A must read for any human being with a working brain on the face of Earth. Long, but worthy a million times. Really, nobody can describe better the real life in Cuba... someone should definitively pass this to Obama, just for his reading pleasure, ya know...
(Emphasis are mine.)
Voice of the Resistance
Dr. Óscar Biscet, in Cuba’s prisons for twelve years, speaks
BY JAY NORDLINGER
‘I NEED to get to work,” says Dr. Óscar Elías Biscet. Are you familiar with him? He is perhaps the foremost Cuban democracy activist, a symbol of the general resistance to the Castro dictatorship. Has he been neglecting his work? Not exactly. For the past twelve years, essentially, he has been in prison, suffering the things that the regime’s prisoners have always suffered. George W. Bush gave him the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2007. The recipient could not accept it in person, of course. But he has now been released from prison. The day, so long hoped for, by so many of us, was March 11. I spoke to him three weeks after.
Biscet was born in 1961 and has a wife, Elsa Morejón Hernández, and two children, Winnie and Yan. The children have been in the United States for several years; Elsa, like her husband, is in Cuba. Biscet obtained his degree in internal medicine in 1985. A few years later, he embarked on human-rights activism. In 1994, he was charged with “dangerousness,” a very common charge. It means that the individual in question will not submit meekly to dictatorial rule. In 1997, Biscet established the Lawton Foundation for Human Rights (“Lawton” being the name of the Havana neighborhood in which he lived). The organization, of course, is banned. In 1998, he spoke out strongly against abortion, particularly late-term abortion: In his work as a doctor, he saw ghastly things. The authorities responded harshly to his protest.
After being detained repeatedly — 26 times — Biscet was arrested in 1999 and thrown in prison for three years. He was released on October 31, 2002, and had 36 days outside of prison. During this time, he worked on his “Democratic Principles for Cuba” and a civic project called “Club for Friends of Human Rights.” He was again arrested on December 6, 2002, and underwent his ordeal until last March 11.
I found it somewhat amazing to hear his voice, after reading about him and writing about him for many years. His voice was low, grave, and resolute. We spoke by phone, Biscet in Havana, his questioner in New York. Serving as translator between us was Aramis Perez, of the Directorio Democrático Cubano in Miami. Biscet has felt “a kind of ambivalence” in the last few weeks. Those are his words: “a kind of ambivalence.” “I’m happy to be able to return home to my wife, but I’m unhappy to see an entire people still without freedom.”
In his view, Cuba as a whole is “the big prison” while El Combinado del Este, where he and so many other dissidents have been confined, is “the little prison.” “We who live under this dictatorship look to the sea and know that the sea is our prison bars.” Biscet also says, “This great, beautiful island of Cuba has been converted by the Castro brothers into their own personal estate.”
Why, in his estimation, did the government choose to release him? “Because of the economic crisis, coupled with the social and moral crisis. The government offers false expectations of democratic change. They do this so that free countries will give them economic support. My release is part of the effort to create false expectations.” The government’s overriding goal is “to be financed. They want more money, even as they impoverish the Cuban people, and, with money, they will remain in power.”
In the weeks before Biscet’s release, a movement was building around the world to get him the Nobel peace prize. He was nominated by the prime minister of Hungary, U.S. congressmen, members of the European Parliament, and others. Did this movement have an effect on the Cuban government and its decision making? Biscet is less likely to get the prize outside of prison than he was inside. He cannot say for sure whether the Nobel prize played a part in the government’s calculations. But he can say this: “It was a political error for the regime to imprison the Group of 75,” an error that cost the regime in the court of world opinion. The 75 are the democracy activists arrested in the crackdown of March 2003, known as the “Black Spring.” These prisoners have now been released.
Almost all of them were exiled to Spain. This is what the regime wanted to do with Biscet, too, but he strongly resisted this fate. Instead of being exiled, he has been released on a kind of parole. He is serving out his prison term beyond the gates of prison itself. His continued freedom depends on his “good conduct.” Why was he so set against exile? “Because I love the people of Cuba and want them to be free. I want basic human rights to be respected, so that the Cuban people can develop themselves and their talents fully. They need freedom in order to develop themselves fully.” Men and women of Biscet’s makeup always resist exile, no matter how terrible are the conditions at home. Remember that Solzhenitsyn did not leave the Soviet Union voluntarily; he was expelled, a fate he considered a tragedy.
Somewhat gingerly, I ask what it was like inside prison. For years, we heard reports of the torture that Biscet was enduring. He answers me very, very briefly (and I don’t press him): “My experience was very traumatic. I was forced to live among criminals,” meaning common criminals, thugs, not prisoners of conscience, like Biscet himself. And he was indeed tortured — “primarily between 2002 and 2006.” He immediately adds, “I also gained a lot of wisdom, because I studied a great deal and drew closer to the Biblical God.” Biscet is a devoted Christian. The authorities allowed him a Bible, although he could not share it with anyone, or pray with anyone. If this happened, the other prisoner would be punished and transferred to another cell. Biscet also says, “I thought of Beethoven, who said, ‘There is no evil so great that no good can come of it.’”
Biscet is a steadfast advocate of nonviolence: a nonviolent struggle for political change. We have always heard that his models are Thoreau, Gandhi, Martin Luther King, and the Dalai Lama. Is this so? Yes, says Biscet, but there are others, ones who may not be as “universal,” because they come from the Bible, and not all “accept Biblical teaching.” He cites Moses — “who led the first nonviolent revolution.” Then he mentions the three Hebrew boys, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. “When a king tried to force them to bow down before an idol, they refused. They knew that God would help them — and even if He did not, they would never bow down to an idol.” While in prison, Biscet “kept them close, because they are examples of freedom of expression and freedom of religion.” And they were, of course, delivered.
For the Presidential Medal of Freedom, Biscet will not take any personal credit. “I felt honored, but I wasn’t the only person being recognized with the medal. The American people saw in me the suffering of the entire Cuban nation.” And the medal “helped change the way the world thought about Cuba.” One day, Biscet would like to meet Bush and “thank him for everything he has done for Cuba’s freedom.”
Why was abortion so important to him, early in his dissidence, and why is it important now? “The fundamental duty of a physician is to defend life.” And “life lasts from conception until natural death.” Biscet maintains that science makes clear that a fetus is “a human being distinct from the mother.” He regards abortion as “a crime against humanity.” And he links it to human rights more broadly.
What about the Cuban health-care system as a general proposition? One of the myths of the Cuban revolution is that it has provided health for all. This is not a myth that works on Biscet, who, as a Cuban doctor, knows too much. What about another myth, concerning race? The myth that Communist rule has been a boon to blacks? Biscet himself is black, as are many other leaders of the opposition. His contempt for this myth is unconcealed. “Completely false,” are the words he uses. “We know that the Cuban dictatorship is anti-American, anti-Semitic, and anti-black.” And if you would like to know what the dictatorship thinks of black Cubans, “you need only go to Cuban prisons.”
It is natural to ask Biscet what he thinks of a contentious issue in the United States: the longstanding sanctions on the Cuban regime, known collectively as “the embargo.” He says, “The embargo has helped the Cuban people both politically and morally.” He wishes that all “free and civilized countries would boycott Cuba, the way they did racist South Africa.” The world made South Africa a pariah state. The American embargo should be lifted, says Biscet, “when the embargo against the Cuban people’s human rights,” imposed by the dictatorship, “is lifted.” He believes that “civilized countries” have given the dictatorship “life” and “oxygen” for the past 20 years — in other words, since the collapse of the Soviet Union. When he says “civilized countries,” does he mean Western Europe, which has supplied much cash to Havana? “I mean civilized countries in Europe, Latin America, and North America” (which is to say, Canada and Mexico).
Recently, Jimmy Carter was in Cuba, seeing the Castro brothers and others, including some democracy activists, Biscet among them. During his stay, Carter referred to Fidel Castro as an “old friend.” This is appalling to Biscet, as to other democrats. “One can have different ideas, and they should be respected. But to call a tyrant a friend is truly horrible.” Many in the world have tried to make a hero out of Castro. And “we should not encourage the creation of false heroes.”
