their own. Time for change. why can't you congenital Castro bootlickers at least agree to that?
ReplyDeleteI also read that paper Phil and it was good.
ReplyDeleteThe Jose Fernandez response uses flashy, nobody-could-ever-understand-Cuba-like-I-do language to disguise the fact that there is no substance to his criticisms.
it's called missing the forest for the trees. Peters can analyze all the regime diktats he wants and even sound reasonably logical (it keeps the grants coming); the problem is the WHOLE SYSTEM is rotten to the core and reshuffling deck chairs on the Titanic won't change anything...
ReplyDeletechingon
chingon -- thats the point, reasonable as opposed to extreme, which is ALL you people can ever talk in terms of. but thanks for your point of view, really very helpful. do you still live in Cuba? or are you just one of those who like to shout from afar, quite ineffective to the rest of us, but i guess it makes you feel better. sad, but better.
ReplyDeleteNo I don't live in Cuba nor would I ever get permission to travel there, bootlicker.
ReplyDeletedo you live in Cuba? If you do, obviously you are part of the pampered elite in that supposedly "egalitarian" society. How else would you have access to the "luxury" of a personal computer? If you don't, then you are the worst of the worst, too chickenshit to match your beliefs with concrete actions like leftside. Oh, you'll the defend the "right" of the regime to beat up dissidents, but you'll never ever make the sacrifice from the comfort of your capitalist existence to live like a real Cuban. The idea of living without the ability to buy your latte at 2:00 in the morning is simply unthinkable to you...
chingon