Cubans Come in Quiet Flood

A new wave of exiles, larger than the one that came in Mariel, is adapting to a new life as immigrants, quietly reshaping the Miami area. There's a video that accompanies the online package.

http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/15010041.htm

Comments

[John Longfellow aka Lou Dobbs]

Well, for starters, the newly arrived Cubans, surely will get called commies because they are not vocal supporters of Bush.

Second, i hope they dont get in my face and accuse me of being a commie, because im a Democrat.

Third, Hialeah was run by a Democratic mayor for generations. I forget his name now. Nevertheless, he had the spirit of a humanist. He often quoted MLK. Quote, "always help the least among us." The bible is repleat with that passage.

Kind of a liberal mentality, however. So it must be communist.

[Val Prieto]

Oscar,

Thanks. This is a great piece.

[John Longfellow aka Lou Dobbs]

Ah, it speaks!!

[Manuel A. Tellechea]

OSCAR CORRAL:

WHAT HAPPENED TO THE THREAD THAT YOU POSTED EARLIER THIS MORNING CONCERNING THE BRUTALIZATION OF CUBAN REFUGEES BY THE U.S COAST GUARD? IT HAS "MYSTERIOUSLY" DISAPPEARED AND LEFT NO TRACE IN ITS WAKE.

A YEAR AGO, I STOPPED COMMENTING ON BABALÚBLOG PRECISELY BECAUSE VAL PRIETO ROUTINELY PRACTICED THE SAME "SLIGHT OF HAND." IF YOU WANT TO FASHION YOUR OWN REALITY THEN DON'T INVITE GUESTS TO INTRUDE ON YOUR MONOLOGUE.

I HOPE TO SEE THAT THREAD RESTORED TODAY. IF IT IS NOT, I SHALL HAVE NO RECOURSE BUT TO GO ELSEWHERE.

[gansibele]

Very nice article Oscar. Te la comiste.

And happy birthday to our friend Tellechea.

[eusko4]

re: quiet exodus

great piece, glad to see it called an exodus instead of an exile. this current crop of new immigrants are NOT political exiles. my parents left in 1962 for political reasons and as such that entire generation were the true exiles. reading the comments the article subjects made (regarding the bad water, bad food etc) they are ECONOMIC migrants. this is a critical difference and should force a close re-examination of the cuban adjustment act which was made for POLITICAL exiles.

P Cepillo
Bilbao, Spain

[Alfonso Beal]

This is a typical Herald propaganda piece to drive a wedge between Cuban Americans.
The writer omitted addressing some major issues, including:
These emigres have a difficult time succeeding because all their savings are squandered on remittances and phone calls to their relatives in Cuba.
What are the criminal statistics on these people? Have many of them have continued pilfering at work or comitting crimes?
This kind of reporting is more fit for a high school paper.

[John Longfellow aka Lou Dobbs]

Alfonso wrote: What are the criminal statistics on these people? Have many of them have continued pilfering at work or comitting crimes?
This kind of reporting is more fit for a high school paper

These cuban refugees are criminals? Sounds like a racist conservative republican. Perhaps, a right wing militant Cuban. Who knows, it is very difficult to tell them apart.

[a thought...]

We have a lot of immigrants coming here, Cuban and otherwise, who commit crimes, petty and otherwise. For some of these people, that is a way of life. That is not a racist statement, it is a fact. If you are from wherever and you have always stolen, you will come here and continue in that fashion.

Eusko4 brings up a good point: there is a difference between political exiles and economic migrants. A lot of Cubans that are coming today are coming because (to quote someone I was speaking to over the weekend) "le pico el hambre" (John, it means that hunger finally got to them) as opposed to disagreeing with Castro. A lot of the old-school Cubans believe that these people were fine and content in Cuba until they were finally affected by Castro's rationing program.

So, let's discuss: Are these new Cubans coming over because they disagree with Castro or because they are having economic issues?

Here's my opinion (and you know what they say about those...): I think that maybe some could not get out earlier and are doing so now. I am also not naive enough to believe they all disagree with Castro. I believe some were absolutely fine with staying home and not having to work to earn a living until finally they realized they couldn't live on the rationing program. I also think that these might (ironically) be the first Cubans to go back to Cuba once Fidel leaves. They haven't been in this country long enough to establish roots, financially and socially, and therefore have no qualms about returning to what they see as their home. It will be much harder for the exiles that came in the Mariel boatlift to return and even more difficult for the "first" wave that came in the 60s. My own family has 46 years invested here and Mariel is now 26 years gone. For some, those are lifetimes. I believe some that did come in those previous eras will return, if maybe to expand businesses that they have started here or to start businesses that they can manage from here. If I had the cash, I would certainly invest in some businesses in Cuba. Yes, I am a capitalist pig.

I await all my fellow bloggers take on this. John, I especially want to hear your thoughts.

[Alfonso Beal]

Mr. Longfellow, who hides behind the alias of the anti-immigrant Lou Dobbs, is intolerant of anyone disagreeing with Mr. Corral, almost to the point that it seems that this is an alias of the cub reporter defending himself.

[CubanHellRaiser]

Oye,Comemierda LongAssFellow miss me, I am back to bust your so-called balls..Hahaha I have been so busy lately I have had hardly any time to post, or help answer questions for Longassfellow immature mind. Funny thing is when you have nothing to do this blog comes to mind. By the way Oscar great article.Hey, Longfellow sorry, man but your Blow-Up Doll Girlfriend is Not Marriage Material.Don't be in a rush to wed your blow-up doll girlfriend, Judy...Stay Tuned..I shall Return.