By the way, who is really in charge of Cuba — Fidel Castro or Raúl, whom Fidel has pushed out front? Biscet says, “In our country, the Communist party directs the course of events and is above the law, and Fidel Castro is the general secretary of the Communist party.” Biscet says this as though Fidel’s continuing dominance should be the most obvious thing in the world.
Then there is the question of Biscet’s future: What will he do? He says that his immediate task is to “recover psychologically and physically” from his twelve years in darkness and hell. “I hope to be in the best possible condition,” to do the work he finds it unavoidable to do. Does he expect to be rearrested? “Anything is possible,” but he will work without fear. He believes that the island’s democrats are basically united, although “we do live under a totalitarian dictatorship that uses all of its resources to attempt to destroy us, which makes it difficult to progress as quickly as we would like.” That is the understatement of the hour — the hour of our time together. The Cuban people are “enslaved,” Biscet says, “but here in Cuba, the slaves will revolt,” as they have done elsewhere. He mentions China, Iran, and Libya. And he describes a great challenge of the opposition: to shape a transition to democracy without a Tiananmen Square. Without a massacre by the rulers, who will not give up power sweetly.
What does he want from America? He wants people to recognize just how bad the Cuban dictatorship is. And he wants solidarity. “The American people can help the Cuban people by drawing close to us in our suffering. Those of you who live in freedom have the ability to do this.” Above all, he says, do not provide the regime with the “oxygen” it needs to survive. He sees the Obama administration making concessions to the regime. And it is incomprehensible to him why “civilized and democratic countries” should lend a hand to such people: should give oxygen to the persecutors of so many, persecutors who are ripe for a great push.
After we hung up with Biscet, I talked for a while with Aramis Perez, who had translated. How did he think Biscet had sounded? “Serene and collected. He spoke out of such conviction that he did not need to emphasize his words” — they all had authority. Every now and then, you feel that you have encountered a great man. Someone who makes up for some measure of human iniquity and indifference. Perez and I felt this about Biscet. So will many others, around the world, if they get to know him.
Source: National Review / Digital
H/T to Valentin Prieto ;)
Cubanita's Thoughts ... far away from el terruño
Showing posts with label Useful Idiots. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Useful Idiots. Show all posts
Apr 14, 2011
Feb 4, 2011
What's wrong with this picture?
Cuba's communist regime seeks 20 years prison sentence for Alan Gross.
Obama relaxes travel and hard currency remittances to the tropical gulag.
What's wrong with this picture?
The total absence of Vaseline (or KY for her/him) is the first thing that comes to mind.
Via Babalu Blog & H/T to @marcmasferrer:
Cuba to seek 20-yr jail term for detained American
Relax, Americans.
We're on the right track.
Obama relaxes travel and hard currency remittances to the tropical gulag.
What's wrong with this picture?
The total absence of Vaseline (or KY for her/him) is the first thing that comes to mind.
Via Babalu Blog & H/T to @marcmasferrer:
Cuba to seek 20-yr jail term for detained American
Relax, Americans.
We're on the right track.
Dec 14, 2010
We've been calling off this red flags...
... for a long, long time. Regardless, I still feel that nobody is listening.
Then, I can't help thinking: do Americans really need to live like I lived in Cuba or like this writer did in Russia to learn their lesson the hard way.
Are you, my fellow Americans, willing to pay the highest price for your lifetime lesson?
If so, please read before you keep commiting mass suicide:
The Modern Left (Unmasked)
(Via American Thinker)
Then, I can't help thinking: do Americans really need to live like I lived in Cuba or like this writer did in Russia to learn their lesson the hard way.
Are you, my fellow Americans, willing to pay the highest price for your lifetime lesson?
If so, please read before you keep commiting mass suicide:
The Modern Left (Unmasked)
"... the names are unimportant. The Lefts true believers will likely scream bloody murder at comparisons between their philosophy and Socialism, even though birds of a feather have been shown to flock together in London, Pittsburgh, and Toronto..."
"...To be sure, they all share and wish to perpetuate a basic misunderstanding of two Constitutions -- a Soviet one that promised what a government would do for its citizenry, and an American one that guarantees what a government will not do to its people..."
(Via American Thinker)
Dec 6, 2010
My not that short answer...
Welcome reader Casey!
I tried to answer your question in the comments section with no success; even my shortest version wouldn't fit in the box, oops! Thanks for stopping by... I'm glad to read you are not clueless about castro and che; that, per se, leaves a huge room for political debate.
You question is the million dollars quest. I'll try to give you my view: the opinion of a simple girl that was born and raised under castro's communist dictatorship and who has been living in freedom for merely ten years. (If you dig back in some of my posts, you'll be able to get into more details).
First, in my own experience, I have seen that most Americans are uninformed/ill informed (thanks, MSM!)about the embargo being a legal consequence to castro's decision to unlawfully confiscate (and not properly pay for) American property. That's a legal/judicial process by international laws where you have two choices: either pay for those properties (which never is gonna happen with castro) or face the legal consequences (the embargo in this case.)
I'd say almost the entire world, including Cubans inside and outside the island know the embargo is the one-size-fits-all excuse the commies has been using for 51 years to blame their own failures; from a dengue epidemic to the their socialistoid economic disaster.
Many people --and I will give them the benefit of the doubt and say that maybe, well intentioned-- argue that if we remove the excuse, castro will be exposed. Really? Do we really need to expose him more? Because whoever have not seen in the past 51 years the atrocities of castro and his thugs is, well, because they don't want to...
And how that is going to change the life of your regular average Cuban?
See... you'd have to understand that there are two parallel realities in Cuba: the one for communists, government, military and tourists elites, and a whole different hell hole of life for the average Cuban citizen that has no access to hard currency.
The embargo being in place or not WILL not affect the life of those privileged elites at all. They have always lived --and believe me, will continue to live-- like royalty in the land of slaves. Nor will change the life of the poor souls on the darker side of Cuba's society. More money will end up in the commies' pockets. Period.
Nowadays, one also have to keep in mind that the embargo is more cosmetic that anything else. It has been weakened substantially during the past US administrations and there are only two measures in place: Cuban govt has to pay in cash, and Americans are restricted to travel (directly) to the island.
From a Libertarian point of view, I agree that no government should restrict the free movement of its citizens. But also, from real life experience, I can tell you Americans traveling there will not bring substancial change either; unless they have supernatural powers I haven't seen yet ;)
Cuba has been receiving tourists from all over the world (not only Canadians) for years. Sadly, the biggest majority of them are only interested in the PR-ready Cuba, where they can get drunk and have sex with cheap underage young men and woman, then post their videos/pics online and pretend they are bringing democracy to the island, one mojito at a time...that is.
From the American taxpayer's point of view (because that is what I am now, an American that works her back off and pay her fair -an unfair--share of taxes), extending credit to a communist government that has one of the worst credit/payment records in the world, according to recent stats from the Paris Club, I think that is a terrible mistake.
Who can guarantee me that castro's debts are not gonna be paid by my hard-earned money in the next bailouts craze, when the next US administration happily decides to use the Constitution as their deluxe toilet paper?
Errr...thanks, but no thanks.
Will lifting the embargo bring change and democracy to Cuba?
IMHO, I highly doubt so... Cuba's mess can only be solved by Cubans themselves.
Had the US government been really interested in helping, it would have done it years ago, by simply don't betraying Bay of Pigs. That was the moment. If it didn't happen back then, it won't happen now.
But... where is the hope?! Can something be done now?! --you may ask...
Yes, of course. I think in the this moment, the US can make the difference by supporting that incipient dissident and civil movement that has been growing in the island in the past 10 years, with all those independent bloggers, journalists and peaceful dissidents battling inside the monster and needing basic technology to weaken censorship and repression from within.
Even if we have to do it one tweet at a time. That will help to bring down the wall the regimen has built since 1951.
On the other hand, I don't have a very promising diagnosis for the useful idiots on this side of the ocean, drooling over everything castro. They only cure would be to GO THERE and SUCK IT UP 'till they die.
(I bet you my relatives there will trade places with all the Maxine Waters, Barbara Boxers, Sean Penns and et al of this world in a New York minute)
I tried to answer your question in the comments section with no success; even my shortest version wouldn't fit in the box, oops! Thanks for stopping by... I'm glad to read you are not clueless about castro and che; that, per se, leaves a huge room for political debate.
