Thursday, May 8, 2008

A Petition on Behalf of 220 Cuban Political Prisoners

I am going to endorse Val Prieto's appeal to all Cubans, regardless of parochial differences, to sign the petition calling for the release of Cuba's political prisoners which is being promoted by a coalition of human rights and civic organizations on the island, in exile and internationally, including Amnesty International, CANF, El Nuevo Herald, Freedom House, Las Damas en Blanco, Plantados and scores of other groups that do not always coalesce on the subject of Cuba. It is their objective to collect 1 million signatures in support of the petition. They could collect 100 million and it would not influence the Castro regime to cease being what it is and has always been -- the scourge of the Cuban people. I do not think that even those who are circulating the petition can have even the slightest hope that it will accomplish its stated end. What it will do, and what it has already done, is to unite disparate groups in common cause on behalf of Cuba, which is as important as obtaining the release of 220 Cuban political prisoners. So do sign the petition: it cannot do any harm and it has already done some good.

That much said, I would be less than honest if I did not point out that it is absolutely ridiculous, outrageous and inexcusable to claim that there are only 220 political prisoners in Castro's jails. That is like saying that there were only 660 inmates in Hitler's concentration camps (which, in fact, some Holocaust revisionists contend). In fact, most prisoners in Cuban jails are political prisoners because they have been convicted of "crimes" which are not penalized anywhere else but in Communist Cuba. It would be closer to the truth to say that every prisoner incarcerated by Castro is a political prisoner than to claim that only 220 are. Where there is no Rule of Law, there can be no justice. When the administration of what passes as "law" is in the hands of criminals and the State itself is a criminal enterprise, no man convicted under such a dispensation can be considered guilty and no sanction imposed on him legitimate. It is offensive to any concept of morality to claim that there could be one group of prisoners that received "justice" at the hands of a criminal State and another that did not.

Add three zeros to the end of "220" figure and you would be infinitely closer to the truth than without the three zeros. If the figure of "220" is all that these hundred-odd human rights groups could agree upon, then unity has been purchased at the price of historical accuracy, to put it as charitably as possible. Still, it is better to do something than to do nothing, to speak out than to remain silent. We do not always have the luxury of standing on principle when human lives are at stake. Sometimes the principle must be shunted aside in order to save the life. Better to save one drowning man from a shipwreck because one can than to let him drown because one cannot save the others.

So go ahead and sign the petition for the sake of the 220 and hope that by highlighting their plight you might be able to advance the cause of the other 220,000, or, indeed, 12 million:

http://www.peticioncuba.org/sign.php?l=en

78 comments:

Anonymous said...

There are much more than 220 prisoners in Cuba.
There are 11 million prisoners in Cuba.
Cubans can be bagged for no reason whatsoever and everything you do in Cuba to survive, since it goes against the regime wishes.
You eat bread, it's illegal.
You listen to Porno Para Ricardo, it's illegal.
You exist and independent existence, it's illegal.
You read our blogs, it's illegal.
I feel that we should just say: free all Cuban political prisoners! Free Cuba!

Fantomas said...

MAt nobody will ever know really how many political prisoners are inside castro's jails

Regardless if it is 75 , 220 , 330 or 30k those are always simbolic numbers. Everybody knows Cuba is a big jail. No need for you to remind us. Just sign the petition and shut up

Manuel A.Tellechea said...

john:

Numbers are not irrelevant especially when we are dealing with human lives.

There are those who will try to exculpate Castro precisely because he is said to hold "only" 220 political prisoners.

Try telling the Jews that Hitler "only" killed 660 Jews in the Holocaust and see what reaction you get from them.

Fantomas said...

no te pongas nervioso cuando yo te hable Mat no es john soy yo

Manuel A.Tellechea said...

fantomas:

A distinction without a difference.

Fantomas said...

big difference el john es un anticubano racista ..Iam not

Manuel A.Tellechea said...

fantomas:

Anyone who supports Obama is anti-Cuban.

Vana said...

Sad but true, all are prisoners in the "paradise" island prison, on my way to sign the petition.

Fantomas said...

mat dijo

Anyone who supports Obama is anti-Cuban

Sorry MAT you are 100% wrong on that one. Ni tu mismo te crees ese disparate que acabas de decir
solo en tu enferma mente se pudiera pensar semejante locura

te lo dije ya si no te gusta Obama mudate para Australia o las islas Caiman..Te lo tendras que chupar hasta el 2016

Vana said...

Done, wonder if John will sign the petition?

