Tuesday, September 9, 2008

Babalú to the Cuban People: "Let Them Eat Cake"

Babalú's position on family remittances is reprehensible. It was so before the hurricanes struck but now it amounts to genocidal intent. My endless taunts finally got Val to retire his "pressure cooker" for rendering humans (specifically Cubans), but though he does not use that metaphor anymore, the intent is the same because for him hurricanes are natural "pressure cookers." Val wants to increase, not lessen, the misery of the Cuban people in the hope that they will rise against their oppressors sans arms, sans food, sans everything. He has said in the past that all that is needed for Cuba to be free is for Cubans to "grow balls" and be willing to fill if not "rivers of blood" then at least "pools of blood." For Val this is not a time to help Cubans live but to let them die.

Since the regime will not allow as much as a nail to enter Cuba without its countenance, and the only means available of sending assistance to the island is through remittances, it is disingenuous to oppose the latter in favor of an alternative which doesn't exist. In fact, this is the modern-day equivalent of "Let them eat cake." If Marie-Antoinette really said that it was because she was naive not cynical. But the Babalunians are not in the least naive:

"Let's face it, folks, castro is not going to allow humanitarian organizations into Cuba to assist disaster relief. castro Depot is not going to allow "charity" from neighboring states it does not see eye to eye with. castro Depot is not going to allow its own people to coordinate their own relief efforts. castro Depot is not going to allow the Cuban people to receive, directly, humanitarian donations from abroad." -- Val Prieto, "Castro Depot," Babalú, Sept. 9, 2008

And again:

"Cuba does not allow these [humanitarian] organizations to come in and help the population, no matter how dire the circumstances, no matter how deadly the consequences. The Cuban government [sic] simply does not allow it. Period." -- Val Prieto, "And Speaking of Money...," Babalú, Sept. 8, 2008

And here is Gusano acknowledging the same thing:

"What needs to happen is international pressure for the Cuban regime to allow international aid to flow directly to the victims through internationally sanctioned agencies like the Red Cross. But the regime will never allow the Red Cross in Cuba. The only Red Cross in Cuba is the one that all Cubans are forced to carry on their backs." -- Gusano, "More Hurricane Food (for Thought)," Babalú, Sept. 9, 2008

Val and Gusano are both right. The Castro regime will never relieve the Cuban people of the cross that it has laid on their shoulders nor allow a Simon to help them bear it. Their 50-year via crucis will not be interrupted because of humanitarian concerns. The regime is deaf to all such appeals of conscience. But because it is deaf does not mean that we have to be. The Revolution's position is consistent with its history. Abandoning our countrymen to their fate, however, is not consistent with ours. For 50 years, Cuban exiles have been the only lifeline of our people. To withhold assistance at the hour of their greatest need in order to exert pressure on those who are unmoved by their plight accomplishes nothing except to make us accomplices to their desolation.

Not only does Babalú oppose a moratorium on present restrictions on remittances, it actually supports what amounts to a moratorium on aid from exiles to their Cuban brethren at least for "the first few weeks" of the crisis while they wait for emergency assistance from countries and international organizations which Val and Gusano have already admitted will never reach them:

"Let me make this crystal clear: sending some money to Cuba will undoubtedly help. There's no question about that. But for the first few weeks -- the first or two weeks even -- after a hurricane, there is no use for money [emphasis mine]. What the people affected by the storm need is food, water, medical supplies, clothes, shelter... you know, emergency supplies." -- Val Prieto, "Cuba Depot," Ibid

The first weeks are the most crucial in recovering from the effects of a hurricane. Yet it is precisely during that time that Val suggests Cubans will have "no use for money." What they will need then is "emergency supplies." But where are these "emergency supplies" to come from? Does he believe that the Castro regime will meet the needs of the Cuban people? Well, actually, yes:

"Ladies and gentlemen, if you were thinking about donating to some hurricane relief effort in Cuba or sending money to those in the affected areas, hold on to your cash. The following report proves that, as the saying goes, en Cuba no falta nada!" -- Val Prieto, "Milk for Babies!!!!!," Babalú, Sept. 9, 2008

So now we should trust the regime to do what is in the best interest of the Cuban people and rely on its assurances that it is supplying all their essential needs. Well, if the assurances of Castro's henchmen are enough to assuage Val's concern, such as it is, I would not be surprised. I suppose that this might also be a joke, which would make it marginally less offensive than if spoken in earnest; but hardly indicative of genuine solicitude in any case.

When Babalú reprinted Yoani Sánchez's latest post from Generación Y ("Scorched Earth," Sept. 9), where she writes that "the most viable initiative is for family members abroad to send cash to their relatives in Cuba," Val felt obliged to place his own coletilla attesting to the fact that her views on hurricane relief do not have his personal imprimatur lest anyone assume that reproducing her column implied an endorsement of her position on remittances:

"I must disagree with Yoani. The most viable initiative is not sending cash, but getting the Cuba government to allow humanitarian and relief organizations and agencies into the island [which] bring with them the infrastructure to distribute aid and repair Cuba's infrastructure on their own."

