January 29, 2006
Anonymous Voices Speak The Truth
I ran across an interesting article in El Nuevo Herald's Sunday edition regarding anonymous e-mails sent by Cubans to journalist Pablo Alfonso. The accounts and revelations of the messengers aren't surprising to those of us that know the reality of life in Cuba, but they are worth repeating for all to see.
Allow me to daydream a little on this Sunday afternoon...
Imagine if the ticker at the U.S. Interests Section could be used to display messages from frustrated Cubans. They could walk up to the Interests Section, leave their message, and it would be displayed on the ticker.
If this were to ever become a reality, some of what would be displayed would likely look a lot like what Alfonso writes in his article, which I have translated as closely as possible and appears below (emphasis is mine).
This article is proof that Cubans know what's going on in their ruined country, embargo or no embargo, sanctions or no sanctions. The article is written in a bit of a disjointed style that may be hard to grasp at first, but the general idea comes across nevertheless.
For the original article in Spanish, click here.
The Commander-in-Chief Indeed Has Those Who Can Write To Him
PABLO ALFONSO palfonso@herald.com
In the past few weeks I have received an unusual number of e-mail messages from Cuba. Some of these with commentaries, analysis, information and explanations. As I feel the obligation to respond to the desire of these readers, I have decided to gather as many as I can in this article.
I should let you know that the quotes included are mixed. In other words, they belong to two or more authors who gave an opinion on the same subject. However, I know that each one of the authors will recognize his part. The anonymity, of course, is essential.
These are some statistics I received on the subject of health, public health and corruption in the upper levels of the regime:
- The index of alcoholism in Cuba in those between the ages of 18 and 48 is at alarming levels, between 38 and 45 percent, the government is aware of this but prefers to keep it quiet.
- Heart attacks may not even be the leading cause of death anymore? [... ]. And
even things that were believed to have disappeared from the country: tuberculosis, leprosy, pneumonia, dengue, and so much more, are making waves, despite the lack of official statistics that reveal their existence.
- Cuba is very far from having a system of health at the level the government claims. The Maternal Hospital of Santa Clara, for example: dirty, floor, walls, no sheets, nor antiseptics for basic cleaning. The family doctors offices: horrible, an old chair, tables missing legs; broken and ancient instruments.
- While many sick Cubans wait for an operating room to become available, Venezuelans, Panamanians and now Bolivians can be attended due to political agreements. The Cuban people pay for the priorities of their "island dreamer".
The corruption begins at the military hierarchy; they have access to all the places that are forbidden to the average person: hotels, rural retreats, hunting reserves, etc. As far as technological equipment is concerned: telephones, videocameras, music, karaokes, DVDs. In addition, they have access to exported Cubita coffee, beef, lobster, imported hams and cheeses, shrimp, canned foods, concentrated juice, liquor, whisky, rum of the highest quality, all brands of beer, as well as imported clothing.
I would like it if one of the journalists that supposedly took a picture of Marta Beatriz Roque's refrigerator also took a picture of the refrigerators of Abelardo Colomé Ibarra (minister of the Interior), General Milián, General Gondín and even Raul Castro, just to mention of few.
- Years ago, general Julio Casas "assigned'' an apartment to his son Julito in the building which was the first choice for the generals (in the Kohly neighborhood). He still lives there. His daughter Beatriz also had an apartment in that building, but she later moved to a better one.
In a luxury building, meters from the hotel El Bosque, also in the Kohly neighborhood, currently live his two daughters Beatriz (who works for the Gaviota Tourism Group) and the other whose name I can't recall (who works in TECUN), whose husband "deserted'' recently to the Dominican Republic. These buildings were once used for Russian advisers.
The procedure through which the apartment is given to Beatriz is very "congenial" and I'll give a little history on this: Beatriz Casas Rodriguez's husband is Juan Antonio Reyes who's approximately 45 years old, was Major of FAR (Revolutionary Armed Forces) and manager of systems and automatization of the Gaviota Tourism Group until 1999.
That same year, he requested to be discharged from FAR and receives his retirement. Months before retiring from FAR, he begins to negotiate with a Portuguese company (INFORMARCA) that installs computer information systems in hotels, and spends two months in Portugal.
Immediately after retiring he begins work as a manager when the company, "by chance", starts its representation in the Free Trade Zone after signing a contract to computerize all the hotels in the group, which meant hundreds of thousands of dollars for that company. That caught the attention of the employees of the group, but it was "understood" because he was the owner's son-in-law.
