"Here's what she wanted me to grasp. Cuba, at the time of the revolution, was 'one of the most unjust, unequal and exploited societies on earth.' Illiteracy was running up to 40%, a quarter of the best land was in U.S. hands, and a corrupt bourgeoisie lorded it over everybody else." -- Roger Cohen, "The End of the End of the Revolution," New York Times Magazine, December 5, 2008
Roger Cohen tells us what a "top official at [Castro's] Ministry of Economics" wanted him to "grasp" and he grasps it with both hands, embraces and attempts to flesh out this enormity, which bears no relation to the facts except to contradict them. Mr. Cohen is a South African and we suppose that he would not so readily have believed a "a top official from [Botha's] Ministry of Economics" who assured him that apartheid was actually good for blacks from a socio-economic viewpoint. Cohen would have dismissed that as propaganda, though, as things turned out, blacks did in fact enjoy a higher standard of living in Botha's South Africa than in Mbeki's (and let's not even compare Mugabe's Zimbabwe to Ian Smith's Rhodesia). But whereas Cohen would have dismissed the claims of Botha's propagandist, he has no qualms about accepting those of Castro's. That kind of double-standard is not at all unusual for Cohen or for any scribe of the mainstream media.
He tells us elsewhere, without making the obvious connection to apartheid (which should be more obvious to him than to most), that Cubans were barred for 50 years from staying at "international hotels" before Raúl Castro saw fit to let them earlier this year (supposing they have a year's wages to spare for a night's stay). Where are these "international hotels" located? Madrid, Buenos Aires, New York? No, these "international hotels" are all in Cuba. So, in fact, they are not "international hotels" but national ones. It is in their own country that Cubans were prohibited from staying at, or even setting foot in, facilities and accommodations which were reserved for foreigners. Cuba's majority mixed population was excluded from venues reserved for the predominantly white tourists; but Cohen failed to grasp the class and racial implications of such a policy, which made Cubans second-class citizens in their own country as blacks were once in South Africa.
Now let us consider Cohen's "proof" for the claims of Elena Alvarez, his rapporteur at Castro's Ministry of Economics:
"Illiteracy was running up to 40%..."
According to the 1953 Census, Cuba had a illiteracy rate of 22 percent. This meant that 78% of Cuba's population could read and write. In 1953, this was the exact inverse of literacy rates in the Third World, where only 20 percent of the population was literate. Castro "Literacy Campaign" claims to have "alphabetized" 700,000 Cubans, or slightly more than 10 percent of the population at the time (6.6 million). If Cuba's illiteracy rate before the Revolution was indeed the 40% that Alvarez claims, then the Cuban Revolution left 30% of the population illiterate.
"A quarter of the best land was in U.S. hands..."
Which means that 75% of the "best lands" were in Cubans' hands before the Revolution. How much of the best land or any land is in their hands now? The regime's so-called Agrarian Reform confiscated landholdings without ever distributing one acre. For 50 years, Cuba's best lands were turned into communes or left uncultivated until Raúl Castro decided this year to allow Cubans to sharecrop fallow lands. Now would-be farmers can rent land which they are legally forbidden ever to own.
"A corrupt bourgeoisie lorded it over everybody else."
In Marxist Newspeak the bourgeoisie is always "corrupt" and always "lording it." We know, of course, that they are the engine of the economy and the key to a country's prosperity. Cuba once had the largest middle-class in Latin America. Castro preserved and expanded poverty in Cuba and created his own enclaves of the very rich and corrupt. But he completely decimated Cuba's middle class. This is why Cuba now vies with Haiti for the lowest GNP in the Western Hemisphere whereas before the Revolution it could boast the third-highest.
Bright and early today
ReplyDeletefantomas:
ReplyDeleteAre you speaking about yourself?
Then I am not so sure about that "bright."
Chef Manuel please cook my eggs sunny side up
ReplyDeleteMake it 3 eggs, Cuban coffee with it
ReplyDeleteManuel please come clean at once
ReplyDeleteHow many years did you live in Cuba under Castro dictatorship?
