Hairless Drag Blogging

First, I want to thank all those who donated to the Spirit of America campaign, regardless of blogging alliance, this past week. Here are some pictures of the SOA delivering the goods to the Marines at Camp Pendleton. Smash was there as well as Da Goddess and other bloggers. We helped raised 50K of the over 1 million in money for the Spririt of America. We did good folks. Really good. It feels good to be a part of this community, of being in with such fine people. Thank you.

That said, I now have an announcement:

Tomorrow morning, Saturday May 1st is time for me to pay my donation dues.

I will be live blogging the leg shaving adventure sometime after 10 AM. Once the legs are shaven and I have cleaned the blood off from various nicks and cuts, I will be dressing like a girl and posting the pictures as my agreement with Bill of In DC Journal dictates. So make sure you guys are nice to Valentina, the smooth legged Cubana blogger.

Oh Canada....

Dowingba takes on a Canadian friend via IM who has no clue. Here's a quick clip:

Me: see its impossible to debate someone who ignores the facts...

Friend: show me a website about this?
Friend: or something along the lines of proff

Me: http://www.deanesmay.com/archives/005249.html
Me: http://www.babalublog.com/archives/000551.html

Friend: my god, these zealots are talking about invading cuba, and this doctor is supporting them...

I guess I'm a zealot!!!

HELP WANTED

It seems the lauded educational system of Castro's Cuba is in a bind. Apparently there's a teacher shortage on the island:

HAVANA, April 28 (José Antonio Fornaris, Cuba-Verdad / www.cubanet.org) - Cuba's much-vaunted educational system has trouble attracting teachers; primary schools in Old Havana still have 31 unfilled classroom spots in April, two-thirds into the school year.

Education and health are often touted by Havana as the "accomplishments" of the Revolution, but recently Fidel Castro himself remarked that people in Havana don't want to become teachers.

The government has created an expedited program to graduate what it calls "emerging teachers," but apparently even those are not enough to satisfy demand.

Just in one school, the José Martí, on Obispo Street, there are three vacancies. The parents of one third-grade student at the school said their child has not had a teacher since December.

The employee at the municipal education department who said there are presently 31 openings to be filled said other municipalities in the city are in a similar situation.

Sometimes, the directors and their assistants at the schools pitch in to alleviate the shortage.

Perhaps this shortage is due to the fact that teachers, apart from having to indoctrinate children, are way down on the pay scale. If a doctor makes about $20 US a month, what does a teacher make? Why bust your ass for less than twenty bucks a month when you can sell it to a tourist for $100 a night?

What it means to give...

I've had a few people freaking out over the fact that I offered to shave my legs for a donation to the Spirit of America. Are you crazy? Are you really going to do it? You are going to shave your legs?

Absolutely. I am a man of my word. The following is from an email from David, the donator who paid $160 for me to shave my legs and it solidified my belief that there are really really good people out there who truly care:

...I think this is actually like my 5th donation (previous 4 to the Victory Coalition, but now we're going for the Spirit of Team!)

I expected to offer about 1/4 of the total amount I've donated, but the
spirited competition and knowledge that all donations are going in such a
direct, beneficial way to help the war effort really pushed me to "give
til it hurts!"

It's incidentally led me to discover a lot of great blogs I'd never
visited before, like yours!

The man donated 5 times! Me being the recipient of the fifth. Not only will I shave my legs, but knowing that this person cared enough to give so much will totally ease the pain.

Thanks David. You sir, are one hellova guy. It will be an honor to shave my legs for you.

Coming to a blog near you...

STOP THE PRESSES!!!!!!!

I have finally managed to get someone to donate the $160 to the Spirit of America to get me to shave my legs. This person also took me up on dressing up as a blogger of his choice, who, for the time being will remain secret.

To the donator of the $160: YOU ROCK! Thanks for the donation to this more than worthy cause.

I will be living up to my end of the bargain on Saturday. I want to enjoy a few hours of quality time with my soon to be gone leg hairs.

And dont worry Bill, you will be seeing me in drag.

UPDATE: Ok, the cat's outta the bag. I have to shave my legs and dress like Michele Catalano. Yes, you read correctly, I might have to wear...I shudder to say... a Yankees emblemed article of clothing.

Bunch of cheap ass penny-pinchers!

FOR CRYING OUT LOUD! What's it going to take for you misers out there to pry open those stuffed wallets of yours and donate some money to see me shave my legs?

What, you want a discout? OK. If you act before 1600 Eastern, I will knock $40 off the original $200. That's a mere $160 to get to see me as an object of ridicule, live and uncensored, on the net. I will even ship you a few locks of leg hair. Come on people, I DARE YOU. $160 bucks is all it takes to check out my smooth as a baby's bottom legs.

And, if you act now, I will also disguise myself as the blogger of your choice, for free.

Do it. Phone lines are open.

Have Razor, Will Travel

Shaving cream is ready. Razor is sharp and ready. All I need now is a $200 donation to the Spirit of America and the leg hair comes completely off. Fully documented of course, so that you may be a part of this great sacrifice on my part.

Money talks folks. Send it in and I shave my legs. Let's make Kelley happy.

Or, you can fork over $30 bucks and see me dressed like a girl.

The Stretch

The Spirit of America bloggers challenge officially ends tonight at 12:00 AM Pacific time. As of this posting, the three alliances have raised over $33, 000 combined. That's a heck of alot of money. Thanks to all who donated for being so generous.

Yet, there is still time to raise a bit more. Here's just a few of the Liberty Alliance blogger's last ditch efforts to get you to part with your cash:

-Ilyka Damen is autioning off poetry, interviews, card reading and $5 "you call its."