Julio Cazas is known within the military, even from high-ranking officials, as an extremist who has destroyed the careers of prestigious military officers for what he considered "violations". Nevertheless, Cazas, as sacred cow of the government, is untouchable.
- The Control Syndrome is taking the revolution, which in its beginnings appeared to be full of hope, to the precipice of its self-destruction.
This syndrome of "compañero" Fidel has been getting worse through the years. As this control is exerted over politics and ideology, its effects do not become apparent; therein lies that formidable invention of the double standard, that formidable membrane that make us see red and green on the outside without revealing the true colors.
The bad thing about this syndrome is that it is not limited to the individual or to certain sectors of society, it extends to the riches and natural resources (renewable or not) of the country. As a "bonus'', the invasion of this control in the economy kills whatever enterpreneureal initiative that could exist.
(castro) wants to control everything, from human thought (which is fortunately uncontrollable), to what is good to cook, in wanting to tame the economy through pure idealogy, he is leading us toward disaster.
Cuban towns seem like Western ghost towns, those of which dust is its only visible inhabitant; dirty, sad faces, without teeth, potholes in the streets, streams of dirty water. Discolored houses without paint, there is no town that can be said that has been maintained or taken care of.
- I am a 31-year-old biologist, white, and belong to the "lost generation"[...] yes, because many of my contemporaries have emigrated. It would be great if someday Cuba returned to what it was before, or at least, how my parents recall it. I wish to request peace for all the children (present and absent) and that in the not too distant future Cuba leaves this lethargy of two consecutive dictatorships.
In the end, now that I don't care about the revolucion of which I will receive few personal benefits, nor the battle of the "billboards", I say, now is the time of the "illuminated". And much less this system that crumbles step by step because the same people that in public say are helping are actually hurting people all over the place.
- Everything is suspended in time. Cuba is an old museum directed by an old man that looks for international recognition by imposing a system full of human misery.
THAT IS THE LEGACY OF THE CUBAN REVOLUTION
Posted by Robert M at January 29, 2006 12:44 PM
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Comments
Robert,
I read this article earlier today (Sunday morning) and as I did so, I felt that it was worthy of presentation to the folks who frequent Babalublog.com --and I was preparing to bring it forth until I saw you had beat me to the punch.
Don't worry, I don't feel bad about your show of enterprise on the least... on the contrary, I feel great about it.
First and foremost, because I don't have to do the actual work myself --it's still Sunday, and I'm feeling *extremely* lazy-- but secondly, and more important, because I see that someone else was thinking along the same lines and understands the importance of the developments discussed in the Alfonso article.
I truly hope that everyone who reads your post examines its contents in depth and realizes the deep significance they hold to the future of a free Cuba.
Good job!
My personal thanks.
JulioZ
Posted by: Julio C. Zangroniz at January 29, 2006 02:55 PM
Thanks Julio...and you're free to beat me to the punch any day of the week!
Posted by: Robert at January 29, 2006 02:57 PM
He's so true when describing small towns outside Havana that it made me recall my visit to my hometown in Matanzas province. There were few people in the streets, homes in different degrees of deterioration andcarts pulled by horses as a form of transportation.
It's truly sad to read this and to know there are people who praise the despot.
By the way, there are several blogs about Cuba from Cubans in the island who are pro-Castro, as well as another who publishes photos. Interesting!
Posted by: A. Gonzales at January 29, 2006 03:15 PM
Robert thanks, these words speak for themselves. Of course the useful idiots aren't interested in the truth.
Posted by: ziva at January 29, 2006 05:03 PM
THIS STORY ALSO HAPPENS IN THIS COUNTRY...SCANDALS IN GOVERMENT...POOR AND HOMELESS..SICK AND UNABLE TO GET AID..MILITARY HIGHER UPS LIVING BETTER THAN THE SOLDIERS..BROKEN DOWN HOMES IN THE POOR SECTIONS OF EVERY CITY...FULL FRIDGE IN THE "WHITE" HOUSE,EMPTY FRIDGE IN THE "BLACK" HOUSE...CUTS IN HEALTH AND EDUCATION..MORE MONEY FOR THE NEW STADIUM..NO JOBS..CAT FOOD FOR THE ELDERLY...YOU CAN SAY WHAT YOU WANT,BUT WILL IT BE DONE...HEY WERE TALKING ABOUT NEW YORK,LOS ANGELES,MIAMI CHICAGO SAN FRAN,DETROIT AND SHALL I GO ON..PEACE
Posted by: VICTOR at January 29, 2006 08:43 PM
VICTOR,
TRY OPENING UP YOUR OWN RESTAURANT IN CUBA. MAKE SURE YOU PUT PLENTY OF IMAGES OF BUSH AND REAGAN AND JFK AND MARTIN LUTHER KING AND ABRAHAM LINCOLN UP ON THE WALLS.