Manuel salio de Cuba echando el 4 de Enero de 1959
ReplyDeleteA Robitussin Weekend
ReplyDeleteI havent written about the DC trip as apparently, walking around in 40 degree, rainy weather for two days can lead to really bad colds. Whodathunkit?
Spent the entire weekend in bed with chills, fever, cold sweats, aches in places I didnt even know I had, non-stop sneezing and a major, major cough. Hopefully all the meds Ive taken these past three days will finally kick in and kick this cold's ass.
Posted by Val Prieto at 08:00 AM | Permanent Link to this Post | Habla (0)
Si no es comemierda, hace tremendo papelazo
fantomas:
ReplyDeleteAre you speaking about yourself?
Then I am not so sure about that "bright."
12/15/2008 7:22 AM
Manuel how do you know it is fantomas. Are you using the site meter wisely
Manuel, Like many nations around the world. Communism is also making a comeback in a Clinton liberated Bosnia. The last several days, I have been busy making phone calls, and sending care packages to my friends in Sarajevo, and Tulza. And i plan on going to visit there shortly.
ReplyDeleteGoogle: Fears of New Ethnic Conflict in Bosnia
Manuel, those of us that have been directly or indirectly affected by the communist filfth, recognize that Bush, for whatever reason, has allowed communist to regain their power around the world. This world-wide group, would of course exclude the Cuban-Americans, who still worship Bush. It will take another 40 years to undue Bush's neglect of communism.
Now specifically in regards to my application. I think my writing skills almost knocked me out of an Obama job. But i think my military service has kept me in. But the only thing about that is, i was told that there are literally tens of thousands of (current) military vets competing for service in an Obama adminstration. I think they have a more updated skill set then i do, and a lot more passion. As i wasnt lied into an unpopular war in Bosnia, as they were in Iraq. Therefore, they have a lot more anger, which is a good thing in this political climate that Bush has left the nation. So honestly, i say that i have about a 20-30% chance, not that good. Which is why i havent been running my mouth since i have been back. :) My next interview in Jan 4.
John you are Fired
ReplyDeleteVisit From the Christmas Spirit
ReplyDelete10 days to go ....
Thus far on these 12 days I've gotten:
3 - Pastelitos
2 - Punch Cigars (Rare Carojos)
and a beer.(Hatuey)
Posted by Cigar Mike at 10:17 AM | Permanent Link to this Post | Habla (0)
Things must be GREAT AND DANDY IN CUBA when on a monday morning the main post at babalu is about celebration and alcohol
Do these American cubans have a clue about the suffering of the cuban people
Do they really know what is like?
Anonymous,
ReplyDeleteThey do not give a damn.
Cohen calls himself a reporter, he prints heresay without finding out the facts, no wonder the likes of Mathews sank Cuba in the ocean, seems the Times reporters are still harming Cuba with their lies!
ReplyDeleteManuel A. Tellechea // Dec 15, 2008 at 1:02 pm
ReplyDeleteTodo tiene su explicación:
http://reviewofcuban-americanblogs.blogspot.com/2008/11/second-cuban-on-way-to-sainthood.html
If you cant beat them , join them
fantomas Dic 15, 2008
O sea que a 30 dias de que cierres tu blog ya te preparas para residdir en Penultimos
Dejame decirte algo, ahi se practica la censura. Y no solo hacia mi. Ya hay como 10 casos documentados
Maybe you can teach Ernestico el comandante en jefe de penultimos a couple of things about censorship
fantomas:
ReplyDeleteWhen I said that I would close RCAB on January 20, 2009, I meant also that I would retire permanently from all blogging activity, including commenting.
I may start a monthly Tellechea Report to be sent by e-mail to interested parties, but otherwise I will devote myself to less polemic and more creative activities.
Fantomas, not everyone resorts to fraudulent methods as yourself. Let's see... while living off welfare, aren't you also moonlighting as radio sidekick, thus leeching out the consumers and taxpayers? Be prepared to answer some questions really soon.
