"Honrar, honra" (In honoring others we honor ourselves) said our great Martí, and before him the Golden Age Spanish writer Gracián. Well, there really is very little room for elegant variation in a quotation consisting of two words, and when Martí said it, the quote caught on.
In any case, I don't think the quote is applicable in every instance. For example, this one. Still I would be remiss if I did not congratulate Oscar Corral for the dubious honor that The Miami New Times has seen fit to bestow on him in its "Best of 2007" issue, where he was named Best Commie Spy. But although I rejoice that Oscar has been recognized for something other than as the worst reporter on The Miami Herald, I am not altogether sure that he is deserving of this Award. The best commie spy, of course, would be the one who doesn't blow his cover, that is, someone who has worked at The Herald as a Castro mole for years without ever raising any suspicions. Now, Oscar has raised a whirlwind of suspicions since he arrived at The Herald. If he were a commie spy, he is not the Best, but the best known commie spy on The Miami Herald.
However, I have on more than one occasion defended Corral against the charge that he was a Castroite spy on the grounds that he is simply not smart enough and Castro's spymasters are too smart to recruit him. I will stand by that position until proven wrong, and I am by no means adverse to the idea of being proven wrong in this case.
If Western Union telegrams had not been discontinued I would have sent him one and had it delivered ceremoniously at The Herald. But since I couldn't, I have personally left my congratulations at Miami's Cuban Connection, and I note that my erstwhile ally in the Miami Moonlighters' case Henry Gómez was the first to congratulate Oscar.
Here is my own congratulations:
I suppose I must validate your Award with my own congratulations, which I offer most sincerely. For me, the New Times' intended sarcasm is nothing of the kind, but a true testament to all that you have done over the last year to foster Castroism by misrepresenting and defaming his enemies.
While I am at it, let me extend my congratulations also to Critical Miami and Stuck on the Palmetto for their respective New Times Awards. All three blogs were former haunts of mine and I remember them all with fondness.
Finally, I want to promise Mambo Watcher that I will do everything in my power to make sure that he is the 2008 recipient of New Times' Best Commie Spy Award, so help me God.
http://bestof.miaminewtimes.com/bestof/award.php?award=483433
POSTSCRIPT:
Oscar's apologists have come to his defense at Miami's Cuban Connection. Curiously, they don't attack me but Val & Henry. Victor offers this gem of personal invective:
"Say it ain't so Oscar, say it ain't so. I didn't know Fidel had agents in The Herald...Will it ever stop?... I say give him to Val the Impaler of Truth over at Babalu Aye's blog... He and his Prince of Fat Henry can 'slice him up real good' over at the next 'man camp event.'"
Whatever his political shortcomings his Shakespearean allusions show that this Victor has an education, though "Prince Hamlet" would have been better.
In any case, I don't think the quote is applicable in every instance. For example, this one. Still I would be remiss if I did not congratulate Oscar Corral for the dubious honor that The Miami New Times has seen fit to bestow on him in its "Best of 2007" issue, where he was named Best Commie Spy. But although I rejoice that Oscar has been recognized for something other than as the worst reporter on The Miami Herald, I am not altogether sure that he is deserving of this Award. The best commie spy, of course, would be the one who doesn't blow his cover, that is, someone who has worked at The Herald as a Castro mole for years without ever raising any suspicions. Now, Oscar has raised a whirlwind of suspicions since he arrived at The Herald. If he were a commie spy, he is not the Best, but the best known commie spy on The Miami Herald.
However, I have on more than one occasion defended Corral against the charge that he was a Castroite spy on the grounds that he is simply not smart enough and Castro's spymasters are too smart to recruit him. I will stand by that position until proven wrong, and I am by no means adverse to the idea of being proven wrong in this case.
If Western Union telegrams had not been discontinued I would have sent him one and had it delivered ceremoniously at The Herald. But since I couldn't, I have personally left my congratulations at Miami's Cuban Connection, and I note that my erstwhile ally in the Miami Moonlighters' case Henry Gómez was the first to congratulate Oscar.
