Obama Threw the Ball, Now It's in Raul's Court

The ball is in Cuba's court after Obama threw it yesterday, as he announced new flexibility in his policies toward Cuba. The players on this side seem a bit confused, hesitating between grabbing the ball, criticizing it, or simply ignoring it. The context couldn't be better: loyalty to the government has never seemed more perverse and ideological fervor has never been as feeble as it is now. On top of that, few still believe the story that the powerful neighbor will attack us and the majority feel that this confrontation has gone on too long.

The next move is up to Raul Castro's government but we sense we will be left waiting. He should "decriminalize political dissent" which would immediately annul the long prison sentences of those who have been punished for differences of opinion. The ball we would like him to throw is the one that would open up spaces for citizens' initiatives, permit free association and, in a gesture of the utmost political honesty, put himself to the test of truly free elections. In a bold leap on the field "the permanent second" would have to dare to offer something more than an olive branch. We are hoping they eliminate the travel restrictions, which would put an end to that extortionary business of permission to come and go from the Island.

The game would become more dynamic if they let the Cuban people take hold of the erratic ball of change. Many would kick it to end censorship, State control over information, ideological selection in certain professions, indoctrination in education and the punishment of those who think differently. We would kick it to be able to surf the Internet without blocked web sites, to be able to say the word "freedom" into an open microphone without being accused of "a counter-revolutionary provocation."

Many of us have climbed down from the bleachers from where we were watching the game. If the Cuban government doesn't grab the ball, there are thousands of hands ready to take our turn to launch it.

Yoani's blog, Generation Y, can be read here in English translation.

Comments

[sandokan1]

You don’t need to look further, here you have the answer from the “horse” mouth. Excerpt from the article " Lift the Cuba Embargo?": “It is necessary to impose financial, economic and material restrictions to dictatorships, so that they will not take roots for long years….Diplomatic and morals measures do not work against dictatorships, because these make fun of the Governments and the population” (from the book " Fidel Castro and Human Rights”, Editora Política, Havana, Cuba, 1988)
http://www.cubanet.org/CNews/y09/abril09/09_O_3.html

[Wordstosay]

I never understood the issues the United States had with Cuba during the Johnson era. Cuba felt Russia had their back and the United States were interested in controlling the day to day happening in Cuba. Cuba made a choice. If the United States wants peace then all we have to do is forgive and work really hard at forgetting (forgetting what I do not know; forgiving what I do not understand) but someone has to. I do not want to go to war over family disputes. The United States had been in one - it was called World War I. Cousins' that could not get along fought and death came to many Americans. I do not want that revisited on to my nation. We are a world, we all are different...I want peace with Cuba. I heard this cigar that is grown from a certain tobacco plant is great and costly and I could get it cheaply in Cuba. I would love to get some for relatives that I know would appreciate cigars from Cuba. Cuba can grow all that is needed so good people visiting will be leaving with a lasting image and all things after that are possible...any other thinking is weak and insecure...I also heard there is the mean sandwich that I am told I need to go to the source!

[FearlessFreep]

Is the ball ever in Israel's court?

[leftionthenews]

The U.S. has a knife in Cuba's back and pulls it out one-tenth of the way and Cuba is supposed to be grateful? Cuba has done NOTHING to the United States, while the U.S. has carried out a nearly 50-year blockade intended to starve the Cuban people, has imprisoned the Cuban Five who were in the U.S. to put an end to acts of terrorism against Cuba, has refused to extradite Luis Posada Carriles to Venezuela to stand trial for the mid-air bombing murder of 73 people aboard Cubana Flight 455, stiil has Cuba on a list of nations supporting terrorism, prevents Cubans like the dangerous Ibrihim Ferrer (!) from entering the U.S. to receive a Grammy, or like the equally dangerous Dr. Vincente Bencomo from coming to San Jose to receive a prestigious science award at the Tech Museum. Once the U.S. remedies all those acts of hostility, THEN and only then will "the ball be in Cuba's court."

[steamboat]

Tell you what (I asked you before) we should extradite Carriles if and when Cuba agrees to extradite Phillip Agee and Asaka Shakur...Your thoughts?

Also, releasing people from prison because they practiced political dissent is a realistic request. If not, why not?

And as far as Bencomo and Ferrer not being able to come to the US, am I missing something? Because Cuban artists and athletes always have to defect. There NOT allowed to come to the US of their own free-will. Why?

[steamboat]

leftionthenews, still waiting for your answers to my questions.

[beaupritchard]

Let it go ... just walk away from what ever has angered you and let it go. It's just that easy.

[hankchifan]

You are pretty biased Mr. leftionthenews. It is ridiculous to say that Cuba has done NOTHING to the USA. Let me list a few of the things they have done:

1. Confiscated $5 billion dollars worth of US property without compensation.
2. Drove the world close to nuclear war with Castro asking Nikita to nuke us.
3. Emptied their prisons and mental assylums and sent the inmates to the US during the Mariel boatlift.

If the Cuban Five would have been exiles inflitrated into Cuba instead, wouldn't they also be in prison?

