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Odds and ends
- The Colombian artist and social activist Juanes will perform a “megaconcert” for peace in Havana on September 20, Granma reported yesterday. AP reports that he wants to perform in the Plaza de la Revolucion, and is waiting for Cuban approval for the venue. Also, the concert will include artists from other countries, and he has invited Americans, who are seeking permission from the U.S. government.
- China (Red China) and the Republic of China (Taiwan) are in the oil business together, getting ready to drill the second of five wells in the Taiwan Strait, and collaborating in exploration in Kenya. Dow Jones coverage here.
- Pocket Fidel: from Granma, the Dictionary of the Thoughts of Fidel Castro will “provide readers with an extremely valuable tool for ideological debate in the contemporary world and in the task of constructing socialism in Cuba.”
- A call to protests – from Miami and in Miami – in a Day of Cuban Resistance, at 8:00 p.m. in Little Havana, Westchester, and Hialeah; El Nuevo Herald has details. The protests are to mark the anniversary of the 1994 riot on the Malecon – an event that started, according to accounts I have heard in Cuba and according to this article, when rumors spread that Cubans would be permitted to leave en masse by ship.
33 comments:
I've always like Juanes. Now I know why. A man of peace indeed. some readers - the babalusians, will surely not like this, but he world is passing them by.
FYI - Granma published a retrospective on the events that occured on the Malecon 15 years ago today.
It is true that the melee was started partially in response to rumors about allowing people to leave en-masse. This lie was spread widely on US radio of course. But there was also an attempted ferry hijacking that day, and when the criminals failed in their plot, they went around breaking windows and looting. Simple as that.
Of course, the real story of the day, was the way Fidel roared down in his jeep into the middle of the protest (with rocks flying, he said that night on TV). A crowd of passerbys soon assembled - most of which began chanting "Fidel" and pumping their fist in support of the Revolution. Things were calm in no time. Just an amazing story. Could anyone imagine George Bush the first going into South Central LA during the riots here?
hey didn't bushy go to New Orleans after katrina? no wait, he sent FEMA to do the good job
your right 154; the world is passing those babalus by, all they have is hate and negativism; i'm sure they'll spin this story into some against cuba. nothing that cuba can do will ever meet with their approval, the one side can see both the good and bad, we can be critical supporters, but their side can only see things in black and white. they earn they pay well but it is so boring, so tiresome to hear the same old song. they just can't get it through their head of the reality -- el vino, de platano, y si sale agrio, es nuestro vino
mitio
FYI - here's a transcript of Fidel's appearance on Cuban television 15 years ago today. There's a lot about migration, the tugboat accident, the economic situation at the time, etc.
Leftside, mitio,
What do you think about Raul Castro's speeches?
Vecino de NF
let's clarify a few things.
1. the principle reason for el maleconazo (this from people i interviewed that were actually there) was dire hunger and sheer desperation of the cuban people during the periodo especial; it was building up for months, less food every day, less means to support family, even less hope. by the way, that is the story of the cuban people for the last 50 years. how low can they go? ask cubans that live there, not what is written here, in berkeley or in miami.
2. once castro showed up, the BRR did indeed shout "fidel" ad infinitum. that is their job.
3. there was calm in no time because the military was rolling in, the BRR was everywhere beating people with rocks, chains and batons. and the police were assembled on the malecon. the government did an excellent job of repressing the outbreak; that is what they do best.
do you believe that in cuba there should be,
1. freedom of the press?
2. alternative political parties?
3. freedom of assembly?
4. freedom of movement?
5. a vote on whether to maintain the current socio-political system or not?
NLNR
1) NLRR, I understand the back story to the riots were the deprviations of the special period. That is common knowledge. But there is always a spark. Are you saying that the failed ferry hijacking and Miami radio announcements were fiction and played no role?? Come on...
2) To think that it was only organized cadres (BRR) yelling their support for Fidel that day is utter nonsense. People streamed from all over (the hotels, their homes, the street) to lend their support to the Revolution. This can not be denied. Was the BRR (rapid response bridages) even constituted back then??
3) Are you alleging police brutality on that day? Do you have any proof of that? The world's media was there that day and would have certainly reported abuse. Can you point us to proof? Of course, I would not be surprised if a couple sucurity forces went a bit overboard on that charged day. But the Cuban security forces are as professional as they come.
I can't possible answer your 5 queries all at once. But I will attempt to, if you committ to answer these questions:
In the richest country in the world, should there be:
1) 1.5 million homeless people
2) 1 of 50 children without a home
3) 50 million without health care
4) Millions of hungry children
5) Should the press be able to be controlled by some of the richest people in the country?
beep...beep...beep...latest communication coming in from Planet Leftside..."People streamed from all over (the hotels, their homes, the street) to lend their support to the Revolution" ...."Cuban security forces are as professional as they come"...."Millions of hungry children in the United States"...more to follow, dust storm over Venus, will re-transmit soonest.