Here is my own congratulations:
I suppose I must validate your Award with my own congratulations, which I offer most sincerely. For me, the New Times' intended sarcasm is nothing of the kind, but a true testament to all that you have done over the last year to foster Castroism by misrepresenting and defaming his enemies.
While I am at it, let me extend my congratulations also to Critical Miami and Stuck on the Palmetto for their respective New Times Awards. All three blogs were former haunts of mine and I remember them all with fondness.
Finally, I want to promise Mambo Watcher that I will do everything in my power to make sure that he is the 2008 recipient of New Times' Best Commie Spy Award, so help me God.
http://bestof.miaminewtimes.com/bestof/award.php?award=483433
POSTSCRIPT:
Oscar's apologists have come to his defense at Miami's Cuban Connection. Curiously, they don't attack me but Val & Henry. Victor offers this gem of personal invective:
"Say it ain't so Oscar, say it ain't so. I didn't know Fidel had agents in The Herald...Will it ever stop?... I say give him to Val the Impaler of Truth over at Babalu Aye's blog... He and his Prince of Fat Henry can 'slice him up real good' over at the next 'man camp event.'"
Whatever his political shortcomings his Shakespearean allusions show that this Victor has an education, though "Prince Hamlet" would have been better.
29 comments:
Manuel,
Oscar Corral has a lot of competition for that award in the blogsphere. Just a short visit to the Armengol and Rui Ferreira blogs should illustrate what I say. There you can find more Communists on any given day making their filthy comments than you may find at any party meeting in Cuba itself. What I find amazing is that all of these despicable characters seem to live in Miami or other parts of Florida. We seem to be surrounded by them. The comments are full of pro-communist rethoric and it makes one wonder why these people even live there and not in Cuba. I think is no coincidence that all 3 of them Armengol, Ferreira and Corral all work for the Miami Herald. Armengol's comments some time ago about Marti made my blood boil. Where did this generation of Cubans (except for Rui which is not) spring from?
Agustim
They may not be Cuban at all, maybe other nationalities that hate us and like to hurt us, there are a lot of those out there, as we all know.
Agustin oye este video completico hasta el final
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BMDZ9xG_Q98
Oh Tellechea,
Have you had your funny bone surgically removed or what?
Oscar Corral has done good work and I haven't seen you write anything that counters his findings about connections with TV/Radio Marti and Herald journalists, and the wasted money on failed "Free Cuba" organizations.
Your paranoia is useless unless you get to the facts and find some evidence, not feed on your own suspicions.
About evidence: You know I actually found out how you got the idea that Luis Posada Carriles was "thrice acquitted."
You probably read it in the Herald or New York Times in the 90's, because it was in reference to Orlando Bosch, not Posada.
Furthermore, I found that the Herald actually said that Bosch was twice acquitted in some stories and three times acquitted in others, through different journalists.
But, better still, I found out why ONE journalist decided to describe Bosch as thrice acquitted.
It'll definitely make you laugh, even if the Best of New Times didn't.
I will be posting about it in the future.
By the way, if you make me next year's Best Commie Agent, I'll donate my "funny bone" to you.
Mambo Watcher:
If it is any comfort to you, Pancho, there will never be any acquittals in Venezuela again, especially of Cuban exiles. Just as in Cuba since 1959, the executive there is now vested not only with the power to pardon but also to "un-acquit" those who have been found innocent.
Since I have you here now, let me ask you again what happened to your protégés the so-called "Bolivarian" Youth. I think it's pretty evident by now that I was right: they didn't press charges, which was a very prudent thing for these unregistered agents of a hostile government to avoid lest the accuser become the accused.
And, yes, you have my vote for 2008 New Times Commie Spy conditional on Oscar Corral not publishing a story blaming Cuban exiles for cancer.
