The Silence of the Lamb

Not a bleat from Val Prieto about his much-heralded trip to Washington for the Bloggers' Summit hosted by George Bush. The photograph which he posted as a "teaser" is not only worth one thousand words but stands in lieu of one thousand words. In the 5 days that have lapsed since his meeting with President Bush, Val has commented on other matters but been unable to collect his thoughts sufficiently to write about the most seminal event of his life. Of course, nothing compels him to do so except his own promise that he would. Whether he fancies himself Bush's ambassador to the Cuban community or our community's ambassador to Washington, the fact is that he is neither. His meeting was of a strictly private character. If what was said there (if anything) is too embarrassing to himself or Bush to repeat, or he has no recollection of what transpired because he was "indisposed" before or after the meeting, Val is under no obligation to report on his own disgrace (if disgrace it was).

But his failure to do so does imply that something went terribly wrong in the White House for Val. We are not to suppose, however, that he said or did anything to challenge Bush on human rights or otherwise strike a discordant note in these convivial proceedings. Perhaps that is the rub: his own cravenness in the face of authority does not live up to his own image of himself or that which he desires others to have of him. It is highly embarrassing for Val to declare himself our "representative" and then fail to represent us. Then there may be a recording or transcript of the meeting which cannot be gainsaid: even the apprehension that such might exist would be sufficient deterrent against him inventing fanciful scenarios that place him at the center of things or at least in a flattering light. There appears to be very little wiggling room between Val's "truth" and the truth, and wiggling is not that easy for him nowadays.