A Thank-You Note... (from Charlie Bravo & Killcastro)
"To all of those who promoted cowardice and silence, to all of those who turned their backs to the little girl that today is being stripped from the only happiness that she has known to be given to the person who wanted her dead, abandoned her with an abusive mother, and to whom the "justice system" is trusting today with her care.
"To all of those who were silent cowards, who closed their eyes before perjury, prejudice, fabrications, lies, conspiracy, and consorting with a tyrant in his death bed, a big thank you in the name of castro. He's sending thank-you notes, all of them poisoned.
"From KillCastro and Charlie Bravo, a big and resounding fuck you, cowards. If you were born Cuban, well, fuck you again, damn traitors."
Posted by Charlie Bravo @ Black Sheep of Exile, Sept. 27, 2007
UPDATED:
Vana said...
Manuel:
I cannot believe our people in Miami have turned their back on Elenita, what has happened to them? they have lost their heart, not to care when a fellow Cuban is turned over to the beast, I never thought I would see that day, as Charlie says Fuck them all!
9/28/2007 12:39 PM
Ziva said...
Tell me Vana, exactly what have you done to further freedom for Elenita? How many letters have you written? Phone calls? Have you put yourself in harms way and been arrested to protest the judge´s bias? Has someone publicly threatened to beat the shit out of you for your advocacy? Have you not eaten for weeks in protest of the pre-determined outcome? Have you gotten fired from your job, you know, the one your family depends upon, so you can spend your days picketing in front of the court house? No? Do you know anyone who has? Are you willing to lose your job and get arrested in order to interfere with an American court of law? Just exactly what have you done to free Cuba? Where´s your blog? How many years have you gone without sleep in order to write about a free Cuba? Inquiring minds want to know Vana, just exactly what have you done to free Cuba?
9/29/2007 3:18 AM
Manuel A.Tellechea said...
Vana:
I believe that the sympathies of the Cuban people — with a few isolated and unexpected exceptions — are wholly with the little girl. But we cannot deny that there is a fatalistic streak a mile-wide in our community as a result of the Elián case which has convinced most exiles that the government will impose its will in this case regardless of the courts and the democratic process, and, of course, regardless of which party is in office.
Consider: George Bush has maintained in place the "Wet Foot/Dry Foot" policy longer than Clinton did, and with the Republican candidates fighting among themselves to see which can be the most xenophobic and anti-Hispanic, it is doubtful that Bush will scrap it before he leaves office or that his successor will regardless of party.
The conclusion that most Cuban exiles appear to have arrived at is that it is better to do nothing than to do something. To do something means to bring upon themselves the media's wrath and the visceral hate of a majority of the American people (no, I'm not mincing words here). I think most exiles would say with Charlie Bravo "What the Fuck" if they believed that such an emotional investment, such an expenditure of political capital (?), would yield positive results for this already much-abused little girl. But they don't believe that, and in view of the Elián case there is no reason for them to.
Theirs is actually the logical position. But logic is not always the best guide in life. It is too cold and often detached from the imponderables of the human soul. In sum, logic is too calculating and man too incalculable for the two ever to reside in perfect communion.
In this case, the logical thing and the right thing were not the same. The life of this little girl was worth all the insults, all the infamy, and, yes, it was even worth another defeat. The real defeat is when one abandons principles to expediency; the real defeat is when we can regard even one child as expendable.
Vana, your criticism of the conduct of most exiles in this case is fair.
There are no lost causes; only lost men.
9/29/2007 9:11 AM
Manuel A.Tellechea said...
Ziva:
We must each do what lies within our possibilities. There are many people in a far better position than Vana, you or I to effect change in this case, who have chosen to remain silent. Some have even damned the little girl to hell (literally) because they did not want to be cast in a negative light in the media. These include some of your fellow editors at Babalú, as you know.
Vana has always maintained a principled stand in regard to Elenita. This is more than most have done and all that I ever asked Val or Henry to do.
I understand the depth of your heartache because I share it, as I am sure Vana does also. But I understand also that you are not really attacking our good Vana. It is, rather, a case of displacement. Those whom you wish you could attack, those who have disappointed and defrauded you, you cannot attack.
But don't let it worry you: I can and do.
9/29/2007 9:22 AM
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13 comments:
Manuel, that's our only message to all of those whom with their indiference and silence have become castro's last batch of accomplices. Thanks for posting it up here....
Manuel:
I cannot believe our people in Miami have turned their back on Elenita, what has happened to them? they have lost their heart, not to care when a fellow Cuban is turned over to the beast, I never thought I would see that day, as Charlie says Fuck them all!
not counting my toes two louzy comments
Tell me Vana, exactly what have you done to further freedom for Elenita? How many letters have you written? Phone calls? Have you put yourself in harms way and been arrested to protest the judge´s bias? Has someone publicly threatened to beat the shit out of you for your advocacy? Have you not eaten for weeks in protest of the pre-determined outcome? Have you gotten fired from your job, you know, the one your family depends upon, so you can spend your days picketing in front of the court house? No? Do you know anyone who has? Are you willing to lose your job and get arrested in order to interfere with an American court of law? Just exactly what have you done to free Cuba? Where´s your blog? How many years have you gone without sleep in order to write about a free Cuba? Inquiring minds want to know Vana, just exactly what have you done to free Cuba?
Vana:
I believe that the sympathies of the Cuban people — with a few isolated and unexpected exceptions — are wholly with the little girl. But we cannot deny that there is a fatalistic streak a mile-wide in our community as a result of the Elián case which has convinced most exiles that the government will impose its will in this case regardless of the courts and the democratic process, and, of course, regardless of which party is in office.
