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President Obama's Answers to My Questions
Commented Nov 19, 2009 at 12:13:27 in World
“President Obama has just spent several days in China where he made NO political preconditions on continued economic relations with that country, whose one-party system is led by the Chinese Communist Party. Why does the US insist on Cuba having to comply with US political demands?
Washington continues to use military force to occupy the Guantanamo naval base against the wishes of Cuba. Indeed, Cuba is the only country ON THE PLANET in which a hostile foreign power continues to occupy national soil against the wishes of the local government. US legislation, such as the Helms-Burton and Torricelli laws commit the United States to a policy of "regime change" for Cuba.
Furthermore, Washington continues to disrupt Cuba's economic relations with other countries by preventing them from having normal economic relations with Cuba. Washington denies Cuba the possibility of accepting US investments in the island, which the Cubans both want and need.
Follow the Cuban story via CubaNews, a free Yahoo news group now in its tenth year. CubaNews posts materials from, about and related to Cuba from a wide range of sources and perspective. From an editorial viewpoint, I'm strongly supportive of Cuba, but CubaNews provides all sorts of information, political, cultural, human interest and so on. And all of it at no charge whatsoever.
Details:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/CubaNews/
Thank you.
Walter Lippmann
Los Angeles, California”
Washington continues to use military force to occupy the Guantanamo naval base against the wishes of Cuba. Indeed, Cuba is the only country ON THE PLANET in which a hostile foreign power continues to occupy national soil against the wishes of the local government. US legislation, such as the Helms-Burton and Torricelli laws commit the United States to a policy of "regime change" for Cuba.
Furthermore, Washington continues to disrupt Cuba's economic relations with other countries by preventing them from having normal economic relations with Cuba. Washington denies Cuba the possibility of accepting US investments in the island, which the Cubans both want and need.
Follow the Cuban story via CubaNews, a free Yahoo news group now in its tenth year. CubaNews posts materials from, about and related to Cuba from a wide range of sources and perspective. From an editorial viewpoint, I'm strongly supportive of Cuba, but CubaNews provides all sorts of information, political, cultural, human interest and so on. And all of it at no charge whatsoever.
Details:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/CubaNews/
Thank you.
Walter Lippmann
Los Angeles, California”
tenzenz replied on Nov 19, 2009 at 14:52:11
“The policy with China started long before Obama was president. Much has changed for the better in China, and I suspect that more good will come of it. IT is in our best interests to work toward maintaining the relationship that we now have with China, and continue to expand on it. They are a bigger Super Power than are we, they have a much larger military, and 4x as many citizens. While both political parties here in the US continue to divide this country to the point where I think one party would prefer to draw us toward another civil war, China continues to grow it's economy unlike anything the US has ever seen. When it comes to ultimate peace and stability in Afghanistan and Pakistan, I suspect that China may be the power that steps in and ultimately brings that about. Cuba is a small nation directly off our coast, where the people wish to be free and the government is entirely corrupt . Fidel could not be trusted and we still do not know at this time if his brother can be. This will take time, but I believe that Obama's desire to extend relations opens the door for the first time since JFK was President. "W" certainly never made any attempts to open a dialogue”
MadridFrank replied on Nov 19, 2009 at 14:02:12
“END THE DICTATORSHIP,END THE EMBARGO! CUBA DEMOCRACY NOW!”
Mike Sprinkel replied on Nov 19, 2009 at 13:47:25
“Just out of curiosity, are you from Cuba? You seem to be really passionate about the cause, and you've made some good points. I'm just wondering what's fueling your fire.”
shawshank replied on Nov 19, 2009 at 13:39:23
“ Walterlx, I empathize........ or should I say, sympathize with you. But you have to understand that what's morally right is not the dominating factor here. The dominating factor here is Fidel himself.
The American Administration (Obama's) is willing to and has already started rescinding unfair restrictions put on the Cuban people over time. His administration is also willing to talk and engage in business activities with the "Cuban People", but not Fidel.
Why won't Fidel Castro let the Cuban people speak for themselves? What sort of delusional and narcissistic behavior will make a "mere man" believe that he "alone" should speak for generations of Cubans? Let the Cuban people speak for themselves, and then, the status-quo will fade away.”
The American Administration (Obama's) is willing to and has already started rescinding unfair restrictions put on the Cuban people over time. His administration is also willing to talk and engage in business activities with the "Cuban People", but not Fidel.