-Cox & Forkum are auctioning off an awesome original artwork with some extra items.

-Mr. E. Poet will regale you with a special poem dedicated to you.

-The True Nature of Reality has the copy of the newspaper where the democratic party asked for Rumsfeld to be shot.

-Dizzy Girl will provide those that donate personalized audio messages.

-Chief Wiggles has offered to come to your area and lecture at the location of your choosing.

-Raging Dave will create your own, personalized gun belt from scratch.

And I, of course, will blog for you while dressed like a girl for every $30 donation, I'll wear makeup with that for every $40 donation and if you donate $200, I will shave my legs and post the entire agonizing process.

I really thought there'd be more of you out there interested in seeing me make a complete fool of myself, yet there has only been one taker, Bill of In Dc Journal, who donated the 40 bucks to see me in women's apparel and made up like Tammy Faye.

There's still time folks, give to Spirit of America through the Liberty Alliance and I promise to post an entry for you as Valentina, Hot Cubanita.

UPDATE:The three alliances - The Fighting Fusileers for Freedom, the Victory Coalition and the Liberty Alliance - competing in the Spirit of America Campaign have just joined forces in a last ditch effort to total $50,000 in donations. Come on people, GIVE GIVE GIVE. I will still honor all donations through the Liberty Alliance for my drag blogging offer. Whip out those bankcards and wear that plastic down!

John Hypocrite Kerry

Presidential hopeful John "I served in Vietnam" Kerry bills himslef as the man of the people, yet flies around in a jet that costs over $3K an hour to run. So much for the environment.

He also supports higher taxes for higher income people yet he himself, having the opportunity to pay more taxes because he is filthy rich, always paid the exact minimum in taxes. So much for tax reform.

It is rumored - I heard this today on talk radio - that he paid $1000 for a haircut.

How anyone can vote for this hypocrite is beyond me.

Friggin' Cheapskates

The Liberty Alliance is still way behind on donations for the Spirit of America campaign. Being beaten by a few bucks wouldn't be so bad, but we are getting our butts whupped and then having them handed over on a platter.

Chief Wiggles is offering up an authentic photograph of Saddam and friends that came straight from one of Saddams palaces. Dean and Rosemary are offering posts and racks for donations. DSmith is offering an original copy of Democratic lunacy in print. Mr. E. Poet is offering not only a post to those that donate, but a poem as well.

I had offered to have the donator's name be shown in a photograph with any fish I caught last Saturday. Unfortunately, I had no takers, which, in retrospect was not so bad as I got seasick and we had to come back in else the only photos shown would have been of me heaving my guts out.

So what's it gonna take to make you guys get off your elbows and donate some cash so that we can at least make a respectable showing?

Now, I've never been to Iraq so I dont have any Saddam pics, nor do I have a rack that I can bribe you with. I don't have any original newspapers with stupidities printed on them nor can I write poetry.

So here's the deal:

For any donation of $30 or over made in the name of the Liberty Alliance, this blogger, this Cuban Macho-man blogger will post an entry specifically for the person that donated which will include a picture of this Cuban Macho-man IN DRAG. Yes, you read correctly. I will don the apparel of a hot babe and put it out there on the internet for all the world to see. I will even wear make-up if the donation is over $40.

You know I'm serious if I offer to make a complete fool of myself by dressing like a girl. So come on, give, I dare you.

UPDATE: OK. If you donate $200 I will SHAVE MY LEGS to boot.

UPDATE: Bill of INDC Journal forked over 41 bucks and will have an entry dedicated to him written by a HOT CUBAN BABE. Come on people, my wife has a closet full of clothes. SEND MONEY NOW!

Topped by The Chief

Chief Wiggles has exponentially topped my donations for drag blogging campaign for Spirit of America.

The Chief brought out the big guns, he is actually auctioning himself.

This friendly alliance competition is getting fierce.

It was bound to happen...

"...people get tired of the same rhetoric. You pay the dues, go to meetings that don't accomplish anything, and they control your personal life."

Yulien Hernandez, member of the Federation of Cuban Women on why membership for party organizations have dropped throughout Cuba.

CIEGO DE ÁVILA, Cuba, April (Nacho Valdés, APLA / www.cubanet.org) - In what some observers called a first, the government weekly La Vanguardia acknowledged a general lack of interest on the part of the population toward participation in Revolutionary organizations.

The paper reported a significant drop in membership at the Federation of Cuban Women, the organization led by Raúl Castro's wife, Vilma Espín.

A local supplement, El Invasor, on its April 17 issue, reported that in Ciego de Ávila province membership in the Federation dropped to 69.8 % during the first quarter.

Cristina Expósito, a member of the Federation's provincial secretariat told the paper that it is necessary to implement concrete measures to solve the problem.

But, said Yulién Hernández, a member of the Federation, "people get tired of the same rhetoric. You pay the dues, go to meetings that don't accomplish anything, and they control your personal life."

Fidel Gets Fined by FCC

Well, not exactly, but the two Miami DJ's that pranked called Castro last year did. The FCC levied $4000 in fines and stated that they were required to get Castro's permission to air thier conversation in public.

Thanks to Stacy of Jade Scorpion for the heads up.

Give Give Give

The Liberty Alliance is taking a beating in the Spirit of America Campaign. Since I am a proud member of said Alliance, I want to remind you all to give until it hurts. All donations are deductible and are for an extremely worthy cause. Our men and women overseas need us to help them help others. Please, click on over there and give.