You question is the million dollars quest. I'll try to give you my view: the opinion of a simple girl that was born and raised under castro's communist dictatorship and who has been living in freedom for merely ten years. (If you dig back in some of my posts, you'll be able to get into more details).
First, in my own experience, I have seen that most Americans are uninformed/ill informed (thanks, MSM!)about the embargo being a legal consequence to castro's decision to unlawfully confiscate (and not properly pay for) American property. That's a legal/judicial process by international laws where you have two choices: either pay for those properties (which never is gonna happen with castro) or face the legal consequences (the embargo in this case.)
I'd say almost the entire world, including Cubans inside and outside the island know the embargo is the one-size-fits-all excuse the commies has been using for 51 years to blame their own failures; from a dengue epidemic to the their socialistoid economic disaster.
Many people --and I will give them the benefit of the doubt and say that maybe, well intentioned-- argue that if we remove the excuse, castro will be exposed. Really? Do we really need to expose him more? Because whoever have not seen in the past 51 years the atrocities of castro and his thugs is, well, because they don't want to...
And how that is going to change the life of your regular average Cuban?
See... you'd have to understand that there are two parallel realities in Cuba: the one for communists, government, military and tourists elites, and a whole different hell hole of life for the average Cuban citizen that has no access to hard currency.
The embargo being in place or not WILL not affect the life of those privileged elites at all. They have always lived --and believe me, will continue to live-- like royalty in the land of slaves. Nor will change the life of the poor souls on the darker side of Cuba's society. More money will end up in the commies' pockets. Period.
Nowadays, one also have to keep in mind that the embargo is more cosmetic that anything else. It has been weakened substantially during the past US administrations and there are only two measures in place: Cuban govt has to pay in cash, and Americans are restricted to travel (directly) to the island.
From a Libertarian point of view, I agree that no government should restrict the free movement of its citizens. But also, from real life experience, I can tell you Americans traveling there will not bring substancial change either; unless they have supernatural powers I haven't seen yet ;)
Cuba has been receiving tourists from all over the world (not only Canadians) for years. Sadly, the biggest majority of them are only interested in the PR-ready Cuba, where they can get drunk and have sex with cheap underage young men and woman, then post their videos/pics online and pretend they are bringing democracy to the island, one mojito at a time...that is.
From the American taxpayer's point of view (because that is what I am now, an American that works her back off and pay her fair -an unfair--share of taxes), extending credit to a communist government that has one of the worst credit/payment records in the world, according to recent stats from the Paris Club, I think that is a terrible mistake.
Who can guarantee me that castro's debts are not gonna be paid by my hard-earned money in the next bailouts craze, when the next US administration happily decides to use the Constitution as their deluxe toilet paper?
Errr...thanks, but no thanks.
Will lifting the embargo bring change and democracy to Cuba?
IMHO, I highly doubt so... Cuba's mess can only be solved by Cubans themselves.
Had the US government been really interested in helping, it would have done it years ago, by simply don't betraying Bay of Pigs. That was the moment. If it didn't happen back then, it won't happen now.
But... where is the hope?! Can something be done now?! --you may ask...
Yes, of course. I think in the this moment, the US can make the difference by supporting that incipient dissident and civil movement that has been growing in the island in the past 10 years, with all those independent bloggers, journalists and peaceful dissidents battling inside the monster and needing basic technology to weaken censorship and repression from within.
Even if we have to do it one tweet at a time. That will help to bring down the wall the regimen has built since 1951.
On the other hand, I don't have a very promising diagnosis for the useful idiots on this side of the ocean, drooling over everything castro. They only cure would be to GO THERE and SUCK IT UP 'till they die.
(I bet you my relatives there will trade places with all the Maxine Waters, Barbara Boxers, Sean Penns and et al of this world in a New York minute)
Nov 22, 2010
Castro's regimen endorses UN homophobic resolution
Via Capitol Hills Cubans:
This week, the Castro regime endorsed an amendment to a U.N. resolution (along with homophobic African and Middle Eastern nations) that exposes gays to arbitrary executions.
The U.S. strongly opposed the amendment.
But things changing in Cuba. And Castro II is more pragmatic. And he is releasing political prisoners. And more direct infusion of money and tourists is gonna change their minds. And... I have a bridge for sale. Wanna buy it?
PS - Can someone please alert the troops of useful idiots that haven't received the memo yet?
Thanks
This week, the Castro regime endorsed an amendment to a U.N. resolution (along with homophobic African and Middle Eastern nations) that exposes gays to arbitrary executions.
The U.S. strongly opposed the amendment.
"According to the International Gay and Lesbians Human Rights Commission, the UN General Assembly's Third Committee on Social, Cultural and Humanitarian issues removed "sexual orientation" from a resolution addressing extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions this past week in a vote that was overwhelming represented by a majority of African, Middle East and Caribbean [led by Cuba] nations."More details here.
But things changing in Cuba. And Castro II is more pragmatic. And he is releasing political prisoners. And more direct infusion of money and tourists is gonna change their minds. And... I have a bridge for sale. Wanna buy it?
PS - Can someone please alert the troops of useful idiots that haven't received the memo yet?
Thanks
May 17, 2010
The real failure of communism in Cuba
Yesterday, in the middle of a busy Mom Sunday, I splurged myself with a few minutes in Twitter and found this article in the Gainsville Times, where Frank Norton Jr. describes his experience during a recent trip to Cuba. He describes pretty well what for me, is not news because it was my daily life up until almost ten years ago.
[Introduce here my deja vu thinking I was reading Granma or watching la mesa redonda (round table]
I’ve seen, personally, some in those ranks living in Cuba like any middle class family would live here. There is no embargo when you have connections.
The ones that do not fit in any of the above categories are the ones really hurting, and not precisely by the embargo. American credits to the communist dictatorship WILL NOT change an iota of their misery.
If what is left of the embargo is gone tomorrow, regular Cubans will continue recycling our of necessity, will continue starving with the rationed food that lasts only the first two weeks of the month, kids will continue not having milk after age seven through the rationing book, and their parents will continue stealing from their workplaces and trading in the black market in order to eat the remaining two weeks of the month.
And all that, while American taxpayers – in the era of hope and change, government bailouts and power grabs - subsidize the defaulted unpaid credits extended to the plantation’s owners.
However, there is another face of Cuba that Mr. Norton didn’t mention. Maybe he didn't see it... who knows?
(Click here to keep reading)
"Underground capitalism: Throughout our visit, we've seen small flares of capitalism: the man selling pizzas out of his basement; an elderly gentleman dressing three dachshunds in hats, coats and sunglasses charging $1 per picture; the Cuban Coco cabs that charged $6 a trip; vendors in the crafts shops selling carved ebony statues or colorful canvases. Capitalism is alive, thriving actually, in the deep bowels of Cuban life. Capitalism may even be the dark underbelly of successful communism. In a totalitarian state, the underground micro economy keeps the engine running and the populous content and fed."Where I disagree with him? Well, when he started repeating the broken record on who’s to blame for the shameful state of a country that was ahead of the region five decades ago.
[Introduce here my deja vu thinking I was reading Granma or watching la mesa redonda (round table]
“Cuba has learned to recycle, out of embargo necessity.”Excuse me, but Cuba has learned to recycle out of communism-induced misery and chronic scarcity. Cubans are some of the most miserable individuals in the region thanks to the failed economic policies of socialism, despite having been constantly fed by the former Soviet Union, the East European communist and now, Hugo "Monkey" Chavez -with his 200 Twitter assistants - petrodollars.
“The embargo: Our days passed and our opinion of the anti-Castro embargo has changed. It does not hurt Castro or his oblivious government; it hurts the children, old men and women and everyone in between.”"The children, the old men and women and everyone on between" that are tied to the communist elite of Cuba’s Communist Party, high rank military officials, high class intellectuals a-la-Silvio Rodriguez and those who have relatives living in exile and sending them hard currency are not hurting. For Christ's sake, not even THE Cubans living in Cuba believe that story of the embargo anymore!
I’ve seen, personally, some in those ranks living in Cuba like any middle class family would live here. There is no embargo when you have connections.
The ones that do not fit in any of the above categories are the ones really hurting, and not precisely by the embargo. American credits to the communist dictatorship WILL NOT change an iota of their misery.