ReplyDeleteI may start a monthly Tellechea Report to be sent by e-mail to interested parties
ReplyDeleteI need your fix , please send me your e mails , i'm very much interested in your future work
I 'm working on my case study named
" The Tellechea Proyect"
thus leeching out the consumers and taxpayers
ReplyDeleteOur work is free, we do not get paid at the station . It is called Public Service for the Cuban people
Be prepared to answer some questions really soon.
hurry up
Tellechea you may want to duplicate our coment to Fantomas on the previous thread, wherein we tell the reason behind the banning of Fantomas at so many Cuban blogs, our comment is near the bottom of the thread as of this moment.
ReplyDeleteCJB-BCJ said...
ReplyDeleteTellechea you may want to duplicate our coment to Fantomas on the previous thread, wherein we tell the reason behind the banning of Fantomas at so many Cuban blogs, our comment is near the bottom of the thread as of this moment.
There is nothing I cant say or do at any CA blog that deserves being censored. those who apply censorship are doomed to fail miserably. Fantomas has his own style, it must be appreciated at all times, I must be revered @ any blog . I speak the truth in denouncing the dictatorship to those who want to listen . My main aim is not to speak to Cuban Americans . My primary targets are people who are still blind when it comes to Cuba
Tellechea you may want to duplicate our coment to Fantomas on the previous thread
ReplyDeletePlease Telleches duplicate it
Manuel:
ReplyDeleteI will be eagerly awaiting your Tellechea Report, will you be keeping the same e mail address?
The problem is that most people (including the Cubans) are passionate and sometimes to a fault.
ReplyDeleteCall it reverse engineering, 20/20 hindsight, revisionism or Orwellian. (MAT I know you must have hated "Homage to Catalonia" but he did do so well with "1984" and "Animal Farm"
To look at pre-Castro Cuba through rose colored glasses is wrong. Is Cuba better off today, maybe in some aspects but what price has been paid? Something tells me that once your mind (and I use that word loosely) is made up all of the above apply. "Las Botellas", "La Mafia" (running the Casinos because apparently the Cubans were a dishonest lot) is tragic. So let's not kid It wasn't it wasn't a lost horizon. It was an opportunity lost.
MAT I did not to imply YOUR mind I meant it in the collective we. You know I don't play those fanta mas games.
ReplyDeleteControl yourself Vana ...... oops ...... I mean, Mansuelo.
ReplyDeleteVana = Manuel Alberto Tellechea
Manuel Garzon = Angel Tellechea
-------WARNING WARNING-------------
ReplyDeleteDO NOT VISIT FANTOMAS BLOG-- YOU WILL GET HIJACK
Learn to write Esteban your titter-tatters are ok for 3rd grade but not for the adult readers, por favór.
ReplyDeleteVal Prieto se cagó fuera del cajón, fué a DC con ropa de Miami, que bruto es este guajiro, ahora se queja de que cojió un catarro pero en tan barato que en lugár de ir a ver un medico prefiere Robittussin, el jarabe del ghetto.
ReplyDeleteOh!!! my not so favorite fruit, coje pinta.
ReplyDeleteAt least I don't have to hide behind a small seed sack.
I think you wish you'd like titters but to get them you can't dress in tatters (if you get my third grade meaning...not that it matters). But I wasn't talking to you. That's why MAT is to be respected he's got a pair. POBRE DIABLO QUE PENA MR DAS.
Next time Anon you supply the KY
ReplyDeleteHey colvert you must be retarded ...... oops ...... I mean SPECIAL ...... go and comment at Estrada Palma's blog, he loves retards ...... oops, I did it again ...... I mean SPECIAL kids like you, Don Dominguez and his pre-K mind will feel happy with a play buddy of the same IQ as his, go ahead child, go there.
ReplyDeleteSeñoras y Señores en español por favor, el idioma que hablamos casi todos los cubanos.
ReplyDeleteesteban colvert:
ReplyDeleteThe mob may have run some of the casinos in Cuba but it didn't run Cuba. Nor was tourism the mainstay of the Cuban economy. In fact, only 65,000 tourists visited Cuba annually before the Revolution. The U.S. in the 1950s could (and did) impact Cuba negatively, but from without not within.