In the spirit of competition where some other alliances have made promises of this and that, of posting dedications, songs...etc. I will do one better. For every donation recieved in the name of the Liberty Alliance through Babalu blog, not only will I write an endearing post for you full of praise and adjectives, but since I will be dolphin and sailfishing tomorrow with Steve, I will name a fish for you and post it's picture with a note displaying your name in your own entry here at Babalu Blog. But you must hurry and act now as I leave for the sea before sunrise tomorrow.

So, come on folks, give, you know you've always wanted a big sea creature named after you.

Just in time for his Coral Gables visit

The Bush administration may reduce the amount of money allowed to be sent to families in Cuba.

I'm all for it.

I don't take it personally

"You know when a Cuban lies...It is when they move their mouth."

Richard Williamson, who leads the American delegation to the human rights assembly at the United Nation in reference to allegations raised when Cuba withdrew it's vote on human rights abuses in Guantanamo.

I don't take it personally because it's true. Castro's representatives are experts at spinning tall tales.

Well, well, well...

Looks like someone's shittin' pickles.

Minuteman Moore

The two best takes on Michael Moore's latest shit spew:

Steve's:

We all need to help Mikey publicize his latest offensive quotation:

The Iraqis who have risen up against the occupation are not "insurgents" or "terrorists" or "The Enemy." They are the REVOLUTION, the Minutemen, and their numbers will grow -- and they will win.

One of you liberal trolls, please explain how that isn't anti-American.

I guess we should congratulate the "Minutemen" on blowing up those police stations and the minivan full of small children, killing civilians intentionally, and not as unavoidable collateral damage. For some crazy reason, I thought that was terrorism.

And Cox and Forkum.

Beat the gusano.

It seems last weeks beating of an anti-Castro delegate to the UN Human Rights Commission was just standard operating procedure for the Castro regime. Frank Calzon was sucker punched and knocked unconscious by a Cuban "delegate" on the world's stage.

Did this action, witnessed by all, prevent Fidel's goons from such tactics? Not on your life.

HAVANA, April 20 (María López, Lux Info Press / Cubanet) - Political organizations affiliated with the government are said to be encouraging their members to beat any dissidents speaking up about human rights or the Varela project, a dissident initiative asking for more open government.

"When the worm is well beat up, then you call the police," is the slogan reported to have been repeated in several organizations' meetings. Worm is the term given to anyone who is not favorable to the Revolution.

Henry Saumel, the president of the Republican Alternative dissident movement, was recently approached by a friend who has ties to one such organization. The friend advised him to keep a low profile in public, and then asked him for information about the Varela project, of which he said he hadn't heard before.

4 years ago today...

..a predawn raid took place at a modest home in Miami's Little Havana neighborhood. A kid named Elian Gonzalez was forcibly removed, at gunpoint, from a family keeping him with only his best interest in mind. This raid followed months of protests, court battles, political posturing, propaganda.

People all over the world kept up on the story and chose their sides. Most sided with Fidel Castro, stating the boy should be with his father, naively believing that children in Castro's Cuba could not belong to the state. Children are indoctrinated in Cuba. They must complete ideological training. They must spend time in the fields, en la agricultura.

In the sixties, Operation Peter Pan, took in thousands of Cuban children sent to the US by their parents so that they would not have to live under the dictator's repressive system. Some children never saw their parents again, yet I am sure that most would do it all again. For freedom.

Janet Reno and the Clinton Administration buckled to political pressure with the excuse of parental rights. They failed to understand that parental rights exist in this country, but not in Cuba.

Today, Elian Gonzalez sits at the right hand of his bearded master. A reminder of yet another political victory for the dictator's regime. The child is unimportant now. To those of us in the free world, he is merely a second thought, a do you remember, an I wonder whatever happened to...

Spirit of America

Our men and women of the armed forces serving overseas in the War on Terror are sometimes made out to be the representatives of the evil imperialist United States by some media sources. We all know nothing could be further from the truth. These men and women are all young Americans, much like our own sons and daughters, much like our nephews and nieces and neighbors. Its not enough that they are serving to liberate a people from a despot, its not enough that they risk their lives just being there, but they also have to battle the negativity from news sources such as Al Jazeera and others.

These are our boys and girls over there. Doing their duty as members of the Armed Forces and as Americans. They not only deserve our respect, but all the support we can muster. I have read dozens of accounts by soldiers frustrated with the negative coverage of what is going on over there.

This is our chance to halp change that. The Spirit of America organization is collecting funds to provide a television station for the troops - and the liberated Iraqis - serving in the Middle East. It will be a news source concentrating on the good works our men and women are doing over there. Spirit of America also provides funding for schools and orphanages in these newly liberated nations. It is good work they are doing.

I am proud to be a part of the Liberty Alliance, a coalition of webloggers put together by my Blogfather Dean Esmay. We have all come together to urge our readers to donate a few dollars - $5, $10, $20 - whatever amount you can to the Spirit of America. All donations are tax deductible. Please, don't buy that extra six pack or pack of smokes or whatever and help us help them.

Here is a list of the Liberty Alliance weblogs:

Dean's World
INDC Journal
Gilly's World
True Nature of Reality
Woogieworld
Say Anything
Babalu Blog
Little Miss Atilla
Solomonia
Dodgeblogium
Cut On The Bias
Inkgrrl
Mr. E. Poet
Spur of the Moment
Cam Edwards
Marcland
Back of the Envelope
Dizzy Girl
Chief Wiggles

There are, of course, other alliances also pooling their efforts to take money from your wallets. It is a challenge, a competition of sorts. Yet in the long run, everybody wins.

If you find you cannot donate at this time and would like to participate, you can add your blog to the Alliance and help get the word out.