Vana,
I wish that was the case but their language and use of the Spanish language betrays them. They are Cubans alright, but I have no idea where they sprouted from. My guess is from the bowels of Hell. They seem to waste no opportunity or chance to denigrate, insult and mock the exiles and their sufferings. They praise the Communists, Castro and Chavez to high heaven and constantly attack anything that has to do with any effort to bring out the real story about the sufferings and repression of the Cuban people under this tyranny. It is my guess that they are among the thousands of Cuban agents of disinformation sent here to do just that. Their job is to plant the seeds of discord among us. Just take some time and visit those 2 blogs I mentioned and read about the commentaries I mentioned. But please have a barf bag close by just in case. It is disgusting that we have these so called Cubans among us. It is one of the benefits of living in a democracy,I guess, although they constantly scream that censorship exist here especially in Miami (go figure) , and not in Cuba. They continuosly post the praises of the regime but claim there is censorship in the USA. And all of this is done from the comforts of Miami, of course. While you are it, also visit Mambi Watch Blog for another good example of the kind.
Mr. Tellechea,
I assume that since you are obviating from your comments that Posada Carriles was acquitted three times, then you admit that you made a mistake. Fine, let's drop it.
On the Bolivarian Youth, you can read ans SEE for yourself that the members of the Bolivarian Youth did file a police report with the City of Miami Police Department here:
http://cbs4.com/local/local_story_023104852.html
But, I don't understand why you would deny this reality. Are you that arrogant to assume that you are right all the time?
Get off your high horse every once in a while.
Thank you Agustin, guess I'll have to go visit this sites to see what's going on there, you may be right when you say they are Cuban agents of missinformation, since I live in California I seldom read anything from Miami, but I have been on boards where they praise kasstro, and some have betrayed themselves with one little word, that leads me to believe they aren't Cuban.
Mambo Watcher:
No formalities, Pancho; we have a long history. Call me Manuel.
If the "Bolivarians" filed charges, they withdrew them just as soon as they filed them. The fact that nothing has transpired in the case since then simply corroborates that there was no basis for their allegations. The fact that they have laid low lately suggests that they learned their lesson — that is, to shun the light of day.
And, yes, Pancho, I am always on a white horse, but not your white (and beshitted) horse.
And Mambo our friend Manuel has not lost his sense of humor, since he makes us laugh every day, I for one think that his funny bone is quite intact.
Vana:
I didn't want to turn this discussion into a funny bone contest, but, I assure you, my funny bone is much bigger than Mambo's.
The only difference between us is that I am funny when I want to be and he is always funny but unintentionally so.
Mr.Tellechea said:
"I think it's pretty evident by now that I was right: they didn't press charges"
Now he says:
"If [they] filed charges, they withdrew them just as soon as they filed them."
So are you admitting that they did file charges? And if they did, how certain are you that they withdrew them?
Don't fall off your horse now.
Mambo Watcher:
Remember, Pancho, I was asking you, their protector and champion, what had happened to the "Bolivarian" fools. As I do not live in Florida, nor roam the precincts of FIU, as you do, I would have no way of knowing what became of them and their spurious charges since the media have moved on to another freak show and left the saga of this one unfinished.
If you assure me that charges were pressed, I am inclined to believe you since nothing is to be gained by you lying about it except to bring discredit on yourself. So, then, if charges were indeed pressed, what has happened to those charges in the interim? Only two possible explanations: the charges were found without merit or the Bolivarians withdrew them.
But, of course, you are going to claim that there is a massive conspiracy in the Miami-Dade Police Department to whitewash and cover-up this incident. That is your take, isn't it? Now if you could only prove it.
Mr. Tellechea,
When the Bolivarian Youth went to the City of Miami Police Station to file a report against Vigilia Mambisa, the Miami Herald was there and also other local television stations. Below is a link you can use to see actual video footage of the Bolivarian Youth going into the police station:
http://cbs4.com/local/local_story_023104852.html
I think it is safe to say that a report was filed and an investigation begun. From that point it is up to the City of Miami police to decide if charges can be brought against members of Vigilia Mambisa.
You are correct in stating that the report can lead to no charges. That's just part of the process. But, take a look at your initial comments.