Leftside,
"But the Cuban security forces are as professional as they come."
So was the Gestapo.
"In the richest country in the world, should there be:..."
Do you mean Qatar, Luxenbourg, Norway, Singapore, or Brunei? I don't think there are than many people in any of those countries. Could you please source your statistics?
Vecino de NF
I didn't say richest per capita Vecino, I said richest country.
What statistic don't you believe?
Leftside,
How do you measure the richest country, total GDP? Also could you please source your statistics on child hunger and homelessness, and what's your opinion on Raul Castro's speeches?
Vecino de NF
There is an interesting article by Tom Gjelten in World Affairs. It was posted in Cubapolidata. It can be found at:
http://www.worldaffairsjournal.org/2009%20-%20Summer/full-Gjelten.html
Vecino de NF
Leftside wrote: "Are you alleging police brutality on that day? Do you have any proof of that?"
Exactly right, Leftside. I didn't read *anything* about any so-called "police brutality" in Granma. Case closed! (Except for those frenzied babalusians and assorted "human rights" troublemakers and CIA agents, such as Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, Reporters Without Borders, etc., etc., etc.
Why can't these losers get a life and start telling the truth, just like Lefty and Granma? "Oh, the humanity!"
reporters without borders, yeah, now there's an unbiased organization. give us a break. do you ever watch anything but Fox news?
there was police brutality during that riot, i was there too. but there was police brutality in seattle, chicago, boston. what's your point? dismantle the system because of that.
you think a two party dictatorship is democracy? do the americans vote to change their political/social system. HA. they cant even vote for health care despite overwhelming majority in favor. take care of your own house before you start crapping in mine.
what's the matter anon? the poster is supporting your position...boy, some people are just so hard to help...
Vecino, according to the USDA, an estimated 12.4 million children lived in food insecure (low food security and very low food security) households in 2007. A person is considered "food secure" when they do not live in hunger or fear of starvation.
Here's the link that a recent study found 1 in every 50 US children face homelessness (1.5 million children)
The number of homeless in the U.S. (people who experience homelessness each year) is estimated to be between 2.3 and 3.5 million people.
Exactly right, Leftside. I didn't read *anything* about any so-called "police brutality" in Granma. Case closed?
I made clear I was asking for a Western media source. I'll be waiting for the proof of your accusations.
Leftisde,
Thanks! I look forward to reading the citations. Any thoughts on Raul Castro's speeches?
Vecino de NF
I did not watch Castro's speeches. I have read excepts. Based on what I've read my opinion is generally favorable. He seems to be striking the right balance between raising expectations for certain changes, while also making clear that capitalism is not on the table. I think the Cuban people probably appreciate his "to the point" style and mixture of folkiness and seriousness. That said, he is not an "inspriing" figure like Fidel. His speeches are more subdued and as a result you walk away rather sobered, not gung-ho. But for the difficult times, that is the approach politicians everywhere are taking.
Leftside,
But what about the postponement of the PCC Congress?
Vecino de NF
But what about the postponement of the PCC Congress?
I think it is as Raul said. It will be a very, very important Congress and they want to make sure everything is organized and prepared. Putting out the short-term fires of the last year has set back preparations. Do you think something more sinister is at work?
Leftside,
Nothing more sinister is at work just political. The PCC statutes require periodic and regular congresses every five years. The last one was 12 years ago so it looks like the First (Fidel) and Second (Raul) Secretaries hijacked the PCC for at least seven years. Party congresses are the closest thing that Cuba has to a US constitutional convention: everything could be discussed. So vetting the participants and the agenda is extremely important if democratic centralism is to be preserved. The agenda needs to be announced six months before the Congress so it can be discussed at the base level (local party cells). The fact that Raul Castro has not announced the Congress could indicate that he does not feel that he controls the party structure beyond telling them what to do on a daily basis. Maybe he thinks that the PCC governance is secondary to running Cuba. What do you think?
Vecino de NF
Planet Leftside sez: "I think it is as Raul said. It will be a very, very important Congress and they want to make sure everything is organized and prepared.... Do you think something more sinister is at work?"
Yes, "something more sinister" has been at work for 50 years now.
And I am sure the Nazi engineers worked very hard building and preparing Auschwitz for its first occupants, just to make sure everything was "organized and prepared."
Bravo for turning even the most benign statement into another Nazi reference. Wow, you are a true original anon.