We are all the Spirit of America, let's act like it.

UPDATE: There is an excellent entry over at the Command Post on the Spirit of America Campaign and the blogging alliances. Do drop by and check it out.

Blogroll Addition

I have been remiss in adding a fellow Cubano's blog to my blogroll, perdoname hermano, for some time now. So, without further ado, I will just give you a couple of quotes from Yoan Gustavo's blog:

I just found this cartoon on Michael Moore. He's such a retard.

And:

Two visions of a perfect day:

2. Fidel Castro dies. I celebrate on the streets along with thousands of other Cubans. I get so messed up I end up in Havana the next day. I don't know how I got there.

And:

Oh and yes, the Spanish Socialists are a bunch of cowards.

And:

My most sincere gratitude to the fellow soldiers of the Israeli Defense Forces for eliminating yet another terrorist pig.

And of course:

I'm Not A Right-Winger You Little Commie Bastard

Gottdamn! You gotta love the guy! Drop by his blog digs and check out his stuff, you'll be glad you did.

Oh, and did I mention he's in the armed forces? The man is a catch ladies, a catch!

On the Bay of Pigs

I know I promised to have something special up this past Saturday to mark the anniversary of the Bay of Pigs Invasion. I didn't post anything not only because I was laid up with a bad back, but because the account that was written for me by my father-in-law, a Bay of Pigs veteran, touched me so that I felt it deserved more than just a single post in a blog. I want to clearly show the outright sentiment and ramifications of that day where a man named John Fitzgerald Kennedy caused the death of hundreds of men he himself had sworn to support.

Please read this piece from NewsMax by Humberto Fontova on Kennedy, Kerry and the Bay of Pigs. You will be enlightened.

UPDATE: Here's another excellent essay by Mr. Fontova from last years Bay of Pigs anniversary. Gracias Humberto.

Pennsylvania to lobby for easing of trade sanctions.

The State of Pennsylvania wants the embargo lifted and will lobby for an end to the trade and travel embargo imposed on the island. Pennsylvania is not the first, but a perusal of the linked article confirms that this decision is based solely on two things.

The first is obvious: money. Farbeit for me to disapprove of anyone trying to make a buck but there is something inherently wrong with selling food stuffs to someone who will use it to feed only certain portions of the population. Mainly tourists and those affiliated with the government - high ranking members. Meanwhile, the rest of the peons on the island stand in line for hours on end for a half loaf of bread and to register to be allowed to buy tampons.

Second, it's the O.T.S. factor:

Pennsylvania Gov. Ed Rendell was "very much in favor" of restoring two-way trade and free travel to Cuba.

Travel to Cuba. Why not to and from Cuba? Why is it that Mr. Rendell doesn't call for this? What about the Cubans? Shouldn't they also be allowed to travel freely? Are Americans, the purveyors of freedom and equality of the world, superior to Cubans? That's what this statement tells me.

The article goes on to mention that over 400 business representatives from 30 different states were in Cuba and signed contracts for another $106M in trade. I'm not convinced, just because some people do something doesn't make it right.

Castro has taken advantage of his people for over forty years. Raped them of their dignity and basically used them a workhorse for his own benefit. It is unconsionable for the US to do the same.

You must register. Period.

Eveyone once in a while I read a news item originating from Cuba that basically needs no further commentary. Here is one of those news items:

SANTA CLARA, April 18 (www.cubanet.org) - Women in Villa Clara province must have registered by April 16 to be allowed to buy their allotment of sanitary pads seven times a year, according to an announcement by CMHW, provincial radio net.

In order to register for this census, women between the ages of 10 and 55 had to present an ID card and their ration book; the registration procedure lasted for three days and involved long lines of women waiting to register and a number of health care workers pulled from other duties to work full time on the census.

The broadcast public service announcement explained that a higher-quality sanitary pad than the ones available previously will be distributed seven times a year and that the price will go up from 80 cents to 1.20 pesos.

Several women commented that seven times a year will be a lot better than the present two or three times a year these products are now available.

At one time, domestically-made sanitary pads could be bought freely at pharmacies, but in the beginning of the 90s, with the end of Soviet subsidies, the pads became subject to rationing, and women had to resort to make-do methods, such as using pieces of diapers, towels, or mosquito netting and washing them, or obtaining the proper product at dollar stores, if they had dollars.

Codeine eees good.

Thanks to all who have wished me a quick recovery from my stupidity related back problems. I hurt my back because basically, somewhere inside me I think I'm still 20 years old and therefore I attempt to do things, dumb things, like remove a 4x4 wood fence post with my bare hands. The post ultimately came out, all 6 feet of it plus the 4 feet embedded in concrete underground. It was a fierce battle between the delusional and the inanimate and I have the battle scars to prove it.

I have been on major pain killers all weekend, which is good else the pain would be really, really bad. Thank heaven for Tylenol 3 with Codeine.

I also want to thank zombyboy and Rob McEwen of Burton Terrace for the heads up on the National Review Online piece that referenced and linked to my UN Cuba censure post. I also wnat to thank Kelley for a major work of bloggage in today's Cul-de-Sac. Drop by Suburban Blight today, I assure yuo it will take you all day to read all the excellent links Kelley put together for us.

Hurt Back...

...can't blog.

Cuba: For Sale

I just happened to link to an article titled "The Cuba Paradox" in the Financial Times figuring it would be some kind of essay on Cuba's economy. Turns out I was wrong.