You first thought that "[the Bolivarian Youth] didn't press charges." They did. And now, you are speculating about what could have happened since. It's quite a reversal, and a subtle admission of your erroneous first position.
Facts are facts. It beats a horse any day.
Mambo:
For you, nothing beats el caballo.
Not only did I write, long ago, that the "Bolivarians" would not press charges, I also noted that if they did, it would merely be a publicity stunt that would soon be preempted (by themselves).
If, rather, the police decided there was no merit to their charges and dismissed them, then you must choose between the Bolivarians being wrong or the police being wrong.
So which is it?
Another question you will evade.
Oh boy Manuel, Mambo is out to get you, could it be jealousy?
Vana:
I welcome Mambo as a foil. We are both known quantities to each other and enjoy matching wits (yes, in an admittedly unequal contest). Curiously, we often go at the same people from opposite directions. What riles him about them pleases me and what pleases me riles him. But we have always managed not to cross the line into open warfare like opposite poles which are always in tension but never in conflict. I give the credit for that more to him than to me, because he cultivates an academic demeanor which makes it almost impossible to set him off. Perhaps for that very reason Val and Henry take great pleasure in abusing him, although lately he's started to give punch for punch (still observing, of course, the Marquess of Queensbury rules).
Mambo and I also jaust on his own blog and you may wish to witness some of our contests there too:
http://mambiwatch.blogspot.com
Mr. Tellechea,
Your either/or proposition is laughable. The Bolivarian Youth had the duty to file a police report. The police department itself supported their rights to do so.
The investigation will decide only if the police can proceed to press charges of felony.
The video of the attack on the Bolivarian Youth is on the internet.
http://cbs4.com/topstories/local_story_019180240.html
People themselves will decide if the Bolivarian Youth were "right or wrong" in filing a report.
And, since when do you judge events based on the final word of the local government? You know better than that.
Mambo:
The long and short of it is that you don't have an answer, and neither do I. Perhaps the "Bolivarians" have the answer, but if so they are not talking.
Charges were pressed; more than six months have elapsed; and nothing. Hasn't it ocurred to any reporter to inquire on the status of the case? Apparently not. Has a statement been issued that the investigation (if such did take place) found the charges without foundation? That is, at least, the practical result of this entire episode.
And why haven't the "Bolivarians," so adept at facing down old men, protested against the Miami Dade Police for in effect dismissing their case?
It seems that what we have here is a victory and vindication for the Vigilia Martiana and Saavedra in particular.
Don't you agree?
Deconstructing A Liar: A Comment-by-Comment Illustration
7/6/07 2:29 AM-
Since I have you here now, let me ask you again what happened to your protégés the so-called "Bolivarian" Youth. I think it's pretty evident by now that I was right: they didn't press charges...
......
7/6/2007 11:54 AM
If the "Bolivarians" filed charges, they withdrew them just as soon as they filed them.
......
7/6/2007 9:07 PM
If you assure me that charges were pressed, I am inclined to believe you...
......
8/6/2007 2:30 PM
Charges were pressed; more than six months have elapsed; and nothing.
.
Rick:
As if your own relationship with the truth were anything but adversarial.
I don't have to deconstruct your idiocy; it is on display for all to see.
What you have been pleased to illustrate here despite your intent is my innate fairness and the progression of my thought as new facts come to light.
Having asked Mambo Watcher if charges were pressed by the "Bolivarians" (which I never believed was the case), and learned from him that they were, I naturally inquired, given that the case has gone nowhere, whether the "Bolivarians" had dropped the charges (which I always said they would if they ever pressed them), or whether the police had dismissed them, which I am more inclined to believe given their spurious nature.
Where in this logical and well-ordered train of thought do you see any trace of mendacity other than that which your dishonesty tried to weave by taking my words out of context and re-arranging them with malicious intent?
Having seen that I recently dropped some pearls of wisdom at Critical Miami after a long absence, did you perhaps think to provoke me into returning to Stuck on the Palmetto?
Do you not think that a simple request would have availed you better than insulting me? But that, after all, is your modus operandi.