Yes, Lefty, it is OUTRAGEOUS to claim that nazis and communists have anything in common! "Oh, the humanity!"
ignorance is bliss in the world of the right wingnuts. keep up the good work, i'm sure you're convincing more birthers out there
so you are trying to infer a comparison between Cuba and Nazi germany? I don't find your comment disgusting; i simply find it typical of your side of the argument.
there are a million things that can be improved and reformed in cuba, but i'd be on the first plane to havana to defend their right to self determination against parasites like you. no wonder you make it so easy for teh cubans to continue to support their government with animals like you spewing their hate.
no, dolt, you are inferring; the poster is implying.
LEFTSIDE:
1) Are you saying that the failed ferry hijacking and Miami radio announcements were fiction and played no role?? Come on... NO, I AM NOT SAYING THAT AND THE FAILED HIJACKING AND MIAMI RADIO CERTAINLY PLAYED A PART. BUT IF THE GOVERNMENT HAD NOT BEEN STARVING ITS PEOPLE AS MUCH AS IT WAS BACK THEN, THEN THERE WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN A MALECONAZO.
2) To think that it was only organized cadres (BRR) yelling their support for Fidel that day is utter nonsense. CORRECT, BUT MOST OF THE SUPPORT CAME FROM ORGANIZED THUGS. Was the BRR (rapid response bridages) even constituted back then?? YES.
3) Are you alleging police brutality on that day? WHEN YOU LIVE IN A POLICE TOTALITARIAN STATE THAT INFILTRATES EVERY PART OF LIFE, THEN THE MERE EXISTENCE AND IMPOSITION OF THAT STATE IS ITSELF BRUTALITY. IF YOU ARE ASKING WHETHER PEOPLE THAT WERE RIOTING WERE BEATEN DURING EL MALECONAZO, THE ANSWER IS CLEARLY YES. Do you have any proof of that? MY SOURCE ARE THE RECIPIENTS OF THE BEATINGS. The world's media was there that day and would have certainly reported abuse. VERY FEW MEDIA SOURCES WERE THERE. Can you point us to proof? Of course, I would not be surprised if a couple sucurity forces went a bit overboard on that charged day. But the Cuban security forces are as professional as they come. PROFESSIONAL AND EFFICIENT NO DOUBT.
I can't possible answer your 5 queries all at once. But I will attempt to, if you committ to answer these questions: FIRST, YOUR RETORT FAILS TO ANSWER MY QUESTIONS. WHETHER PEOPLE ARE STARVED OR NOT OR HOMELESS OR NOT IN THE U.S. RELATES TO NOTHING ABOUT WHAT HAPPENS IN A POLICE TOTALITARIAN STATE. SO KINDLY ANSWER THE QUESTIONS I POSED. REGARDLESS OF WHETHER YOUR STATISTICS ARE CORRECT, HERE GO MY ANSWERS
In the richest country in the world, should there be:
1) 1.5 million homeless people NO. TRAGIC BUT IT CANNOT BE PREVENTED.
2) 1 of 50 children without a home NO. TRAGIC BUT IT CANNOT BE PREVENTED.
3) 50 million without health care NO. TRAGIC BUT IT CANNOT BE PREVENTED.
4) Millions of hungry children NO. TRAGIC BUT IT CANNOT BE PREVENTED.
5) Should the press be able to be controlled by some of the richest people in the country? PERHAPS.
NLNR
on Planet Leftside, it can all be prevented, NLNR, because in leftside's world it's all about coercion and force. Homeless people would be rounded up forcibly and housed in government-operated housing whether they want to or not. and all working people will be forced and coerced into devoting their incomes to feed, house, and provide health care to those who for whatever reason can't seem to hold a job. It's called communism, and you know what? it's never worked anywhere, except maybe in leftside's mind.
chingon
Well Cuba has shown that it is posible to prevent homelessness, poor health and hunger - without "coercion and force." No one in Cuba is rounded up and forced to live in government housing. There are enough soft safety nets in place to assure things don't get that far. Under socialism, everyone who can work, should work. Everyone has to play their role - but the State assures there are jobs for everyone. Under capitalism, where there is no desire to achieve full employment, the employed must subsidize the unemployed.
leftside, I am still waiting for you to answer my questions, as I answered yours. By the way, Cuba has not prevented homelessness, poor health and hunger. People cant live outside because the police state will arrest you. So they live 20 people per house. Where is the dignity in that? Have you visited a typical clinic/hospital where patients bring their own linens, light bulbs and medicine? And people in Cuba are hungry every day! The state tells people what jobs they must have, there is little choice, and lots of coercion.
Now go and answer my questions.
NLNR
50 million uncovered health care in USA and it can't be prevented???WTF are you talking aabout. of course it can be prevented especially in the world's richest nation. man, that's too funny, its sad. and that gives the exact insight into the mentality of the right wing nuts.
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