[John Longfellow aka Lou Dobbs]

This self-loathing dumbass Cuban Chicano named Alfonso Beal wrote:

Mr. Longfellow, who hides behind the alias of the anti-immigrant Lou Dobbs, is intolerant of anyone disagreeing with Mr. Corral, almost to the point that it seems that this is an alias of the cub reporter defending himsel

First, Lou Dobbs is anti illegal alien. You should be proud of him, he is a conservative republican, whom you vote for. Additionally, he is making CNN conservative, instead of liberal. Yes, he is making millions of liberals concerned about Spanish-speaking immigrant invasion.

Second, you say that im the cub reporter named Corral? LOL, i swear you Cuban Chicanos are stupid sons of bitches. I dont defend Corral, because i like him. Rather, i attack those babologue bloggers like yourself, because i hate all you sons of bitches.

You come in here and state that all the Cubans are criminals. And of course A.T. is easily lead by the nose in silly right wing militant agreement. (A.T. is very intelligent, but there are times that she very impressionable, like a young child, perhaps very easy in her high school years.) Nevertheless, you can expect for someone to take offense to your racist and vicious labeling an entire ethnic group as criminals. Shame on both you and A.T., for posting that the entire Cuban-American population are nothing but loathsome criminals. Perhaps, Alfonso, you have some self-loathing issues there. And, A.T. shame on you for persistence on being a right wing lemming. Yes, shame on both of you.

P.S.

I like calling people bigots and racist.

[a thought...]

I wrote:
We have a lot of immigrants coming here, Cuban and otherwise, who commit crimes, petty and otherwise. For some of these people, that is a way of life. That is not a racist statement, it is a fact. If you are from wherever and you have always stolen, you will come here and continue in that fashion.

Where, out of that post, did John get that I posted "the entire Cuban-American population are nothing but loathsome criminals?"

John, you are ranting again. And I am not lead by the nose. If I were, I would join in the name-calling and the insults that fellow bloggers hurl your way. I am not a "right-wing lemming". I am tired of you posting comments that I purportedly made and then berating me on them. So, since you chose (once again) to give me credit for some odious statement I didn't make, I am forced to defend myself again.

I leave you to your devices, John, and at the mercy of my fellow bloggers. Our past relationship is just that....past. Buh-bye, now.

Nonee, where are you and ADT on this subject? The new Cubans, I mean, not my issues with John.

[Alfonso Beal]

A thought,
I never reply to cretins who hide behind aliases, especially when they suspiciously defend slanted reporting.
All I am going to say is that Beal is NOT a Cuban last name.

[a thought...]

Welcome to the Jungle, Alfonso. Please don't feed the animals....

[John Longfellow aka Lou Dobbs]

A.T.

Sugah, "past" relationship? What did i do that was so wrong to you? All i said is that it "appeared" that you were saying that the newly arrived immigrants have a history of being criminals. And yes it is true that you often are lead by the nose by fellow cubans.

Additionally, i am not surprised that you appear snobish at times to me. Not all of grew up in a mansion in Cuba, which is so large that it doubles as Embassy.

[nonee moose]

First, I must rise in defense of AT's virtual virtue, which was virtually besmirched by loujohn. I will therefore execute a virtual slapping of his virtual face with my virtual gauntlet, and thereby demand virtual satisfaction. Which by the way, for loujohn will be virtually impossible to give--- he has not satisfied anyone, or more to the point-- anything-- since the now infamous "goat-and-peanut butter" incident in 1979... ah, those lazy hazy days at the county fair petting zoo... but i digress...

AT: I have no relatives left who would return to even a free Cuba for more than the odd curiosity. As you well said, they have much invested here in the US, children who are not moving, grandchildren who are not moving, etc. Their lives, though perhaps not by choice once upon a time, are now here by choice. This is based on informal polling at various holiday meals, involving quite a few adult beverages-- conversations during which ALL of Cuba's ills, and the rest of the world's as well, were solved efficiently and briliantly, if a bit verbosely.

Are the latest arrivals most likely to return soonest? Yeah, probably, for the reasons that you mention. Also remember, that in some cases, many of these late arrivals are skilled labor, if not professionals, with an understanding of what is in place in Cuba, and therefore a better insight into what might be necessary to fix. But the simple fact that, if we assume for a moment that the much anticipated influx of capital investment and trade, which U-sam has personally guranteed, materializes, then the labor market in Cuba will be much looser and more favorable than in the US by comparison. This makes a return to the island much more attractive, and likely.

I won't get into the implications of the economic vs. political refugee issue, because, as I have agreed with ADT and others before, you really can't separate the two. Plus, I think I agree with Manuel's point that many if not all of these recent arrivals are "children of the revolution", and are not born mistrusting the establishment which they inherit. For that, reasonable accomodation should be made. Plus a lot of people just don't care enough to disagree with the beard. For what? Sort of a Cuban serenity prayer (that which we cannot change...)

Well, there you have it, for now...

PS: who are these people who hurl names at loujohn? ...oh, i used to be disgusted, now i try to be amused....

[John Longfellow aka Lou Dobbs]

Alonzo the self loathing piglet wrote:
All I am going to say is that Beal is NOT a Cuban last name.

LOL, now here is the most self-loathing Cuban chicano statement ever made. Hey boy, let me explain something to you. In this nation, there is something called having some cohoneys. Either you have them, or you dont.

