Breaking News

Via The Real Cuba, a Federal judge has ruled that the Seven Mile Bridge pilings is US MAINLAND therefore, it is to be considered DRY LAND. This landmark ruling means that it ws unreasonable to send back the Cuban rafters, as they had landed in US Soil.

A federal judge ruled Tuesday that the U.S. government acted unreasonably when it sent home 15 Cubans who had made it to abandoned bridge under the presumption they weren't actually on U.S. soil.

U.S. District Judge Federico Moreno ordered the federal government to make its best effort to help the immigrants to return to the United States, said Kendall Coffey, an attorney for the Cubans and their relatives.

Read the story here

Tags: Cuba, Freedom, Balseros, Bridge, Wet Foot/Dry Foot

Today's Must Read

Argentinean Nobel Peace Prize winner Adolfo Perez Esquivel lambasted the US on its "blockade" to Cuba, supported the five convicted Cuban spies imprisoned in the US, and of course started talking about Human Rights and the US Guantanamo Base - even writing a letter to President George W. Bush.

Well, if he thought he would say all that, and not get a response, he was dead wrong. From Off Topic comes this post as a commentary to this letter. The letter, addressed to Esquivel, was written by Oscar Espinosa Chepe, a Cuban economist and independent journalist who was among the jailed in March 2003. He was freed in November 2004. While you may not agree with some of his views regarding the "embargo" I urge you to read both the post and the letter.

Someone had to set Mr. Esquivel right, and show him for the hypocrite that he is - and that is exactly what Oscar Espinosa Chepe just did.

Tags: Cuba, Freedom, Fidel Castro

Rafters, Rafters and more Balseros

At the Cayman Islands, at the shores of México. 18+13=31.

They just keep leaving, and leaving searching for freedom. The rafts only go one way out of Cuba.

Tags: Cuba, Freedom, Balseros

Crazy Stooge Chavez Supporter

Just when I think the bearded Stooge has about said all there is to say about the Cuban "Miami Mafia", someone comes along to top him.

Now a Venezuelan in Miami is claiming that he was not allowed to leave on his flight to Santo Domingo at the orders of the Miami Cuban Majority. Really? The Cubans in Miami now control undercover police officers and Customs officials? I think this guy is a bit off the wall.

But what am I saying, they guy held a Housekeeper as hostage, because she is Cuban, and wouldn't talk to the first officer on the scene, well you guessed it because he was Cuban too.

You know, if you are paranoid about being persecuted by Cubans, why not book the flight directly from NY to Santo Domingo?

Read the story here, and here .

Interesting Information on Latin American Press

Sometimes, good newstories, just sort of land on your lap. You can search and search to no avail, and all of a sudden someone leaves a comment, and boom! you got a great story.

Well so happened with Blogsurfer who commented on the march for Ilan post. He lead me to the following post on Stooge Castro and some of his inaccuracies in the Granma Newspaper. I was pleasantly surprised by this, as it is, in fact, a project I've been working on since January of this year. On that post, I also found a great report on the state of the Latin American press (pdf file) developed by a professor out of Argentina. Why so great? Because the first line I read, was the topic of press persecution in Cuba and how Cuba is one of the worst zones to be a journalist because the LAW prohibits FREEDOM OF THE PRESS.

I'll be honest, with my schoolwork load for today (up since 4am) I did not have time to read the report, merely peruse. But according to the executive summary, it looks like freedom of the press in Latin America has ways to go.

I invite you all to read the report and comment here about it!

France Marches for Ilan

Today in France thousands March in rememberance of Ilan, a Jew who was tortured and assassinated by a gang of anti-Semitic Muslims. Although initially the crime was not covered by the MSM, every day more and more coverage of the story has been seen. I hope Europe wakes up and smells the coffee on this one.

Read more about the march here and here.

Previous Post: A Jew is tortured and killed in Paris
Related Links: Wake-up Call, Need to wake up

Tags: Anti-Semite, Prejudice, Discrimination, Religious Intolerance, France

Jorge Rojas Castellanos - My Fallen Cuban Hero

Every Cuban family has a story, but you never quite get the full story all at once. Little by little, year by year as you get older you get bits and pieces, and then one day bam! it all falls into place. It's not that our parents wanted to forget, but some didn't want us to carry the same burden - at least not since an early age.

My story is Jorge Rojas Castellanos, son of Coronel Juan Rojas and his first wife Marcia, and my mother's step-cousin. As you can imagine being a Coronel in Batista's army, not only conferred you social status, but you also had preferred status as well as preferred wealth.

Coronel Rojas married my mother's Aunt and then had two more children, who are irrelevant to this story.

On the night of December 31, 1958, Batista fled Cuba - we all know that. Coronel Juan Rojas with his second wife and his two children were on that plane. It is unclear if Jorge Rojas Castellanos was with them or if he left with his mother.

Jorge Rojas Castellanos left Cuba a young, strong, full of life man. But he also was full of courage and the idea that freedom had to prevail. Against everyone's wishes, including his father's, Jorge decided that fleeing was a cowardly and easy thing to do. He decided that he had to fight, to prevent this monster from taking hold of his country. He decided Cuba should be free.

Jorge, went back to Cuba. We don't know how he got there, if he was a brigadista or not, only that he secretly got in - un infiltrado. He worked with internal counter revolutionary groups, training them, planning, and plotting for a FREE Cuba.

Jorge Rojas Castellanos was taken prisoner and held at La Cabaña. He was fusilado en el paredón for wanting a free Cuba. The best estimate we have is September twenty something 1961. Mami has the article from Avance magazine, that got sent to us from Cuba by one of our cousins before they left. She will be sending me a copy soon.

Though it wasn't my blood that was shed, though I never met him (or his father), he was my family, he was part of us. Jorge died for what he believed in, freedom for Cuba, and for that he is my HERO.

May you rest in peace Jorge, I didn't know you, but I miss you and I honor you today for your valor, determination and sacrifice. ¡Viva Cuba Libre!


Tags: Cuba, Freedom, Cuban Memorial

February 24, 1996 - 10 Years Later

UPDATE: The Kansas City Star picked up the Miami Herald story.


I was thinking what to do to remember such a tragic day, in a way that would honor the three US Citizens and the one US Resident that were murdered by the Cuban government ten years ago while flying over international waters. Not only did the Cuban government down two civilian planes, which they knew very well were Brother to the Rescue civilian planes, killing four innocent men, but they did so in international airspace over international waters.

Four lives were lost that day 10 years ago, four lives that were assassinated and a crime that has go unpunished - the Clinton government was too busy on other "affairs" (pun intended) to care about three US Citizens and one US Resident murdered by an enemy state.

After listening to the recording of the hijos de puta that downed the planes, after listening to them celebrate I realized the best thing I could do to honor these men, the only thing I could do, was to never forget and make sure others never forget either. It's hard to write my feelings of this event, but Robert at 26th Parallel did so much better than I ever could. His feelings echo mine.

If you can't bring yourself to listen to the recording there is also this visual as a radar image from the new documentary on the Shootdown.