Cubans, for better or worse, governed their own country, and whatever the faults of their leaders, progress was the hallmark of the Republic before Castro came to power.
Cuba was a paradise. Those who saw it are not deluded. It is only those who never saw it who refuse to believe it.
But, then again, can one blame doubters with the spectacle which now meets their eyes?
Llegue
ReplyDeleteI saw her in all her glory, I'm not deluded, Cuba was a paradise, that is the reason we long for her and want her to become what she once was, or better.
ReplyDeleteI saw her in all her glory, I'm not deluded, Cuba was a paradise, that is the reason we long for her and want her to become what she once was, or better.
ReplyDeleteVana por favor pon los pies sobre la tierra, es su gente lo que hace la diferencia y lo que ha producido la revolucion no se asemeja en nada a la Cuba pre 1959
Si vas ahora no duras un minuto alli, piensa que encontraras algo parecido a haiti , a somalia
No existe la etica , los valores, el honor , no hay educacion , religion, el pais completo necesita un overhaul que por lo menos tardara 2 o 3 generaciones a aparte de que los comunistas no tienen ningun interes de rendirse
Vana por favorrrrrrrrrrr basta ya de hablar sandeces, quitese los zapatos, ponga los pies sobre la tierra pero recuerde NUNCA nunca se los tire por la cabeza a nuestro presidente
When did you leave Cuba Vana?
ReplyDeleteHow old were you when you left?
We are not trying to be PITA, just curious. Thanks.
If Fantomas is right, then how come there are decent people in Cuba that are members of the disidence and opposition to the Castros and their lacayos?
ReplyDeleteExplain them Fantomas.
Fantomas = Don Royceroy
ReplyDeleteDon Royceroy = Supplicant Retard
Supplicant Retard = Estrada Palma's Toy Retard
Estrada Palma = 9/11 "Truthers"
9/11 Truthers = 9/11 Whack Jobs
9/11 Whack Jobs = Estrada Palma
OK, I see that I missed the fun of the last few days, as Vana would say "Se soltó el solar"
ReplyDeleteI'll be back.
Muy buenos dias tengan todos.
ReplyDeleteFantomas said...
ReplyDeleteBabalu Represent us all
We should be grateful
God bless them , all of them, the entire Babalu Club
I can't wait for Val memoirs in DC
It will become a best seller in South F
Viva Val and don't forget to fill the tilt, it is almost empty now
December 15, 2008 1:33 PM
CJB
ReplyDeleteI was eleven and a half when I left, I had a wonderful childhood in Havana, the family always together specially during holidays, any and everything you wanted to eat, at the beach club every weekend, in the summer almost every day, then the robolution arrived everything ended the family divided food rationing began, ah yes I remember it well!
Angel Garzón said...
ReplyDeleteOK, I see that I missed the fun of the last few days, as Vana would say "Se soltó el solar"
I'll be back.
SO... YOU COME HERE FOR FUN
Cucarachon de Oriente said...
ReplyDeletetu lo que eres es un tremendo chivaton
Esa informacion no era para aqui
Piensa porque dije eso alli , piensalo nada mas, use common sense
lol
Como gozo con todos ustedes
If Fantomas is right, then how come there are decent people in Cuba that are members of the disidence and opposition to the Castros and their lacayos?
ReplyDeleteExplain them Fantomas
You dont have to be a dissident to be a decent person . there are decent communists in Cuba as well IM SURE ...unfortunately I dont know any of them
They too are Cuban all right
What i was trying to say is that revolution has suppressed any kind of morals in the cuban society
When you have to sell your body to get a pair of jeans or a shampoo bottle then there is a mayor problem in said society
When you have to steal or kill an animal to feed your family, when you have to have 2 faces wherever you go, la doble moral. there is problem.. It will take more than 40 years or maybe never to obtained what Vana had before the revolution
FOLKS CUBA BEFORE CASTRO CAN ONLY BE IN OUR DREAMS .. IT IS GONE ...AÑORANZA NADA MAS..DEJEMOS LA NOSTALGIA A UN LADO ..ESOS TIEMPOS JAMAS VOLVERAN ..PORQUE LA CALIDAD DE LA GENTE NO ES LA MISMA , NI SERA JAMAS ....AUN SI MAÑANA SE ACABA EL COMUNISMO NO PODRA SER NADA IGUAL
ENTIENDAN ESTO PLEASE
SE LOS PIDO DE CORAZON
IT IS NOT THE COUNTRY OR THE ENTITIES ...it is the people...... la gente....