NUFF SAID,
BIGGG JOHN

[Carmen Rodriguez]

Is great to see immigrants work hard and make their dream come true. Although, I'm not against Cubans, I think is time for Miami-Herald to publish articles about living in other countries as well. Is also time to US to change immigration policies with Cubans. Such law as “Wet/Dry Foot” isolates Cubans from the rest of illegal immigrant population. All illegal immigrants should be deported no matter where they come from. It is sad but is not fair that illegal immigrant from Cuban can make their dream come true and illegal immigrants from other countries are deported right away. Just because “Cuba” is declared communist is not enough for such privilege since North Korea is also communist. What would happen with illegal immigrants from Venezuela? Venezuela is leading to a communist government and the same goes with most of Latin America. So, although is great to see Spanish people succeed is frustrated to see that unless you are illegal immigrant from Cuba your American Dream is just that: A DREAM because you will be deported.

[nonee moose]

Carmen:

I understand your frustration. But even though you may disagree with the current immigration policy (ie. wet/dry) regarding Cuban immigrants, kindly be more precise with your words. Cuban immigrants, by virtue of the policy you disagree with, are by definition not "illegal". If you want to debate the merits of the policy, great. But the terms you use have meanings, use them correctly whenever you can...

[John Longfellow aka Lou Dobbs]

Carmen,

Hey yah some of these illegal aliens Cubans should be sent back. I can think of several in this blog alone. Some are very obvious, and some not so obvious!!

[a thought...]

Nonee, I thank you for your gallant defense and for the quite revolting mental image of the "goat and peanut butter" incident of '79. As John insists on giving me credit for things I did not write (and they never seem to be nice things, either), I appreciate that other bloggers have noticed.

And I know of those family gatherings of which you speak. It doesn't take much (including adult beverages) to start heated discussions about La Isla, does it?

[John Longfellow aka Lou Dobbs]

Sugah, i have defended your honor many times in ths blog. And yet i never seem to get any credit from you.

[nonee moose]

they usually start, "El asunto de...", and are commonly punctuated by the dressing down of some college sophomore back on holiday, who thinks just because he/she took some int'l relations class last semester, they know about the world's problems... these people are usually referred to as "mojones de mierda", which is a redundancy, albeit a poetic one. The innocent crime of youth, they say... que la vida los ponche...

[nonee moose]

AT:

Did you miss where loujohn called you "easy"?

Anybody who even remotely knows you, sabe que tu no eres nada facil... LOL

[John Longfellow aka Lou Dobbs]

I never said A.T. would be easy.

I meant "perhaps" she would have been easy to "talk" to in high school.

[nonee moose]

in your honor, loujohn, a cut and paste of your petard, that ye may foist yourself on...

"(A.T. is very intelligent, but there are times that she very impressionable, like a young child, perhaps very easy in her high school years.)"

nuff. said. baaaaa...

[a thought...]

No, no soy facil!

John, I've given you credit; in fact, some might say too much. Insults and downright falsehoods might work on others, but not me. See Nonee's cut and paste. Since you've decided to retrack your statements only when confronted with your inconsistencies, I will also refrain from being your offical blog interpreter. Ojala que te estralles.

Yes, Nonee it seems that one int'l relations class does not a Kissinger make. But I love to hear them spouting off, only to be taken down a few notches by conversations that also seem to start with: Para eso pago el colegio? Para que te den esas ideas? Mira, dile a ese maestro.....and so on. And a good time was had by all.

[a thought...]

Oh, I forgot to ask...

was that creamy peanut butter or the crunchy kind?

Either way....ewwwwwww.

[John Longfellow aka Lou Dobbs]

Translation please: No, no soy facil!

Translation please: Ojala que te estralles.

[nonee moose]

louJIF:

try the wiki... your raft has sailed...

[Alfonso Beal]

Nonee,
The anonymous Longfellow has the boorish manners and strident masochistic tendencies of a homosexual and/or a Herald reporter. Remember Jim DeFede? He fit both of these categories. You cannot reason with them, just ignore them. They get on blogs to release their frustrations by offending others anonimously. The Herald is their perfect medium. I'm logging off until tomorrow. Time to go home and relax.

[a different thought]

"Mojon de mierda" that is Cuban redundancy at it's most brilliant...and very poetic indeed. Thanks Nonee for that one, brought me right to my youth, although in my case it was "Mojona de mierda." My dad still refers to my Northeastern post graduate education as the time when "me comieron el cerebro."

If you want to blog with the Cubans, when in Rome do as the Romans.

[nonee moose]

Alfonso:

Thanks for your concern. In fact I depend on louJIF (Longfellow) for my entertainment. He will not engage me directly, and hasn't for some time. I will not engage him in debate because he will not stop cutting and pasting. louJIF is like a soap opera... you only need to read his posts for a couple of days and you've heard almost all of what he will ever say.

But if you will give him a chance, he will make you pee your pants laughing. This is his gift to the blog, do not take it for granted.

You are new to the blog, welcome. It's like what they say about hockey games breaking out in the middle of fights. In between the foodfights, sometimes a pretty decent discussion happens...

ADT:
Yo era el "polemico" en mi familia. A lot of times just to stir the pot. But as a kid, the greatest experience ever is to match wits with the elders, and them let you do it without holding back...

[leftside]

Oscar, thank you for this much needed piece about the difference between these new migrants and the old, as well as the difficulties many face when arriving in S. Florida...something obviously many old-timers don't want to see in print. Only hard-line Cubans would see the exploration of such a basic, and essentially non-political issue, as being part of a devious plot to divide them.