You can get more information on this incident here, here and here.
Related News links:
Miami honra pilotos asesinados, Honrar victimas de Hermanos al Rescate

Related Postings:
Babalú, Blog for Cuba, Paxety, Uncommon Sense and KillCastro

Tags: Cuba, Brothers to the Rescue

Hopes for the Cuban dentists held in Bahamas

The two Cuban dentists being held in the Bahamas since April, have two allies in the US Congress who are pushing for their release. The couple had obtained permission to migrate to the US three years ago with their families, but the Cuban government did not allow the pair to leave - so they fled.

The Capitalist solution to Health Care?

Wal-Mart. So what do you think?

Tags: Health Care , Wal-Mart

"ENOUGH TURNING THE OTHER CHEEK"

As a Catholic, I've never been prouder.

The Vatican has said what it had to say a month ago when the riots over the cartoons started: Muslims, practice what you preach. Some highlights, although I recommend everyone read the entire story:

Reciprocity -- allowing Christian minorities the same rights as Muslims generally have in Western countries, such as building houses of worship or practicing religion freely

Vatican diplomats argue that limits on Christians in some Islamic countries are far harsher than restrictions in the West that Muslims decry, such as France's ban on headscarves in state schools.

Saudi Arabia bans all public expression of any non-Muslim religion and sometimes arrests Christians even for worshipping privately. Pakistan allows churches to operate but its Islamic laws effectively deprive Christians of many rights.

"Enough now with this turning the other cheek! It's our duty to protect ourselves," Monsignor Velasio De Paolis, secretary of the Vatican's supreme court, thundered in the daily La Stampa.

"The West has had relations with the Arab countries for half a century, mostly for oil, and has not been able to get the slightest concession on human rights," he said.

"Let's drop this diplomatic silence," said the rector of the Pontifical Lateran University. "We should put pressure on international organizations to make the societies and states in majority Muslim countries face up to their responsibilities."

Tags: Catholic, Christianity, Islam Radicals, Intolerance, Muslims, Religious

Please make me understand

I just came across this story, which in my opinon belongs entirely in the WTF department.

Damon Wayans wants to put out a line of clothing which he wants to call "nigga". YES you heard right, that horrible racial epithet that some Blacks use amongst each other, like some sort of a special club. If another Hispanic came and called me a Spic, I wouldn't take it like a fraternal epithet. And if J.Lo tomorrow wanted to launch a line of clothing called "spics" I would be the first one protesting.

What the hell is wrong with Damon Wayans? Fortunately, so far, his attempts to trademark "nigga" which would of course bring it to mainstream vocabulary having everyone using the word as loosely as whites used it during the slavery era, having kids learn it, eroding in its entirety the racism and prejudice the word entails, have been denied.

Would blacks not be in an uproar if they see some white kid wearing the word nigga across his chest? How does a community take the workd they've been oppressed with and turn in into a term of endearment? My God, where are we headed?

Discontent with Evo in Bolivia

I said it then, and I say it now. Evo got elected with promises that were going to be damn near impossible to keep, and nobody from his MAS party advised him of this. I also said, that once elected, as president he would realize the difficulties with delivering some of his promises, and his own people would then protest against him the same way they did with the previous presidents. Well, it seems to already be starting.

El Mercurio from Chile has a story in which Evo is called an "indigenous neoliberal" that is starting to "dissapoint" and if he keeps this up he "will last less than his predecessors". And this was a native Indian doing the speaking. The whole article in Spanish here.

Yahoo plays favorites on religion

Ooops... Correction 2/22/06 11:46am: Sorry to my readers for posting information that wasn't entirely true. Sullivan's Post Is Allah-ta Crap clarifies that while the use of "allah" in any sense was banned by Yahoo, the company states it was due to the word being use for hateful purposes. It has since the incident reinstated the word and you can now use it (I tried and Uncommon Sense got one)
H/T to Pete Blackwell at Parenthetical Remarks, who did what I should have done when I read the rumor: Check it to see if it's true.

I have to admit, this one would belong to the WTF department were it not so scary. A couple of months back people were in an outrage when Google entered the Chinese market. It is surprising to say the least that these news about Yahoo have flown under the radar.

Yahoo is playing favorites on religion as Andrew Sullivan reports, and this is scary. According to the reports, you can get a Yahoo email account with words like: God, Messiah, Yaweh, Buddah but if your last name is Callahan, well you are shit out of luck!

So let's see, if my religion acts violently I get respect, but if my religion behaves normally I get trampled on? If I had the financial resources I would sue the pants of Yahoo - they either accept all denominations of God or they don't. Lo que es igual no es ventaja. This only plays into the Islamofascists warped view that they deserve more than everyone else, and that their religion should be respected, mind you, when they disrespect everyone else's.

This does it for me and Yahoo. I will no longer use any of their services, and I call on all of you to do the same. Also, write Yahoo and protest this religious favoritism.

(H/T Uncommon Sense)
Related links: Yahoo Submits to Idiocy More Allah Nonsense

Tags: Internet, Islam, Muslims, Email, Submission, Suspicious

Ever wonder?

Ever wonder how your representative or senator vote? Ever think about holding them accountable for their views and your issues? Well now you can. There is a website called Project Vote Smart, in which you enter your state and the official's name, and voilá you get their voting record on every issue they have voted.

So go on, check out how your elected officials are faring, and if they are coming through on their promises. Maybe you need to switch canditates, maybe not.

Suspected Terrorists arrested in Ohio

And people still think the NSA should NOT be listening to domestic conversations? I think the American people need to get a grip on reality and realize that not all terrorists reside in the Middle East, and that some terrorists are even American Citizens.

Wake up to the truth, and find out what happened over the weekend.


Tags: Terrorism, National Security

Cuban vote courted by McCain - or is it?

Well if you had any doubt that McCain is considering yet another run for President in 2008 on the Republican ticket, doubt no more. But then again, maybe we should doubt since the guy is dancing around the wet foot dry foot policy more than Kerry ever did around any subject.

McCain favors review of U.S. wet-foot, dry-foot policy. Don't get excited with the title as the article merely says that he thinks it should be reviewed. More nonsenses from McCain here.

So far, this guy is not getting my vote on the primaries.

(H/T Angel Rodriguez)

Tags: immigration , Cuba , Cubans , Wet Foot/Dry Foot

Vote for Carl McGill

California 35th Congressional District

Those who know me personally know I am a Republican by nature (except on the Death Penalty issue). By all accounts, I am a Republican, I am a registered Republican (mainly so I can vote in the Primaries), but will break party lines if the right candidate (or a bad candidate for that matter) comes along.

So it should surpise some people that I am endorsing Carl McGill in his run for the California 35th Congressional Disctrict. Why the surprise? Well, Mr. McGill is a Democrat.

Please all of you who reside in his district go out and vote for him; tell others about him, he needs all the support he can get so that he can kick incumbent Maxine Waters to the curb.

I hope it is banned

The US Supreme Court will finally hear the case on "partial-birth abortions" or how others like to call it late term abortions. I don't care where you stand on the abortion issue, this is cruel and inhumane - in particular because a baby in the last trimester can survive. Do we not have premies all the time? In particular in the seventh-month?

A partial birth abortion kills a child. And if executing a criminal by lethal injection is cruel, a partial birth is inhumane.

I really hope the US Supreme Court supports the ban on partial birth abortions.

More Cubans arrive at Puerto Rico

Today a group of Cubans that came by boat, through the Dominican Republic, arrived today at Puerto Rico at Mona Island. This has been happening more and more this year, which has sparked investigations of a Cuban smuggling ring in Dominican Republic.