DON'T FORGET TO PUT FREEDOM FRIES ON THE MENU.
LETS SEE HOW LONG IT LASTS.
Posted by: Robert at January 29, 2006 09:50 PM
Victor is an idiot who doesn't deserve to even be acknowledged. But for everyone else, there are poor people in the US just like there are in every country but the government isn't a scheme to keep everybody down. People are free to succeed or fail according to their own cotnribution not some bureaucrats magic wand. Victor do us a favor and go back to Cuba and tell them all how much it sucks here. We don't need you. Kiss my ass.
Posted by: conductor at January 29, 2006 11:41 PM
ROBERT,GOOD..LETS DEBATE.BUT THE RULES ARE THAT YOU HAVE TO COME UP WITH SOMETHING BETTER..IVE HEARD THAT ALREADY..THATS ALL EVERYONE SAYS..WE ARE TALKING ABOUT HOW THAT STORY CAN BE JUST ABOUT ANY CITY IN THE WORLD NOW A DAYS..JUST NOW ON MY LOCAL NEWS CHANNEL 3 GIRLS,16 YRS OLD,DRINKING,DRIVING..DEAD.WE GOT THAT WHOLE STORY HERE..IVE NEVER BEEN A PERSON THAT SPENDS TIME ON BLOGS..NOTHING WRONG WITH THAT,I JUST DONT.BUT FOR THE PAST GOING ON 7 YEARS ALL I GET IS B.S. ABOUT MY PLACE..SO THIS YEAR I DECIDED TO JOIN IN THE FUN...I WORK 15 HRS,6 DAYS A WEEK SO ITS HARD TO FIND TIME..I HAVE BEEN DOING NOTHING BUT HELPING THE PEOPLE OF CUBA..THE MONEY GOES TO THE GOVT?? SO DOES IT HERE..BUT FIRST IT PASSES BY MY SISTERS HAND,MY UNCLES,NIECES ETC...LETS DEBATE BUT YOU GUYS GOT TO COME UP WITH SOMETHING I CAN CHEW ON...NO MAS FIDEL THIS OR THAT..THE WALL...JUST LIKE WE HAVE...NO MAS CALLE OCHO BABBLE..PEACE
Posted by: VICTOR at January 29, 2006 11:43 PM
Victor,
What you say may be true, though we all can argue certain aspects ad infinitum.
One salient fact, however, that you seem to very conveniently neglect, is THAT THE RAFTS ARE STILL GOING ONLY *ONE* WAY! ONLY ONE WAY!!!
NO ONE IS HEADING *TOWARDS* CUBA!
NO ONE!
Maybe you, and Cindy Sheehan and Michael Moore can start a "movement" towards Cuba... but I doubt it, because when we scratch your surface a little --or theirs-- invariably we hit a Hypocritical Vein.
At least here in the United States of America, people like you, and I and *everyone on this blog* can manifest their opinions and their reasons and agree or disagree... all without any fear of government reprisals.
You won't have a Rapid Response Battalion show up at your restaurant, or at your home.
In Cuba, no one can criticize, or protest, or even think aloud. No one. Because the tyranosaurius and his decaying regime are watching... and taking reprisals.
Witness the most recent increases in the acts of violence against *peaceful* dissidents.
Witness the building of the "Muro de la Impotencia" in Havana --a project that, incidentally, will be a colossal failure, like most things the disintegrating dictator has attempted.
Not even the most-trusted government representatives can speak their minds, because they have a lot more to lose than the common citizen. So they all --ALL-- must live in abject state of fear. Unlike you and me.
So Victor, please get off your high horse, and please start using lower case in your communications like polite, considerate human beings do, because yelling (that is, USING ALL CAPS!) in your communications simply *will not* afford you or your tired arguments any more validity.