But I have to comment on the disconnect between your generalizations (presumably based on your total number of interviews) and the actual quotes you chose to run. You say most new arrivals aren’t political and "keep criticisms of Castro's govt. to a minimum," but nearly all your quotes of Miami Cubans do just that. So what gives?
I have to wonder if these quotes reflect what these people’s main points were, or whether they were cherry-picked for your editors. We already know the pressure migrants face to be sufficiently anti-Castro in Miami, so them saying some of these things is not surprising, but the mismatch between your obvious impressions and what got put on page is something else.

Mr. Portal (the 'dissident journalist') claims that the lack of political fire of these new arrivals is based on the "result of bad (Cuban) politics.” But how then did these same politics spawn the biggest foreigner-led political movement in the nation in the 60s? His inability to see the nuanced picture most new émigrés do does not bode well for his journalism career. I might also mention that Mr. Portal's crime was to work for Cubanet (US funded) and Raul Rivero's Cubana Press Agency outfit, which was funded by Reporters Without Borders (which gets funds and is tied closely to the Center for Free Cuba, which gets US taxpayer money)... and part of Helms-Burton and our 'Plan for Transformation...' His story ideas were found to have been often dictated to him from Miami, according to the court transcripts from undercover agents. I know these facts can’t easily make it into a every story mentioning one of ‘the 75’ (arrested in 2003) but they are important facts people should understand nonetheless when thinking about who is 'independent' and who is a 'journalist.'

[John Longfellow aka Lou Dobbs]

leftside,

Once again you are brilliant. Are you still taking it to Oppenheimer that poodle. He kicked me out last month, the bastard. Nevertheless, i agree, the newly arrived immigrants seemed to have voiced a lot of angst against Fidel. Also, i am sure that none of them would have been hired unless they swore allegience to the conservative republican party.

[nonee moose]

So, Leftside...

Help me see your point, please? I mean besides the veiled critique of Oscar's journalistic ethics. That's what it was, wasn't it? Not enough folks saying," Oh, Fidel? He's not such a bad guy, really. We're just here for the buffalo wings...", or "Sure, the old apartment building needs a new coat of paint, but we ran out Glidden ultra white at the Depot on H and 23rd, so here we are..."?

Yes, yes, we all know there are nuances, for those who want to waste their time on that sort of academic bullshit. Leftside, you're not on some academic grant here are you, eh, professor? The fact is they are here, and if by chance they thought that the land of milk and honey would not require them to squeeze a cow's teat or put their hand inside a hive, well, they shall soon learn, like some of the early arrivals may have had to learn as well. And like everything else, some people just figure things out sooner. No matter. Anybody making distinctions along those lines, and I agree with you there are, are forgetting themselves and should know better.

Though the fact may be that there is some preconceived pressure for new arrivals to "make their anti-Castro bones" in this town, please enlighten me as to the consequences for passive failure? You think 99 percent of the people in this town could be categorized as militant anti-Castro? And please, let's don't confuse a deep-rooted desire for his demise with actual militance.

And don't confuse even presence on this blog, sparring with rhetoric, as militancy either. Personally, I would just as soon see the Ninoska's of this town and the rest of these charlatans choke on their oportunistic bile for all I care about and respect them.

Don't try and disguise any justification for the actions of an oppressive and criminal regime as a critique of this country's, or this community's, political hypocrisy. If you got something good to say about the regime, then say it and take your lumps like a man (or woman). At least you'll be honest. Stupid, but honest.

I was always brought up to believe the truth lies somewhere in the middle of two sides... It's just that, when it comes to this, my side is a little less full of shit than yours.

[CubanHellRaiser]

Why are people so incredibly stupid?! John LongFellow can you please answer that question for me? hahaha...but I am referring to the stupid people like John..Hey, are you trying to be articulate? Do you think, you are ‘intelligent’because you spew-out some bogus political crap. NewsFlash Butthole, you really are not. Can you, at all, explain this to me? Or is this just another mystery unknowable to Mr. LongAssfellow? and another thing idiot "THE WORD IS COJONES NOT cohoneys...FUCK, BUT ONCE AGAIN...YOU DON'T KNOW BECAUSE YOU DON'T HAVE ANY COJONES.

[gansibele]

What nonee said...

Lostside has been thorougly discredited all over the blogosphere. I find it so ironic that he accuses Vasquez Portal of taking dictation from Miami, when the point of his post is to repeat Havana's talking points, namely that independent journalists are paid by the US. At least Vasquez Portal had the cojones of talking where it meant arrest and abuses for him. Lostside does it safe and smug from Cali.

[Manuel A. Tellechea]

Leftside Nut:

For all the beatings they have endured, for the constant harrassment, for having to live in a hell within a hell, both in and out of Castro's gulags, the independent Cuban journalist deserve to be millionaires, and if the $80 million were going directly to them (which it is not) I should have no objection.

You seem to forget, leftside nut, that Fidel Castro's revolution was financed by foreigners, in and out of Cuba. Wealthy Americans with property in Cuba paid him millions in protection money and his biggest contributions came from abroad. Even Batista officials bought July 26 bonds to hedge their bets (stupid dupes). There never was a dollar that Castro wouldn't pocket regardless of the source, then or now.

And how many of those dollars does Castro let you have?

[usambcuba]

We do not need to waste $80 million of taxpayer money on this foolishness. Lets stop our contribution to the insanity of our present day U.S. Cuba policy.