Recently some people have stated, that migration out of a country is not a good measure of their government - Cubans fleeing Cuba has no bearing on Cuba's situation - that's their argument. To support it they bring forth the case of illegal immigrants crossing the border every day.

There are two major differences:

1. Previous to the Bearded Stooge's government, Cuba received immigration; meaning people were migrating to Cuba - Spaniards, Chinese, Hungarians. Now people are leaving Cuba.

2. The illegal immigrants crossing the border every day, are FREE to LEAVE their country when and how they please. Cubans CANNOT. They have to ask for PERMISSION from the GOVERNMENT and on top of that pay a LARGE SUM OF MONEY to the government, on top of whatever they pay a smuggler.

So please, don't come telling me that because the rafts only go one way - away from Cuba - that this is comparable to the US immigration phenomenon south of the border.

Free Healthcare!

What good is free healthcare if when your child is sick there are no medicines? Why are there no medicines you ask? Well because the government gave them away to another country. From CubaNet comes this report about how the previouly reported medicine shortage in Cuba is now endangering asthmatics. The best part of the story is the last paragraph:

Mientras, otra madre desesperada, con su hijo a punto de ahogarse por la falta de aire provocada por la crisis asmática, enfatizó: "Aquí lo que hay que hacer es mudarse para Venezuela", aludiendo al esfuerzo del gobierno cubano para mejor la asistencia médica de ese país.

For those of you that don't speak Spanish: Meanwhile, another desperate mother with her child asfixiating due to his inability to breathe because of an asthma attack, emphasized: "what we need to do is momve to Venezuela", pointing to the Cuban government effort of improving medical help in Venezuela.

An effort that by the way, includes supplies and supplies of medicines.

Censorship for tourists

Want to go to Cuba? Wanna pick up an Hola magazine while you are there? Well you better bring your own. The Cuban authorities have prohibited the sale of magazines with content they consider, well, you know, counter revolutionary even in hotes. Magazines such as Hola and Popular Mechanics. Yeah, you don't want them tourist passing on the Popular Mechanics to the Cubans, lest they learn how to build something.

Opposition to form United Front

I've been saying this all long - if Venezuelans even want a chance to oust Stooge Chavez, the oppositions need to unite as ONE, present ONE candidate and be a United Front. As they say strength is in the numbers, and that way they don't risk dividing the votes. Now three of the possible presidential candidates have come together to analize forming this united front in order to avoid vote dispersion.

The story from El Nuevo Herald here.

It was about damn time someone thought about this!


Tags: Venezuela, Hugo Chavez, Latin America, Politics, Democracy

Cuba Unstable Country

When the Bearded Stooge dies in two to five years. Gee, you think so? The US has added Cuba to it's list of countries at risk of instability, due to its recent worries about the Bearded Stooge's health.

I honestly have no clue what it means to be added to this list, except that the US expects the Bearded Stooge to estirar las patas you know, kick the bucket in two to five years. In light of that fact, they expect Cuba to de-stabilize upon his death; that the US is seriously considering the consequences the Bearded Stooge's death can bring. However, they say nothing of what being included in this list means...

Will the UN intervene as in Haiti? Or will the world once again leave us alone and look the other way?

Venezuela's unrealized revolution

The Christian Science Monitor, has a great article coming out about how Stooge Chavez's revolution has done nothing of what it promised in its 8 years in government. Interviewing Chavez's voters makes the failure even more interesting. The general consensus? La caridad comienza por casa or Charity begins at home. The frustration of watching how your government socially helps all other countries but does nothing at home, is taking its toll for some people. Read the whole story here. Some highlights:

Meanwhile, the government here announced recently that it will help over 50 African countries combat malaria, even though the number of malaria cases in Venezuela in 2004 was the second highest since 1937 and twice that of when Chávez took office.

Marcial Bastitas, who lives in a poor section of Caracas, is also frustrated. Surrounded by six Chavista friends, he says that "we should take care of our problems first." They nod in agreement.

Venezuela also faces a public housing shortage. According to figures from the Venezuela Chamber of Housing, less than 30,000 homes were built in 2005 out of the 120,000 promised by Chávez.

The working-class residents of the barrio Catia may be forgiven if they are skeptical of this new initiative. A public hospital was closed here over two years ago in order to be converted into a Barrio Adentro clinic that has yet to open.

Tags: Venezuela, Hugo Chavez, Latin America, Politics, Democracy

Stooge Chavez Buying votes for Humala?

UPDATE: RPP Noticias has a short story confirming that Peruvians are being offered Venezelan naturalization in exchange for their Humala votes. However, they also state a darker motive - to get them as voters for Chavez in the December elections. Is the only way this guy can get votes naturalizing immigrants?

Copei, the opposition party in Venezuela, has accused Stooge Chavez of buying votes for Peruvian presidential candidate Ollanta Humala. How? By offering Venezuelan citizenship to Peruvians residing in Venezuela. Sounds familiar doesn't it? Like those massive naturalization of Venezuelans in years past, for the referendum. Read the whole story in Spanish here. Wouldn't it be lovely, if this was proven true?

And of course, that bit of news now explains this ranting and raving from Stooge Chavez. So the abstention in the parliamentary elections did bother him after all. So much so that now he fears the opposition might do the same in December. And what does he do? Threaten with re-election for 2013! Well for changing the law so he can postularse again in 2013. If you ask me, he's paving the way to become permanent leader under a "democratic" guise. Then again it is he himself who is destroying the opposition with the trials to Sumate and Patricia Poleo.

Tags: Venezuela, Hugo Chavez, Latin America, Politics, Democracy, Peru, Fraud, Ollanta Humala

A Jew Is Tortured and Killed in Paris

Ziva from Blog for Cuba sent me this sad story this morning, about a Jew who was kidnapped, tortured and murdered in Paris, by a gang of muslim thugs. Not much had been said on the story as of this morning, no MSM papers in France or anywhere else where carrying it. Even now I did a Google News search, and all the papers with the story are Jewish papers.

The MSM of the world should be ashamed. Shame on France's, Europe's and the US Main Stream Media for not carrying this horrifying story.

But Thank God, the internet and blogs exist, and they have taken care of giving this story the coverage it deserves. The world already looked away during Hitler, would the world really commit the same mistake again? One has to wonder.

In case you missed the link, get the whole story with updates here. And at least these criminals have been arrested.

Tags: Anti-Semite, Prejudice, Discrimination, Religious Intolerance, France

From the WTF department

Ok, this has nothing to do with Cuba or the US for that matter, but being that this blog is also about social commentary, I couldn't let this pass. This is the most outrageous piece of news I've heard, since the existence of Jesus was put on trial in Italy. Surprisingly, this time, the event in question also happened in Italy.

Italy's highest court ruled Friday that a man who raped the 14-year-old daughter of his girlfriend can seek to have his sentenced reduced because the girl was sexually active, news reports said.

You can read the whole repulsive story here.

May he rest in peace

As a percussionist aficionado, and having been born and raised in Puerto Rico, I couldn't let this pass.

A great "conguero" and "percusionista" has been lost, Ray Barreto "el rey the las manos duras" passed away yesterday at 76 years of age, after a complicated bypass operation.