JulioZ
Posted by: Julio C. Zangroniz at January 29, 2006 11:44 PM
SEE WHAT I MEAN..IM AN IDIOT,GO BACK TO CUBA, CMON. KEEP BUYING NIKE..THEY PAY 38 CENTS AN HOUR IN SOUTH AMERICA..
Posted by: VICTOR at January 29, 2006 11:50 PM
USING ALL CAPS IS JUST MY WAY OF NOT WORKING THE COMPUTER SO MUCH...DONT MEAN TO BE INPOLITE.IM NEW AT ALL THIS BLOGGING THING..
Posted by: VICTOR at January 29, 2006 11:57 PM
Victor,
It's understandable that you may not be too familiar with computer-based communications, so here's a couple of suggestions about how to effect some improvements --if you are really interested in effective communications.
On the left hand side of your keyboard there is one key that says "Caps Lock." If you are typing in all caps, just hit it once, and you will discover that you will be able to type in normal script, that is, in lower case.
When you come to a point when you need to use a particular letter in upper case, simply depress one of the "Shift" keys while simultaneously you hit the letter that you want in upper case.
Practice these things a few times before you send your next message.
Believe me, your recipients will appreciate it.
It is considered extremely rude and impolite to be typing in all caps (I SAID IN ALL CAPS!!!!), which in computerese is the equivalent of screaming at the person you are trying to communicate with.
And believe me, nothing turns people off more quickly than to have someone screaming at them, whether they are in agreement with you or not.
After you absorb these suggestions, please feel free to return to this forum and let us have your best arguments.
Be specific.
And don't be afraid.
Because Babalublog.com doesn't have any Rapid Response Battallions.
Unlike other places.
JulioZ
Posted by: Julio C. Zangroniz at January 30, 2006 12:19 AM
Julio,
TOUCHE!!
Caps intended for emphais!
Makes sense since Fidel doesn't allow computers, much leas internet access on the island.
Victor,
The Cuban exile community is proof positive that you can succeed while starting nothing. This totally debunks all you've been saying. ANYONE that is willing to work hard has a chance to succeed.
That is not the case in Cuba. I guess the defeat of your ideology is very hard for you to swallow. Don't worry, there are no "committees for the defense of the revolution" here.
Posted by: Max at January 30, 2006 06:44 AM
Julio, thanks for your blog-etiquette lesson!
Victor,
Either you missed the point of my comment or you decided to change the topic to one you feel more comfortable with.
Bottom line is...you can complain about us Calle Ocho Miami Mafia loud mouths all day if you'd like, and you can come up with examples of injustices everywhere in this world, but consider this...
In the United States, you can become anything you want to be if you work hard enough at it.
In Cuba, you can work hard enough but you end up becoming what the state wants to you be.
That's what we're battle here in this blog. If you don't get it then there's not much else I can say.
Posted by: Robert at January 30, 2006 06:50 AM
[Off-Topic] Couldn't pass up the opportunity to share this gem from one of the delegates to the WSF, where apparently a few pendejos-sin-fronteras noticed something a little odd about the 800-strong castrista delegation to the supposedly non-governmental event:
"It's a little invasive," said Olivier de Marcelus, 62 a civil servant and a delegate from a small Geneva-based anti-globalisation group.
"We need to concentrate on finding other avenues than the form of socialism that has been tried in eastern Europe and Cuba," he said.
Full story at http://tinyurl.com/chkoz
Oh yeah, those "splats" you're hearing... Son los comemierdas cayendose de las matas...
Posted by: Miguel-O-Matic at January 30, 2006 07:46 AM
Um, why is victor being allowed to spew his shit on my blog?
Posted by: Val Prieto at January 30, 2006 08:52 AM
Victor, you're a man...and you men are supposed to be good at this logic thing. Leave all the whining and feeling to us women. (lol!)
SCANDALS IN GOVERMENT: yes..but because of the freedom of the press we hear about it, and those found guilty are punished.
POOR AND HOMELESS: mostly because they chose to be. They are where their decision-making put them. After all, it is easier to call in sick than to go to work, and face it, drugs feel good!
SICK AND UNABLE TO GET AID: not true. but it's true in Cuba!
MILITARY HIGHER UPS LIVING BETTER THAN THE SOLDIERS: well, duh Einstein!- you forgot to mention the fact that the "higher ups" where once "soldiers"...and the now "soldiers" will one day be "higher ups".