[leftside]

Nonee, Ill let my serious question to Oscar stand. While I wouldnt expect any overtly pro-Fidel opionions to get printed in Miami, I dont understand why every quote had to have an anti-Castro ending. What does that have to do with this story?

You make a good point that many from Cuba maybe are not used to working so long and hard. Many were not told that rents are no longer cheap and that not being able to afford medical care or education has become an American reality (or sleeping with one's child and having no furniture).

I cant tell you the price of not playing along in Miami - with family, at work, at Church, in the neighborhood, among institutions (that give you TVs and computers). I do know that a respected PBS documentarian said it was harder to get past the fear in Miami than in Cuba. I know there has been more political violence in Miami than any other city. I know who owns and runs Miamis media and politics (we're all hoping the new Herald owners stand up). Militants are surely a minority, but those who would (and did) advocate violence to justify a free Cuba is not that small either. Their power is what is scary. Imagine another mainstream exile group getting a free pass from the media and politicians after getting caught stockpiling
arms and explosives like CANF just did).

History will decide whether the US or Cuba had the moral high ground for 50 years. I am not afraid, nor am I proud to say, that I agree with the Canadian CEO of Sherritt who says (yesterday) that it's Cuba (Globe and Mail).

[gansibele]

And after Lostside's scary-Cuban-exiles de rigueur rant, because it's somewhat related to the topic at hand and to infuriate John both because it's in Spanish and because of the contect, if he could read it; here's an email i just got from a friend of mine in Spain:

"Salen de una isla pequeña y se han diseminado por todo el Mundo. Uno es profesor en una universidad de Australia; otro abrió en Alaska un restaurante. Nada los arredra, ni el frío ni el calor. Los seduce el trópico de la Florida pero soportan igualmente a pie firme los hielos de Boston y Nueva York. No mendigan: trabajan. Los que allá eran pobres, aquí son ricos. Los que allá eran medio pelo, aquí son pelo y medio. Ningún obstáculo sujeta su laboriosidad beligerante si la oferta es digna. Uno es rector de la Universidad; otro, maquilla muertos. Cambian, pero en la superficie. En Miami, siguen jugando bolita, peleando gallos escondidos y enviando los hijos a la escuela privada. En Madrid, están contra José Luís Rodríguez Zapatero y en Caracas, contra Hugo Chávez. Siempre en la oposición. Se les critica y se les envidia pero en el fondo se les admira. Gallegos por el trabajo y judíos por la voluntad de sobrevivir constituyen una legión empecinada que no se deje ignorar. Traen su música calurosa, el ruido, los frijoles negros y la palomilla con moros y maduros. Pero traen sobre todo la simpatía, la cordialidad y la laboriosidad.

¿Quiénes son? Son los cubanos del destierro, la única población mundial trasplantada que (salvo los hebreos) en un tercio de siglo no ha perdido su identidad. Los que admiraban a Cuba desde lejos como ejemplo supremo de pujanza latinoamericana, los que veían a Cuba como un milagro étnico y cultural donde todo parecía un relajo pero todo funcionaba bien, ya no tienen que ir a Cuba para conocerla. Aquí la tienen. Esta es Cuba. Estos son los cubanos. Exagerados, fanfarrones, ruidosos, sí. Pero también vitales, intensos y profundamente creadores ¿Qué no han hecho en estos 46 años los cubanos del destierro para sobrevivir con dignidad? ¿Qué actividad manual o intelectual no han ensayado, en éste o en aquel país, por complicada que pareciera, para no quedarse detrás, para no dejarse discriminar? En algunas de esas actividades han llegado tan lejos que superan a emigraciones que los precedieron por cerca de medio siglo. No hay hospital en Estados Unidos donde no haya hoy un médico cubano. No hay periódico donde no haya un periodista cubano, ni banco donde no haya un banquero cubano, ni publicitaria donde no haya un publicitario cubano, ni escuela donde no haya un maestro cubano, ni universidad donde no haya un profesor cubano, ni comercio donde no haya un manager cubano.

En las Grandes Ligas del béisbol el nombre de más
color y brillo es el de un cubano. En Madrid, el primer poeta latinoamericano es un negro cubano. En la Coca Cola, Kellog's, McCormick y tantas otras su dirigente fue un cubano. Hasta en el Congreso de Washington, en las dos cámaras se sientan en su modestia y en su eficiencia varios cubanos. En las tierras prestadas el extranjero parece llevar siempre en la frente la marca del sitio de donde viene. Los cubanos llevan a Cuba. La enaltecen y la honran, porque además de en la frente la llevan en el corazón. Pero hay algo en el desterrado cubano, a mi juicio, superior aún a esa actividad profesional triunfante. Y es su odio al despotismo del que huye, su amor a la tierra que dejó. Eso lo separa y lo define. Eso da a sus triunfos en medio del desarraigo, una grandeza que de otro modo no tendría. ¿Por qué, preguntan algunos, no se acaban de quedar tranquilos los exiliados cubanos? ¿Por qué no aceptan de una vez que perdieron la batalla, que Castro les ganó, y que con los medios de que disponen nunca podrán vencer a la tiranía?