Doesn't Castro prevent people like the blogger Yoani Sanchez from leaving the island to collect a prize as well or the doctor with family in Argentina?

I agree with you on the Posada, Ibrahim and Bencomo cases.

Just trying to present a little balance to your obvious bias.

[Snuffleupagus]

Yoani writes non-stop about Cuban censorship and their efforts to stop free discussion of political ideas.

But a simple comment about the cruel embargo against Cuba imposed by the US is censored here.
What a f****ing joke.

Here is a link to a balanced assessment of Cuban American relations.
http://www.alternet.org/audits/136665/fidel_castro%3A_mr._obama%2C_the_blockade_of_cuba_takes_lives_and_brings_suffering/

This is not a simple issue of evil Castro vs. good America. Despite what some would like us to believe.

[sparkzzz]

Guess were are a bit late, while our political water boys have been stagging a show for us China has move in. http://www.americanfreepress.net/html/china_starts_oil_drilling.html

[IntellectuallyHonest]

Can Raul even lift the ball??

[Bluedogdemocrat8650]

Yes, i too admire this woman. If the rabid right wing Cuban exiles in Miami would take her lead. Then they would not have the ugly reputation that they have around the nation.

[FloresdelaHoz]

Now that the Castro brothers are at the end of their murderous lives, it is time to begin taking baby steps with Cuba (e.g., annual US$2 billion in family remittances and reunions) in exchange for freedom of all political dissidents. But we need to be smart negotiators before opening up the taxpayer's wallet to tens of US$B in bailout to Cuba.

Cuba is the brains and workhorse of the LatAm left and therefore the LatAm left's Achilles heel. It was the Cubans who secured Chavez's success with their internal security expertise and intelligence personnel. Not to mention the army of Cuban doctors, teachers and other aid workers. This is the same Chavez that we have observed spilling hate towards the empire (US). Now Chavez is bankrolling every leftist movement in the hemisphere and is arming to the teeth with Russians fighters, submarines and regional navy. Our one solid ally, Colombia, is surrounded by anti-American leftist (Venezuela and Ecuador). Bolivia's Morales was made possible by Chavez as was Ortega of Nicaragua and now El Salvador. How long before Mexico goes Left? 2012? If we lose Mexico, all bets are off on the future of the US as the global power.

[RoloTomassi]

You dare to make a comment about hard right Cubans in Florida, and the proceed with the utterly deplorable rightwing nonsense about leftist governments in Latin America!

FYI, your brand of simple-minded propaganda does not sell well around here.

[holeybuybull]

Don't worry about Mexico. As long as the oligarchy controls the vote counting, the aristocracy will continue to win "elections" and marginalize those who would attempt to improve the lives of the poor.
You sound upset that Chavez didn't buy military equipment from the US. Hope this doesn't impact our standing as number one in arms exports.

[Ira7]

The majority left there have been so brainwashed by the Castro BS that it will take two more generations to snap them out of it. And the blogger is somehow inferring that the people are going to "take the ball" and do something, but that's ridiculous. They need a REAL revolution there, but do the people have the guts to start one?

[camia3]

As always Yoani--BRILLIANT! Gracias, hermana!

[Macu]

I find it quite interesting that things that are considered illegal here in the US of A, like a foreign government financing a politician in a campaign, OR financing "dissident opposition groups" is considered ok when the U.S. does it around the world via direct embassy intervention (distribution of cash and other items by US embassy officials in Havana, or the similar distribution via NED and other similar organizations as in the attempted overthrow of the elected government in Venezuela. But this is not new. We have been doing that for over 50 years around the world. But were that to be discovered here, well off to prison. Prisoners of conscience financed by the USA?

[jast]

Totally agree.

[hankchifan]

It is no different than your friend Chavez who has been financing the elections in Argentina, Ecuador, Nicaragua ,etc. Do you remember the attache case with the $700K+ confiscated from Venezuelan govt. people trying to enter it into Argentina.. Unfortunately, it is dirty on all sides.
For Castro and Chavez, the principle of non intervention only applies to the USA and not to them.

[a human being]

The two countries have been in the “faïence dogs” position for decades. Now that President Obama has made a move towards Cuba, the Cuban leaders should answer or at least send a signal that will help and encourage the US in making other “moves” and helping pull down the walls built during the last 50 years.

PS: Ms Sanchez, you are doing a heck of a job participating in “opining up spaces for citizens initiatives” as you said. Thank you for that.

[GuillermoGodinez]

This woman needs to be a household name in the US on Cuba policy instead of the Florida Republicans. She is hyper critical of the regime, but does not have to put on the badge of belligerance.

[cheforacle]

Very interesting analysis. I certainly agree Cuba should reciprocate to the US move. They obviously want a lifting of the embargo. Raul made a few changes that have surprised me. The time is now, with both Castro brothers so old, to render a joint pathway to freedom and reintegration with the rest of the world and its markets. The Cuban people have a lot to offer the rest of the world and they can themselves benefit tremendously not only from the removal of the yoke of oppression but the ability to travel and take part in the activities of other cultures and peoples.