He will be greatly missed. Descansa en paz Ray, and thank you for sharing your talent with us.

From The Miami Herald and from Latino Issues with a link to his music.

Al fin se cayeron de la mata

To my English readers, the best translation I can come up with for the headline is along the lines of DUH!!! On the issue of Stooge Chavez's sales of discounted heating oil to low-income families in the US, the chair of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, and Representative Ed Whitfield, chair of the House Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations had this to say:

“Given President Chávez’ clear anti-American sentiments, his current efforts must be viewed with concern that he is attempting to politicize the debate over U.S. energy policy,” Barton and Whitfield said.....we want to understand whether the beneficiaries are being selected in an objective, equitable fashion, or whether this is merely part of a larger political agenda,” they wrote.

The story in English here and in Spanish here.

I can't believe it took them this long to think this as a possibility.

Chavez threatens - the US or Venezuela?

Via EFE News Service, Chavez is threatening to stop oil exports to the US. However, I am wondering who this threat would harm more, the United States or Venezuela itself.

75% of Venezuela's oil exports are destined to the US market. 75% of oil sold at FULL price, no bartering involved, no preferential terms, sold at MARKET PRICE and MARKET CONDITIONS. That's 75% of the main source of economic resources for the Venezuelan economy.

United States imports around 70% of its oil consumption (67% at the end of 2005), out of which Venezuela (ranked as the 5th import country early 2006), accounts for about 11% (at the end of 2005).

Now, let's do the math, 75% vs. 11%? An 11% that could easily be substituted with reserves, or by increasing the imports from another of the 15 other importing countries? Judging by these pictures, I'd say Stooge Chavez needs it more as he is way off in accomplishing his Bolivarian Revolution.

I say, Stooge Chavez, take your oil and shove it!!!

Previous Posts with Related Links:
Stooge Chavez shows his true colors
Something Suspicious

Tags: Venezuela, Hugo Chavez, Latin America, Politics, Democracy, Oil, United States

Can we visit the prisons too?

Just ran into this "gem" of an article and trip that matter, via PR Web. I urge you all to read the entire post, and then drop them a line since they love to get email with your thoughts regarding the trip, or better yet, what's missing from the trip.

Grassroots Tour of Cuba Offered by Pioneer Travel Company
Big Planet Adventures is offering a 15 day small group tour of Cuba for travelers interested in an immersion experience of Cuban culture and society.
(PRWEB) February 18, 2006 -- Big Planet Adventures is a creative travel company that develops and operates small group tours in untried and special interest travel niches. This year it is offering a 15 day grassroots tour of Cuba.

Cuba, undoubtedly a unique destination, is the largest and least commercialized island in the Caribbean. It is also one of the world's last bastions of communism with a fascinating modern history. Its relative political isolation has prevented it from being overrun by tourists. Arguably the most musical country on the planet, the locals are sincerely friendly to those who do venture in.

It is contact with these locals and their culture that is the focus of the tour, called the 'Cuban Adventure'. They neglect to mention that even this contact with the locals is controlled since Cubans are not allowed to mingle with tourists. "We try and show people the 'real' Cuba" explains John Ahrens, the Australian director and founder of Big Planet Adventures. I wonder if that includes The Real Cuba"Our ethic is to provide the resources and framework for our travelers to have authentic cultural experiences of societies very much different from their own. Do they go visit the political prisoners? If you want to just go to tourist shows, do city tours, visit museums, and lie on the beach, you are best to look elsewhere. People that enjoy our tour the most, are those that are not afraid to step outside their comfort zone, interact with the Cubans and participate in their culture."

Accommodation on the 15 day tour is mostly home-stay, so travelers get the chance to stay with Cuban families, eat the food they provide, and see from the inside how the Cubans live. Really? Does that include the issuance of a ration card, power outages, and stays in homes that are in deplorable condition? An experienced tour leader accompanies the group throughout and along the way he/she organises activities that the group or individuals elect. How about if I want to see a repudiation act? Apart from some of the more regular activities available such as treks to waterfalls, horse-riding excursions, and visiting some of those famous beaches, the leader can take the group to visit local schools, tobacco factories, private art galleries, collective farms, to sacred Santeria (not unlike Voodoo) ceremonies, or to traditional street parties in parts of the country that most tourists would never venture.

Cuba can be visited all year round, however the less preferable times to visit are in the really hot months of June, July, and August, (because there might not be enought electricity in the "homes" for air conditioning) and the hurricane season of September and October. The hurricanes usually aren't a threat to life because of the excellent evacuation procedures in place in Cuba (especially for tourists), - preference to the evacuation of tourists? My God, is he admitting that Cubans are 2nd class citizens? but can complicate travel plans. The weather at other times of the year is famously ideal -- generally warm and tropical.

For more information please visit Big Planet Adventures, Cuban Adventure website -- http://www.cubagrouptour.com/

So I visited the page in which they detail the trip, and have pictures of the "homes" together with testimonials. They also have a section for information, that talks about jineteros. So I thought, wow! they discuss the prostitution issue?? Should've known better, here is their definition of jineteros:

One of these is to illicitly offer services to travellers such as accommodation, restaurants, and excursions. These people, commonly known as ‘jineteros’ (‘jockys’ in English), are normally quite decent and friendly people, but unfortunately their persistence can become annoying.

Excuse me??? I don't doubt they are decent and friendly people, but they definitely are not going to offer you those kind of services. Jineteros y Jineteras are prostitutes, hence the reason why they are called "jockeys" because they are riding the tourists, literally.

And they keep leaving.....

A US Cruiseship rescued 22 Cuban rafters off the coast of Mexico. The rafters, unfortunately, got lost in international waters trying to reach the US mainland, and ended up closer to Cancun (which has been happening more often lately). Unfortunately, we have seen also the treatment these Cubans get in Mexico. The Mexicans look more hypocritical everyday; requesting better treatment for their illegal immigrants in the US, requesting the US to accept the immigrants but at the same time repatriating and mistreating Cubans. Mexico has to make up their mind if they want the US to take their demands halfway seriously.

Links to the news are here, here and here.

What are they thinking?

UPDATE 2/19: Port of Miami Company Sues to Block Foreign Port Takeover

You know, I never really thought the day would come that I would ask myself what the fuck is the Bush Administration thinking? or, what are they smoking? for that matter. But alas, the day has come. From KillCastro, comes this bone chilling news.

From Michelle Malkin: Our Ports, Our Sovereignity and Stop the Port Sellout

And of course, I googled it and found the below related links:
Dubai Company Will Help Run Ports in New York
Tide of Opposition to Port Deal
The U.S. eyes with concern a Dubai ports firm operating in DR

If you want more information on this treason go to Google News and search "Dubai ports American".

(H/T KillCastro, Michelle Malkin)

Hunger Strike for Internet Freedom Continues

UPDATE: Please sign these two petitions here. We need as many signatures as we can get, so pass it on!!!

18 days and counting on Guillermo Fariñas hunger strike. His request? Access to the Internet so he, and his fellow independent journalists, can do their job - report the news. His crime? Being an independent journalist in a totalitarian regime in which the ONLY media is the government sponsored, written, produced and printed media. You can read the whole story here.

Just today he was saying that in order to quit a hunger strike one had to be extremely brave, that he was not that brave. Oh but Guillermo, you are brave! That he (Guillermo) was not going to depose his hunger strike because doing so, would be killing his brothers, who are being beaten and arrested with such impunity on the part of the government.