Fantomas said...

Vana who cares what John does?

Fantomas said...

desperate times

http://youtube.com/watch?v=ReBygJ9aGV4

Anonymous said...

Thats a way Cuban-Americans, signatures to free Fidel's political prisoners, when what is needed is a few bullets.

Looks like another 40 plus years in exile!!

Anonymous said...

Hey, i got a good idea. Why dont we boycott Chavez's oil sales. And that way we can pressure Chavez to pressure Fidel to pressure Raul to release the political pressure.

Sure, it may drive up gasoline prices to $10.00 a gallon. But Cuba's problems should be our number one concern!!

Fantomas said...

john how about 20 a gallon?

can you pay it? I sure can

Manuel A.Tellechea said...

fantomas:

El que se lo va a chupar hasta 2016 eres tú
pero desde su escaño en el Senado.

Manuel A.Tellechea said...

john:

Now you are thinking with your brain rather than your liver. That is always an auspicious development.

Vana said...

Yeah John, pray tell me where would we get the bullets? do you think the good ole USA will allow us to arm ourselves and invade Cuba? please!

Anonymous said...

fantomas,
you can afford 20 dollars a gallon?

Anonymous said...

Fantomas produces his own gas.

Anonymous said...

vana,


Growing up on a farm we used to make our own bullets. Perhaps, you should learn how to defend yourself. Rather than behaving like a victim all the time.

Anonymous said...

Vana,

I am getting the distinct feeling that you dont care much for me!!

Anonymous said...

Fantomas,


No i cant afford $20.00 a gallon. But it seems as Cubans like Mat fail to understand that a weakened America that Bush has give us. Will start to turn inward and become consumed with its horrific internal problems.

No doubt that this is what the isolationist conservatives desired in the first place!!

Vana said...

John:

Granted we make our own bullets, now tell me how do we get past the American Coast Guard? is not that I don't like you, but sometimes you rub me the wrong way, talking to you is like talking to a brick wall.

Anonymous said...

vana asked: Granted we make our own bullets, now tell me how do we get past the American Coast Guard?




If you innovative to sneak into America, past the Coast Guard, then i am sure you possess the same innovation to sneak out of America, back past the Coast Guard.

Yes?

Vana said...

See a brick wall, one thing is to come in unarmed, it's another matter to leave in a flotilla full of weapons, don't you see?

Anonymous said...

vana,

Actually i dont, Cuban exiles runners "smuggle" Cubans "out" of Cuba all the time. In fact, i suspect that they probably smuggle "materials" on a weekly basis for their friends and family who wish to remain in their homeland.

Vana, perahaps your victimhood plays well within the Cuban-American community which fled, rather than resist. But it does not work for good ole boys who actually served in the armed forces. Or any other group that has fought and sacrificed for something bigger than themselves, i.e., Cuba's freedom.

Nevertheless Vana, keep telling yourself, that it is absolutely impossible to assist your Cuban brothers and sisters on the island. You are entitled to "your" beliefs, as this is America. I just respectfully disagree with them.


Cheers,
John

Anonymous said...

Actually, i guess you do fight for Cuba's freedom, with all your marches in the streets of Miami. And drawing caricatures of Senator. Obama, and worshiping President Bush.


Way to fight Cuban-Americans,

Anonymous said...

http://edition.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/05/09/dems.wrap/index.html?iref=topnews

Manuel A.Tellechea said...

john:

Since returning to the bosom (or should that be "bowels") of your family in Indiana, you seem to have developed talents which no one ever suspected in you and which you never before boasted of.

So you are now making your own bullets? Are you also rolling your own cigarettes, raising your own sorghum and hunting the possum and the coon?

Anonymous said...

Fantomas is madly in love with Obama

Fantomas said...

povolote

iam not the enemy ..the enemy are the castro brothers

Anonymous said...

obamista = fidelista

Anonymous said...

fantomista = obamista = fidelista

Vana said...

Impossible NOT I do help my people inside the island, simple enough the USA should return Guantamo Bay to us the exiles, from there we could conquer Cuba without USA hindrance.

Fantomas said...

yo creo que a estas alturas alquien que me llame fidelista has no clue in life whatsoever

que pena me dan los ignorantes

y los animales de dos patas

contra fantomas NADIE

Fantomas said...

simple enough the USA should return Guantamo Bay to us the exiles, from there we could conquer Cuba without USA hindrance.

Vana I support this idea 100% dear

Anonymous said...