It is a first hand account of a Manhattanite's day in Cuba. It's beautifully written. Smooth and florid prose that details the simple natural beauty of La Habana. Yet , as I read it, I kept thinking the writer had failed to see the forrest for the trees. She describes these beautiful buildings and thier delicate structures and the flora and fauna of the island in brilliant detail. Yet there is nothing in the article that shows us the dirty streets, the decaying buildings or the slumlike conditions present in Cuba. But I kept reading until the end.

It is at the very end where I realize the true meaning of the piece. It's not about describing the two men that accompanied her, or the fact that there was a two hour line for ice cream. It wasn't even about the big bad neighbor to the north as the author states is 90 miles away the United States, with its atomic arsenal, its hatred, and its implacable will to destroy the Revolution.

No. It's not about any of that. It about the author making money off of Cuba. About hawking a book called "Dancing with Cuba: a Memoir of the Revolution." This is hypocrisy at it's pinnacle. Not only does this book stand as criticism of the US's policies towards Cuba, but also as the prostitution of the island itself in order to line the author's pockets. She lambasts the country she lives in, and extorts the very same country she pities.

Para El Loco

Loco,

I know your time on the net is limited and thus it may be difficult for you to contact me, but if you get the chance, please do. Es importante.

Cuban "Delegate" Punches Rights Activists

I mentioned the little confrontation after yesterdays censure of Cuba by the UN Human Rights Commision. It seems that this confrontation was more than just a shouting match. Anti-Castro activist Frank Calzon was sucker-punched by a Cuban "delegate" and lost consciousness.

The Cuban ambassador identified the assailant as a Cuban delegate and offered up a meek apology, followed by a justification. Accusing Mr. Calzon of "provocation" at a previous meeting. Mace was used to subdue the Cuban delegate.

Mr. Calzon handled the situation with class after he regained conciousness:

"The important thing is the situation in Cuba, where there are no U.N. guards with Mace to protect the fundamental rights of the Cuban people,"

If Cuban officials act like uncivilized thugs at the United Nations, with the whole world as witness, imagine how they must treat their own people in the island nation, where the press is controlled and all opposing voices are muted.

Its BAG Day I tell you! BAG DAY!!!!

I wrote about BAG Day a few weeks ago. Well, today is officially BuyAGun Day and Aaron's got the official info at the Rantblog.

Some folks prefer nice shiny, pretty guns. Me, I prefer the covert looking ones with lots of bullets.

The Glock18 Law Enforcement 9mm...with extra clips of course.

UN Censures Cuba

The United Nations Human Rights Commision passed a notion censuring Cuba for human rights abuses. The notion, sponsored by Honduras, passed by one vote.

As with everything Cuban, there was an uproar and "opposing Cuban factions confronted each other." I will bet anything that the pro-Castro people present incited the angry encounter as violence is their preffered method of persuassion.

Of course, this censure wont really do much to help the Cuban people, save for a little more publicity for their cause.

Thanks to LatinoPundit for heads up.

The Castro Croaking Contest - Again

Well, given the news in this article by a local news station, the Castro Croaking Contest may soon be coming to it's long awaited conclussion. So, if any of you out there have a specific date in mind for the bearded one's demise, please drop it in the comments box.

So far we have:

July 4, 2004
2005, the Latin Grammies Show date
May 31, 2004
May 5, 2004
November 21, 2003
April 17, 2004
March 13, 2007
October 9, 2003
December 23, 2005
March 23, 2006

Im mighty partial to that April 17th, 2004 date, and it does coincide with not only this recent news item linked above about Castro showing obvious health problems during a speech yesterday, but the poetic justice value is just too delicious. April 17 - Bay of Pigs Invasion.

Because there's enough stupidity to go around

This is from the comments section of my Boob Tube OpEd at the Command Post:

How nice: big, strong America is still hurling curses at Fidel after all these years, but can’t touch a hair on his beard. Keep talking, gringos. Your embargo has hurt ordinary Cubans like me, but Castro and his cronies continue to live high. We have no faith in American talk of liberation. Oh yes, we’ll swim across the ocean to Miami, if the sharks don’t eat us first, and we’ll suck from America’s milky teat.

But don’t give us your bullshit about wanting to dance on Fidel’s grave. What the heck have you done to put the man in a grave? Nothing. What have you done to stop him from putting thousands of Cubans in the grave? Nothing.

You send your soldiers halfway across the world to get rid of Saddam. Why? Because you want Iraq’s oil. Cuba has no oil, so you’re happy to let Fidel continue to rape and pillage his people. Dance on his grave? What do you think gives you that right?

(signed) Elloco

The thing with the left is that whatever ails them is never their own fault. Someone else has to be to blame and thus they are the ones that should rectify the situation for them.

Here is my response to his comments:

El loco,

Apparently, you aim to live up to your name. But lets take your comments on a line by line basis shall we?

How nice: big, strong America is still hurling curses at Fidel after all these years, but can’t touch a hair on his beard. Keep talking, gringos. Your embargo has hurt ordinary Cubans like me, but Castro and his cronies continue to live high. We have no faith in American talk of liberation. Oh yes, we’ll swim across the ocean to Miami, if the sharks don’t eat us first, and we’ll suck from America’s milky teat.

First, it’s pretty much apparent that big strong America doesnt give a shit about Fidel Castro. He is no threat to the US, only to the peons such as yourself that live in his island gulag. I’m sorry the embargo hurts ordinary Cubans such as yourself, but it is ordinary Cubans such as yourself that can change that. Speak out! Or are you so afraid that by speaking out to the reality of your country you will be punished by the very same person that feeds and houses you? And yes, with have teats aplenty here, make sure you make it to dry land tho, else you will be sent back to your paradise. There are some Cubans like you in Miami that now infest the city like a disease. You come here, work for some cash, then fly to Cuba every month to get laid and live like a king while perpetuating the squallor of your own.

