July 26, 2005
castro's festival of himself
castro is full of his worthless self today - July 26. On this day, Cubans will be treated to the insulting self-praise of the man who impoverished their lives for 46 unbearable Sovietic years. And who now lives to cling to power. In the dark and sweltering hungry heat of Havana and Matanzas and Santiago and Cienfuegos and Spiritu Sancti, the Cubans know different. This foul dictator is history's worst plague, his crimes against humanity will become known, and he deserves to die someplace other than his bed.
Source: GOPINION
Miami Herald has an excellent editorial today:
Posted on Tue, Jul. 26, 2005
What Castro won't say on this day
Today, Fidel Castro will celebrate the 52nd anniversary of his revolutionary movement with typical fanfare.
What he won't say is that the Cuban people have lost hope in the future. Most are fed up with the government and their living conditions. Cuban dissidents and other island observers note that popular discontent is as high as ever in the 46 years of his dictatorship.
Here's the reality lived by ordinary Cubans: food, water, housing and electricity shortages and the constant threat of repressive reprisal to any protest.
Cuba is suffering dark days -- literally and figuratively -- and the prospects for improvement appear dim. No wonder so many are miserable. To counter this discontent, Castro has brought his repressive machinery into action.
Recent protests
• Dozens of dissidents have been roughed up and arrested in the last two weeks. In an incident last Friday, 30 dissidents who attempted to protest at the French Embassy in Havana were detained. Their complaint: The French government invited the Cuban foreign minister to its Bastille Day celebration.
Among those detained were prominent leaders Martha Beatriz Roque, Félix Bonne and René Gómez Manzano. As of Monday, about a dozen of them, including Mr. Gómez, and others arrested at a July 13 protest remained detained.
• The ''rapid-response brigades'' are back. These government-organized groups harass and assault dissidents under the guise of a counter-protest. They have appeared at the last two dissident protests and moved against the Women in White, a group that marches weekly to demand the release of political prisoners and other civil rights.
• Ms. Roque has announced that she will continue to protest, peacefully and openly. She says that groups of dissidents islandwide are ready to take to the streets demanding freedom for Cuba's 300-plus political prisoners.
• Ordinary Cubans are tired of daily blackouts, inadequate healthcare and wages that don't cover bare necessities. Meanwhile, they resent the government's sending Cuban doctors and aid to Venezuela and other places.
Castro's abuses
Earlier this year, the European Union lifted sanctions imposed in 2003 after the Cuban regime sentenced 75 dissidents to lengthy prison terms. Now the EU is expressing concern about the new acts of repression. Europe should understand that pressure, not engagement, is more likely to restrain Castro from committing more abuses.
Heat, misery and popular discontent are a dangerous brew. Cuba's dissidents are growing bolder while the Cuban government has primed its forces to repress them. Castro only wants to hold on to power, and he will go to any lengths to do so. His top echelon may continue to follow him out of fear or greed. Whatever the motive, they will be remembered as accomplices in crimes against humanity.
Our hope is that saner heads will prevail. May democracy and freedom come to Cuba in a peaceful transition.
Posted by Mora at July 26, 2005 07:51 AM
Comments
Agreed. The Herald really outdid itself with the sharp tone of its editorial. They've always been pro-embargo, but usually employ rather bland language in its denouncements.
You think one of "us" infiltrated the Editorial Board?
Posted by: Robert at July 26, 2005 08:20 AM
I think they read their own coverage. Their minute-by-minute stuff on the Hurricane Dennis was almost as good as ours. You can't read that stuff and not be affected. It had to have given them the reality.
Posted by: A.M. Mora y Leon at July 26, 2005 08:55 AM
Since I don't live in Miami, I am not expecting to see much coverage in the MSM about Cuba today.. nothing in the newspapers this am...However, if I do get to see a 10 second segment of Fidel's anniversary of the "robolucion" in one of the news channels,it is going to be same old thing again..the reporter praising Castro and his people!
! QUE ASCO!!
Posted by: carmen at July 26, 2005 10:16 AM
Apparently they are having the "celebration" inside this year, at the Karl Marx Theater. Probably don't want the Old Guy to faint in the sun. My friends in Havana tell me that everyone is fed up and there won't be many attendees this year. They just wish the government would "level" with them about the power outages and treat them like "adults". Good luck with that.
Posted by: Mariana at July 26, 2005 11:11 AM
Great post.
Posted by: Tory at July 26, 2005 01:09 PM
Tory is it just my imagination, or are they wearing matching suits?
Posted by: Kathleen at July 26, 2005 06:32 PM
mora -
unfortunately, i dont think that any transition in cuba will be peaceful. there are too many people entrenched in power that would lose it all in a peaceful transition. i dont think that those people are going to let go of their power very easily.
Posted by: tony v at July 26, 2005 09:48 PM
Tony - I agree with you.
Posted by: A.M. Mora y Leon at July 27, 2005 01:40 AM