Fantomas,
ReplyDeleteCHIVATO TU ABUELA
lol
Deja de estar posandote en todas parte como una mosca barata.
Fantomas said:
ReplyDelete"When you have to sell your body to get a pair of jeans or a shampoo bottle"
We know you don't need shampoo. But, how many pair of jeans do you own?
Putica barata.
lol
Cucarachon de Oriente said...
ReplyDeleteFantomas,
CHIVATO TU ABUELA
lol
putica barata...
Oye aseron buscate otra cosa mejor...y apunta esto...Hay fantomas para largo
Cuando tu vienes ya yo he ido 10 veces
y dime tu ahora, que has hecho por Cuba en los ultimos 30 minutos?
lol , ahora mismo estoy destornillao de la risa
mi abuela te manda besitos , chocolaticos y muchos cucuruchitos de mani
Deja de estar posandote en todas parte como una mosca barata.
ReplyDelete12/15/2008 9:31 PM
Con todos los Censuradores que existen hoy dia
EL COMANDANTE EN JEFE DE BARCELONa
EL TOMADOR DE ROBITUSIN
Y EL PORTUGUES
YA CASI NO TENGO DONDE POSARME
y despues del 20 tengo una flor menos para chupar el nectar con la partida de Mr Mansuelo T
Al paso que voy me quedare sin comentar y tendre que quedarme solito y aburrido en mi propio blog
donde solo entran 10 personas diarias
que aburrido pobrecito de yo
"ahora mismo estoy destornillao de la risa"
ReplyDeleteLOL
Que quieres decir? Se te estan callendo mas tornillos del coco. Los pocos que te quedaban estaban sueltos.
lol lol lol
-------------------------------
PS: Abre tu blog dejanos comentar sin censura---- hiiiiiipocritaaaaa
Panic in Bububulandia
ReplyDeleteLatest posts
comments
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Are the Bubulu readers on Holyday vacations?
PS: Abre tu blog dejanos comentar sin censura---- hiiiiiipocritaaaaa
ReplyDeleteEsta abierto
todo , todo lo que escribas sale sin miedo
Haz la p´rueba
SAY NO CENSORSHIP..VENGA DE DONDE VENGA DE CUBA , DE ESPAÑA O DE USA
MUERTE A LOS CENSURADORES
ReplyDelete"Esta abierto
ReplyDeletetodo , todo lo que escribas sale sin miedo
Haz la p´rueba"
NO WAY Joseph. DONT WANT TO GET HIJACK.
Entonces no entres nadie te obliga , total si lo que se dice alli no vale la pena
ReplyDeletedont lose a thing pasa la pagina y muevete
No soy palma, si me coges virao te hago trizas
en otras palabaras
ReplyDeleteArrea pa chivirico
MANI MANI el manisero se'ba
ReplyDeleteFantomitas no te acuestes a dormir sin chuparle el cucurucho a perucho.
LOL
"No soy palma, si me coges virao te hago trizas"
ReplyDeleteQue quieres decir? Are you saying that Estrada-Palma es un penco ?
Fantomitas no te acuestes a dormir sin chuparle el cucurucho a perucho.
ReplyDeleteLOL
Perucho, ese es el masajista de Manuel
Que quieres decir? Are you saying that Estrada-Palma es un penco ?