But don’t give us your bullshit about wanting to dance on Fidel’s grave. What the heck have you done to put the man in a grave? Nothing. What have you done to stop him from putting thousands of Cubans in the grave? Nothing.

The only bullshit here is obviously yours. I am the writer of the original post. I have lost family to Castro. My family fought against the revolution and paid dearly. It is Cubans like you, Fidel’s sheep, that have done nothing but succumb to your master and then expect handouts from those with enough balls to decide that living with the likes of you was not for them. You sir, are a hypocrite.

You send your soldiers halfway across the world to get rid of Saddam. Why? Because you want Iraq’s oil. Cuba has no oil, so you’re happy to let Fidel continue to rape and pillage his people. Dance on his grave? What do you think gives you that right?

Perhaps you are right, maybe if Cuba had oil you would be free. But the fact of the matter is that it doesnt, and it is you and those just like you who are allowing yourselves to be raped and pillaged. The US is not your abuelita. If you dont like your situation, only you can do something about it. There are those rotting away in prisons on your island that have had the fortitude to do something, to speak out, and your ilk has not even the courage to support them publicly. You are a sheep, sir, and as such deserve to be led by your shepherd.

I and my family has suffered enough to not only dance and piss on Fidel’s grave, but to heartily enjoy it.

Eres un hipocrita y una reverenda mierda.

Stone Cold Communism

My parents and my in-laws asked me to record Oliver Stone's "Looking for Fidel" documentary last night. I did not record it. I wanted to see the interview first, by myself without worrying about anything else. I am now glad I did not tape it.

My parents will never see it and I will beg them to not ask for anyone to record it for them. They have suffered enough in their lives at the hand of Castro to be subjected, in their 70's and in exile, to more of the same.

I had written up an entry delineating the entire documentary with my thoughts and commentary but unfortunately it was lost while I linked to a article sent to me found in Slate. An interview with Oliver Stone about the "documentary."

I really dont have the heart to rethink and retype everything I lost, but suffice it to say that Stone's interview with Fidel Castro was nothing short of a farce. A troubling, sickening and obvious piece of pure revolutionary propaganda.

The answers were rehearsed and terse. Stone did not follow up on his queries, accepting the supreme leader's responses are gospel. The questions were peripheral and soft. Unfortunately, Im sure there are some that will take this documentary at face value without really trying to delve into the reality of the situation.

You see, everyone that watched that documentary last night was told that Cuba had no biological weapons despite having the personnel and capacity to formulate them. Assured by the very same man who took the world to the brink of nuclear war by allowing Soviet missiles to be installed in his country and pointed at the US.

We were told that there is no such thing as a "dissident" on the island; there are no political prisoners. The few interviews with the "dissidents" were peripheral at best and seemed to be a side item. Like a cole slaw to go with the meal. Of course, Stone did not interview any real political prisoners, he did not ask any Biscets any questions, nor did he vsisit any of the numerous prisons scattered throughout the island.

We are assured the 8 Cuban men accused of hijacking an airplane are content with their treatment in prison and are please to receive whatever sentences handed down to them. Imagine being questioned about your crimes in front of Fidel Castro. In a country where the government (Castro) controls what you do, where you live, where you are allowed to go, who you may worship. These 8 men were saving their families' lives by responding with the party line. Truly sickening.

My heart goes out to the Cuban people, not only for having to live under the jack boot of Fidel Castro, but because there are Oliver Stone's in this world that serve to perpetuate their repression.

Despite Castro's doctor's claim that the leader has the health of a 32 year old man, the bearded one looked frail and very old. And, as Ive stated before, the only consolation I have is that he will die soon. I hope it's an extremely painful death. I hope he suffers immensely in his last hours. I hope that he feels the pain he caused countless of Cubans, that he is awash in the blood he spilled for over forty years and that the devil greets him with open arms.

Fuck you Fidel. And fuck you Oliver Stone's of the world.

UPDATE: My pal Zombyboy weighs in on Stone and his idiocy. As does the Ace of Ace of Spades HQ.

I shall wear the bottom of my trousers rolled.

I dont know exactly what I feel at this moment. It's such a convoluted mess of emotions that it's impossible to describe.

I can say one thing, if I thought my Cuban heart was broken before seeing Oliver Stone's movie on HBO, now it is shattered. Cuba is lost.

I guess the predominant emotion is frustration. Frustration born of futility. Of understanding the obvious yet knowing there is absolutely nothing I can do about it.

Right now, there are millions of people whose lives are in limbo until one man dies.

It's just that painfully simple.

The Boob Tube

Today, when I get home from the office, I'm going to run my normal routine: Take off the shirt and tie, throw my shoes in the closet, change to a pair of shorts. I'm going to open the fridge, pull out a beer and head out to ManCamp. Possibly cast a few out in the canal.

I'm gonna hang out with my neighbor, do a couple of things around the yard until the Mrs. gets home. When she does I'll go back inside, listen to her day, help her prepare dinner.

After dinner I'm going to flip on the TV. But I wont be watching Law & Order tonight. Or a Marlins game, or the History Channel or TLC. No. I'm going to set the TV to HBO at 8 o'clock.

Tonight I'll be watching a famous director's take on Fidel Castro. Oliver Stone's "Looking for Fidel."

I'm a bit apprehensive about it. The last thing I need after dinner is to watch the bearded bastard get patted on the back by some director who simply chooses to ignore the Cuban dictator's crimes against his own people. I'm sure I'll get angry. I'm sure I'll be disgusted. I'm sure I will do some crying.