If what is left of the embargo is gone tomorrow, regular Cubans will continue recycling our of necessity, will continue starving with the rationed food that lasts only the first two weeks of the month, kids will continue not having milk after age seven through the rationing book, and their parents will continue stealing from their workplaces and trading in the black market in order to eat the remaining two weeks of the month.
And all that, while American taxpayers – in the era of hope and change, government bailouts and power grabs - subsidize the defaulted unpaid credits extended to the plantation’s owners.
However, there is another face of Cuba that Mr. Norton didn’t mention. Maybe he didn't see it... who knows?
(Click here to keep reading)
Mar 23, 2010
Health care power grab: Colorado AG will join lawsuit
Colorado Attorney General John Suthers announced today he will join another 11 states in a lawsuit against the federal health care power grab - I mean, reform - passed by Congress last Sunday.
The Denver Post has the report here.
They have also posted a poll where, so far, 57.19% of respondents have answered "Yes!" to the question: "Colorado Attorney General John Suthers says Colorado will sue the federal government to block federal health care legislation." Would you support this lawsuit?
In case that you haven't noticed that health care bill monstruosity (that it is not true reform by any means), came with an attached tail for... students loans.
Yep. The goverment not only will own you health care choices, now they will also own your student loan choices, since this legislation kicks out the option to have private lenders.
When will the government stop trying to own ALL your choices in life? That's a very good question, and you may start going to get clues for your answer from places like... Cuba? Or North Korea?
Sorry to break the good news, but there is never such a thing as a free lunch:
1- Student aid linked to the health care legislation will be trimmed, cut, reduced...
2- The Pell Grant Program, which is one of the best financial aid programs for low income students that can not afford to pay full tuition - and I can testify that because I was one of its recipients when I did my master at FIU - will also be reduced. The program already have an estimate 18-19 billion deficit.
Now, for all that Marxists in the making, Che-lovers and Obama's blind followers college students I have only one question: How is that hope and change working for you now?
How is this legislation not a concealed redistribution of wealth instrument when you, college student, will be able to stay in your parents health insurance policy until age 26 (children my shoes!) but then, you will have to pay more for you college tuiton in order to pay for your neighbor's health coverage? And all from the goverment, you know... kind of like a one-stop shop.
Can your super-powered useful mind, please, explain me that?
Didn't think so.
Finally, yes, I am still wondering what on earth have health care reform anything to do with students loans.
The Denver Post has the report here.
They have also posted a poll where, so far, 57.19% of respondents have answered "Yes!" to the question: "Colorado Attorney General John Suthers says Colorado will sue the federal government to block federal health care legislation." Would you support this lawsuit?
In case that you haven't noticed that health care bill monstruosity (that it is not true reform by any means), came with an attached tail for... students loans.
Yep. The goverment not only will own you health care choices, now they will also own your student loan choices, since this legislation kicks out the option to have private lenders.
When will the government stop trying to own ALL your choices in life? That's a very good question, and you may start going to get clues for your answer from places like... Cuba? Or North Korea?
Sorry to break the good news, but there is never such a thing as a free lunch:
1- Student aid linked to the health care legislation will be trimmed, cut, reduced...
2- The Pell Grant Program, which is one of the best financial aid programs for low income students that can not afford to pay full tuition - and I can testify that because I was one of its recipients when I did my master at FIU - will also be reduced. The program already have an estimate 18-19 billion deficit.
Now, for all that Marxists in the making, Che-lovers and Obama's blind followers college students I have only one question: How is that hope and change working for you now?
How is this legislation not a concealed redistribution of wealth instrument when you, college student, will be able to stay in your parents health insurance policy until age 26 (children my shoes!) but then, you will have to pay more for you college tuiton in order to pay for your neighbor's health coverage? And all from the goverment, you know... kind of like a one-stop shop.
Can your super-powered useful mind, please, explain me that?
Didn't think so.
Finally, yes, I am still wondering what on earth have health care reform anything to do with students loans.
Mar 22, 2010
Health care reform, really?
RIP, USA as we have met you.
Welcome to the United Socialists Stated of America.
Vladimir Ilich Lenin
[Fellow komrade blogger at Iron Curtain Patriots FemmePatriot tells me this quote has never been proven as from Lenin. I wrote it as I remembered it from my Marxism-Leninism classes in college, back in the tropical gulag. Could it be possible they fed us the line because it fits wonderfully with the Cuban "model" of free health care? ...ha! Communist indoctrination and manipulation never ceases to amaze me!]
Anyway, so many years yearning and waiting to escape to the other side of the malecón, the tropical version of the iron curtain, for what? To end up with a soft-tyranny á la Socialism of the XXI Century of Hugo Chávez? Or is it Hugobama now?
I’ve read and posted, ad-nauseum, about everything that is wrong with this socialist power-grab. But for starters, I think we should all write these in our walls:
This is what happens WHEN YOU TAKE FREEDOM FOR GRANTED. Love my tea party partners but, for Christ’s sake, where have you been in the past eight years, even before I came to this country?! Americans, why did you allow yourselves to learn the lesson the hard way? When you do that, you always run the risk to hit a point of no return...
Welcome to the United Socialists Stated of America.
Have you signed up for your new Committee for the Defense of the Government, Rapid Response Brigade or the Internet Cyber militia yet? Well, you better get moving…
Vladimir Ilich Lenin
[Fellow komrade blogger at Iron Curtain Patriots FemmePatriot tells me this quote has never been proven as from Lenin. I wrote it as I remembered it from my Marxism-Leninism classes in college, back in the tropical gulag. Could it be possible they fed us the line because it fits wonderfully with the Cuban "model" of free health care? ...ha! Communist indoctrination and manipulation never ceases to amaze me!]
Anyway, so many years yearning and waiting to escape to the other side of the malecón, the tropical version of the iron curtain, for what? To end up with a soft-tyranny á la Socialism of the XXI Century of Hugo Chávez? Or is it Hugobama now?
I’ve read and posted, ad-nauseum, about everything that is wrong with this socialist power-grab. But for starters, I think we should all write these in our walls:
- A mandate requiring all individuals to purchase health insurance would be an unprecedented form of federal action. The government has never required people to buy any good or service as a condition of lawful residence in the United States. An individual mandate would have two features that, in combination, would make it unique. First, it would impose a duty on individuals as members of society. Second, it would require people to purchase a specific service that would be heavily regulated by the federal government.
- The Constitution gives Congress the right to regulate interstate commerce, not to force individuals to purchase items from that commerce. And let’s not forget that no interstate commerce in health insurance exists, thanks to Congress keeping people from buying that insurance across state lines.
- Democrats jammed the bill through Congress using arcane parliamentary procedures despite the strong disapproval of their proposal among voters.
- Very few of the benefits of ObamaCare even begin before 2014, but all of the taxes and business mandates start this year.
I hate to be the pessimistic in the gang, but I feel we’re doomed. We are %$#@$% con capital letters; thanks to our lovely freedom-haters progressives, socialist coddling and youngsters-drunk-with-hopehandchange useful idiots. We should ship them all – along with Obama, Pelosi and Reid – directly to Cuba or North Korea.
If we don’t do something, my son will never grow up in a nation seen as the epitome of freedom – that was until last night. At least this Cuban mami won’t allow that.
We need to vote out all the Socialistoids Democrats in Congress. We HAVE to repeal it. It will be an uphill battle, but it could be possible; it just that we have no time to waste. The longer we take to start, the harder it will be to repeal it.
This is what happens WHEN YOU TAKE FREEDOM FOR GRANTED. Love my tea party partners but, for Christ’s sake, where have you been in the past eight years, even before I came to this country?! Americans, why did you allow yourselves to learn the lesson the hard way? When you do that, you always run the risk to hit a point of no return...
Cuba got hope and change in 1959.
Would you hear us now? The states are our only and last hope. But they have conceded to the federal government on so many things and so many times before, that I am certainly very skeptical. Colorado Attorney General John Suthers, are you listening to our plea?
I know we MUST continue with the hard work.
What on earth did I escaped Cuba for?
Cubanita out.
Mar 9, 2010
Your tax dollars at work
Cross posted at Iron Curtain Patriots
Today, I also received the stupid letter. A letter that tells me that within a week, I will be receiving another letter from the US Census.