It still baffles me how this story is grossly ignore by the MSM, when this is as much censorship as that going on in China, if not more. If the media reported this story, if the public was made aware of his plight, international pressure could save this brave man's life. Instead, no one seems to care much, and he could very well be another victim of the Bearded Stooge totalitarian regime.

Thanks to Pajamas Media for picking up this story and giving it the coverage it so deserves.

Previous Posts:
Hunger Strike for Internet Freedom
Fariñas Still on Hunger Strike

Related Links:
Hunger strike continues
Guillermo Fariñas Update
Are you ready for this?

Tags: Cuba, Freedom, Human Rights, Civil Rights, Journalism, Dissident

Horrific Thought

Yesterday I posted this, which pretty much discussed how Stooge Chavez is continuously increasing his reserve (civilian army), to the point where it is nearly doubling and they are actively recruiting. I also mention that recently he has been buying weaponry up his ass, and wondered of his intentions mainly about invading or taking military action against neighboring countries.

As my spouse and I were having dinner last night, and discussing this very same topic I had a sudden horrific thought about Stooge Chavez's intentions with all this weaponry and all these militants - Cuba.

What if, bear with me on this one, the Bearded Stooge had asked Chavez for military intervention upon his demise? What if that son of a bitch, had asked Stooge Chavez to military support the Gay brother in his taking command? What if when the Bearded Stooge estira las patas Stooge Chavez deploys all his military arsenal to Cuba to keep the revolucion alive and well and the Cubans repressed under the Gay Stooge command?

What if? Chilling isn't it?

Something Fishy going on

Stooge Chavez is one of two things:

1. Either he really believes the US are going to invade him, in which case he is dilusional
2. He is going to invade someone, in which case he is a menace

Don't believe me? Well just look at the recent developments, and connect the dots. He's been buying weaponry (rifles, the damn planes) and has been enlisting civilians to the military, in order to be able to:

el tipo de guerra que Venezuela quiere encarar era una como la de Irak, "donde toda la población se está levantando en contra de un agresor extranjero".

This guy se está armando hasta los dientes and no one in Latin America seems to care. Read the whole story here.

I agree with the French

Somewhat unprecedented, as I haven't agreed with many of their policies recently, but their Foreign Minister seems to have the facts straight:

"Today, it's simple; no civilian nuclear program can explain the Iranian nuclear program. So, it's an Iranian clandestine military nuclear program," Mr. Douste-Blazy said on a morning news show on France 2 television

Additionally, the story was published in The New York Times. Read the entire story here.
Related Links: Iran and Cuba, Venezuela e Iran

Watch Him Lie

47 Years ago today the Bearded Stooge was sworn is as Prime Minister of Cuba. He then promised "a representative democratic government, elections, and no communism". You can watch the interview, in English, here where the Bearded Stooge lies. The BBC has a short article on the topic on their On This Day series, which also includes a timeline of events, from how Castro nationalises US business before the break in diplomatic relations to specifically how in May 1961 Fidel bans elections in Cuba along with the following:

Dr Castro also announced that foreign Roman Catholic priests would be expelled and all Roman Catholic and private schools would be nationalised.

The days that followed saw thousands of anti-Castro rebels confined in makeshift prisons and at least 600 executed. The Cuban secret service, G2, is still interrogating possible "counter-revolutionaries".

47 Years ago this nightmare started, but we are still here fighting him and his lies.

The Real Hamas

The Globe and Mail has a wonderful editorial on how the West should not be fooled by Hamas' sudden toned down rhetoric.

Hamas is not just an anti-Zionist but an anti-Semitic organization, whose covenant cites the infamous forgery, The Protocols of the Elders of Zion, that claims to document a worldwide Jewish conspiracy. The race hatred that drips from the suicide bombers' farewell video is typical of the movement. The international community should have no truck with a group that embraces such loathsome views.

Read the whole piece here.

Excuse me?

You would think that the authors of report that triggered UN to denounce Gitmo actually visited the prison. Think again.

Fariñas STILL in hunger strike

UPDATE: Please sign these two petitions here. We need as many signatures as we can get, so pass it on!!!

From Cubanet.org, come reports that Fariñas is still on his hunger strike, and only receiving hidration and medicines through the drip.

Previous Posts:
Hunger Strike for Internet Freedom

Tags: Cuba, Freedom, Human Rights, Civil Rights, Journalism, Dissident

The Week in Protests - including my own

I still can't believe that people are still protesting the Mohammed cartoons. Today in Pakistan there were protests against India and Japan, as well as against American establishments and of course the Danes. This demonstrates beyond any type of doubt, that as one of my classmates (Muslim by the way) stated today, these people are nothing but thugs, criminals, that want an excuse to be violent and riot.
Couldn't have said it better myself.

And then there is the Mexico/Cuban protest about the expelled Cuban delegation from the Sheraton. Get over it. Helms Burton Law, your Mexican antidote does not apply to the US, and Cuba next time find a non-US hotel. You'd think both parts of the delegation, US and Cubans, would've been a bit more intelligent to figure out that a US owned hotel chain might not be the best place to carry out an illegal affair. Ah, how money can blind us.

Stooge Chavez, well, he just finds a reason to protest. This past week it just happened to be against Tony Blair, and now the Cuban government is attacking Jose Maria Aznar, former Spanish president, because he stated he wants to save Latin America. I wish you luck Aznar, you will need it.

Last but not least, is the Latin American protest to the wall. God, it almost sounds like a Pink Floyd concert. Yes my friends, 11 Latin American countries plan to protest the wall by teaching the US Government about the economic and cultural contributions of immigrants. No one is denying that, however, there are laws that must be followed, and must be respected. But they don't care about our laws, our nation, or our people. They, these countries, only care about their people, and of course not having to face the poverty and need these people have. Sometimes I think they encourage the immigration, it takes the problem (and statistics) away from their hands, and it boosts their economies though the remesas or money transfers. Come legally or face the consequences.

Of course all these stupid, and childish protest harbor all the news coverage while Guillermo Fariñas almost died on a hunger strike for access to the internet, Cubans keep arriving all over the place (Bahamas, Cayman, Puerto Rico, Mexico) and some are forced by the Bearded Stooge himself to stay there, and Biscet and others are still jailed. But no one covers this....ONLY US and few independent newspapers.

What the fuck is wrong with this world? Apathy and selfishness my friends. It's the "I only care about me syndrome, and fuck everyone else".

Support our Troops

Regardless of your opinion about the war in Iraq, we are there and so are our "boys" (these days men and women would be more politically correct). The MSM (mainstream media) has done a wonderful job of smearing, demoralizing, and bringing down the efforts, courage, and work our military is doing in Iraq. They only report the negative, they only show the radicals who want the US to leave NOW, not those who want the US to leave but understand they still need them a while longer.