I am also quite positive I will be shaking my head in disbelief. How can anyone give Castro the limelight like this? How can anyone, in good conscience, disregard the man's record of brutality and lack of respect for the rights of his own people?

I'll be sitting there tonight, in my home in Miami, and remember that my grandparents are buried here. That they never got to return to their beloved country. I'll picture my father and father-in-law surviving like animals in one of Castro's prisons. Or my father-in-law being shot at during the Bay of Pigs. I'll be thinking about how many Cubans have died in a desperate attempt to grasp the freedom that should be undeniable for every human being. Freedom denied by the very same man on the television screen.

I'll remember the plane ride over. How my father had to bring his family to this new country, scared, unsure of where life would lead him. Of the unspoken sadness of that day.

I'll be remembering all the wonderful stories of a Cuba that had no need for Fidel Castro. Of my parent's courtship or my aunts and uncles in their youth, all living the certainty of being Cuban in Cuba. A Cuba that is now long gone.

I'll be wondering who I would be should had this man never existed. Would I be the same person? What would my life have been like? Would I be happy being Cuban?

There is one thought, however, that will be constant tonight while I watch this "movie." Fidel Castro, now old and decrepid, will die soon. And on that very day, at that very moment, the strangle hold on the Cuban soul will be gone. On that day I will rejoice along with millions of others at the death of that tyrant. I will party, I will cry, I will scream at the top of my lungs and I will proudly wave both of my flags. I will hug my parents amid sobs. Al fin, the nightmare is over. That death will be our solace.

And as God is my witness, one day very soon thereafter, I will piss on Castro's grave.

(Crossposted at The Command Post)

A little Levity

The Cuban Post Office issued a new postage stamp earlier this year with a
picture of Fidel Castro to commemorate the 45th anniversary of the
"Revolution". However, it was found that in daily use the stamp was not
sticking to envelopes at all. So Castro established a commission to
determine the reason for such a defect.

After a month's testing, the commission made the following findings:

1) The stamp was found to be in perfect order.

2) There was nothing wrong with the consistency of the applied adhesive.

3) People were just spitting on the wrong side.

Smoke'em if you got'em

Jim smokes the hell out of Andy Rooney over at Smoke on the Water. It is truly a thing of beauty to witness such an excellent fisking. Well done Jim!

Castro disease trying to spread

Anyone who believes that Castro is not trying to promote his communist agenda throughout Latin America is a complete idiot. Here's just one example of the tactics and "diplomatic" manuvering his regime uses to strong arm other administration into doing his bidding. The linked article concerns only Mexico, but this is standard procedure for Fidel. Every time a remark is made criticizing the oppression of his state, the country or person making the statement is denigrated and accused of conspiring with the US.

Of course, there are those that will swallow Castro's rhetoric completely and without question and it's exactly those people he targets.

Musica Musica!!!

I love Cuban music. There really is no other form of music quite like it. Sure, salsa is similar, as are other latin tempo sounds. But Cuban music, authentic Cuban music from the island is unique. There's a conglomeration of sound and beats, instruments and lyrics that you really can't find anywhere else.

That said, I want to say that I'm glad the administration has become stricter on issuing visas for Cuban "artists" to perform in the United States. The latest band to be denied entry to the state is "Cubanismo." A band made up from members of different bands from the island.

Why would I be glad about the prevention of Cubans musicians from performing in the States? Because Cuba's only remaining industry of any economic value is tourism. And Castro allowing certain musical groups to travel abroad are a way to dangle a carrot and urge foreigners to come to the island. Come to La Habana: Baila baila baila!

Cubanismo has been touring the US since 1993. I happen to have 2 of their cd's that were given to me. The music is excellent. However, I think the Bush administration understands the repercussions of allowing these so called cultural exchanges. They are simply thinly veiled attempts to promote the island and thus bring dollars to the regime.

Of course, some people in the states, promoters mostly, are crying foul.

"I have a feeling that it's not going to make sense for us to try and have them come back until we have a different administration, or a different policy against Cuban acts," Kappus ( president of the San Francisco-based Rosebud Agency, which represents the group in the United States) said. "We have never had a problem with this band before."

Notice how Mr. Kappus states that he needs a different administration here, in the US. What about the Castro "administration?" Why not prefer a change of politics on the island? Maybe its because if Cubans and Americans were both able to travel freely between the two nations, the novelty of the forbidden would wear off, and Mr. Kappus and the likes would find themselves between a rock and a hard place, economically speaking. Of course, the fact that average Cubans aren't allowed to leave the island prison is irrelevant, as long as he can make a buck.

Hate is worse than war.

I'm glad Michele made this entry about the anti-war crowd at A Small Victory becuase if it were me, given the level of disgust and frustration lately over the subject, you would be reading four letter word after four letter written all in caps.

Every time I see or read about some anti-war poster calling for the death of American Soldiers I want beat the living crap out of the person responsible. I have family serving over there for this country. I would proudly serve myself if I were young enough.

How sad it is for the anti-war crowd to prostitute a righteous belief into a tenet of sheer hatred.

Who cries for me?

Cuban dissident Leonardo Miguel Bruzón Avila in coma after hunger strike.

In jail since February 23, 2002 without a trail. Where are all the outraged civil liberty folks? Where are all the outraged humanitarian groups? Where are all the outraged human shields? Where are all the outraged advocates of peace? Where are all the outraged protesters? Where are all the outraged equality groups? Where are all the outraged?

Guess no one really gives a shit.