And talking about the Census, today I also received an email detailing the questions included in the American Community Survey, that some Americans will randomly received thought the US Census.
So, the answering the Census is supposed to be voluntary -otherwise, why the in national PR campaign, Superbowl ad included, paid with my tax dollars, to convince people to participate? But this "random" survey is mandatory... humm, humm, humm...
Let me insert here that it is an open secret that the Obama administration has a super-uber interest in controlling the Census, therefore, they will not economize resources - your aforementioned tax dollars - to meet their goal.
According to the Census Bureau Web site, "the American Community Survey is conducted under the authority of Title 13, United States Code, Sections 141 and 193, and response is mandatory." Those refusing to comply have been threatened with imprisonment and fines up to $5,000.
The survey asks questions about one's ancestry and ethnic origin, languages spoken at home, level of education, which I have no problem with whatsoever.
But things started to feel creepy when I read about questions asking for:
ADD note - The CDR members monitor the activities of each person in their respective blocks. They keep invidual files on each block resident, some of which reveal the internal dynamics of households. The system mimics Germany's "committees of territorial vigilance", described as organizations of agents that Adolf Hitler established by 1935. In 2006, Amnesty International reported CDR involvement in repeated human rights violations that included verbal as well as physical violence. Their trademark are the actos de repudio (acts of repudiation) against those targeted as "counter revolutionary."
And, yes, back in the tropical gulag, they also collect information about your sources of income, how many times you have been married, how many children do you have, how many TV's you have at home, whether you have changed your traditional incandescent light bulbs for the energy-efficient - and lousy lighter ones - etc, etc, etc.
After having experienced the most gruesome and disrespectful intromision of the government and its sycophants in my private life during most of my life, do these people really believe I will answer those questions?!
There have been many cases of privacy violations with the Census. I just learned that one of the most known is how the Census information was used in the forties, during WWII, to round up Japanese American citizens and to send them to internment camps. The Census even issued a public apolgy, years after the fact.
I mean, as far as I can understand, the constitutional mandate bind us to answer how many people leave in the house, the age, and the sex of thouse household members.
Do they really expect me to believe "they are from the government and they are here to help me"?
OMDB!
Blame it on my communism-induced post traumatic stress disorder. Wait a minute, do I have to report that PTSD too, don't I?! Cubanita confused. Very much confundida.
I pray that I am not included in the "random" sample.
I hope they have payment plans for the $5,000 fine.
Today, I also received the stupid letter. A letter that tells me that within a week, I will be receiving another letter from the US Census.
And these are the people the "progres" out there want me have handling my health care? Yeah... sure... OMDB (over my dead body - sobre mi cadáver putrefacto, como diría Cantinflas)
So, the answering the Census is supposed to be voluntary -otherwise, why the in national PR campaign, Superbowl ad included, paid with my tax dollars, to convince people to participate? But this "random" survey is mandatory... humm, humm, humm...
Let me insert here that it is an open secret that the Obama administration has a super-uber interest in controlling the Census, therefore, they will not economize resources - your aforementioned tax dollars - to meet their goal.
According to the Census Bureau Web site, "the American Community Survey is conducted under the authority of Title 13, United States Code, Sections 141 and 193, and response is mandatory." Those refusing to comply have been threatened with imprisonment and fines up to $5,000.
[Cubanita with cultural barriers is banging her head against the wall over here...]
The survey asks questions about one's ancestry and ethnic origin, languages spoken at home, level of education, which I have no problem with whatsoever.
But things started to feel creepy when I read about questions asking for:
- the features of one's home
- the amount of electrical, gas and water bills
- condo fees
- insurance costs
- rent earned or paids
- one's physical, mental, or emotional condition
- number of marriages
- the hour one leaves for work and how one travels to work
- the status of one's eyesight and hearing
- and sources of income and one's total income, including interest, dividends, rental income, or income from estates and trusts
- ... and well, at some point the the ram of paper, I guess they'll ask how many people live in the house.
ADD note - The CDR members monitor the activities of each person in their respective blocks. They keep invidual files on each block resident, some of which reveal the internal dynamics of households. The system mimics Germany's "committees of territorial vigilance", described as organizations of agents that Adolf Hitler established by 1935. In 2006, Amnesty International reported CDR involvement in repeated human rights violations that included verbal as well as physical violence. Their trademark are the actos de repudio (acts of repudiation) against those targeted as "counter revolutionary."
And, yes, back in the tropical gulag, they also collect information about your sources of income, how many times you have been married, how many children do you have, how many TV's you have at home, whether you have changed your traditional incandescent light bulbs for the energy-efficient - and lousy lighter ones - etc, etc, etc.
After having experienced the most gruesome and disrespectful intromision of the government and its sycophants in my private life during most of my life, do these people really believe I will answer those questions?!
There have been many cases of privacy violations with the Census. I just learned that one of the most known is how the Census information was used in the forties, during WWII, to round up Japanese American citizens and to send them to internment camps. The Census even issued a public apolgy, years after the fact.
I mean, as far as I can understand, the constitutional mandate bind us to answer how many people leave in the house, the age, and the sex of thouse household members.
Do they really expect me to believe "they are from the government and they are here to help me"?
OMDB!
Blame it on my communism-induced post traumatic stress disorder. Wait a minute, do I have to report that PTSD too, don't I?! Cubanita confused. Very much confundida.
I pray that I am not included in the "random" sample.
I hope they have payment plans for the $5,000 fine.
Mar 2, 2010
What is torture? - a compilation of thoughts, images and comments
Cross posted at Iron Curtain Patriots
What is torture?
[Original post, image and comments, in Spanish, at Guamá]
Pulling off finger nails and teeth is not the only form of torture.
Torture is also being locked in room of 2 X 2 (meters), with the air conditioner in its colder setting, with no socks, wearing shorts and a shirt, not being guilty.
Torture is to force a drunk man to “dance like Alicia Alonso” while a stick is being stuck in his [rear end].
It is torture to be locked down in a cell meant for four people, which it is filled with [heces] up to the height of your ankles, along with another ten men.
It is torture if a police officer asks you for identification with not reason whatsoever, and while you are asking him why, he slaps you in the face.
Torture is to spend three years in the mandatory military draft in the [military base] 3500 or in Cuito Cuanavale [Angola]
Torture is the authorization to leave [exit permit] and the authorization to enter [entrance stamp]
Torture is a note in the academic records for “ideological deviation” or “attempting against your own life” after entering the dorms through the external gutter because a dorm’s administrator does not allow you to get in to grab your asthma inhaler, because your duty is going to pick up bags of oranges, only to have rice and peas as lunch afterwards.
Torture is [living] chasing after food and [material] stuff like stray dogs begging.
Torture and murder is to censor, to enslave, to manipulate and to force an entire populace to fight against each other.
Torture is the promoted hate, the fear to talk about you.
Torture IS YOU.
[Give me a break!]
Now, there are the comments that should make history:
(Garrincha) … and we all know there is more in the tortures’ list.
( Yosi) ... Torture is the family’s separation, torture is one bread [bun] a day per person and six eggs per month, and torture is not being able to eat red meat or nourish [yourself] properly. Torture is to live in a house all your life, seeing that is falling onto you. Torture is standing a crazy dictator for more than 50 years. All that, and much more, is torture in Cuba.
(Ma. Acapulco) ...Torture was each one of those speeches, broadcasted simultaneously in all TV channels. Four hours of torture. And torture is to have an idiot from the state security questioning you why did you say this and that…
But, on top of all those tortures, they do pull off teeth if they have to, and finger nails too, they pick and the beat up whomever they have to. What happens is that they are so evil that their torture techniques are silent and concealed; that torture is not evident: the rooted hatred, the evil whistle blowing, the social piece of crap… they have designed it so well, so á la Machiavelli, that that torture is just enough.
Damned.
(Yosi)... I just saw the photos from the dead [patients] in Mazorra and I’m in shock, poor elderly, living in there was a torture for them.
(Cucovish) … [Ryme in Spanish; translation will be out of synch in English]
What is torture?
What is torture?, you ask, while you
Stick in my eye’s pupil your brownish one
What is torture? And you ask me?!
