As poignant as the first chapters... I cannot wait to read it all...

Oh man, does that bring back memories. I was first sent to Camp Kilo, later to one of the "golf course camps", Camp Tango. Perhaps I should write about my experiences one day.

Sorge, tell us more. What smiliarities do you see in your story compared to this one?

The things related in this chapter are pretty standard: the shabbiness of the first few days, the feeling of disorientation, and so on. I felt unsafe in the first camp, as there were obvious criminals. On an intimate level, I especially remember how bad it felt to wash your mouth with just water for nine days, and the incredible boredom without books, radio, TV, or board games.

About the riots: I think they began September 9th and ended September 10th, when the group that made it to the Church came back. I know because I was there. Another thing, my birthday is September 11, and all I ate until night was a stick of peanut butter (from the combat rations), until extra rations were delivered at nine or ten P.M.

If you have a question, ask me, hopefully it will come to me.

With each chapter, I'm am just disgusted with our government treating refugess this way. It's heart breaking and has to stop.

Take a small town with a stable infrastructure designed for a few thousand that is surrounded by hostile natives (so security is a very serious issue) located hundreds of miles by air and maybe 1,000 miles by sea from the US mainland. Next, toss 20k-40k weak, malnourished, sick people right in the middle of it in a few weeks. What do you think you get? How long would it take ANY organization to build housing for 20k? Infrastructure? Import all the food? Do you believe the US tortured these people on purpose?

Sorry folks but I am starting to believe this "Pointing the bow towards hope" is nothing more than leftist propaganda with tears attached. Malagradecidos.

Those BASTARD Amerikans. No A/C. No wheelchairs for God's sake. The inhumanity.... Fidel would have done sooo much better. Viva la...

Cheo, why don't you wait until it's finished before uttering your rash and stupid opinion. As the person who has read the entire story -- three times -- and is translating it, I can tell you right now you are incredibly wrong. I hope you will apologize for your remarks when the story is completed.

In addition, you seem to forget the context in which this letter was written. It was 1995 when we had someone in The White House who was (a) philosophically sympathetic to the regime in Cuba, and (2) deathly afraid of repeating his Democratic predecessor's mistake of allowing Mariel. The people in the camps were there because Clinton did not want to repatriate them to the US immediately. He would not have had a tent city in Guantanamo if he had allowed them in to states.

As for this story being "leftist" propaganda, I will not dignify such a stupid and insulting comment with a response.

George, with all due respect that you do deserve as I have read your comments for months now, I think you were unduly harsh on Cheo. Obviously neither Cheo nor I have read the entire story like you have;but, from what I have read so far, I can understand Cheo's comments perfectly. I am glad that you think the way the story ends will make us see this more your way. Remember, the enemy is fidel, not the USA, the greatest country in the world, which received all of us with open arms. Forgive Cheo and me if we get impatient with newly arrived Cubans who seem much quicker to bad mouth the USA than castro's regime.

Jose, I don't think you are correct. Cheo was unduly harsh with his comments. First of all, any regular reader here at Babalu that would imply that I would post "leftist propaganda" is obviously looking for a fight with me. It is a patently ridiculous assertion. Val would kick me out of the blog, delete the story, and then kick my ass, if I did so.

Secondly, this story is being published in parts. Cheo could have easily held his tongue until the end when he could have commented any way he wanted and then we could have had a spirited debate. As it is, he has trashed the story before reading the end.

Remember, I know the author who loved this; I will stack his anti-castro bona fides against Cheo -- who I do not know -- any day of the week.

George, thanks for your reply. You get the benefit of the doubt from me both because you have read the ending and because of your track record. However, I think this blog benefits from encouraging the discussion of contrasting views and we should all be careful not to personally attack someone just because they don't agree with us. If Cheo or anyone else has the courage to express his views, even when unpopular, we should engage them in a debate, not drive them away with insults. I realize oten we all get very passionate when the subject is Cuba.

Sorry guys, but I have a very low tolerance for USA bashing in any form no matter how subliminal or "balanced."

I too hope the story "turns around" soon. However, what I have read so far is not encouranging. Moneo wants me to trust him. Sorry pal, I have a hard time trusting you at this point. Calling someone STUPID twice in as many paragraphs does that to you.

I have not read the entire story and I assume 99% of the visitors to this site haven't either. All we have to go by so far is what we have read for 5 chapters now. I waited 5 weeks to make a comment. All the while hoping for the plot to turn around. So far, the ACLU, PETA, the French or maybe even Granma could be promoting it for all I know.

And sure enough, unless I am banned from this site, I will give my opinion when its over. Can't wait.