Well, praise be to The American Thinker who has published this emotionally moving letter full of gratitude and respect for our soldiers. And no, it wasn't written by a Republican, right winger or American military member. Low and behold, it was written by an Iraqui mayor, who with his people recognize the work of our "boys" in Iraq. It is shameful, that they don't even get a tenth of this from the "American" media. Please read the whole letter, here is an excerpt:

God bless this brave Regiment; God bless the families who dedicated these brave men and women. From the bottom of our hearts we thank the families. They have given us something we will never forget. To the families of those who have given their holy blood for our land, we all bow to you in reverence and to the souls of your loved ones. Their sacrifice was not in vain. They are not dead, but alive, and their souls hovering around us every second of every minute. They will never be forgotten for giving their precious lives. They have sacrificed that which is most valuable. We see them in the smile of every child, and in every flower growing in this land. Let America, their families, and the world be proud of their sacrifice for humanity and life

GOD BLESS THEM INDEED.

Cuba and Iran - Old Friends

Update: On Iran's true colors, or better said, true intentions.

I saw this editorial over the weekend; it was picked up by a few small local newspapers. Interested by the topic, I was trying to think of a way to link it to recent events without having someone call me paranoid, unrealistic, on drugs, etc. (you know, those beautiful commentaries hurled by the left), but I couldn't find any facts to back it up. Well, low and behold, two days and a blizzard later, Reuters has THIS to report.

How't that for perspective?

Free Healthcare?

El Nuevo Herald has a great story on the medicine Shortage in Cuba , because the Bearded Stooge thinks Venezuelans deserve it more.

Nor'Easter Update

Update: For us it was a bit of a "dud" blizzard, since nothing much changed from the 6", wished I was in NYC!
It's slowing down, although it's supposed to keep going until about 9pm. So far we have close to 6" on the ground, but with the wind blowing and the snow being so fluffy it's hard to estimate how much has actually fallen.

As soon as I can take a picture I will post it...everything looks beautiful!

God I love snow! Have a great Sunday, and don't forget to watch the Pro-Bowl!

I love Michael Parmly

While I wait for my foot of snow due tonight and all day tomorrow - some slapstick humor relief from the SINA. The story from El Nuevo Herald here.

''Algunos andan en Mercedes, otros en Lada, pero el sistema obliga a casi todos a que pidan botellas''

''Llegaron las locomotoras, llegaron los ómnibus (ambos desde China), llegaron los inspectores, pero cuándo se resolverán los problemas del transporte?''

''de todas las chapas (placas de autos) ¿cuál quieres tu?, azul, verde, roja... o amarilla?''

``¿Sabía que en los 1950 (antes del triunfo de la revolución) Cuba tenía más autos por persona que España o Japón?''

''cuando el pueblo pierde el miedo, los regímenes totalitarios perderán el poder''

``en una democracia disentir es un acto de fe''

Let it Snow, Let it Snow, Let it Snow

Wanna see what my weekend will look like??? I'm in the Pink!!!!!!!!

On Islamist Extremism and the Cartoons

I don't think anyone can say it better, than a muslim who has questioned her religion.

From Die Welt, Ayaan Hirsi Ali has this to say. Please read this wonderful editorial in its entirety.

Haven't we heard that before?

Stooge Chavez, just gains his nickname more and more every day.

He has now announced that in 6 years he will more than double the amount of oil barrels produced in Venezuela. With millions of dollars in investments, by 2012 venezuela will be producing 5.8 millions of barrels per day, versus the 2.6 million they produce today....now doesn't that sound familiar?

Oh yes, The Year of the Zafra Millonaria over in Cuba, when Fidel went to all extends to raise the zafra to pre-revolution levels. Didn't that fail???

In other news, not content with personally attacking Tony Blair without reason, Stooge Chavez has now converted to Argentinism, declaring "Las Malvinas son Argentinas" and demanding to PM Blair to return these islands to Argentina - of course at the same time accusing England of massacring the Argentinians with the support of the USA. History lesson, since I was alive then, wasn't it an Argentine General who came up with the bright idea of attempting to take the Malvinas from England? You know, of having the Argentine militia go against the Royal Navy? England was only defending what, by whatever reason, at that moment was theirs. I'd like to see how Chavez reacts if Colombia suddenly decides to invade Isla Margarita.

Will they let him die?

UPDATE: From Blog for Cuba, Uncommon Sense and more from Uncommon Sense.

Will the Bearded Stooge let him die? Will the international media not step in and let him die? Will his call go unanswered, unreported, unheeded? Everyone talks about the Muslims and the cartoons, yet now one talks about him, few people know his name, and he is about to die for a basic need to perform his job as a reporter - Internet Access. Will you help? Write to the media, tell everyone about his story, if he got half the coverage of the cartoons, he wouldn't die.

Read his story here. Previous post here.

Things I miss about Miami - Part I

Companion to my Growing up Cuban series (for which part III comes this weekend!), this series will focus on things I miss most about Miami now that I live about 1400 miles away.... contrary to popular belief it is not the weather!

1. Cuban Restaurants - the ability to eat good Cuban food anywhere, anytime. The smell of garlic, onion, cumin, and roasted pork in the air as the perfume of the city. Some of my favorites include:

Frijoles Negros at Pollo Tropical - don't laugh. Add a little chopped onion and some white vinegar and you wouldn't know they are fast food. Don't knock it 'till you've tried it.

Vaca Frita de Pollo at Mojitos or Havana Harry's - big portions, big on taste....I can still taste the garlic.

Sopa de pollo at La Carreta - small, medium, large it doesn't matter. Give me enough limones and we are good to go. Will cure any cold, upset stomach, cold temperatures and even make you feel at home.

Vaca Frita with Congri at Lario's (Mall of the Americas) - every Thursday. Loaded in garlic, it was for me the best Vaca Frita and Congri around period. No arguments, no discussion. Even better with some Mariquitas as appetizer - even more garlic in the Mojo. Not apt for a romantic evening. Perfect if you thing Dracula may drop by.

And last but CERTAINLY not Least My favorite.....drumroll please:

Boniato relleno de tasajo at Versailles - this just has no words, leaves me speechless, makes me yearn for my Abuela's cooking, and is a must of every visit I make to Miami. If you have never tried this dish, you just do not know what you are missing. Best when eaten with Moros con Cristianos (Arroz Blanco y Frijoles Negros) and Maduros Fritos, specially when they are so ripe that they ooze sugar when fried and hence caramelize and stick to your plate.

So, what's your favorite Cuban food dish and from which Miami Restaurant?

Stooge Chavez Blasts Blair

UPDATE: A possible reason to the spat

From SwissInfo, MercoPress, The Guardian

Stooge Chavez has decided to personally attack Tony Blair. Why? Because good ol'Tony decided to, during a session of the Parliament of his country, state the following when asked about the Left tendency in South America:

If they want to be respected members of the international community, they should abide by the rules of the international community," he told MPs. "I say with the greatest respect to the president of Venezuela that when he forms an alliance with Cuba, I would prefer to see Cuba a proper functioning democracy." I love Tony Blair for stating this so eloquently and for calling for a democracy in Cuba.

And what did Stooge Chavez respond??? Why "flowers" of course!

"You messed with me, and now you're going to have to put up with me, mister, because from now on I'm going to be paying attention to what you say or do," Chavez said."We'll have to find a nickname for you, like Bush has the one 'Mr. Danger,' because he was the one who opened fire," the Venezuelan president said. I'm sure Tony is shaking in his pants, not! what the heck is this? Sounds like a raped line from The Godfather, "You fuck with me you fuck with my entire family"

"Go right to hell, Mr Blair," he told the prime minister during a speech in western Venezuela, using local slang to deliver the line. His exact words, "váyase largo al cipote", have no direct translation into English. And this is the president of a nation who wants to garner respect? Where are the Venezuelans? How can they allow this?