Shitty Cuban Art

There's another excellent article by Jerome du Bois at The Tears of Things on Cuban Art that is definitely a must read. It's about cuban artist Angel Delgado who was encarcerated for six months at one point for producing a modern sculpture by defacating on a copy of Granma, Fidel's party rag.

Read the whole thing.

Guayaberas are totally cool.

You must check out this picture of my nephew in full traditional Cuban garb. He's wearing his very first Guayabera for Easter. Is that a cute kid or what?

Another Babalu Project

April 17th marks the 43rd anniversary of the Bay of Pigs invasion. I hope to have some special blogging that day but am curious as to what some of you remember or know about the event.

I know the Cuban side of the story, but have rarely heard of how Americans felt about it. Please give me your feedback.

El Dorado

The reel began it's backward spin with that all to familiar whirr of surprise and expectancy. The man calmly set down his near empty beer, turned off his cigarrette and approached the bent and bouncing rod. He grabbed hold of the rod's handle, the stem of the reel slipped in between his fingers, and lifted it from the seat on the boat's frame. It fought back, continuing to bounce and tremble and send small shock waves up into his tense arms. The man put the butt of the rod against his leg and gave it a quick tug. A fish was on.

The initial tug didn't just set the hook into the jaws of the struggling sea creature. No. It was strong enough to force the fish from the confines his anaerobic home, making the fish soar up and out into the briny air. The animal had the colors of a sunrise over an ocean. Yellows and greens and aquas leading to a deep blue at it's spiny top. A smattering of orange throughout for good measure. Dorado he thought to himself.

He cranked the reel deliberately yet slowly. Then began that see-sawing he was more than acquainted with. He pulled the rod back and straight up with the strength of determination, then leaned forward and spun the reel with the agility of an Olympian. With each pull the mighty fish flashed his defiant colors above the briny deep.

The man said nothing as he battled his newfound foe. Pull...reel....pull...reel...pulll...hold. The animal was closer now, desperately struggling, darting back and forth in the salt water as far as the taught line from the rod would allow him. This war, this tugging and pulling and reeling and darting and splashing seemed to last an eternity. It was a battle for supremacy. Yet there were no thoughts of giving up for this man. He must bring in the fish. On the shore his family waited, quietly, hoping that soon they would feast on the mighty sea beast.

The fish was almost at the boat's stern now, tired yet still defiant. It looked beautiful through the prism of the ocean water. It was a portrait, a representation of itself. Blurred but still disntinguishable. For a moment the man felt a pang of remorse. To ruin this absolute beauty of nature, to exile this animal from it's home to where it would soon meet it's demise. No, thought the man, I must bring him in. They are waiting.

The man suddenly pointed the tip of the rod down, all the while reeling in the tether attached to the animal. With a furious and deliberate motion he yanked the great sea creature out of the water and onto the hard surface to the boat. The fish flailed. It bounced, twisting and contorting it's now tired body. It gasped, opening and closing it's mouth but finding nothing of use to him in this unnatural environment.

The man, his arms still experiencing shock waves and adrenaline now pumping through his body stared at the wondrous beauty he had just usurped from the sea. Beads of sweat streamed down the man's face and body. His breathing was heavy. Then, at that precise instant, the man realized the absolute beauty of the moment. His family would, indeed, feast. Despite centuries and techonology, man is still the hunter.

The man calmly stepped over the dying fish with a certain reverance. He made his way to the cooler, lifted the lid and pulled out another beer. He looked out over the blue horizon before him, popped open the beer with one hand and brought a fresh smoke to his lips with the other. Then he looked over at his friend Steve, and gloated.

What better way to celebrate the Easter weekend...

...than to spend it killing fish.

Ok, one last post before weekend.

What it's like to be a real American:

Your brother has been stationed in Iraq for over a year. He's been in combat because it was his duty as an American and as a soldier. He writes and says he's coming home. Ill be on the 3 o'clock train!

You go to meet him at the station but you dont go alone. You bring his flag with you.

Happy Easter

Have a great Easter weekend everyone! Blogging will be postponed til Monday.

Gullermo of Venepoetics has an excellent commentary on the totalitarians' rabid desire for power and what they will do to maintain it.

Along with physical elimination, the machine of the system spiritually murdered its adversaries. The dissident was no longer a human being, a comrade in the endless battles for the revolution. He or she became a specter of a former self, a despicable individual who had to be punished, along with his or her family. Horrendous persecutions were unleashed against dissidents and their families, in these and other revolutions.

All the while indoctrinating and blinding the public to the brutality of their actions.

Cuba has lived through persecution after persecution against the opposition. Ever since the dissent of Huber Matos, a Sierra Maestra guerrilla who endured twenty years of prison for not aligning himself with Castro’s totalitarian politics, and up to the quick trials against the poet Raúl Rivero and other Cuban opponents of the communist dictatorship, Fidel Castro has been merciless against any internal manifestation against his government.

There certainly are comparisons to be made between Cuba and Venezuela. Yet I truly believe that Venezuela still has a chance to free itself of it's oppressor. Cuba's oppression began at a time when communication was somewhat limited. Thus Castro maintained power in the early years because he was able to control and manipulate the media. This is impossible today and Venezuela still has hope. With today's irrepressible barrage of world communications, Chavez will find himself unable to veil the truth. And truth is any dictator's demise.

Thanks to Scott for the link.

Because he's so damn good

My buddy Zombyboy needs a little economic help to fix his 'puter. I know zomby and he wouldnt ask unless he truly truly needed it, so get on over there and drop a few bucks in his tipjar.

Dont make me ask twice.