I think it's pretty evident by now that I was right: they didn't press charges, which was a very prudent thing for these unregistered agents of a hostile government to avoid lest the accuser become the accused.
Funny. I don't see any question marks there, Manny. Dude, you even lie about lying. Amazing.
As far as "weaving" and rearranging and taking your words out of context with "malicious intent." Hey, if that's what you're calling cutting and pasting these days, so be it.
I ain't even breaking a sweat.
.
Rick:
Alright, have it your way: cutting and pasting tendentiously and maliciously in pursuit of an inconsistency (called by you a "lie") which isn't there.
Of course I assumed that no charges were pressed until Mambo apprised me otherwise, whereupon I accepted his indication and made the logical assumption that the charges must either have been withdrawn by the "Bolivarians" or dismissed by the police for there to have been no action taken in a case which you and Mambo both never tired of saying was "open and shut." I guess the videotape didn't provide the evidence which you thought it provided and which I never believed it did. So, yes, right again.
I have already congratulated you in this space for winning the New Times Award for a 2nd consecutive year, and let me use this opportunity to thank-you for being such a consistent visitor to this blog. It is thanks to you and others like you that the average number of minutes spent by visitors to this blog is in the 4 digits (i.e 10 minutes or above). In your case, much, much above.
P.S.: I am now going to visit Stuck on the Palmetto. There must be something there that you want me to comment on.
Your modus operandi, Manny, is to throw something false out to your readers and then sit back and watch them go through the trouble of proving the truth. At the end of it, you claim that you really weren't saying what you obviously did or that you were misunderstood and then deflect back to the person who proved you to be wrong, or, as in this case, a liar. You're just wrapping up another session of doing the same thing over at Critical Miami.
For instance, the statement you just made about me being a consistent visitor.
You're lying. How do I know? Because I visit this site once a week, if that, just long enough to visit a specific post I'm interested in and then leave. I do monitor RCAB through an RSS feeder, but then that activity would never show up on your stat counter.
Perhaps once a week visitors are your most consistent visitors, I don't know, but your exaggeration about the time spent here and my number of visits is a blatant falsehood.
But that's who you are, Manny. A liar, through and through.
.
Rick:
We all know that you are a soothsayer Rick. Truth comes out of every pore of you. Of course it is a biased and eminently skewered "truth" as no visitor to your blog ever fails to note in time. In fact, it would be difficult to find a single thread on Stuck of the Palmetto where someone does not challenge your veracity. So it does not surprise me that you should do the same when you come here.
You visit this blog every week, do you, Rick? This week must have been an exception because you visited twice, as your comments indicate. So when I say that you are a frequent visitor to this blog I am in fact not "lying." Of course, you are welcome to visit as often as you like. I find your perennial pugnaciousness a stimulant.
I do not know what means you use to access this blog nor do I care. I do know, however, that whenever I see "BellSouth" I think of you.
I see I can expect no civility from you even when I congratulate you on winning the New Times Best Local Blog Award.
The visitors who challenge my "truth" at SotP, Manny, are the same people you criticize and confront here. But that irony doesn't surprise me. And it shouldn't surprise you either.
After all, "Birds of a feather..." Right, Manuel?
.
Rick:
Thank-you, Rick, for recreating here that sparkling dynamic which we used to have at Stuck on the Palmetto and was wont to send its sitemeter skyrocketing. That, of course, was when I was "the much-beloved Manuel A. Tellechea, Stuck on the Palmetto's favorite." Am I less lovable now that I am attacking your enemies than when I was attacking you? Well, you are a strange one.
As for our common adversaries, you should remember that they are our adversaries for different reasons. Very important that.
Of course they don't provide you with a challenge and you need a challenge. Which is why you come here. Sadly for you, you can't pick your enemies, although in ancient times it was considered just as important to have the right enemies as it was to have the right friends. So you will have to continue to settle for them. I pity you. At least they don't bother me. They know better.
I would like to exchange links with your site reviewofcuban-americanblogs.blogspot.com
Is this possible?
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