Torture is you [faggot]
( Güicho) …Torture is having to stand a shark bites, one after another, or swallow sea water, over and over, until you die. All whiel trying to escape from the other tortures in your island-plantation, SOB!
Now, my two cents…
• Torture is having to kill the cockroaches flying on top of your severely ill father’s bed in an intensive care unit.
• Torture is seeing your uncle undergoing dialysis for last stage renal failure due to diabetes, but having your siblings sending the erythropoietin weekly shots from Germany.
• Torture is seeing, the day of your uncle’s funeral, in the middle of the Vía Blanca [highway] the mortuary car stopped because it ran our of gas, halfway to Havana’s cemetery. And having had to stop and siphon the black-market gas you bought to your own car, in order to finally bury him.
• Torture is having your father’s pancreas damaged by a medical malpractice and not being able to say anything.
• Torture is learning that you aunt’s beautiful green eyes were pulled off during an unauthorized autopsy while in Mazorra, and that later on her body was sent, completely naked and uncovered, to the funeral home in her hometown of Guane. Torture is to know that Ordaz royally wiped his rear bottom with the complaint letters written by my mother.
• Torture were the eight hours long blackouts, on a rotating basis, in the summer of 1994, being asked – while in school – to denounce your classmates if you’d see them praying on Sundays, or seeing your mother suffering from a neuropathy (Beri Beri) epidemic caused simply by hunger.
• Torture is the ration of 30 feminine pads per month – irregular women are not allowed in this socialist revolution!
• Torture is having to deal with the fact that after age seven, your children will not receive more milk through the rationing card.
• Torture is seeing the pictures and the differences between the hospital’s OR where my cousin had her two C-sections, and the room in the suburban borderline rural birthing center where my dear son was born.
• Torture is to see that it will take a long time before my son can see the hometown of his grandparents, that he is unable to spend the weekends at the beach with his cousins and that he is not growing up in the neighborhood where his mother did.
• Torture is that, even living in freedom and working my butt off like a mule for my family, I still feel a knot in my throat when I eat an ice cream cone or buy something cute, after the mere thought that the loved ones that I left behind may never enjoy such petty things in life.
• Torture is going back witness, with your own eyes, that the new generations of Cuban could care less about other human beings. And we can not blame them for only dreaming with jumping off the strait get out of there.
• Torture is seeing that three generations of Cubans have been broken by 50 years of communist dictatorship. Broken souls and hopeless faces; that’s all left.
… to be continued, but, hopefully, NOT for another fifty years.
What is torture?
Pulling off finger nails and teeth is not the only form of torture.
Torture is also being locked in room of 2 X 2 (meters), with the air conditioner in its colder setting, with no socks, wearing shorts and a shirt, not being guilty.
Torture is to force a drunk man to “dance like Alicia Alonso” while a stick is being stuck in his [rear end].
It is torture to be locked down in a cell meant for four people, which it is filled with [heces] up to the height of your ankles, along with another ten men.
It is torture if a police officer asks you for identification with not reason whatsoever, and while you are asking him why, he slaps you in the face.
Torture is to spend three years in the mandatory military draft in the [military base] 3500 or in Cuito Cuanavale [Angola]
Torture is the authorization to leave [exit permit] and the authorization to enter [entrance stamp]
Torture is a note in the academic records for “ideological deviation” or “attempting against your own life” after entering the dorms through the external gutter because a dorm’s administrator does not allow you to get in to grab your asthma inhaler, because your duty is going to pick up bags of oranges, only to have rice and peas as lunch afterwards.
Torture is [living] chasing after food and [material] stuff like stray dogs begging.
Torture and murder is to censor, to enslave, to manipulate and to force an entire populace to fight against each other.
Torture is the promoted hate, the fear to talk about you.
Torture IS YOU.
[Give me a break!]
Now, there are the comments that should make history:
(Garrincha) … and we all know there is more in the tortures’ list.
( Yosi) ... Torture is the family’s separation, torture is one bread [bun] a day per person and six eggs per month, and torture is not being able to eat red meat or nourish [yourself] properly. Torture is to live in a house all your life, seeing that is falling onto you. Torture is standing a crazy dictator for more than 50 years. All that, and much more, is torture in Cuba.
(Ma. Acapulco) ...Torture was each one of those speeches, broadcasted simultaneously in all TV channels. Four hours of torture. And torture is to have an idiot from the state security questioning you why did you say this and that…
But, on top of all those tortures, they do pull off teeth if they have to, and finger nails too, they pick and the beat up whomever they have to. What happens is that they are so evil that their torture techniques are silent and concealed; that torture is not evident: the rooted hatred, the evil whistle blowing, the social piece of crap… they have designed it so well, so á la Machiavelli, that that torture is just enough.
Damned.
(Yosi)... I just saw the photos from the dead [patients] in Mazorra and I’m in shock, poor elderly, living in there was a torture for them.
(Cucovish) … [Ryme in Spanish; translation will be out of synch in English]
What is torture?
What is torture?, you ask, while you
Stick in my eye’s pupil your brownish one
What is torture? And you ask me?!
Torture is you [faggot]
( Güicho) …Torture is having to stand a shark bites, one after another, or swallow sea water, over and over, until you die. All whiel trying to escape from the other tortures in your island-plantation, SOB!
Now, my two cents…
• Torture is having to kill the cockroaches flying on top of your severely ill father’s bed in an intensive care unit.
• Torture is seeing your uncle undergoing dialysis for last stage renal failure due to diabetes, but having your siblings sending the erythropoietin weekly shots from Germany.
• Torture is seeing, the day of your uncle’s funeral, in the middle of the Vía Blanca [highway] the mortuary car stopped because it ran our of gas, halfway to Havana’s cemetery. And having had to stop and siphon the black-market gas you bought to your own car, in order to finally bury him.
• Torture is having your father’s pancreas damaged by a medical malpractice and not being able to say anything.
• Torture is learning that you aunt’s beautiful green eyes were pulled off during an unauthorized autopsy while in Mazorra, and that later on her body was sent, completely naked and uncovered, to the funeral home in her hometown of Guane. Torture is to know that Ordaz royally wiped his rear bottom with the complaint letters written by my mother.
• Torture were the eight hours long blackouts, on a rotating basis, in the summer of 1994, being asked – while in school – to denounce your classmates if you’d see them praying on Sundays, or seeing your mother suffering from a neuropathy (Beri Beri) epidemic caused simply by hunger.
• Torture is the ration of 30 feminine pads per month – irregular women are not allowed in this socialist revolution!
• Torture is having to deal with the fact that after age seven, your children will not receive more milk through the rationing card.
• Torture is seeing the pictures and the differences between the hospital’s OR where my cousin had her two C-sections, and the room in the suburban borderline rural birthing center where my dear son was born.
• Torture is to see that it will take a long time before my son can see the hometown of his grandparents, that he is unable to spend the weekends at the beach with his cousins and that he is not growing up in the neighborhood where his mother did.
• Torture is that, even living in freedom and working my butt off like a mule for my family, I still feel a knot in my throat when I eat an ice cream cone or buy something cute, after the mere thought that the loved ones that I left behind may never enjoy such petty things in life.
• Torture is going back witness, with your own eyes, that the new generations of Cuban could care less about other human beings. And we can not blame them for only dreaming with jumping off the strait get out of there.
• Torture is seeing that three generations of Cubans have been broken by 50 years of communist dictatorship. Broken souls and hopeless faces; that’s all left.
… to be continued, but, hopefully, NOT for another fifty years.
Feb 19, 2010
Sexy Cuban Protest
It's been over the media in Spanish since yesterday: a Cuba exile protested against the lack of freedom of speech in Cuba and against Europe's coddling with the (c)astro regimen, at the main entrance of the EU building in Madrid, Spain.
He claimed for democracy for Cuba wearing handcuffs, gagged and... naked. And with that "hottie-McAwesome-body", pleeeeease...
Now, seriously...
Facing the morning cold in Madrid, César Alexander Cozar Rivera, a Cuban activist from the organization Cuba Democracia Ya, performed the singular protest while the fourth forum on Hispanic-Cuban human rights was taking place at the building. This forum was created back in 2007, when Miguel Angel Moratinos visited Havana.
According to the AFP report in Spanish -in my own free translation - Cozar Rivera said he was there representing all dissidents and Cuban exiles that havent received "'neither any answer nor an adequate human treatment during the past 50 years."
