Uncommon Sense recounts the amazing story of two young Cubans who managed to evade the "no man's land" surrounding Guantánamo Naval Base, filled with millions of explosive devices and booby traps, and then, under tight surveillance and pointed guns, from both sides, penetrated the camp itself and asked for asylum. This they were refused because the U.S. military, wise judges all, no doubt, determined that the Cubans had no reasonable fear of persecution. So sure were they of the good intentions of the Cuban authorities that they did not even endeavor to secure a promise from them that the two Cubans would not be imprisoned for their actions. Arsenio Pérez Domínguez and Adroli Castillo Pérez were promptly charged and convicted (one always follows the other in Cuba) of "social dangerousness" for exercising the right to move freely in their own country. Pérez Domínguez was sentenced to 3 years imprisonment and Castillo Pérez to 2.
Two Cuban citizens enter Cuban national territory (for Guantánamo is only leased to the U.S. and has never ceased to be Cuban territory) and are "deported," in effect, from their country to their country. They are imprisoned on the other side of the Naval Base's gates by another set of usurpers (exactly like the Americans because they have taken possession of something which is not theirs) and are sentenced to 2 and 3 years, respectively, for the "crime" of escaping from Cuba to Cuba. It used to be that the Castro regime punished Cubans who tried to cross the island's aquatic borders. Then the U.S. started doing the same thing. And now both are punishing Cubans who never set foot outside the national territory. It's hard to be a Cuban in Cuba.
This story reminds us that our country will not be free and independent until all who occupy it by force and to the detriment of our people are evicted from Cuban soil.
http://marcmasferrer.typepad.com/uncommon_sense/2008/01/complicity.html#comments
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11 comments:
One of the most immoral things I've ever seen is that Cubans, once they reach the Guantanamo Naval Base, are rarely admitted into the USA. They are either deported "back" to Cuba, or kept there until a "third country" admits them, even when their familiar links are in the USA.
Then, the terrorists held in Guantanamo Base are fed "culturarally and religiously correct" meals, and given Korans, prayer rugs, and even told in what direction they need to do their genuflexions towards Mecca.
Cubans were kept there, in infrahuman conditions without being terrorists engaged in an asymmetrical war against the USA (as today's "tenants" are), they were fed MRE cold rations, and they were treated like enemies. Their only "crime" was to seek liberty escaping the tropical nightmare dreamt for them by fidel castro.
Many Cubans who are the victims of the dry foot wet foot are sent to Guantanamo, if they are deemed to have credible fears of prosecution and imprisonment in Cuba.... This has been happening for a few years now. And the public opinion in this country keeps on being silent and one has not heard a peep from the Cuban American politicos, either....
Charlie:
Cuban-American politicos are the most domesticated breed of politicians in the world. They do not bark but will purr when stroked on the head.
In their case, the "rubbing against the hair" notion seems to be non-existing.
bottom line is the Cuban community in the US has no political clout. The hardliners are dying and the young are just too comfortable to deal with the whole Cuba situation.
It is an ironic situation considering that the only Americans who are calling for the shutdown of Guantanamo Bay are mostly liberals and democrats and antiwar activists, including Code Pink, whom were protesting against Guantanamo Bay in from of Southcom on the afternoon before they protested against Posada on Calle Ocho.
Considering the stories we've heard from Guantanamo, including the many prisoners who have been held endlessly without any charges against them, not to mention waterboarding torture, they probably are not that worse off in a Cuban jail.
And speaking of domesticated Cuban politicians, Mel Martinez refused to endorse any of the republican candidates, including John McCain, one of only two republicans who favor the shutting down of Guantanamo Bay Naval Base.
He was called a "tower of Jello" by one republican.
http://miamiherald.typepad.com/nakedpolitics/2008/01/tower-of-jell-o.html
I see him more as a tower of flan. Still soft, but with some Latin flavor which will only get him so far.
The last thing the Bacardis want is for Cuba to suddenly start importing Havana Club rum into the U.S.
One taste of Anejo 7 Anos, drunk straight on the rocks, will convince thousands of American rum drinkers to switch brands.
Anonymous:
Actually, Cuban exiles have a great deal of political clout; they just don't know how to use it to Cuba's advantage or their own. A community whose political homogenuity and peculiar circumstances, of geography and history, have placed it in the enviable position of regularly deciding who shall be the president of the United States should wield that power more effectively and even imperiously. Instead, we ask little and receive less. Everybody kow-tows to our sensibilities but no one will let us tell them the path whereon lies our country's salvation. We do not have allies but yes-men, who, behind our backs, become no-men. Yet we, deaf to every slight and unburdened by memory, continue to follow the elephant off the cliff.
Carlos:
Mel who? How does it happen that all the Cuban-American cabinet secretaries chosen by Republican presidents are completely unknown to other Cuban-Americans and have absolutely no ties to our community? Being chosen for the cabinet is like being magically tapped by an "identity fairy" who immediately awakens in the nominees an appreciation for a heritage which they do not know and never before found it useful to know. Not that this is enough incentive for them actually to immerse themselves in it. Still, they learn a few catch phrases, buy a guayabera or two and start saying how proud they are to be Cubans and the transformation is complete. Just as easily, in other social situations, they shed these trappings and resume their lives as unhyphenated Americans (presuming they are white enough).
P.S:
Carlos, the liberals advocate the closing of Guantánamo naval base not because they love Cubans but because they they hate Bush. It's all about embarrassing him not empowering us. In fact, shutting down Guantánamo while Castro is still in power, would be to hand him his greatest victory. Let this be donewhen Cuba is free, not before. Ironically, if Castro had not made it impossible, Guantánamo would have been returned to us around the time that the Panama Canal Zone (and canal) where handed over to the Panamanians. Fidel Castro has retarded the evolution of our country in every way and compromised its sovereignty by word and deed for 50 years and counting.
P.S.S.:
Carlos, I am not a fan of theft, either. The Havana Club trademark is the legal property of Bacardí, which purchased it from its original owners. Let Castro bottle his rum under another name. If it's as good as you say, then brand name is irrelevant.
This is just plain sick, Cubans no longer have any place to turn to, deported back from their own country, I wouldn't be surprised if the good ol' USA deports us all back to Cuba.
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