Why won't Fidel Castro let the Cuban people speak for themselves? What sort of delusional and narcissistic behavior will make a "mere man" believe that he "alone" should speak for generations of Cubans? Let the Cuban people speak for themselves, and then, the status-quo will fade away.”
daveny replied on Nov 19, 2009 at 12:38:05
“Um, because China has money?
Duh.”
Duh.”
Travel - A Catalyst for Transforming the Relationship Between Cuba and America
Commented May 11, 2009 at 11:38:00 in World
“Thanks for taking this timely initiative. Obama's decision to permit Cuban-Americans to visit their homeland was a good step, FOR THEM, but for the overwhelming majority of the people of the United States it doesn't mean anything since it doesn't apply to the rest of us. I hope that Orbitz is successful in bring this message of simple justice and equality to everyone.
Let me add that I'm particularly grateful that Barney Harford has chosen NOT to try to link expanding the rights of those of us here in the US with making any political demands on Cuba and the Cuban government. As someone who does travel to Cuba often, in a research and journalistic capacity, I'm clear that they have plenty of their own problems and demons which they need to confront. As long as they have reasons to worry about Washington trying to tell them what to do - as it does NOT do with Saudi Arabia, China, Vietnam or anyone else, they'll have little reason to address their own issues. Thanks for your commentary! Good luck!”
Let me add that I'm particularly grateful that Barney Harford has chosen NOT to try to link expanding the rights of those of us here in the US with making any political demands on Cuba and the Cuban government. As someone who does travel to Cuba often, in a research and journalistic capacity, I'm clear that they have plenty of their own problems and demons which they need to confront. As long as they have reasons to worry about Washington trying to tell them what to do - as it does NOT do with Saudi Arabia, China, Vietnam or anyone else, they'll have little reason to address their own issues. Thanks for your commentary! Good luck!”
Cuba at a Crossroads
Commented Apr 10, 2009 at 19:18:51 in World
“What a wonderful essay! I will share it all over the world via a network of e-mail list-serves. I wish I also had it in Spanish because it so effectively deconstructs the stupid arguments in favor of the blockade which we've been hearing for half a century.
I cannot say I agree with his final comments about the obsolete nature of Cuba's political system. While I certainly wish it would be more open in various ways, it's a system which has helped them keep their island afloat in the fact of the most ferocious blockade, I would even call it a siege, in human history.
Imagine, if you will, that the role were reversed, and Cuba was the US and the US was Cuba. Look what the US does to its political dissidents? Mumia Abu-Jamal in prison for a quarter of a century on a charge of a murder he COULD not have committed. This wee, the US Supreme Court refused to hear his appeal based on the exclusion of Blacks from his jury, and the racist comments of the trial judge.
I'd like to say more, but I have to get on to other work today.
For going on ten years I've followed the Cuban story through CubaNews, a free Yahoo news group which direct. It's got about a hundred thousand items in its free and easy-to-access database. Details:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/CubaNews/
Thanks you for letting me speak about this.”
I cannot say I agree with his final comments about the obsolete nature of Cuba's political system. While I certainly wish it would be more open in various ways, it's a system which has helped them keep their island afloat in the fact of the most ferocious blockade, I would even call it a siege, in human history.
Imagine, if you will, that the role were reversed, and Cuba was the US and the US was Cuba. Look what the US does to its political dissidents? Mumia Abu-Jamal in prison for a quarter of a century on a charge of a murder he COULD not have committed. This wee, the US Supreme Court refused to hear his appeal based on the exclusion of Blacks from his jury, and the racist comments of the trial judge.
I'd like to say more, but I have to get on to other work today.
For going on ten years I've followed the Cuban story through CubaNews, a free Yahoo news group which direct. It's got about a hundred thousand items in its free and easy-to-access database. Details:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/CubaNews/
Thanks you for letting me speak about this.”
America's Cuba Policy is the "Edsel" of the US Foreign Policy Portfolio
Commented Apr 10, 2009 at 10:41:35 in World
“Great discussion and thanks for posting all of the information. Julia Sweig has written some of the best materials on Cuba. I've been following Cuba for many years and operate a daily Yahoo news group which had posted 100,000 items on Cuba over the past nearly nine-years. I'm very pro-Cuba, but CubaNews provides information from many different points of view.
Details:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/CubaNews”
Details:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/CubaNews”
The Embargo-Industrial Complex Finds a New Argument for Helping Cuba's Castros
Commented Apr 08, 2009 at 17:53:38 in World
“Considering how much in debt the United States is to China these days, not to speak of how many hundreds
of millions, or was it billions, of dollars, were just given away to those banks and finance companies, how could anyone in the United States refer to normal trade relations with Cuba as a "bailout".