Searching for Freedom at all costs

Since the beginning of the year there has been an increase of balseros leaving Cuba; yes leaving, since the rafts only go one way and that is away from the Bearded Stooge and to freedom. This increase has been seen not only in the Florida straits, but also by the Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico, the US Virgin Islands, Bahamas, Cayman Islands and the Yucatan Peninsula in Mexico.

Unfortunately, these dry feet on non-US soil get repatriated. Yesterday we saw the abuse of the Bahamian police against not only a group of refugees but also against members of the press. Well it seems that the Cubans want to keep their travels one way, away from the island of Cuba. Today, eight Cubans detained in México, waited for the change of the guards and escaped. This is the second group of Cuban refugees that escapes while detained in México. You have to hand it to la ingeniosidad cubana. It seems nothing, absolutely nothing, will stop them in keeping their travels ONE WAY.

The story from UnionRadio.net is here.

Mexico not our friend

UPDATE 1: From the BBC:

Local authorities in a district of Mexico City have announced the imminent closure of a US-owned hotel at the centre of a diplomatic row.
It said the branch of the Sheraton chain had committed irregularities such as unauthorised building work and failure to provide a menu in Braille.

Yeah sure, and if my grandmother had wheels she would be a Taxi. Do they really think ANYONE is going to believe this is the REAL reason for the closure of the hotel?? Give me a fucking break. I can't believe México continues to besarle el culo a the Bearded Stooge. Esto no tiene nombre caballeros.

PREVIOUS POST:
The Mexican government is outraged with the expulsion of the Cuban delegation from the American owned Sheraton hotel.

Mexican authorities are threatening to slap the hotel with a nearly half million-dollar fine and possibly shut it down.

Standing near demonstrators who demanded punishment for the hotel, hotel guest Michele Radu said the Sheraton had no choice.

“There is an embargo and you've got to respect that,” said Radu, of San Francisco. “And oil is a sensitive issue to begin with. Are they going to break the embargo for oil now? I don't think so.”

Ms. Radu, from San Francisco of all places, hits it right in the mark. US Hotels have to follow US laws regarding who they trade with, no matter were they are located. And no, this does not mean the following:

“If you take this to its logical extreme, no Cuban can stay at any American hotel in the world and no Cuban can buy a McDonald's hamburger anywhere,” said Kirby Jones, president of the U.S.-Cuba Trade Association and the organizer of last week's private-sector energy summit at the Sheraton.

This incident was an attempt by a Cuban business delegation to do business with a US business delegation on a matter that is not permitted by two acts and the embargo:

Brookly McLaughlin, a spokesman for the U.S. Treasury Department's Office of Foreign Assets Control, said the department asked Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide Inc., which owns the hotel, to expel the Cuban delegation in compliance with the Trading with the Enemy Act, established in 1917. The meeting was moved to a Mexican-owned hotel Saturday.

The act bans U.S. businesses and their subsidiaries from doing business with Cubans outside the United States. In 1996, after the United States approved the Helms-Burton Act – which banned foreign investment in Cuba on properties confiscated from Americans – Mexico, Canada and other countries produced “antidote laws” meant to outlaw compliance with the U.S. measures.

So why should we allow this illegal situation to be conducted on an American-owned company? The complete story here.

Muslims want LAW changed

UPDATE: From the Arab Times:

“I was about to go to the university myself to punish her... It is halal (permitted in Islam) to kill her,” she told AFP, requesting anonymity.

Not saying much about the "peaceful" religion if it explicitly permits killing other people.

Read the whole story here. This is preposterous. What the hell is this? Where do they think they are Syria? Iran?

Mr Saddiqi said they had concluded they wanted the Race Relations Act modified to give Muslims the same protection as Sikhs or Jews.

I want the Law changed too, it should include Christians as well. Why should my Lord, be subjected to affairs and piss, and the Blessed Mother to dung? Will they enact and enforce the same law regarding the mocking of Christians and Jews by Muslims?

He also said the Press Complaints Commission code of conduct should be tightened to prevent publishing of any images of Muhammad, but added the clerics accepted criticism and discussion of Islam should be allowed.

What the hell is this? Where do they think they are Syria? Iran? They are asking for CENSORSHIP. Can you see where this is leading?

So it is official folks, the extremists want to censor the press so no one can offend their religion..but they can offend all they want.

Hypocrites!

Urgent - Please Help!!!!!!!!

Fellow Bloggers, I just got an email that during the celebrations of my university's Black History Month, the following event will take place:

What and Who: Documentary Film Screening "Mission Against Terror"(2004,48 minutes), followed by a discussion led by Bernie Dwyer of Ireland, a co-producer of the film, and Rev. Geoffrey Bottoms, a parish priest from the United Kingdom who works with the Cuban Solidarity Campaign.

Co-produced by Dwyer and Cuban TV producer Roberto Ruiz, the documentary follows the case of the Cuban Five, five Cuban citizens seeking to infiltrate ultra-right wing organizations based in South Florida and regarded by Cuba as anti-government terrorists. Arrested on September 12, 1998 by the FBI, the Cuban Five were sentenced in Miami Federal Court in December, 2001 to a total of four life terms and 75 years. Regarded by many as political prisoners, their appeal is pending in the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals. The documentary places this incident in the context of the last half-century since the Cuban Revolution, the U.S.-led embargo, and other acts of interventionism. Providing an intimate glimpse into the turmoil of the families left behind, and the tide of sympathy from the people of Cuba, the film features interviews with President of the Cuban National Assembly Ricardo Alarcon, former CIA agent Philip Agee, Miami Cuban activist Andres Gomez, attorney Leonard Weinglass, and family members. Sponsored by the Community Coalition for Peace, the Free the Cuban Five Committee, and the Center for Urban Studies and Research.

Unfortunately for me I cannot attend this event, but my immediate question is what the fuck do these Five spies have to do with Black History Month? What about Dr. Biscet???

I will be gathering, and finding out who these people are and emails to address the above and many other questions. Please let me know which of you would like to participate in this campaign, so I can send you the emails.

My blood is boling right now.

Stooge Chavez shows his true colors

In what many oil experts are calling an empty threat Stooge Chavez had this to say:

"I could easily order the closing of the refineries that we have in the United States," Chavez said Saturday in a speech to supporters. "I could easily sell the oil that we sell to the United States to other countries in the world ... (to) real friends and allies like China, India or Europe."

Experts are saying that Stooge Chavez would stand to loose a LOT more than the US would. The story from Fox here.

(H/T Marisol)

And the Flags are Up!

Remembering those that have died as the result of violent acts against Cuba since its 1959 revolution and ignoring all those who have died fighting for basic rights or fleeing the dictatorship, Cuba last night held a ceremony in which 138 Black Flags with a single white star went up. A group holding pictures of the dead, were to hold a 24 hour vigil. The "monument" was built to block the ticker at the SINA building which consistently displays basic human rights and democracy messages.

The Bearded Stooge message was more of the same, although this time in a shortened version.