"iam not the enemy ..the enemy are the castro brothers"

and Bush and McCain and Obama and many others.



ESTAMOS SOLOS

Manuel A.Tellechea said...

fantomas:

As promised [see previous thread @ bottom], I visited your blog Abajofidel today.

I don't believe I have ever had a more terrifying experience on the internet. Your site is toxic. Whether because it is chuck-full of videos and such or because it is so loaded with useless code, it is nearly impossible to move from page to page or leave a comment.

In fact, trying to peruse your page first froze my computer and then knocked it off the internet. Yours is undoubtedly the most user-unfriendly blog on the Cuban blogosphere. Well, what should I expect? The blog is the man.

I would advise you to discharge much of this extraneous matter and try writing a couple of lines of actual prose per post

Consider this my review for 2008.

Duro pero justo.

Fantomas said...

mat no te apures blogger( google) ha estado down all day today and still it is down now

los problemas empezaron alas 11am de la mañana

te pido que regreses maybe in a couple of days, maybe you will have a nicer experience

ja, ja, ja lol lol lol

"Por Fantomas lo di todo, contra Fantomas nada ni nadie"

You have been served again

Manuel A.Tellechea said...

fantomas:

Ok. I'll make another surprise visit this weekend. I believe in second chances. Not third chances.

Duro pero siemple bondadoso.

Fantomas said...

Duro pero siemple bondadoso.

I can only expect you to write more in your native language

Es lo correcto

Espero tu primer post en español pronto . make it a lengthy one . i like to read( lol)

Manuel A.Tellechea said...

fantomas:

You spelt "lengthy" correctly. Wow!

Fantomas said...

es que use el " translator"
preguntale a alex

Fantomas said...

Comport ate

Fantomas said...

Duro pero siemple bondadoso


NO, NO, NO, NO .NO incorreto amigo watson


SIEMPLE ES EN CHINO ACHI NO CHE ESCRIBE SEÑOL TELLECHEA

Lo correcto es SIEMPRE

Como aprendes de mi

viste que bondadoso soy contigo

Fantomas said...

Are we even now?

you can go to my blog now...it is working better, i made some changes just for you , profesor

Vana said...

Manuel:

You are as always correct, visiting fantomas blog, is like having teeth pulled without anesthesia, it takes a year to upload, it also froze my computer, I thought for a moment I had caught a virus..lol..or that my computer was a piece of shit,no wonder look who owns it.

P.S. Loved duro pero siempre bondadoso, you are a benevolent and tolerant man.

Manuel A.Tellechea said...

fantomas:

Estaba hablando en el argot africano de tu favorito.

Fantomas said...

Estaba hablando en el argot africano de tu favorito.

no entiendo explicate mejor

Manuel A.Tellechea said...

Vana:

You are absolutely right. As I said, the blog is the man.

RCAB is as simple to load as Google. Absolutely no pyrotechnics. The punch is in the prose.

Fantomas eschews language for the most part on his blog, preferring visuals; but his phantasmagoria has more than a few burnt bulbs.

Abajofidel is really a "no man's land" filled with mines and booby traps and best avoided if possible.

bookster said...

Mat, did you hear the latest. Hillary stated on the campaign trail that one of her ancestors was a Native American and that her great-great grandfather, John H. Monk, lived in a black neighborhood in Detroit, proving that Obama got nothing on her and she has a wide base of support. She said she will be ready on day one to be the first woman and the first person of color to be elected president but she has not decided what color she's going with yet!

Fantomas said...

por supuesto que es mas lento porque tengo muchas mas fotos, chats, videos ..Esas cosas ponen la pagina un poquito lenta...

pero ya esta resuelto pueden entrar ya quite algunas entradas de la pagina principal

it should be smoother now

Manuel A.Tellechea said...

fantomas:

"Africano" y "favorito."

¿Qué es lo que no entiendes?

Manuel A.Tellechea said...

corgiguy:

Congratulations! This is you at your best. I was wondering what had happened to that corgiguy.

Fantomas said...

Abajofidel is really a "no man's land" filled with mines and booby traps and best avoided if possible.


COÑO PARECES UN MOVIE CRITIC

i like it

ok i got it lo del africano

Ms Calabaza said...

Corgiguy,

I thought she was a beer and shot drinkin' PA woman who loves to shoot ducks?

Fantomas said...

ok mat antes tenia 100 post on the main page ahora tengo solo 25
dime si es mas rapido ahora por favor, esto es en serio estoy haciendo los ajustes para satifascer a la clientela

the abajo fidel blog base

Fantomas said...