Se han afincado definitivamente en essas tierras hospitalarias que los han acogido y donde viven en lo material muchas veces mejor que como vivían allá. Los que preguntan no conocen a los cubanos. El cubano sabe esto: aún teniéndolo todo, si le falta Cuba, no tiene nada. Quizás por ello han hecho su Cuba aquí. Sabe más todavía. Sabe que esa prosperidad de que disfruta, lejos de su isla hambreada y aterrada, es en cierto modo una forma de traición. Por eso, si se mira bien, se verá que a veces parece que el cubano ríe, pero en realidad está llorando por dentro. Le nace el hijo, le crece, se le gradúa en la Universidad, pero el cubano suspira: ¡Ah, si estuviera en Cuba! Compra una casa, su auto, o su lancha,y sigue suspirando: ¡Ah, si los tuviera en Cuba! De una manera misteriosa, que no puede definir, hay un vínculo con aquello que tira de él hacia allá. Ahora que la perdió sabe que no puede vivir sin Cuba, y la sueña de noche, y le agiganta los valores, y la embellece y la idealiza, y se culpa de no haberla entendido mejor, y la recrea en sus cantos y bailes, y la revive en sus historias, en sus costumbres y en sus comidas.

¿Por qué compran hoy los cubanos más libros cubanos que nunca? ¿Por qué tienen sus casas, sus negocios y sus oficinas, llenas de palmas, de banderas, de escudos y de retratos de Martí? Por qué aunque son USA citizens SIGUEN SIENDO CUBANOS. ¿Por eso se reúnen en los municipios borrando antiguos antagonismos de partido o clase? Porque el cubano sabe que lo único auténticamente suyo fue SU Cuba y que a ella quisiera el poder regresar. Ahora la tiranía castrista anda en sus estertores finales, se ve claramente que el cubano se ha estado preparando siempre, aunque no lo supiera, solo para ese momento del regreso.

No les importa que les digan que todo lo que dejará la tiranía es hambre y ruina. No les preocupa que le devuelvan la residencia o el negocio, si lo tenían. Lo único que desean es volver. La casa donde nació está derruida, al pueblo se lo han puesto desconocido, la madre ha muerto. Pero no importa. El exiliado quiere de todos modos ir a esa casa, a ese pueblo y a esa tumba. La Patria empieza ahí. En el exilio tropezó, erró, y se equivocó, pero está salvado también porque en el fondo de su ser nunca traicionó a Cuba. Cuando lleguen ese momento muchos volverán, otros no podrán hacerlo pero la semillas que dejaron donde estuvieron exiliados no los olvidaran perduraran por siempre y para siempre porque lo hicieron con sacrificios, tenacidad y amor. Y aunque a lo mejor no tendremos la oportunidad de leerlo muchos escribirán sobre su paso aquí para orgullo de sus descendientes."

[a thought...]

Leftside posted: I do know that a respected PBS documentarian said it was harder to get past the fear in Miami than in Cuba.

I believe this also has to do with the systematic brainwashing that takes place in Cuba. These new arrivals have been told constantly that Miami Cubans hate them, that Miami Cubans think they are worthless, etc. ad nauseum...

Are these new arrivals different then the ones from the 60s and 80s? Of course. How could they not be? They come from a totally different Cuba then the one that many families left behind in the 60s and even the 80s. Even names are different; I don't think there were too many Yuleysis in Cuba in the 60s (that was the first name I could think of for comparison purposes). Be that as it may, these people are here now and they need to work. And I think its great if someone who was in the same position they are in now can find it in his heart to help by providing both guidance and a place to make a living. I would rather see these new arrivals working and bettering their futures then have them sitting around waiting for their welfare check. Yes, you have to work. But (like I posted before) at least you get to keep what you earn (Uncle Sam's cut notwithstanding). And if you buy something, there's a good chance you'll be able to keep it as well.

[leftside]

Bring on the name calling... at least you can't ban me here like I was on other Miami Cuban blogs.

Gansibele, it is not some just some Cubans line that the US funds 'independent' journalists. It is a central pillar of our stated policy for transition in Cuba. There are many like Portal that never took US taxpayer dollars, who are not in prison. I'm sure there are plenty receiving exile dollars to do anti-regime work, but they are not in prison either. The aim of US dollars is not to 'open information' in Cuba (after all, the audience for Rivero and Cubanet is in the US). The aim was is to provoke Cuba to act and keep the Miami groups well paid and happy. Imagine if Cuba paid me with the express purpose of regime change in the US. Do you think the the Sedition Acts or the Smith Act would keep me out of jail? I could be put to death...

MAT, exactly what dissident has been beaten by Cuban authorities? What proof is there? If you have no objection to your and my money going to pay 'journalists' to write BS for our consumption (to make Miami feel good and provide 'documentation' for our inhumane Cuba policies), would you support Cuba's right to fund journalists here - secretly, to overthrow our capitalist system? After all, it is the citizens of Cuba, not the US, that bear the burden of the strained relationship. So if anyone had a motive for interference it's them...

Castro's revolution (and its funding) was surely illegal. That is why there were thousands of Cuban troops trying to kill him. I'm not sure I understand your point. I'm not questioning the practice or morality of accepting money from whereever for a cause you believe in, but you can't expect it to be legal.

Anyone see this BBC quote from 'dissident journalist' Oscar Espinosa Chepe on the Transition Plan: "...I think that this report is counterproductive."

The Cuba's Catholic Bishops said its measures "threaten both the present and the future of our nation."

Oswaldo Paya (of the Verala Project), in The Washington Post this month emphasized that Cubans wanted to preserve the right to free health care and education--something at odds with the recommendations in the original Commission report (as well as end the embargo and allow travel).

Or what Elizardo Sanchez (Commission for Human Rights and National Reconciliation), said about the 2004 Plan: It "has had an effect exactly the opposite of the one you should want."

OAS Secretary General Insulza said about the project: "But there is no transition," he said, "and it (Cuba) isn't your country."

