Babalú Continues Auto-da-Fé Against Marc Másferrer Over Remittances (UPDATE)

The auto-da-fé against Marc Másferrer that began at Babalú on September 9th with Val Prieto's invitation to take a hike ("If that's what you think of me ... then perhaps you are in the wrong place") continues now on Marc's own blog Uncommon Sense with Henry Louis Gómez as the carrier of the baby's bath water.

In reply to Marc's latest post about remittances, Henry accuses him of "going out of [his] way to fund the people perpetuating the crimes" against the Cuban people; and, again, of "subsidizing their captors;" and, finally, of being "crazy" and "perverse."

When the generalissimo and the chief-of-staff of the Starvation Army accuse you of being "crazy" and "perverse," it is a testimonial to your sanity and nobility of character just as their canard that you are underwriting our countrymen's oppression is a patent of the purest patriotism.

I will let Marc reply to Henry first. Then I will reply to him.


POSTSCRIPT:

Marc Másferrer Answers His Critics at Babalú:

Henry, George:

Thanks for not answering the questions. You helped make my point.

I think we can all agree that the No. 1 scourge of the Cuban people is the Castro dictatorship. It is responsible for the suffering of the Cuban people, and anyone who thinks otherwise, is a fool or worse. You may suggest that I believe otherwise — that I am "perverse" or "erring in my judgment," but all that would prove is that you haven't read my work as closely as I thought. In place of reasoned argument, I will accept your insults, again because it helps make my point.

The dictatorship's paramount responsibility, does not absolve the United States for policies that at best, have failed to bring down the dictatorship and at worst, have added to the suffering of the people with whom it claims to stand.

Even if everything you suggest about remittances is true, also true is that limits imposed by the U.S. government have not brought down the regime, or even caused it to tighten its belt. Unfortunately, the effect has not been so negligible on the Cuban people, who suffer in an abject poverty — yes, mainly because of the dictatorship, but worsened by the American sanctions. Our role in this tragedy is magnified during the current post-hurricane crisis, and the American response raises real questions about our true fealty to the Cuban people and their welfare.

I think I'm starting to see a pattern in American policy towards Cubans — those on the island, that is, not in Miami. The American government will talk a good game, even inviting dissidents and their families to the White House. But then it enforces policies — the limit on family remittances, "wet-foot, dry-foot" — that add to the pain of the Cuban people. All the while, the dictatorship in Havana is as powerful as ever.

Here's another question. When will people start to notice?

Posted by: Marc R. Masferrer Saturday, September 20, 2008 at 03:07 PM