How exactly does Val propose to "get" the Castro regime to allow such assistance? He does not say. Certainly his optimism in this instance contradicts his previously stated position: "The Cuban government simply does not allow it. Period." It also contradicts his position after commenting on Yoani's post: "Let's face it, folks, castro is not going to allow humanitarian organizations into Cuba to assist disaster relief."

By now you have probably arrived at the same conclusion as I have: Val Prieto's only concern is to limit cash remittances to Cuba. He relies on President Bush for that; and on Castro himself to see to it that no humanitarian assistance makes it to Cuba from relief organizations. These are the necessary conditions for Val's pressure cooker and his excitement is great indeed at the prospect of its being turned on. If he could blog up another storm, he would. A week or two is all he hopes will be required under such optimal conditions. There's only one little problem with Val's pressure cooker. As Charlie Bravo once observed: "The theory of the pressure cooker worked wonders in Nazi Germany, Stalinist Russia, and North Korea. Everybody got cooked inside it, and it never exploded."

24 comments:

Anonymous said...

TheCuban American National Foundation believes in direct help. I wonder if this will demonize even more Jorge Mas Santos and Joe Garcia. They are talking the talk and also walking the walk.

Manuel A.Tellechea said...

charlie:

If true "patriotism" now consists of starving the Cuban people, then there has been a curious synthesis between Castro's henchmen and some of his putative enemies in this country.

I'm glad that Jorge Más Santos and Joe García are on the right side of this issue, but they are on the wrong side as regards Obama. That is one "hurricane," at least, that the Cuban people may yet be spared.

Fantomas said...

la visita de un familiar en el exilio a Cuba ahora es esencial..ellos pueden llevar dentro de sua maletas lo suficiente para que se repongan , si esto es permitido quien se beneficia

el pueblo

quien pierde fidel

2+2 =4 ..no pare mas

charlie ..no se si el gobierno cubano permita productos musicales... ellos saben que eso es para gorki..bobos no son

comida, agua , ropa y zapatos , shampoo , jabones, pasta de diente , tylenol, es lo esencial ahora

Fantomas said...

La fundacion duplicaria la ayuda de 250k a 500k

Gloria Estefan y Emilio donan 25k de su propio dinero

Vana said...

Charlie:

I too am glad that CANF is not siding with the hardliners.

Anonymous said...

I guess Emilio and Gloria could have used that 25K for dog grooming.

Fantomas said...

Vana do not side much with la fundacion mira que ellos son Obamistas ahora

Fantomas said...

I guess Emilio and Gloria could have used that 25K for dog grooming

25 k eso es una cuarta parte de lo que ofrecio Bush

Gloria is my hero

Fantomas said...

GRACIAS DE TODO CORAZÓN!

(9-10-08-7:30PM)

La respuesta abrumadora a la llamada hecha por varios órganos, entre ellos este diario digital, para llevar la ayuda para los damnificados de Cuba, a través de la Hijas de La Caridad, ha sido de tal envergadura que nos ha conmovido. Desde anoche que publicamos el editorial llamando al exilio a responder al llamado de las monjitas, nuestro teléfono no descansó, y aun esta noche sigue sonando. Hemos perdido la voz de tanto contestar el teléfono. Hacía tiempo que no nos sentíamos tan confortados, como en estas últimas horas.

A los buenos amigos que nos sugieren que abramos un centro de recolección, les respondemos, que no creemos que sea necesario. No hay que dispersar el esfuerzo, sino unificarlo. En Nuevo Acción no buscamos protagonismo. Todo el que quiera donar, que lo lleve o lo mande con alguien al 500 N.W. 63 Ave, aquí en la Ciudad de Miami. Allí están Las Hijas de la Caridad y los voluntarios que las ayudan. No dispersemos los esfuerzos. Si alguien quiere cooperar personalmente, aparte de donar, puede ir hasta allí y brindarse de voluntario para ayudar en las labores de recogida y empaque de la ayuda.

La consigna ahora es: No más demoras. No más excusas. No más vueltas. Pasado mañana salen los dos primeros contenedores para Cuba. Otros deben seguir inmediatamente. En la 5 y la 63 del N.W. late el corazón generoso del exilio prudente, que no provoca, que no incita a romper la ley. Vuelque su amor por su pueblo allí. Lo esperan las Hijas de la Caridad y la Cuba imperecedera, que hoy clama por sus hijos, por encima de bastardas ambiciones y de partidismos infecundos, y que espera que su pueblo, comience a despertar y a exigir sus derechos de una vez y por todas.

