Thursday, April 3, 2008

"See No 'Che' Evil, Hear No 'Che' Evil"

One of Henry "Economist" Gómez's latest innovations is the Babalú Carte Blanche. Don't insult Cubans without it. Here's how it works: Say anything that you want about Cuba, Castro or "Che," however offensive or flippant, imply anything that you want about Cuban-Americans, however unflattering and unfair, and you will still get a pass from Val & Co if you also link to Babalú and Henry's internet store at CAP.

Miami New Times is the first publication to acquire such a license from Babalú, which entitles them to perpetuate the "Che"myth while berating Cuban exiles for not embracing it. You see, that's another sign of our supposed intolerance. There was, apparently, no attempt on the part of Val or Henry to enlighten the New Times reporter about "Che" Guevara, and, if they tried, they failed miserably.

The reporter, Chuck Strouse, went to the Dadeland Mall, in Kendall, to sell a hidden cache of "Che" tee-shirts and gage the reaction of passersby. Now, one can't just set up shop at a mall, every sq. inch of which is rented or owned by somebody else. You can no more do business at a mall than break into somebody's house and set up a cot. New Times sent its reporter to break the law. Funny that Henry, such a good capitalist as he is, didn't notice or object.

The villain of the story is not "Che" but the mall security guard — or "rent-a-cop," as Strouse calls him — who did his duty and escorted the peddler from the mall. More evidence of Cuban-American intolerance.

Strouse had much difficulty in acknowledging the reason that Cubans, old and young, despise "Che" Guevara. To wit, he was a psychotic serial killer. But not to Strouse. He describes him as a "special prosecutor" responsible for the deaths of "scads of counterrevolutionaries." He was not the "special prosecutor" but the chief executionist. And his victims are counted by the thousands, not by the "scads" (what the hell is a "scad," anyway?). Finally, he wasn't killing just "counterrevolutionaries" but revolutionaries as well. He was killing anyone and everyone that might challenge his master's authority.

Does Henry mention any of this in the post that he dedicated to the New Times article? Not a word. Has his well-known animus towards the "Butcher of the Cabaña" disappeared? No, I don't think so. It's just that business is business and politics is politics. I'm sure that if other facilitators of the "Che" myth, such as the Estefans, had extended their patronage to them, Val and Henry would also now be publicizing their efforts however tainted by their association with Santana. But the Esfefans did not pay tribute and were dismissed as traitors. The New Times reporter interviewed Val & Henry, quoted them, linked their websites and Henry's internet store (even pushing Henry's own "Che" tee-shirts), and received in turn a link from Babalú and nary a word of criticism.

So that's how it works!

http://reviewofcuban-americanblogs.blogspot.com/2008/03/birth-of-rcab-its-foundational.html

26 comments:

Anonymous said...

Follow the money.

Anonymous said...

Follow the yellow brick road.

Anonymous said...

I guess the "chivatos" have to pay for Val's kitchen one way or another.

Manuel A.Tellechea said...

John:

That's Babalú's new convertible currency -- "Che" tee-shirts.

Right now I'm hearing "El Manisero" in my mind as I think of Henry hawking his "Che" tees.

Anonymous said...

do they have a storefront at the Versailles?

Anonymous said...

A historical quote for Henry and Val!!



"Everyone is in favor of free speech... But some people's
idea of it is that they are free to say what they like, but if
anyone says anything back, that is an outrage.”

Winston Churchill

Anonymous said...

The question i have is whether Henry t-shirts are bought and paid for by the Cuban communist government. For their "chivato" efforts on the Soflo blogisphere!!

Anonymous said...

val prieto=chivato

Anonymous said...

Here is what i wrote in the New Times. They immediately emailed me back for some background. I directed them to RCAB, Killcastro, and SFDB!!


New times wrote: Last year, Val Prieto — the 43-year-old founder of BabaluBlog.com, perhaps the best-known Cuban-American website — persuaded



And now the best known Cuban-American who "outed" a fellow Cuban blogger by posting his personal information for the world to see.

Anonymous said...

I will continue to expose this "chivato" anywhere they pop-up in the news!! They will be unable to sweep under the rug their "outing" of a Cuban blogger!!


Val, do you HEAR me. You must and will be STOP!!!!

Anonymous said...

Questions i have for Henry



1) Are you paying taxes on your profits, if not, why not?

2) Did you incorporate your "lil" business, if not, why not?

3) Is the I.R.S. aware of any profits, if not why not?

4) Will you declare your profits on Babulu, if not, why not?

5) Are you donating any of said profits to Cuban chairity, if not why not?

Anonymous said...

Turning Cuba's pain and sufferage into a profit making adventure. How natural for "chivatos."

Manuel A.Tellechea said...

John:

Very timely questions as we approach April 15.

I especially like Question #5.

Vana said...

So as long as they are making money Che is ok, what a swell man man Che was wasn't he? and now he's making money for one and all, including CHIVATOS!

What else can one expect from Chivato and little Chivato, remember they are American-Cubans first and foremost, why am I not surprised!

Anonymous said...

manny:

alex de SotP is back with a blog.

Whose going to let poodle know??

Anonymous said...

miamiand beyond
a ver si dice algo de la chivateria....

Anonymous said...

They started out honorably for a cause; then there was ego warfare within; then they eliminated the third wheel (George) and Henry alone now has Val's ear. The direction that Henry has taken Babble-u is authoritarian and ego-maniacal ala Henry. It's all about Henry all the time but have you noticed his posts get the least amount of comments? I wonder why? Anyways, if Henry is posting 6-7 posts daily and going to the public library and addressing Canadian Radio (who thinks HE's the Editor in Chief of Babble-u ~ Val must have loved that!), you better bet he's got long-range financial plans and ambitions with this little hobby of his or he's a bigger fool than we all thought. Yes, a lot has to do with his TREMENDOUS ego but Chubby has to feed his kids and it doesn't seem like he works in his own job very much.

by:
Nutrisystem doesn't work.

Anonymous said...

and more self-promotion here:
http://heraldwatch.blogspot.com/




by:
Nutrisystem doesn't work.

Anonymous said...

Anon said: (who thinks HE's the Editor in Chief of Babble-u ~ Val must have loved that!),




Yah i caught that too. But of course the Canadian "thought" Henry was editor in chief of Babulu, because Henry "told" him in was editor in chief.


As a side note, this is the first time i have ever heard Henry's voice. And to be quite honest, my "gaydar" went on red alert!!

Anonymous said...

Henry has a speech impediment.






by:
Nutrisystem doesn't work

Manuel A.Tellechea said...

Anonymous:

That is not Henry's fault. Val's speech impediment is.

Manuel A.Tellechea said...

Vana:

I must alert you to the fact that there is a new blog where they have hijacked your moniker and are using it to make injurious comments about me. I am sure that it is Henry's work. I have already reprimanded the culprit and will have nothing to do with that blog in the future. The URL was posted here by Anonymous @ 4:58PM.

Vana said...

Manuel:

Have I become so important someone has hijacked me, to wit I only comment here at Killcastro, and Alex's site, thank God you know my style of writing, I would never discredit you in any way or form, I'm your admirer, can you please tell me what web site?

Vana said...

K Manuel I found it I posted a comment disavowing anything that vana says, thank you for alerting me

Vana said...

And yes Manuel, that HAS to be Henry

Manuel A.Tellechea said...

Vana:

You are indeed that important. Not only does Babalú ban you, but Henry steals your moniker in order to sow dissent and confusion (as if he could ever fool me!). His purpose, of course, is to fool others. But I follow his tracks like a bloodhound.