Cheo, seriously dude. Now you sound like an agent provocateur. I called you "stupid" because you made an allegation about me, without any evidence, and you trashed the subject of the story before it was completed. I don't know, but I generally read the entire story or book before writing a review. Then again you may be a superdotado who knows everything and the rest of us are just dolts. Do you bash JFK for abandoning us at Playa Girón? Do you criticize the wet foot/dry foot policy? Do you get incensed when the balseros are sent back by the Coast Guard? I do! If you do, then based on your STUPID definition, you are America bashing as well.

"And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother's eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye? / Or how wilt thou say to thy brother, Let me pull out the mote out of thine eye; and, behold, a beam is in thine own eye? / Thou hypocrite, first cast out the beam out of thine own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother's eye."

Jose, Cheo implied that I was spreading "leftist" propaganda. Is that not enough to piss you off? It does me. I haven't earned that, and his statement is insulting. I am so pissed off right now that I may just delete his comments and this whole thread. It is counter-productive to what we are chronicling here: the Cuban experience, good or bad. I love this country, but I am still free to criticize it whne I think it is on the wrong path. Eight years of Reno and Clinton shoud be enough for any of us to understand that.

Moneo, read my original post again and you will see no personal attacks -- unless you are the anonymous author and even then. There is a BIG difference between a personal attack and an opinion you dissagree with. It should be pretty easy to tell them apart. In a personal attack I call you personally "stupid," a "provocateur, an "america basher" and in an opinion I say that the -articles- are (a) so far negative on America, (b) not representative of the americans on the ground at Guantanamo at the time, and (c) would make good "lefty" propaganda.

You asked:

"Do you bash JFK for abandoning us at Playa Girón?"

Every day. And Eisenhower for cutting off military aid to Batista and quickly recognizing castro's government. Everyone knew he was a communist!

"Do you criticize the wet foot/dry foot policy?"

Absolutely, it should be abolished and all cuban illegal aliens should be sent back to fight for the freedom of their homeland. They can't do it from here and neither can you nor I.

"Do you get incensed when the balseros are sent back by the Coast Guard?"

I am incensed that we are ultimately helping to perpetuate castro's rule by allowing the bravest of Cubans, those unhappy enough with the regime to put their lives on the line crossing the straits, to come here instead of opting to fight for their freedom at home.

Sorry, "dude" we do have different opinions. So far, I think that's all it is, I feel fine. But if you want to feel "personally insulted and assaulted" you've done it to yourself. I've had nothing to do with it.

Oh, and before you quote Matthew again, take a long hard look at yourself in the mirror.

Cheo, you just proved to everybody what an olympic-sized hypocrite you are. And I'm also beginning to smell an unmistakable leftist musk wafting from your comments. Other people are free to comment, but to me, anybody who wants to send the balseros interdicted at sea back to Cuba has no heart and no soul.

"Whoever rewards evil for good, evil will not depart from their house."

'Nuff said.

Cheomedalla, Either you didn't take the time to really read through the posts on this blog to find out what it's about or you are a fuzzy brained lefty. This is the true story of these brave men, who like so many thousands before them, left everything they had known behind, and against odds heavily in favor of the sharks, put out to sea in an effort to secure their freedom.
It's a gut wrenching, at times heart breaking, always inspriring story. The suffering depicted in this story is true. In my opinion, this policy implemented by Clinton and continued by Bush is inhumane. That's not anti-American, it's honest dissent. There is a difference.

So far, I don't see leftist propaganda in the piece, only the truth. Cheo's point about the inherent difficulties of meeting the needs of 34,000 refugees is right on, though. It was difficult, and it is to the credit of the American government, and the Soldiers, Sailors, and Marines at Gitmo that things did get better, and our health was protected. I cannot be thankful enough for their treatment and for the opportunity to come to the United States a year later.

Sorge, I understand how you feel, but you shouldn't have had to spend that year in limbo, waiting, fenced in. The fact that you express gratitude for your treatment there is to me one more indicator of just how awful castros Cuba is.

Kathleen: I didn't comment on this fine blog. I commented on the negative light in which the novelita was portraying my country for 5 weeks straight. And more importantly, the hundreds if not thousands of well meaning and honorable men and women who served these people at Guantanamo. I found it odd it was posted in this blog! There IS an agenda behind the novela and I don't care for it 'cause it misses the point. It is claimed to be only anti-clinton, reno, bush but it felt anti-US instead. I commented on 5 chapters. I will comment further if the thought police allows me to do so. I am curious to read how it moves back to the right.

I am sorry to say, Moneo demonstrates how intolerant the traditional "exile" can be. Think about it for a second. They want an "embargo" with unlimited asylum rights, visitation and remitances. You dream of a revolution from within and are shocked why it hasn't happened in 46 years. Hmm. Let's get nasty for starters.

My views are even more right wing radical than the already radical exile rights. I'm advocating a total, 2-way embargo of everything. That must make me a lefty.