"The hour-long ceremony appeared aimed at underscoring Cuba's claims that Washington has organized, financed -- or at the very least tolerated -- many attacks against the island over the decades. The flags also block the view of an electronic sign set up at the U.S. mission that has angered communist officials by displaying streaming news and human rights messages"

From the BBC and Commies News Network. In the meantime, the US has said the ticker will continue, it will not be silenced.

Gusana - and damn PROUD!!!!

Today I got a comment to the Hunger Strike for Internet Freedom story, which I didn't post. The comment said simply "gusano trash" posted by a coward, anonymous person. Come on, that's the best you can do? And why do you have to hide your name and email address?

I don't know if the comment was directed towards Guillermo Fariñas (the reporter on strike) or towards me for reporting it. For those unaware "gusano" is a derrogatory term used by the Bearded Stooge to those that fight against his tyranny, his oppression, his persecution, his censorship and his murders. Those who fight for FREEDOM and DEMOCRACY in CUBA.

To the coward anonymous I say: I AM PROUD TO JOIN THE RANKS OF SUCH A CLASS, AND PROUDLY DECLARE YES I AM A GUSANA!

Now, get off my blog and take your revolutionary shit somewhere else.

No Date for meeting - Yet.

Human Events today has a piece which tries to resucitate the issue of Cubans, asylum and the wet foot/dry foot policy. It will soon be almost a month since Ramón Sanchez ended his hunger strike under the promise of a meeting with the White House to discuss the policy....NO MEETING DATE HAS BEEN SET.

The Cuba and Iran parallel

In this post at Babalú, someone asked me to be "more realistic". The post speaks for itself, but in case anyone out there needs a bit more of a push, here are some comments "Felipe Palistroque" made recently while visiting the Islamic Republic of Iran (Whole Story). My emphasis.

He reiterated his country's stance in support of the inalienable right of the Iranian nation to acquire peaceful nuclear technology and added that Cuba is seriously opposed to reporting Iran's nuclear dossier to the UN Security Council.

The Cuban foreign minister said that Iran and Cuba have similar positions on many international issues. Such as? The Holocaust? Anti-US stance? The obliteration of Israel? Support for terrorist cells? World domination? This statement is vague enough to be chillingly scary

The Cuban foreign minister stressed that Iran has the right to access to nuclear energy meant for peaceful purposes and said that the Islamic Republic defends not only its own rights but also the rights of all independent countries. Could he be talking about Cuba and Venezuela's right to go for uranium enrichment?

Cuba praises Iran's staunchness and determination and will always be with Iran, he added. Oh really? Even if Iran decided to attack Israel, build nuclear warheads, no matter what?

And lastly, the one comic relief in this whole baffling Iran-Cuba alliance:

He went on to say that great pressure was imposed on Third World countries to support the resolution against the Islamic Republic of Iran at the recent IAEA Board of Governors meeting, but, despite all the pressure, Cuba has always defended Iran's right to gain access to nuclear technology meant for peaceful purposes. Is he admitting Cuba to Thirdhirld World country?

How's that for realistic?

Venezuela's Secret Plan

Ever wonder about Venezuela's military purchases? Well apparently we are not the only ones.

Food for thought.

Of course, we are still left wondering why so much military investment.....

Muslim Protests Out of Hand - Burning Embassies

I understand Muslims can be offended by the cartoons which depict their prophet as a terrorist; I would certainly be offended if Jesus was depicted as a pedophile. I strongly believe in freedom of speech and the press, but there is a difference between "freedom" and "licentiousness". Depicting demeaning cartoons, movies, images, etc., about someone's religion is more the latter than the former. However, there is a double standard in all of this, since Muslims have before depicted demeaning cartoons about Jews. So in a way they are getting a taste of their own medicine, and they are discovering it doesn't feel that good to be on the receiving end.

I also believe everyone has the right to protest, but there is a difference between "protesting" and "criminal behavior". Unfortunately, the Muslims have decided to engage in the latter rather than the former. Earlier in the week there were calls for trade boycotts, that's protesting. However, threatening the lives and properties of foreign citizens, that's criminal behavior. And Syria decided to become criminal. Now we are left wondering, were the offending depictions "depictions" after all, or was the offense that they were right on target?

I want to believe that not all Muslims call for violence, death and destruction. As such, I want to believe there are Muslims out there who live "normally". In fact, I have Muslim friends that didn't give much thought to these cartoons. I wonder, how many responsible Muslims exist versus the radical criminal ones. But most of all I wonder if this conflict will not end dividing the Muslims, and pretty much placing Muslim against Muslim in a religious civil war as the responsible ones try to minimize the damage onto them by the actions of the radical ones.

The story from Reuters on the burning of the Danish and Norwegian embassies in Syria is here.

Hunger Strike for Internet Freedom - In Cuba

UPDATE: 2/17 Hunger Strike Continues
UPDATE: 2/15 Still on Hunger Strike
UPDATE: 2/4 More on RWB and lack of Internet access in Cuba here.

I just ran into this great and sad story, about Guillermo Fariñas conducting a hunger strike "to the death" in Cuba. His request? Internet access for the journalists so they can do their work. Internet access, the same one that allows you to read this blog, read the news, read opposing sides. That basic tool for reporters today, denied to the Cuban independent press, because in Cuba only the state sponsored venues have the resources. The whole story is here. The Hunger strike is on its 4th day.

"I want all Cuban citizens to have the right to an Internet connection, but also for the independent press to be able to report on the government's activities, and if I must be a martyr for Internet access, so be it."

Guillermo, so do we.

"The authorities use the US embargo as a pretext for a repressive policy towards the Internet. The chief reason for keeping citizens away from the Internet is to prevent them from being well-informed." Of course, no easier way to keep the population under control than without information - Hitler was a great example of this. His first victims were the teachers and the press. China knows this well too, as we have learned from the recent MSN and Google incursions into the China market.

Tags: Cuba, Freedom, Human Rights, Civil Rights, Journalism, Dissident

The shameful silence on Cuba by America’s librarians

Babalu and CubanAmerican Pundits have covered this developing story in the past couple of days here and here. Well it just so happened that Mr. Andrei Crodescu will not be silenced as easy as the ALA. In a short, concise and scathing editorial, Mr. Crodescu expresses his dismay and astonishment with the ALA. The whole story from The Villager is here, the highlights of his outrage are below (my emphasis).

"Given its crystal-clear position, it was with a great deal of dismay that I learned that the American Library Association has taken no action to condemn the banning of books and the imprisonment and torture of librarians 90 miles away from our shores, in Cuba. In March 1988, two residents of Las Tunas — Ramon Colas and Berta Mexidor — opened a private library in their home, dedicated to offering Cubans books not officially available. The Felix-Varela Library was the first of a network of private libraries that were established by volunteers in Cuba to bring light to the oppression of Castro’s police state. One hundred three libraries and 182,000 registered patrons were affiliated with the expanding Independent Libraries Project by the end of 2002.

Amazingly enough, the final report of the A.L.A. declined to recognize the new Cuban libraries as “libraries” and the librarians themselves were referred to as “individuals associated with these collections.” Am I hallucinating? Is this the same American Library Association that stands against censorship and for freedom of expression everywhere? This organization cannot logically condone imprisonment and torture of librarians: Yet somehow it can act against Provision 215 of the Patriot Act but approve of Fidel Castro’s Order 88, which denies all the rights we cherish."