Consider: George Bush has maintained in place the "Wet Foot/Dry Foot" policy longer than Clinton did, and with the Republican candidates fighting among themselves to see which can be the most xenophobic and anti-Hispanic, it is doubtful that Bush will scrap it before he leaves office or that his successor will regardless of party.
The conclusion that most Cuban exiles appear to have arrived at is that it is better to do nothing than to do something. To do something means to bring upon themselves the media's wrath and the visceral hate of a majority of the American people (no, I'm not mincing words here). I think most exiles would say with Charlie Bravo "What the Fuck" if they believed that such an emotional investment, such an expenditure of political capital (?), would yield positive results for this already much-abused little girl. But they don't believe that, and in view of the Elián case there is no reason for them to.
Theirs is actually the logical position. But logic is not always the best guide in life. It is too cold and often detached from the imponderables of the human soul. In sum, logic is too calculating and man too incalculable for the two ever to reside in perfect communion.
In this case, the logical thing and the right thing were not the same. The life of this little girl was worth all the insults, all the infamy, and, yes, it was even worth another defeat. The real defeat is when one abandons principles to expediency; the real defeat is when we can regard even one child as expendable.
Vana, your criticism of the conduct of most exiles in this case is fair.
There are no lost causes; only lost men.
Ziva:
We must each do what lies within our possibilities. There are many people in a far better position than Vana, you or I to effect change in this case, who have chosen to remain silent. Some have even damned the little girl to hell (literally) because they did not want to be cast in a negative light in the media. These include some of your fellow editors at Babalú, as you know.
Vana has always maintained a principled stand in regard to Elenita. This is more than most have done and all that I ever asked Val or Henry to do.
I understand the depth of your heartache because I share it, as I am sure Vana does also. But I understand also that you are not really attacking our good Vana. It is, rather, a case of displacement. Those whom you wish you could attack, those who have disappointed and defrauded you, you cannot attack.
But don't let it worry you: I can and do.
Manny you are so wrongly full of it, it boggles the mind. I attacked exactly who I wanted to attack.
Ziva:
Alright, Ziva. I know where you are at and what you must do.
I'm sure that I "boggle" your colleagues' minds. I doubt very much whether I "boggle" yours since you have never differed with me on any position regarding Cuba.
Ziva:
What is this? you are attacking the wrong person, the ones you should attack you can't, you work for those hearless people, FYI I have closely followed Elenita's case, praying and hoping she would go to the Cubas, when the Elian thing happened I flew to Miami to be with my fellow Cubans, if something would have been started for Elenita over there, I would have flown out, when the Peruvian embassy I was with my fellow Cubans here in California, I have joined and protested where ever I have been needed, you see Ziva I have a heart.
Start a blog? I've thought about it, I wouldn't even know how to do that! that is why I come to these blogs, the ones that DO CARE, if I didn't give a rat's ass about Cuba I wouldn't even bother, now would I? lose my job? that is highly unlikely. I own my own business, it gives me the freedom I need to come and go as I please, and yes I have written letters here and dither in the 45 years I have been exiled, have they helped hell no! most times I don't even get an answer.
Getting arrested, I would gladly get arrested if it would help to free Cuba, tell me Ziva, what have you done to free Cuba? you think having a blog will do it? please give me a break, the one's you should be attacking are those heartless people at Babalu, who think and worry more about being American, how is it that Henry put it, American-Cuban, with people like them who want anexetion, not really a free Cuba! that is not the kind of people I would ever hang out with.
Yes Ziva I have read the blather you write at Babalu, that is why I have never commented there, all of you should be ashamed to call yourselves Cuban, ahem American-Cubans.
Manuel:
Thank you for coming to my aid, you know where my heart is, it's with you and Killcastro, that's what bothers Ziva, that I'm not over at Babalu, drooling over the crap the likes of Val, Henry, and the rest of them write, that would most certainly be a waste of my time! for I don't agree with their policies, or with the way you were treated by Val the king, the blog father, who all at Babalu hail, and fall over themselves to please, it just makes me sick to my stomach.
Vana:
I have always thought you would make an excellent blogger. It is not as difficult as you might think. In fact, it is not difficult at all. For years, I shied away from doing so myself, but eventually grew weary of the hostility and ingratitude of those who were both glad to have my imput (because it elevated the level of the discussion) but resentful of the fact that I knew more and could say it better than the rest of them. That was the real and only reason I was booted from Babalú.
Of course, you will always be welcome here and I shall always be grateful to you for your steadfast support which dates back to the earliest days of this blog. However, I would be less than a friend (less than Ziva, in fact) if I did not encourage you to endow your own blog with your eloquence and common sense. You more than anyone know how badly those qualities are needed in the Cuban-American blogosphere.
The first thing to do is to think of a name for your new blog.
After that, I can guide you step by step, or even set up the blog for you, if you want.
Remember, if fantomas can do this, anybody can do this.
Think about it.
Manuel:
You are most kind to offer to help me, I wouldn't expect less of you, for you have shown yourself to be a most tolerant and kind person, (just tolerating fanto shows that)
I would have to think about it, don't know if I could pull it off, I will think of a name and gather my guts, I shall let you know.
If I had your eloquence, and your ability to write, I would do it in a New York minute, as you can see I don't, but it is tempting
Vana:
The name is the thing.
It would be impossible to think of any other name for this blog but the Review of Cuban-American Blogs. In devising a name for your own future blog aim for one that will have that quality of inevitability. In other words, it must have seemed to have existed before it actually did.
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