BROKEN DOWN HOMES IN THE POOR SECTIONS OF EVERY CITY: and whose fault is that? tell them to fix them or move out to a better neighborhood...oh, no...wait a minute...rent would be more expensive, so they wouldn't have enough money for beer and cigarrettes (sp).
FULL FRIDGE IN THE "WHITE" HOUSE,EMPTY FRIDGE IN THE "BLACK" HOUSE: and why is this the responsibility of anybody other than the person who owns the fridge? Why do you expect ME to buy food for YOU? Another good way to fix this "fridge" problem of yours is, again, getting the beer out to make room for the food.
CUTS IN HEALTH AND EDUCATION: again, the "gimme-gimme" mentality. But when you ask this same people for private donations, or to work more and pay more taxes to be able to pay for these things they are not so quick to give. You know...there is a form you can fill out in case you want to pay more taxes than you owe...you can start by doing that so "the poor" can get more help.
NO JOBS: they're hiring in a bunch of places around here...and so you know, nobody "owes" you a job. You have to go and find it....if you can't find one, get better skills, if you still can't find one...start a business of your own. At least in this country you are free to do that. Can't do it? well...that's not our fault...
It is funny how capitalism reveals the losers...no wonder some people like socialism so much!
..CAT FOOD FOR THE ELDERLY: WTF!!!! lol!!! this is a new one- what were the elderly doing when they were young? Where's the retirement funds? What? They took too many vacations? They were having a good time instead of putting aside?Oh! They were working! Where are their kids? Aren't they supposed to be helping? It's all about personal decisions-
Posted by: nurian at January 30, 2006 12:00 PM
Nurian,
PLEASE stop holding back... just let poor, "atribulado" Victor what's *really* on your mind!
And don't use all caps... 'cause you don't need them.
JulioZ
P.S. Does anyone here really think that Victor is open-minded enough to absorb any of this wisdom? Will Victor ever become truly enlightened? ...stay tuned!
Posted by: Julio C. Zangroniz at January 30, 2006 12:35 PM
Julio- I don't think we need to say anything ... victor pretty much says it all himself- I can just imagine him: sideways hat, huge pants, tank top, hand gestures when talking and saying: wazzup! - then doing something weird with his hand and saying -PEACE-
but that wouldn't matter if he was talking common sense-
y de nuevo...la razon por la cual algunas gentes odian el capitalismo es porque los desenmascara -
Posted by: nurian at January 30, 2006 01:01 PM
I'm a moderator on a sports message board and we have standing rule number 1. That is DON'T FEED THE TROLLS. A troll is a somebody that likes to post crap just to stir it up. In this case it's idiot Victor. Trolls are like stray cats. When you feed them they tend to hang around FOREVER. So ignore the idiot and he'll go away. He'll go on posting his inane drivel and we must fight the temptation to respond. I know it's hard being Cuban and all, especially when we're right. But we are never going to convince Victor of anything. That's a wast of time.
Posted by: conductor at January 30, 2006 01:45 PM
conductor,you are right...i cant handle people that get confused by facts...or those that talk about a country that all thaey know is what they are told by.you want to make changes in cuba but you folks do it on a chair and computer..tell me, when is the next collection to invade cuba...how much we got so far after 45 years...i think the island was taken last by 4 men and a few rifles...i will say goodby and good hunting to this blog..i wish i had the time you folks have.but see that im been prosecuted by my ideas and that people dont want me to write on this blog anymore..my freedom of speech is taken away by the republic of florida...so, say goodby to the bad guy....im of to fight for freedom in america..by the way i didnt use any caps,just a whisper..
Posted by: victor at January 30, 2006 03:16 PM
sigh,
There it is..Victor CHOOSES (caps for emphasis only) to continue to have his head in the sand.
From one extreme to the other,
I forget the name of the famous writer that wrote all lower case.. (I think his last name was Cummings). So, we ("the republic of Florida")beat him on the head with our keystrokes and formed virtual rapid response brigades and put him in a virtual prison.
Definately a troll, and I must admit I am susceptible to "trollitis".
Posted by: Max at January 30, 2006 04:43 PM
Why do communist goverments everywhere behave in the same way?. They ask sacrifices from the people, which they will ever made.
Posted by: K-2 at January 31, 2006 04:17 AM
good question k-2
and they never give you a reason for the sacrifices-
Why? would be a good question when asked to sacrifice...
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