Mat reaparecen los muertos ahora llego la calabazzita

Ms Calabaza said...

Fantomas,
thanks for the warm welcome.

Anonymous said...

Fanto your blog is still a basura.
I could not get out of it. Had to close my browser.

bookster said...

MAT, RCAB nation always inspires me to greater heights.

Hey i got another scoop here. Did you know that Romney wants to be Obama's vp.

Romney just announced that one of his great-grandmothers was African-American. Miles Park Romney, Mitt’s great-grandfather, had five wives. At least one of them, Beulah LaFavre, was African-American. One or two others were Hispanic, and one was Chinese. Miles Park Romney was an equal-opportunity husband. He liked them all.

This proves the close connection between Obama and Romney. Mitt’s been there, he knows what the brother is going through, he's multicultural like Obama a man of the people. He can walk the walk.

Mitt says he uses African Pride Extreme Wave Pomade. He loves it because it dries his hair to a rock-hard consistency, and helps Mitt celebrate his African-American heritage.

Can Hillary say the same thing?

This could be the winning ticket RCAB Nation Obama/Romney 2008

Fantomas said...

polvolote a mucha gente le gusta de 300 a 400 diarios por si acaso

Ms Calabaza said...

Obama/Romney

v.

McCain/Clinton

What an election!

Fantomas said...

Fanto your blog is still a basura.
I could not get out of it. Had to close my browser.

5/09/2008 11:48 PM

polvo creo que deberias tener un DSL Turbo como lo tengo yo. acabo de hacer la prueba ahora con menos entradas y me abrio en 0.4 segundos...completo

salgase del modem 256 es muy lento

bookster said...

MsC, i love it that would be a Thriller.

Change you can believe in!

Anonymous said...

de Funes

tried again. I was able to get in- but not get out.

your holding your visitors hostage.

"dsl turbo" ? ha ha ha . I have super turbo cable.

Ms Calabaza said...

Mat,

if you were a Democratic leader would you advise Hillary to stay on or concede now?

bookster said...

MsC, hillary knows she's done. if she get's out now she has no bargaining power, by staying a bit longer she can wheel and deal with obama, she needs to get that campaing debt paid off somehow.

Ms Calabaza said...

Yeah,
I heard that theory today. It seems she's got a 20 million dollar debt. So, why should Obama have to help her with that? If I were him I'd just ignore her from now on. She'll win WV, Kentucky and PR (even with Fantomas there!) and try to make hay about it ... but it really won't matter. Yeah, she is a nuisance but if I were Obama, I would not pay her off.

Ms Calabaza said...

By the way,
Obama made a mistake today when he stated he has visited 57 states . . . the media gave him a pass because he's exhausted (Fair)~

Now imagine for one second had it been McCain who had said this? Would the media have been so kind?

Manuel A.Tellechea said...

ms. calabaza:

I think Hillary has been cheated of the nomination. If the delegates from Florida and Michigan were seated and she were to win the remaining states and Puerto Rico (as seems likely), she would have both more delegates and a plurality of the popular vote. She has always had the support of a majority of the super delegates though even that is eroding now due to pressure from the party bosses who have decreed that Barack Obama must be the Democratic candidate.

Manuel A.Tellechea said...

corgiguy:

Romney is descended from the white great-grandmother. I am glad, however, that he's finally taking pride in his variegated family ties. Perhaps some day he might even acknowledge that his father was born in Mexico and that he was himself an anchor baby.

Fantomas said...

I know a lot of people will vote for Obama here..still Hillary has the edge.. Puerto Ricans like The Clinton's

Obama is not a household name here yet, most people dont know who he is but that is changing fast
Michelle Obama will be here may 15th

follow it close here

www.endi.com

bookster said...

msc, needs hillary to shutup, that's going to cost him 20mil. Then hillary will find a new voice and will tell obama she doesn't want to be vp, however would sugest that general clark would be an excellent choice.

Vana said...

LOL..I see is now fashionable to bring out the ancestry they used to hide out of shame, you gotta laugh.

Ms Calabaza said...

Corgiguy,

Wes Clark is a Clinton backer. If I were Obama I would clean the administration of ANY Clinton people. They will only report to Hill/Bill and sabotage anything Obama plans to do. If Hillary wants to be VP, watch out for Obama's life . . . you don't mess around with the Clintons.

bookster said...

MsC, you are right, but obama needs to mend fences with the clintonistas in order to be viable.