Cheo,

I've been watching your discussion with George from the sidelines, but I'd like to jump in and make a few comments.

I think you jumped the gun with your characterization of the story. Leftist propaganda? I don't think so. You have every right to make a statement at whatever time you think is appropriate, but you also have the right to receive criticism for said statement.

Perhaps George got a little oversensitive with your opinion. Still, the worst he did was call your opinion and comment about the story being leftist propaganda "stupid". If that's the worst thing you're ever called on the internet, consider yourself blessed.

The story isn't finished yet. I hope you have enough of an open mind to reconsider your opinion at the end, if it's warranted of course (which I have little doubt that it will be).

As far as your comment about the intolerance of the "traditional" exiles, what exactly are you referring to? You called something "leftist propaganda", then was told that it was a stupid comment. That's it. I see you're still allowed to post and state your opinion. Hardly a sign of intolerance in my book.

I am puzzled by your comment about those traditional exiles wanting unlimited visitation rights. The hard-line advocates the exact opposite. Traditional = hard-line.

Cheomedalla you said: So far, the ACLU, PETA, the French or maybe even Granma could be promoting it for all I know.
That's what I was referring to when I said you have not taken the time to read enough posts to know what this blog is about or you would know without a doubt that the above scenario is ridiculous. You are talking out of multiple sides of your mouth. Are you left or right? I think you're going in circles.

Cheo, maybe you and I are not as far off as you think. However, I stand by my statement yesterday regarding your rash judgments. And Robert is right; I may be a little oversensitive. But when someone makes a characterization of a story that is 180 degrees from the truth and then implies that it's leftist propaganda and I am dissmenating it, well, I am going to get a little pissed off. I think Val would, too.

Today, you lumped me in a group you call "intolerant, traditional exile[s]" and, that I "want an "embargo" with unlimited asylum rights, visitation and remitances." Let me tell you where I stand once and for all. You can look up comments and posts here at Babalu and elsewhere that will back this up:

(1) I am pro-embargo and pro-blockade,
(2) I am against all visitation to the island,
(3) I am in favor of eliminating the wet-foot/dry-foot law and enforcing the original Cuban refugee laws in place until the Clinton administration changed them,
(4) I am in favor of rescuing all balseros and granting them asylum in the United States,
(5) I am in favor of the elimination of all laws that sanction Cuban exiles who are involved in liberating Cuba by force,
(6) I am in favor of direct assistance -- monetary, philosophical, or otherwise -- to the dissident movement in Cuba,
(7) I am against the sending of ANY cash remittances to family members on the island when the Cuban government, or their agency co-conspirators here in the states, are the middle-men,
(8) I am in favor of direct (exile to family) remittance of medical supplies -- no Cuban government or agency as the middle-man,
(9) I am against all trade with Cuba, be it agricultural, scientific, artistic, or otherwise.

There. Those are my positions vis-a-vis Cuba. If these make me an "intolerant, traditional exile" then so be it. I am proud that my positions have not wavered with the winds of the phony detente. I am proud that I DO NOT want any dialog with the murderers in Havana. I am proud that I am willing to give no quarter to the motherfuckers that have had a hand in enslaving Cuba for a half-century.

If you are unable to understand the clarity of the above, then I do not know what else to say.

BTW, what I am translating is not a "novelita" as you pejoratively called it; it is a letter sent by a very brave human being to his mother in Cuba while he was in Guantanamo. My friend who wrote this has more integrity and courage in his little finger than a lot of folks can ever dream of having...

George,

Thinking back, I don't think you were overly sensitive in your reaction to Cheo's remarks. This is obviously a story you feel very strongly about and have taken the time to translate it and share it with us piece by piece.

I apologize for my "under-sensitive" remark.

Robert, I am very sensitive to your oversensitivity charge. I'll try to be more undersensitive in the future.

;-)

Sorry if I forgot that blogs are by their very nature private "friends and family" fiefdoms that don't deal well with dissent or criticism of any kind - from any direction. I now realize I should have just kept my mouth shut. I accept that. It is what it is.....

My appologies once again for the interruption.

Please carry on.

I don't mind debate or differing opinions in the least. It is how they are expressed that matter. I do not like being called a disseminator of leftist propaganda, and I do not like an incomplete story disparaged, in an insulting and negative way, before it has been completed.

That's all.

Well, complete the darn thing then. And don't post any more material that can be "missinterpreted" by leftists and castro apologists as anti-American. It's not as if this blog needs extra material to keep it going.

Please publish the grateful end asap. The part where the author thanks America for its boundless generosity and praises the people on the ground at Gitmo for doing the best they could under very difficult circumstances that were created solely by castro -- who is solely responsible for the suffering of the Cuban people in and out of Gitmo.

I guess that's why most books are only published when they are finished.

My appologies once again for the interruption.

Please carry on.