He criticized the Spanish government, saying they are "not interested in human rights or democracy for Cuba." During his performance, he stood on the Cuban flag to demonstrate "the extreme deterioration" suffered by the island, "due to the economic interests concealed under laws to promote development."
And whoever out there is the taking the sideways to criticize the use of the Cuban flag, simply put, has no clue.
We have reached a point where everything one can do to protest the (c)astro dictatorship and his enablers and useful idiots, WILL COUNT.
"Both the Spanish socialist government and the Cuban tiranny are dragging my country's flag" and their collaboration is a "theater" and a "circus," added Cozar, saying that Cuba keeps killing people in the firing squad while forcing (us) to exile,"which is destroying Cuban families and obstructing the education of young people." "Cuba is the only country where human rights are not violated simply because they don't exist."
El Mundo (Spanish newspaper) also covered it.
Penúltimos Días (in Spanish) has more on Moratinos' position, which basically means to continue coddling and enabling the Cuban regimen, and who cares about democracy and freedom of speech for those Cubans...
He claimed for democracy for Cuba wearing handcuffs, gagged and... naked. And with that "hottie-McAwesome-body", pleeeeease...
Facing the morning cold in Madrid, César Alexander Cozar Rivera, a Cuban activist from the organization Cuba Democracia Ya, performed the singular protest while the fourth forum on Hispanic-Cuban human rights was taking place at the building. This forum was created back in 2007, when Miguel Angel Moratinos visited Havana.
According to the AFP report in Spanish -in my own free translation - Cozar Rivera said he was there representing all dissidents and Cuban exiles that havent received "'neither any answer nor an adequate human treatment during the past 50 years."
He criticized the Spanish government, saying they are "not interested in human rights or democracy for Cuba." During his performance, he stood on the Cuban flag to demonstrate "the extreme deterioration" suffered by the island, "due to the economic interests concealed under laws to promote development."
And whoever out there is the taking the sideways to criticize the use of the Cuban flag, simply put, has no clue.
We have reached a point where everything one can do to protest the (c)astro dictatorship and his enablers and useful idiots, WILL COUNT.
"Both the Spanish socialist government and the Cuban tiranny are dragging my country's flag" and their collaboration is a "theater" and a "circus," added Cozar, saying that Cuba keeps killing people in the firing squad while forcing (us) to exile,"which is destroying Cuban families and obstructing the education of young people." "Cuba is the only country where human rights are not violated simply because they don't exist."
El Mundo (Spanish newspaper) also covered it.
Penúltimos Días (in Spanish) has more on Moratinos' position, which basically means to continue coddling and enabling the Cuban regimen, and who cares about democracy and freedom of speech for those Cubans...
Jan 29, 2010
Venezuela: students protest against socialism
Despite the MSM silence on what's going on in Venezuela, for the past several days, students in Caracas has taken the streets to march against socialism. Yes, against socialism.
With no weapons and sporting signs that read "Students without weapons", they have been marching for libertad - the freedom that Monkey Chavez socialist power grab has been taking away from Venezuelans, at the same time that sinks in misery and failed economic policies what once was one of the richest countries in Latin American.
See the story in images here, via Noticias24:
LIBERTAD (Freedom), that what says in this girl's arm.
"Students without weapons"
The National Guard sporting chains with hooks to repress the students protests, as published in the Venezuelan newspaper "El Nacional".
For more information on the marches, check George's coverage at The Real Cuba.
The "in-your-shoes" reflection is a must.
Sould we, in America, learn from young and un-armed students? Probably. Not taking freedom for granted is always a good idea. The minute one fall asleep, a commie wanna be will try to rise to take it away from you.
In the worst case scenario, will something similar happen in our universities. I, honestly, highly doubt it. The majority of the universities in the United States have become campuses for marxist and leftist indoctrination.
Just look at the resumen of the "historian" that recently died.
With no weapons and sporting signs that read "Students without weapons", they have been marching for libertad - the freedom that Monkey Chavez socialist power grab has been taking away from Venezuelans, at the same time that sinks in misery and failed economic policies what once was one of the richest countries in Latin American.
See the story in images here, via Noticias24:
LIBERTAD (Freedom), that what says in this girl's arm.
"Students without weapons"
The National Guard sporting chains with hooks to repress the students protests, as published in the Venezuelan newspaper "El Nacional".
For more information on the marches, check George's coverage at The Real Cuba.
The "in-your-shoes" reflection is a must.
Sould we, in America, learn from young and un-armed students? Probably. Not taking freedom for granted is always a good idea. The minute one fall asleep, a commie wanna be will try to rise to take it away from you.
In the worst case scenario, will something similar happen in our universities. I, honestly, highly doubt it. The majority of the universities in the United States have become campuses for marxist and leftist indoctrination.
Just look at the resumen of the "historian" that recently died.
Jan 10, 2010
Cold front freezes the US
I've keeping myself out of sight for a while, trying to replenish my health - both physical and mental - to survive this upcoming year. This Cubanita has been living lately with the blue birdie, right there --->>> to your right --->>>, in Twitter because, honestly, he makes things easier when you're busy and recovering from surgery...
However, to check back in time, there is nothing like a good laugh... and here is where hell starts freezing over, thanks one more time, to el maestro Pong:
"If that guy Gore have the slighlest idea of coming around here, I will tear him a leg because he is a liar".
"Shit! It's cold!"
However, to check back in time, there is nothing like a good laugh... and here is where hell starts freezing over, thanks one more time, to el maestro Pong:
"If that guy Gore have the slighlest idea of coming around here, I will tear him a leg because he is a liar".
"Shit! It's cold!"
Oct 19, 2009
Really? But, but... we've told you so!
Any human being with at least two-working neurones should know by now that in this life, anything in excess could be harmful.
Case example today:
excessive wishful thinking - or should I say plain unwillingness to see the reality - and the futile exercises of mental self-satisfaction that many people engage on when it comes to Cuba; including the current US president.
A few days ago, with all due fanfare, what is left of the MSM in this country announced that the US would ease telecoms companies access to Cuba. The small caps disclaimer was that the approval from the communist government was still pending.
A small company from Florida, BTW, was awarded the first authorization to start the optic fiber installation to Cuba:
"Cuba is the only country in the Americas that is not connected with the rest of the nations through an optic fiber cable. Instead, they rely on expensive satellite connections. Even though an optic fiber cable could substantially lower the cost of the phone calls, the rates would be determined by the Cuban government, who can also implement restrictions to access the Internet," reported the El Nuevo Herald story. [My own free translation here]
Err, nope; instant Internet access to Cuban blogger Yoani Sanchez and 11 million of Cuban living under censorship was not mentioned. At. All.
C'Mon, censorship and keeping people ignorant goes hand to hand with totalitarian regimens. Didn't POTUS knew that one?
Along came Monday and the Castro's regimen shut the door on Obama's face answering there will be no deal with US telecoms.
This takes me to question a few issues of principles:
The Obama admin knew how the whole thing works with the Castro's government prerogatives mentioned above, in bold. Ergo, the Obama admin does not care about Cubans' access to Internet or lower telephone rates.
Then, all I can see is a lousy act of flirting with the Cuban tyranny, knowingly that the average Cuban would not be benefit from it.
As expected by us - those Cubans born and raised under Castro's communist rule who, by default, should know a thing or two better than your average Harvard-educated president-in-the-making - the tropical dictatorship rebuffed the initiative that would have opened the island to better cell phone and Internet service.
My question is: did anybody in his/her sane mind really thought that the Castros gives a damn crap about improving the telephone and Internet access to their slaves?
I mean, like, really?
The Cuban government - who, in case you've forgotten, owns all business and property in the island - has been doing the money of their lives with the excessive rates to phone calls in/out of Cuba.
Whoever seriously thought they would give up that source of income, just like that, for the well being of Cubans and their families abroad, was simply engaging in yet another excessive and futile act of failed mental political self-satisfaction.
Or else, I am breeding pink unicorns in my backyard.
Case example today:
excessive wishful thinking - or should I say plain unwillingness to see the reality - and the futile exercises of mental self-satisfaction that many people engage on when it comes to Cuba; including the current US president.
