Thursday, October 22, 2009

Reconciliation

In her Herald column today, Marifeli Perez-Stable discusses the lack of a healthy, hefty and far-reaching political center in Cuban political culture, and she notes with well-founded pride a project she led, where a task force at Florida International University tackled the issue of Cuban national reconciliation.

The project is described here and the report, concise and well worth reading, is here (pdf).

It was a diverse group that shied away from no issue and addressed “national” in all its dimensions – within Cuba, between Cuba and Cubans outside, within Miami, within Cuban families. It’s the best examination of the subject I have seen.

How could reconciliation be accomplished? Many on both sides are not interested in it, not now, maybe not ever. One way to envision it is to wait for some future moment with a big commission and a big pronouncement, but that might require a long wait. What is attractive about ending travel restrictions – in both directions – is that it allows those Cubans who are interested to get started now.

10 comments:

Mambi_Watch said...

It was a wonderful and honest article, congrats to Perez-Stable, one of Miami's best thinkers on Cuba.

The issue of reconciliation is incredibly complex. But, reconciliation between different Cuban identities is happening now, displayed by works like "The Closest Farthest Away."

http://www.projectporamor.com/significance.html

Political reconciliation is going to be way into the future because it does depend on the larger regional political climate, greatly influenced by U.S. international policy.

Political (national) reconciliation for Cuba may be like South Africa's, but multiplied several times over enough to account for past U.S. intervention and aggression.

But, it is possible. The U.S. can slowly turn towards normalization and allow all Cubans to design their own program of reconciliation, and eventually a truth commission.

A democratic Cuba is not required for reconciliation or a truth commission, but the formation of a new shared Cuban identity will force the desired political change.

Anonymous said...

"A democratic Cuba is not required for reconciliation or a truth commission,..."

Could you please how one can achieve national reconciliation in the absence of freedom of speech, assembly, etc?

Vecino de NF

Anonymous said...

Mambi Watch said: "A democratic Cuba is not required for reconciliation or a truth commission..."

Exactly right, MB. The appropriate Organs are handling the reconcilation process, as proven by the ongoing success of the Rapid Response Brigades.

And who needs "democracy" to establish a truth commission when Granma *already* exists! As the Great Lenin said, the duty of revolutionaries is "ceaselessly to explain," and for those thickskulled grupusculos who still need 'splainin, there are always the muchachos at Villa Marista, who have their own tried and proven methods to produce attitude adjustment.

So onward with the *true* Reconcilation Process, and down with all this silly talk about "democracy" (as if Cuba isn't *already* free!

Anonymous said...

yeah vecino you're right until there is free speech and freedom of assembly in miami for those who oppose the embargo etal, it will be very difficult to reconcile

try at least, for once, understanding history, how countries react in time of war. look at what the american revolutionaries up to those who voted for the patriot act responded. once, for once, get your perspectives straight.

Anonymous said...

"until there is free speech and freedom of assembly in miami for those who oppose the embargo etal, it will be very difficult to reconcile..."

Correct. The progressive forces in Miami, as in the rest of the Empire, quake in terror at the mere thought of expressing their viewpoint in public. What else can explain the silencing of Max Lesnik, La Noche que Mueve, the Maceo Brigade, Cucu Diamantes, the Communist Party USA, Daily Kos, the Pastors for Peace, Johnny Boy McAuliff, etc., etc., etc.!

Genuine freedom of expression only exists in a few nations, such as Cuba. When this reality is understood, then and *only* then can true reconciliation begin, as is happening today in Iran!

Anonymous said...

Phil, it is clear by now that genuine reconcilation will only be possible when people who question the process are banned from posting here, or anywhere else.

Anonymous said...

Spoken like a true Fidelista!

Anonymous said...

Anonymous October 24, 2009 12:44 PM,

There is still no answer to the question "how one can achieve national reconciliation in the absence of freedom of speech, assembly, etc?"

Vecino de NF

Anonymous said...

when the americans end the war, lift the siege, then vecino, then

Anonymous said...

Anonymous October 27, 2009 1:29 PM,

Then no national reconciliation between Cubans before there is reconciliation between the current Cuban government and the US government, right?

Vecino de NF