Nuevo Accion

Anonymous said...

La cuarta parte de mierda.

Fantomas said...

Desde que yo vivo aquí, hace más de 20 años, nunca vi algo parecido, esto es inusual», le dijo un poblador a la periodista.

Esta sorpresa hídrica obligaba a desarrollar variantes al Consejo de Defensa Municipal, un órgano experto en lidiar con situaciones similares, porque otras zonas de este territorio tan bajo se anegan a menudo.

Para revalidar esta afirmación la víspera permanecían incomunicados por las inundaciones los barrios de El Pontón, Saladillo, Las Ovas, Yuraguanal, El Palmar, Las Mayitas, Cañadones y dos del Cauto Cristo limítrofes con Río Cauto: La Mascota y Aguacate.

Precisamente en este lugar tuvo que producirse el miércoles otro rescate. Más de 50 personas, desobedeciendo disposiciones previas, quedaron en un lugar inseguro y cuando se vieron con el agua al cuello —es decir, a la cintura— pidieron auxilio. Integrantes de la Cruz Roja las sacaron del aprieto.

Anonymous said...

It has been reported that Val Prieto donated chickens and coconuts to the relief effort.

Anonymous said...

Val claims, that Cubans have no balls? Hey Val, tell that to the Bay of Pig veterans...


P.S.

And make sure you tell this to their faces, at least the surviving members.

Anonymous said...

George moneo arrested

The Baggy Pants Posse
Florida cops crack down on droopy shorts and trousers
SEPTEMBER 11--Last week we brought word of the arrest of Kenneth Smith, a Florida man busted for wearing baggy pants that exposed his boxer shorts. Well, it turns out that the Riviera Beach cops have been rather diligent in enforcing a new city ordinance targeting droopy shorts and trousers, according to police reports. Since officers began their crackdown last month, they have arrested at least 11 other baggy pants perps (of that group, two are juveniles). Below you'll find mug shots of eight of the other nine arrestees, aged between 18 and 36. As seen in a series of Riviera Beach Police Department probable cause affidavits, each of the males was nabbed after officers determined that low-slung pants or shorts had resulted in the exposure of between two and five inches of the individual offender's boxer shorts. While most of the busts occurred without incident, a few of the arrestees appeared bewildered that they were being arrested for a trouser-related offense. One of the juveniles, in fact, cursed out Officer J. Thornton and said, according to one affidavit, "Your a cracker and ain't got shit better to do." First-time violators of ordinance 12-3043 face a fine of up to $150. Repeat offenders could be sentenced to a maximum of 30 days in jail. (12 pages)

TSG TV: Nearly 50 new clips, from mind-bending drugs to

Anonymous said...

Val Prieto AND BABALUSIANS ARE LESS CUBAN OR CUBAN BALL LESS

THEY ARE REALLY AMERICANS ..NOT CUBANS...THEIR PARENTS ARE CUBANS THATS IT

HE DEDICATES SEVERAL POSTS TO SEPT 11

GUSTAV AND IKE POST AID TO CUBA = O

Anonymous said...

Where is Alex Hernandez?

Has anyone seen the pretty boy

Anonymous said...

Gloria Stefan donation to Cuba hurricane relief effort 25k

Val Prieto donation to Cuba hurricane relief effort 0

Val Prieto campaign to finish his kitchen, received funds so far= $250

Anonymous said...

Cubans in cuba have no food


Have no money to buy food


CURRENT BABALU MAIN POST AS OF 1.15 PM

FOOD RECETAS, CUBAN IN THE ISLAND CAN ONLY DREAM TO ACHIEVE

Anonymous said...

Que descarao es Val Prieto y la posse que lo sigue
Y todavia hay gente que sigue a este falso profeta
BURROS

Anonymous said...

Se sigue burlando Val del sufrimiento del pueblo de Cuba ahora habla del niquel y que tendremos que enviarles mas dinero a cuba los exiliados de miami

Pregunta

si Val tuviera en cuba a su querida madre que el tanto ama y a su viejito que es tan bueno ..tendria Val la misma posicion con su gente de bayamo

Manuel A.Tellechea said...

anonymous:

It is not necessary to have family in Cuba in order to be concerned about the survival of our people. In fact, you don't even have to be Cuban. It is enough (or should be) to belong to the family of man.

Anonymous said...

Manuel, why no comment on the $100,000 in US Gov. aid?

From what I've heard, if millions of dollars in aid doesn't get there soon we could have 100,000s of rafters living under the highways again.

Who knows, another Tony Montana might run wild in Miami again.

Manuel A.Tellechea said...

anonymous:

The U.S. is free to offer as much or as little to Cuban relief as it sees fit. Whatever it offers will be rejected by the Castro regime as was the $100,000.

Fantomas said...

China offered 300k

Nuff Said