[gansibele]

Lostside;

"it is not some just some Cubans line that the US funds 'independent' journalists."

Right, not just some Cubans. The argument that independent journalists are funded by the US government comes straight from Castro's government and it was the basis for the "aiding the enemy" law and subsequent arrest of the 75. You just parrot the line.

"It is a central pillar of our stated policy for transition in Cuba."

As it was in Poland and many other places. So?

"There are many like Portal that never took US taxpayer dollars, who are not in prison. I'm sure there are plenty receiving exile dollars to do anti-regime work, but they are not in prison either."

Not sure what your point is here. They haven't had time to arrest them all?

"The aim of US dollars is not to 'open information' in Cuba (after all, the audience for Rivero and Cubanet is in the US)."

Because Cuba restricts internet access. Wonder why? And blocks Radio and Tv Martí. Who is afraid of information? If it's not true, then what are they afraid of? And how exactly do you propose they reach Cubans in Cuba, since they can't start a newspaper or radio station?

"The aim was is to provoke Cuba to act and keep the Miami groups well paid and happy."

Mission accomplished then.

"Imagine if Cuba paid me with the express purpose of regime change in the US. Do you think the the Sedition Acts or the Smith Act would keep me out of jail?"

You can't compare the laws or the judicial process in the US and Cuba, so the analogy is moot. This is the kind of analogy you are so fond of, that takes all credibility away from your argument. You can absolutely do in the US with no repercusions and plenty of legal protection what the independent journalists do in Cuba, which is report and opinion. But you can't do it in Cuba where they have a law that makes the mere reporting of "unofficial" news illegal. Reporting out in the open in the US doesn't constitute spying and you'll be hard pressed to convince anybody that independent journalists signing their names to their reports for all the world to see are in reality spies inside Cuba. And brush up on your legal knowledge. The Sedition act was overturned decades ago. The Smith Act was interpreted to be used in cases of TANGIBLE acts aimed to FORCIBLY overthrow the government; i.e. the creation of armed, violent militias like the Black Phanters. In Cuba, the publication of "La Patria es de todos", basically a political platform, landed their four authors in jail for years. In the US you can call for and organize a movement to impeach Bush without fear of jail or...

"I could be put to death..."

as you so dramatically put it.

[leftside]

One more time Gans: Simply put, I'm saying the funding of 'independent journalists' is part of the US Government's plan for transition in Cuba. The Cuban Government warned people not to take money from these thinly veiled organizations, yet some did. They earned a relatively great income for writing 3 paragraphs pieces worthy of pg. 16 in a suburban metro section. They are pawns in the Empire's game to rid the world of alternatives to capitalism. I thought this might be the one week where this idea would be easier to commuincate.

What is it that you all think the Cubans do not know? What could they read in the Miami Herald that would shock them into yearning for the US model? I don't know that Cubanet (for example) is banned in Cuba, but I assure you there is nothing in there most Cubans don't already know. The Cuban Government is not 'scared' of information. They reprint much of the propoganda spewn out of Miami anyhow because it is so hollow. I've addressed the internet already...

I didn't research my sedition laws, you're right. Lippman had quoted them (and others) in something I read earlier in the day. But your assurances about our government allowing foreign governments to fund agents engaged in even non regime change activities rings hollow, given the Cuban 5, the Alvarez's and Susan Lindauer. Certainly the agents of USAID (they are often trained, paid and directed) pose more of a threat to national security and the everyday Cuban lives than the Cuban 5 did to Americans. And again, I certainly could NOT take money from Cuba, or Syria or Iran ('terrorist states') to do their work here, to write for their papers or provide information to their 'diplomats'... that is proven.

What Cuban Law says 'unofficial news is illegal?' Who was charged under it? Relatedly, if you claim the Cuban Government is persecuting homosexuals as policy, why then are they printing such counter-revolutionary unofficial opinion pieces like this below ? Which opinion of yours gives?

From the current Somos Jovenes magazione - aimed at middle school kids. Could you imagine the reaction of our political leaders if this happened in say Georgia?
"Much remains to be done. The last twenty years have witnessed a growing state of 'tolerance'. The way gays have been forced to cope with their feelings about themselves has nothing to do with their condition, for it's fueled instead by the points of view of a society that treats them as inferior beings lacking in human dignity and individuals who have no rights and deserve no respect.

On principle, society must respect any person's sexuality, whatever his/her orientation, for it is hoped that differences will be recognized."

[gansibele]

Lostside, you are so easy. Why don't you do some research before posting?

This is the last time I waste my time with this, so pay attention:

"One more time Gans: Simply put, I'm saying the funding of 'independent journalists' is part of the US Government's plan for transition in Cuba."

One more time Lostside: So? Support for opposition inside opressed countries has been part of the political landscape for centuries. Certain governments have been afraid of it. Those are usually the tyrannical regimes. An open society has nothing to fear about the disemination of information.

Everyday in the US we publish damning, conmdening information about the president and the state, and we fight to keep our right to do it. I would not have it any other way and that's what I want for my country.

"The Cuban Government warned people not to take money from these thinly veiled organizations, yet some did."

Thanks for making my point.

"They earned a relatively great income for writing 3 paragraphs pieces worthy of pg. 16 in a suburban metro section."

Says you.

"They are pawns in the Empire's game to rid the world of alternatives to capitalism. I thought this might be the one week where this idea would be easier to commuincate."

"The Empire"???? Is this Star Wars?

"...given the Cuban 5, the Alvarez's and Susan Lindauer."