Cuba is and remains as it has been for DECADES, the only country on the face of the earth for which people from the United States need a permission slip from the Federal Government to go for a visit. It's time and overtime to get over the failed policies of the past. If we can visit Saudi Arabia, China and Vietnam, all of which have political systems different from that of the US, why can't we visit Cuba in 2009???
It's time to normalize relations with Cuba, just like was done with China and Vietnam, and resolve whatever issues which can be resolved through negotiations between the parties.
Thanks,
Walter”
of millions, or was it billions, of dollars, were just given away to those banks and finance companies, how could anyone in the United States refer to normal trade relations with Cuba as a "bailout".
Cuba is and remains as it has been for DECADES, the only country on the face of the earth for which people from the United States need a permission slip from the Federal Government to go for a visit. It's time and overtime to get over the failed policies of the past. If we can visit Saudi Arabia, China and Vietnam, all of which have political systems different from that of the US, why can't we visit Cuba in 2009???
It's time to normalize relations with Cuba, just like was done with China and Vietnam, and resolve whatever issues which can be resolved through negotiations between the parties.
Thanks,
Walter”
Let a Thousand Blogs Bloom: Young Cubans Voice Their Discontent
Commented Feb 02, 2009 at 20:29:09 in World
“Yoani Sanchez choose to leave Cuba some years ago and to live in Switzerland. She did that for some years and then decided, as an adult in her thirties, to return to the island and live here. (I'm writing from Cuba where I spend time as part of directing the CubaNews Yahoo news group for the past ten years.)
Ms Sanchez's reflections are often well-written and the photos are well-taken, but it seems that all she does is complain about how rotten life is in this country to which she choose to return voluntarily. I know that many Cubans complain about the vicissitudes of daily life (In the United States, of course, no one complains because life is so good.)
She's right to explain that the church where she placed her award includes objects, signs, buttons and what-not by supporters of the Cuban revolution and opponents as well. Catholics come in all kinds, some favorable to the government here and others hostile to it. In recent years the Catholic Church has seen a sharp reduction in friction with the Cuban government, a process which began over ten years ago with the visit of Pope John Paul.
Once John Paul died, the Cuban government promptly invited Pope Benedict to visit the island, and last year, Cardinal Bertone, the Vatican's secretary of state, spent a week here meeting with government officials and others, basically getting the red-carpet treatment.”
Ms Sanchez's reflections are often well-written and the photos are well-taken, but it seems that all she does is complain about how rotten life is in this country to which she choose to return voluntarily. I know that many Cubans complain about the vicissitudes of daily life (In the United States, of course, no one complains because life is so good.)
She's right to explain that the church where she placed her award includes objects, signs, buttons and what-not by supporters of the Cuban revolution and opponents as well. Catholics come in all kinds, some favorable to the government here and others hostile to it. In recent years the Catholic Church has seen a sharp reduction in friction with the Cuban government, a process which began over ten years ago with the visit of Pope John Paul.
Once John Paul died, the Cuban government promptly invited Pope Benedict to visit the island, and last year, Cardinal Bertone, the Vatican's secretary of state, spent a week here meeting with government officials and others, basically getting the red-carpet treatment.”
Election Amnesia: Cuba on My Mind
Commented Oct 22, 2008 at 15:19:01 in Politics
“Ashley Rindberg omits to mention that Dr. Biscet is an anti-abortion fanatic. Cuba is the only country in Latin America where women have the right to decide whether or not to bear children.
Mainstream US media in love with Fidel? What's Rindberg been reading, National Review?”
Mainstream US media in love with Fidel? What's Rindberg been reading, National Review?”
AshleyR replied on Oct 23, 2008 at 08:24:04
“Waleterlx,
It's true that Biscet is anti-abortion. But what does that mean for him in terms of being imprisoned for human rights activism? That he should be jailed despite his human rights work but because of his abortion stance?
The reason I didn't write about his abortion stance is because it's not relevant to Dr. Biscet's imprisonment. What I'd say on this particular issue is give Cuban people the right to vote for their own government, first, and then let them decide as a country what they'd like to do about abortion. My guess is that they'd let the law stand.”
It's true that Biscet is anti-abortion. But what does that mean for him in terms of being imprisoned for human rights activism? That he should be jailed despite his human rights work but because of his abortion stance?
The reason I didn't write about his abortion stance is because it's not relevant to Dr. Biscet's imprisonment. What I'd say on this particular issue is give Cuban people the right to vote for their own government, first, and then let them decide as a country what they'd like to do about abortion. My guess is that they'd let the law stand.”