ReplyDeleteEso lo dices tu..Estrada is Estrada
he is a cool guy
And Mr Royce is smoking on BTR
el Cable encendido, no lo toques son 7654 kilowatts de voltaje
Be back in a few minutes
ReplyDeleteYeah Vana, what you've described is what life was like for most Cubans, at least for those of us that lived in the cities, not being familiar with what life was like in the montes, it'd be best to hear about it from those who lived there, but your memories are familiar ones, we experienced similar lives, thank you Vana, it was very nice of you to answer the questions.
ReplyDeleteCJB-BCJ said...
ReplyDeleteesas memorias de Vana son cosas del pasado..por favor vamos a a aceptar la realidad ..Esa Cuba que vana conocio ya murio..
lo de ahora es otra cosa ..pongamos los pies sobre la tierra
La cuba de hoy ninguno de ustedes la conocen
CJB-BCJ said...
ReplyDeletedejate de estar comiendo mierda
Habla claro CJB
Fantomas is talking to himself again, he went to get the Thorazine, even los locarios know when their crazyness gets too crazy even for themselves.
ReplyDeleteI need someone to challenge my intelect o me voy
ReplyDeleteMe estoy aburriendo ya
Someone say something intelligent por favor
he went to get the Thorazine,
ReplyDeleteNo hombre me fui a buscar unos casquitos de guayaba con queso crema y ahora me lo estoy comiendo mientras hablo contigo
"I need someone to challenge my intelect o me voy"
ReplyDeleteTe vas a caminar las calles del viejo San Juan. Te esperan tus clientes.
Si vivo en la perla, old san juan me queda cerca
ReplyDeleteVamos muchachos -- tenemos que ronper el record de 600 comments--
ReplyDeleteLOS 700 VAN
LOS 700 VAN
me voy para mi blog tengo que hacer algo ahi voy a poner un audio de companioni
ReplyDeletecheck it out
What Cuba was it can become again but even better Fantomas, nobody said that we expect or want Cuba to become what it was pre-1959, that is the foundation for a new and improved Cuba.
ReplyDeleteWhat Cuba was it can become again but even better Fantomas
ReplyDeleteEn este sentido soy pesimista. Para que eso ocurra tendran que morir las generaciones de hoy dia
Ni tu ni yo veremos eso
that is the foundation for a new and improved Cuba.
ReplyDelete12/15/2008 10:49 PM
Con lo que hay alli ahora no se puede hacer ningun foundation
Limpieza total. Son los cubanos que no han nacido todavia alli los que podran hacer algo. Esto es pa largo señores. No se vistan que no van. no vamos. y si vamos Regresamos. porque lo que encontraremos alli sera de Oinga
CJB
ReplyDeleteYou are welcome.
Vana usted vive en San Jose or San lorenzo, California?
ReplyDeleteEn Highland
ReplyDeletethanks dear
ReplyDeleteHow is your doggy?
I bet your doggy does not need a libreta
ReplyDeleteBehave yourselves Fantomasssss, we have people keeping tabs on you 24/7, remember that.
ReplyDeleteThe Babalusians seem rudderless of late, Henry Gomez's posts barely get any comments, George Moneo's appear more and more focused on his sexual proclivities and profane drunken persona, Alberto de la Cruz is posting material that is dated, Cigar Mike dreams of booze and smokes at 6:00 in the morning, the only posts worthy of commentary and readership are from Ruth, Martica and Claudia, they should be in charge, this situation is reminiscent of the scene in Aliens when Ripley tells Hudson that "this little girl (Newt) survived longer than that (17 days) with no weapons and no training" and he (Hudson) replies "Why don't we put her (Newt) in charge?"
ReplyDeleteesas memorias de Vana son cosas del pasado..por favor vamos a a aceptar la realidad ..Esa Cuba que vana conocio ya murio..
ReplyDeletelo de ahora es otra cosa ..pongamos los pies sobre la tierra
La cuba de hoy ninguno de ustedes la conocen
Best Fantomas line by far
Thanks KY you should use your jelly more often, it will be less painfull (so I've heard...since I've never been in prison). Don't be such a bitter boy I wasn't even talking to you. You could learn much from MAT. I don't know if he's got a long nose but Cyrano like rapier wit would be his "nom d'plume" and you not so much!
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