A few days ago, with all due fanfare, what is left of the MSM in this country announced that the US would ease telecoms companies access to Cuba. The small caps disclaimer was that the approval from the communist government was still pending.
A small company from Florida, BTW, was awarded the first authorization to start the optic fiber installation to Cuba:
"Cuba is the only country in the Americas that is not connected with the rest of the nations through an optic fiber cable. Instead, they rely on expensive satellite connections. Even though an optic fiber cable could substantially lower the cost of the phone calls, the rates would be determined by the Cuban government, who can also implement restrictions to access the Internet," reported the El Nuevo Herald story. [My own free translation here]
Err, nope; instant Internet access to Cuban blogger Yoani Sanchez and 11 million of Cuban living under censorship was not mentioned. At. All.
C'Mon, censorship and keeping people ignorant goes hand to hand with totalitarian regimens. Didn't POTUS knew that one?
Along came Monday and the Castro's regimen shut the door on Obama's face answering there will be no deal with US telecoms.
This takes me to question a few issues of principles:
The Obama admin knew how the whole thing works with the Castro's government prerogatives mentioned above, in bold. Ergo, the Obama admin does not care about Cubans' access to Internet or lower telephone rates.
Then, all I can see is a lousy act of flirting with the Cuban tyranny, knowingly that the average Cuban would not be benefit from it.
As expected by us - those Cubans born and raised under Castro's communist rule who, by default, should know a thing or two better than your average Harvard-educated president-in-the-making - the tropical dictatorship rebuffed the initiative that would have opened the island to better cell phone and Internet service.
My question is: did anybody in his/her sane mind really thought that the Castros gives a damn crap about improving the telephone and Internet access to their slaves?
I mean, like, really?
The Cuban government - who, in case you've forgotten, owns all business and property in the island - has been doing the money of their lives with the excessive rates to phone calls in/out of Cuba.
Whoever seriously thought they would give up that source of income, just like that, for the well being of Cubans and their families abroad, was simply engaging in yet another excessive and futile act of failed mental political self-satisfaction.
Or else, I am breeding pink unicorns in my backyard.
Oct 13, 2009
Oct 9, 2009
Quote of the Day
Obama's Nobel Peace Prize - your hot spot news for the week - is being dismissed from left, right, and everything in between; brought to you but no other than his own sycophants at msnbc.com.
The golden nugget is:
"I'm not sure what the international community loved best; his waffling on Afghanistan, pulling defense missiles out of Eastern Europe, turning his back on freedom fighters in Honduras, coddling Castro, siding with Palestinians against Israel, or almost getting tough on Iran." GOP Rep. Gresham Barrett - who is running for governor of South Carolina
And the crash-course to get your own NPP, courtesy of conservative columnist Tommy De Seno, is:
1-Party
2-Go to meetings
3-Skip church
4-Release federal funding (Americans taxpayers monies, in case you didn't know from where federal monies come) to pay for abortions in foreign countries
5-Party some more
Go ahead! Start this weekend your very own path to the Nobel Prize!
The golden nugget is:
"I'm not sure what the international community loved best; his waffling on Afghanistan, pulling defense missiles out of Eastern Europe, turning his back on freedom fighters in Honduras, coddling Castro, siding with Palestinians against Israel, or almost getting tough on Iran." GOP Rep. Gresham Barrett - who is running for governor of South Carolina
And the crash-course to get your own NPP, courtesy of conservative columnist Tommy De Seno, is:
1-Party
2-Go to meetings
3-Skip church
4-Release federal funding (Americans taxpayers monies, in case you didn't know from where federal monies come) to pay for abortions in foreign countries
5-Party some more
Go ahead! Start this weekend your very own path to the Nobel Prize!
Twisted priorities
Move over, Gandhi. Your intentions - or efforts - were never good enough.
By now every single living cell on planet earth has been awakened with the news that Obama won the Peace Nobel Prize.
Nope, we're not in April. And you better don't laugh, otherwise, you could be red-flagged as terrorist - what if you are an Independent or Libertarian, but you're laughing anyway?
My first reaction? Wait a minute, I haven't drank enough Cuban coffee yet, my brain is not fully alert, I need another...
Then the simple logic of a thinking human brain kicked in, and I posted in Facebook: "... and what exactly has Obama done for peace?". Let's say that I could gladly use three examples, you know, just to keep the tradition.
Later on the news were reporting the Nobel committee purportedly said the award was not exactly for anything Obama has done, but for his intentions. Really?
A Chinese dissident and an Afghan women’s rights activist lost out to that. And the Iranians who took out the streets to defend their elections didn't even make it to the finals.
Mahatma Gandhi was nominated several times to the Nobel Prize, including the year that he was killed. But he never received it. Ergo, I can't get past the sick, twisted priorities that I am seeing around us lately...
Just another example of the uselessness of the Nobel prize. Really wanna do something for peace? Try anything, BUT the Nobel Prize. Where is Kanye West now?
Being in office for, like 11 months, my most conservative math estimate tells me that Obama was proposed to the award after being at the WH for, three weeks?
Which intentions or efforts were materialized by then, other that your standard politician's campaign promises (something, that, by the way, haven't changed that much either).
And, apparently, I am not the only one with this line of thoughts. Norwegians had made a political statement for someone they HAVE NOT to deal with, at least directly. That is, en pocas palabras, a lot of audacity.
On top of that, the laureate wins a gold medal, a diploma and 10 million Swedish crowns (1.4 million dollars or 878,000 pounds). I know; ACORN, stop worrying about being de-funded!
For those out there saying they are just happy because the crazy right wingers are irritated - which also proves my theory of the uselessness of this theater - I will answer just one thing:
I am not irritated.
I am just LMAO!
PS: my mother, with her endless sabiduría, only said "De buenas intenciones está lleno el camino hacia el infierno." [The way to hell is also paved of good intentions.]
UPDATE: the Nobel Prize as a certificate of political correctness, people's endless obsession with falsehood and more reactions.
Me? Don't you worry about me!
I've told you; I am still laughing at this endless stupidity.
By now every single living cell on planet earth has been awakened with the news that Obama won the Peace Nobel Prize.Nope, we're not in April. And you better don't laugh, otherwise, you could be red-flagged as terrorist - what if you are an Independent or Libertarian, but you're laughing anyway?
My first reaction? Wait a minute, I haven't drank enough Cuban coffee yet, my brain is not fully alert, I need another...
Then the simple logic of a thinking human brain kicked in, and I posted in Facebook: "... and what exactly has Obama done for peace?". Let's say that I could gladly use three examples, you know, just to keep the tradition.
Later on the news were reporting the Nobel committee purportedly said the award was not exactly for anything Obama has done, but for his intentions. Really?
A Chinese dissident and an Afghan women’s rights activist lost out to that. And the Iranians who took out the streets to defend their elections didn't even make it to the finals.
Mahatma Gandhi was nominated several times to the Nobel Prize, including the year that he was killed. But he never received it. Ergo, I can't get past the sick, twisted priorities that I am seeing around us lately...
Just another example of the uselessness of the Nobel prize. Really wanna do something for peace? Try anything, BUT the Nobel Prize. Where is Kanye West now?
Being in office for, like 11 months, my most conservative math estimate tells me that Obama was proposed to the award after being at the WH for, three weeks?
Which intentions or efforts were materialized by then, other that your standard politician's campaign promises (something, that, by the way, haven't changed that much either).
And, apparently, I am not the only one with this line of thoughts. Norwegians had made a political statement for someone they HAVE NOT to deal with, at least directly. That is, en pocas palabras, a lot of audacity.
On top of that, the laureate wins a gold medal, a diploma and 10 million Swedish crowns (1.4 million dollars or 878,000 pounds). I know; ACORN, stop worrying about being de-funded!
For those out there saying they are just happy because the crazy right wingers are irritated - which also proves my theory of the uselessness of this theater - I will answer just one thing:
I am not irritated.
I am just LMAO!
PS: my mother, with her endless sabiduría, only said "De buenas intenciones está lleno el camino hacia el infierno." [The way to hell is also paved of good intentions.]
UPDATE: the Nobel Prize as a certificate of political correctness, people's endless obsession with falsehood and more reactions.
Me? Don't you worry about me!
I've told you; I am still laughing at this endless stupidity.
Sep 25, 2009
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