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Val, thank you so much for your help with my daughter. It means the world to me. And thanks, too, for educating everyone.

Val,

Hmm, well, as a journalist with family still on the island, who travels to the island regularly - I could certainly answer a few questions. If you like, shoot me an email where I can write this gentleman and his daughter. Perhaps I can help.

Cheers,

-AB

For the mother who wants to speak to the principal and for anyone who wants to take on the educational establishment in a specific situation, I would say that the best thing you can do is document, document, document.

I think the best approach is to say the the history/geography whatever being taught is inaccurate. Here is where it helps to have quotes from said teachers, as well as facts that prove them wrong. Humberto Fontova's work has lots of facts at your fingertips, just right for countering fallacies. It would probably help to have them written out before hand.

I think that the most important thing is to come across as reasonable and rational as possible. They are just too ready to dismiss us as people whose emotions overpower our understanding.

Send them the URL to The Real Cuba.

Forget the teachers, just go straight to the school board and demand an explanation as to where is that carriculum coming from since after all you pay for it, you may get lucky and find out the teachers are purely acting on their own in which case they are in trouble or you may find out that is all coming from the socialists teacher's union, depending on how far you go and what other support you may line up you may be in for a big stink, but is not that the best part of it?

It is our job as parents to first teach our children about Cuba, fidel, che and let them know the truths about these idiots before the leftist teachers of America try to teach them otherwise.

I live in So California, my wife is American and we as a family are disconnected from the everyday life in Miami and the constant information that is provided there. My kids know about Cuba, fidel and che and an assortment of other information and no one can fool them that fidel or che is a good revolutionary and that they are good for Cuba.

It is our job to teach our kids before someone else tries to pursuade them in another direction.

And that goes for other things as well, not just topics on Cuba and communism!
Jose.

Way back when we were cursing the che baby clothes, a commenter or two shared their disgust and mentioned that the monster had murdered their uncle or father. That type of personal testimony should surely have an effect on the young lady as should the photos all over TheRealCuba. Mom & Dad should also ask questions rather than trying to give answers because kids don't often respond well to "the lecture" even if it's just a short fact or two. They just had several hours of teachers telling them stuff so they're probably not open to parents telling them more (and conflicting!) stuff. Good questions should help students sort the info and decide whether to keep or reject it. So, parents can ask stuff like, "Why do you think Cuba is ok as is?" and "What did che do?" and so on. From there, they can address more specific issues along the same lines that their daughter is thinking. Another angle would be to ask, "What do you think basic health care (or a hospital room) should include?" and have the young lady list things. Then contrast her list with the photos of actual Cuban hospitals. It'll be a slow process of asking & answering, and I think most discussions will finish open-ended as the youngster digests the info.

You'd also linked this article back then: http://tinyurl.com/2q4lfj

As for the other student, I think at 12, she's old enough to bring "subversive" materials to class (photos, articles, books) to share with the other less enlightened students. She might also want to brush up on questions that will get everyone thinking and possibly unnerve the teacher. Be prepared for a referral and a parent conference. Sad, but I feel like we have to prep our kids for battle in some classrooms.

(Ugh, I got long-winded there. Sorry.)

My thought is that she is young and this is a process of self-discovery. She's young and testing boundaries, so it's natural to consider different points of view. I would suggest showing a film like "Shoot Down" or "Lost City" or something like that, but don't push too hard. GIve her some facts, then back off and let her make her own choices. Give it time, eventually she should come around. I think if you push too hard, she may rebel even more.

My 2 cents... and I'll offer to send delexilio CD to her, free of charge, if that's her thing. :)

I'm not saying it's impossible, but I have doubts about fidel and che being in high school or middle school curriculum. Here in PA they mention the Bay of Pigs and that's it for Cuba.

That means that a parent would have a legitimate complaint to take to the principal and or school board that the curriculum is not being followed and that the teacher's personal bias is being imposed.

However, let's say that the thugs do appear in the curriculum. The teacher does not have the right to present a one-sided, whitewashed history to young, impressionable minds-about anything. That's like saying Hitler was a hero and a true leader to the nazis but leaving out the holocaust. You can't pick and choose which information you present. If it's not fact then you don't share it.

Now you guys see what I am dealing with in my school. Kids come to me and I feel I have to de-program them about che and fidel.

Cuba is in my advanced course curriculum and we discuss it in Spanish. I list the facts, like, everyone gets food; then I show them photos of ration cards. I tell them they have a high literacy rate, then I show them the banned book list. I tell them that Cuba is renowned for its beaches and tourist industry, but it's only for foreigners.

Anything I teach about Cuba I can back up with documentation which I make sure I have in case I am ever called on it, even thou which is more than I can say for the che-loving teachers who tell their kids how great a warrior he was (please find me the info to back that up), what a tremedous businessman he was (based on WHAT?) and how valuable he was to fidel (which of course is why fidel sent him to meet his death.)

For the parents of kids who won't see the truth, buy them either of Humberto Fontova's books.

Sorry so long.

Wikipedia at it again

This time it is on the Angolan war see discussion at:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Talk:Cuban_intervention_in_Angola_%281975-1991%29

Thank you all... This is the FL mom with the 12-yr old daughter. Last year I had to deprogram my daughter because she was SURE Global Warming was going to occurr any day now (thanks to her Science teacher). Now it's Cuba, which she knows is very dear to my heart. I showed her the pics from therealcuba website, and I didn't have to say a word. Funny... she told me she voted for Obama in the school election last week (he won, by the way), and all I said was that I was glad she voted. Then I showed her why "I" will not be voting for him in November. She's not such a Obama girl any more. We as parents have to stand up for the truth. Anyway, sorry for the rant... and thanks for all the great advice!

Wow, what a great resource you all are! I appreciate the assistance. My daughter is 15 and she has me very concerned, which prompted my email to Val. I'm already working on putting together the links and other sources you've all cited so I can present her with a more balanced view than what her teacher has given her.

I have one question, though. che baby clothes? WTF? I never knew. It's bad enough he's worn on t-shirts by teens and adults who know nothing of him beyond some graphic icon. It's a subtle, but effective method of dispensing propaganda that I find intolerable. I'm so glad I'm not alone in my dislike for the man, his "legend", or the rest of the message being sent.

Thanks again for the great references. I definitely want to be as knowledgable as possible, prepared for any question, and ready to go to the mat as I explain the other side of the story to my child. I want her to think this through for herself and learn to stop relying on a teacher or anyone else as "the source" or "the truth". Kids are too impressionable and frankly, I'm tired of how they're constantly being warped by teachers with a single view point.

Y'all rock!

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