I'm sure even you can tell the difference between posting information out in the open, on newspapers, radio stations and a website accesible to everybody and signed with your own name as opposed transmitting codified information using radio equipment ala the cuban five or communicating tawdry little chismecitos to smear and blackmail people ala Alvarez.

"Certainly the agents of USAID (they are often trained, paid and directed) pose more of a threat to national security and the everyday Cuban lives than the Cuban 5 did to Americans."

"Trained paid and directed" you are making up wholesale. That independent journalists are a bigger threat to Cuba than the 5 were to the US is true - a testament of how information is so feared in Cuba and how idiotic and inefficient the cuban 5 were.

"What Cuban Law says 'unofficial news is illegal?"

Ley 88 de Protección de la Independencia Nacional y la Economía de Cuba (Statute 88 for Protection of National Sovereignity and Cuban Economy) otherwise known as "Ley mordaza" (Gag Law) from 1999. Here is the full text:

http://www.cubanet.org/ref/dis/021699.htm

"Who was charged under it?"

The 75, among others. The law was aimed squarely at independent journalists. It bans "collaboration with foreign media" "accumulation and broadcast of subversive material", among other things.

"What is it that you all think the Cubans do not know? What could they read in the Miami Herald that would shock them into yearning for the US model? I don't know that Cubanet (for example) is banned in Cuba, but I assure you there is nothing in there most Cubans don't already know."

Here is teh part where I could tell you that unlike you, I grew up in Cuba under castroo. Unlike you, I went to school there. Unlike you, i read Granma and Juventud rebelde everyday (and even Somos Jóvenes magazine) and I watched the two Tv channels and listened to (the real, not Aruca's) Radio Progreso and Radio Havana Cuba. So I know very well what information is published in Cuba. Unlike you, I was in Havana in the early nineties, when even Russian publications such as Sputnik and WWR were banned for critizicing socialism. Also unlike you, I later was in a position where I had access to foreign media. Unlike you, I know how coveted were those issues of Times, Newsweek, The NYT and even the Herald, to the point where photocopies circulated among the cultural and artistic elite in Havana, such was the hunger for information. Unlike you I saw almost every young person try to listen to radio Martí, even if it was only such inicuous material as "Tres Patines". Unlike you, I have a friend who was fired from her job for reading unauthorized websites - none other than People magazine, that notorious purveyor of subversive information. And unlike you, I have family in Cuba who can't access the internet and has been warned not to email me. So don't give me lectures about what Cubans know or not. Ask yourself insted, if there's nothing in foreign media that Cubans don't know, if there's nothing dangerous or damaging to the regime, why the laws, why the restrictions, why the censure? I mean, either is dmaging and they are right on limiting it or is inoffensive and nothing could make Cubans waver in their support of castro. Which one is your position Lostside?

[a thought...]

Anyone who thinks that Cubans on the island can access any information they want, whether via newspapers or Internet, is dreaming. Communist nations have long repressed information or free thought. Look at the recent issues facing Google when they went into China.

Communism is the oppresor of free thought.

[leftside]

You left out the critical next lines of Law 88 when you mention the "accumulation and broadcast of subversive material." You are correct that this is the law most of the 75 'dissidents' were charged under. So understanding it is very important. That also means understanding that it ame directly as a result of Helms-Burton, which

The whole things is:
"Those that accumulate, reproduces or spreads material of subversive character from the Government of the United States of America, its agencies, dependencies, representatives, civil employees or of any foreign organization, to support the objectives of the Helms-Burton Law, the blockade and the economic war against our town, directed to break the internal order, to destabilize the country and to eliminate to the Socialist State and the independence of Cuba, incur sanction of deprivation of freedom of three to eight years or fine of three thousand five thousand quotas or both."

Now as a result of Helms-Burton, many countries all around the world passed laws making cooperation with its provisions against the law - ie. Mexico, Canada, the EU... In Mexico for example, they authorizred fines of 2.2 million pesos against anyone who obeys another country's laws aimed at reducing Mexican trade or foreign investment in a third country (ie. Cuba). So why is the world aghast that Cuba also passed a law against cooperating with its provisions... which are clearly meant to strangle investment and begin the funding of so-called dissidents? Do you expect Cuba to allow its citizens to collaborate on something the vast majority of its peope would consider treason?

Many of the 75 WERE indeed trained, funded and directed by the US Government. There is ample evidence in the legal record of meetings at the US Interests Section. I am sure the USIS called the meetings training sessions or something of the like. They were certainly paid, and we know many were given directions on the type of stories make good headlines in Miami and the types of activities to pursue (this is all in the record, available online).

I will defend the right of anyone to speak out against the Cuban regime. But I can not support most of the 75, who knew the risks to getting paid by foreigners and did it anyway. I support the right to information, but that does not mean I think the Cuban government has an obligation to buy up Newsweeks and Miami Heralds for its people. Does any other government buy foreign language media for mass distibution? It also does not mean people like Farinas have a right to the Government coming to his house and hooking up the internet free of charge (that is his actual demand in writing to Fidel). And of course, it is the US Laws that prohibit Cubans from actually buying US media in the first place, so lets hear you criticize that first.

These debates often come down to the sort of anecdotes you relate at the end. I can't tell you that you're lying but I suspect there is more you're not telling us. Of the young people I met when there, none said they listened to Radio Marti... though some did to Miami hip-hop radio. Was your friend really fired for looking at People magazine, or for searching the web using valuable bandwidth, when he/she was supposed to be working? And your family can't access the internet, but has been emailing you at the same time...?