Help Me Understand This: Cuba's Ex-Pat "WHITE Right-wingers" Are A Bigger Problem Than The Poverty Among Blacks In This 70% Black Nation?
I am struggling to understand the point and the logic of this opinion piece. They argue that the White vocal critics of Castro that live in South Florida should not be allowed to hijack the US relationship with Cuba. Instead the focus should be upon the gross poverty and struggle for rights by the 70% of poor Blacks who reside in the country.
Let me be clear - I am fully aware about the large Black population in Cuba. I also agree that under the Bautista government the majority of the nation was dirt poor while the White minority, at least some of them, enjoyed great wealth and access to the fine amenities of the island. In as much as wealthy White Americans ventured over to Cuba as a vacation spot, the same segregation that was in place in the USA at that time flowed through to Cuba.
It is also true, from my research, that in relative terms a disproportionate number of Afro-Cubans see Castro's rule as a net uplift for them. They went from desperately poor to POOR.
None of this speaks to the issues of human rights and liberties. They thing that the American left fights for elsewhere. Instead when it comes to Cuba they seem smitten by the fact that "at least these poor Blacks have government health care, all is not bad".
The average monthly salary for Cubans is $27.
When Cuba sought to improve the energy efficiency of its electrical appliances in order to reduce the load on the antiquated electrical grid - the government set up a payment program in which the Chinese made refrigerators could be purchased via monthly payments. For some people the fridge took up too large of their monthly salary to be a reasonable investment.
It comes as no surprise that while socialism seeks to flatten out the income curve so more people can "share" in the wealth - the perversion of this system is that it cares more about EQUALITY than it does about the fact that this POINT OF EQUALITY is often far, far lower than the average point which capitalism coupled with progressive taxation can bring.
Let's say that the average salary for the Cuba is $1000 per yer. (I am generously bumping this up from that which can be deduced from $27 per month). This $1k amount is sub-poverty rates in the USA.
How is it that people can choose to make a positive reference to Cuba as being a successful socialist state (well they put any faults that they do detect upon the US embargo) while ignoring these grave facts?
I have no problem with the people of Cuba. I don't like the government. I dislike the "Anti-America Americans" who fawn upon the positive elements of Cuba that they conger up.....but they always seem to come home and make use of their American freedoms.
4 comments:
I know you was waiting for this so I'll bring it...
How you feel about Saudi Arabia or China policies?
Wouldn't you agree that the real issue is a true Democratic Cuba will 70% Black population and a rich agricultural resource would be an economic threat?
I agree , There are real issue democratic national among blacks in this 70% blank nation.education field and originated person are solve our problem.
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[quote]Wouldn't you agree that the real issue is a true Democratic Cuba will 70% Black population and a rich agricultural resource would be an economic threat?[/quote]
Ed -
You are hurting me dearly on your question above.
In my reading of your words you are making the case that it is the UNITED STATES that has a vested interest against a "democratic Cuba" because it would cause them to compete against American interests.
Ironically Ed - CHINA is doing such competition. They have also altered their communist system to take maximum advantage of their biggest natural resource - THEIR PEOPLE and their intelligence and abundance.
[quote]How you feel about Saudi Arabia or China policies?[/quote]
As I recall it Ed - neither one of these nation laid down with our primary enemy during the prime time of this nation's conflict with them.
In ad much as the Castro brothers were at the helm when this occurred - they are still persona non grata with respect to American foreign policy.
Now Ed if CUBA ACTUALLY HAD OPEN ELECTIONS since that time in which some other political force could have came in - no doubt the conflict would have been smoothed over by now.
Demanding that the USA forget the past with Castro and have THE USA be the one who tucks its memories and instead focus on the FUTURE would be like asking Jesse Jackson, Al Sharpton, Ron Daniels and Prof Ogeltree to FORGET ABOUT THE SLAVE PAST OF AMERICA and instead "look forward".
quote: Ironically Ed - CHINA is doing such competition. They have also altered their communist system to take maximum advantage of their biggest natural resource - THEIR PEOPLE and their intelligence and abundance.
That is a very lame response to the question posed to you.
Let's say for the sake of argument that China has " altered their communist system" in the way you say.
Even so: they are STILL as socialist a country as Cuba (perhaps more so), and they STILL have no respect for human rights.
Our human rights stance toward Cuba is clearly hypocritical.
We maintain trade and relations with unrighteous regimes like Russia, China, and Saudi Arabia when it is to our geo-political advantage.
But for small countries like Cuba that pose no threat, our policy is easily altered to meet the needs of local political interests.
Our policy has not affected change in Cuba. It is a failed policy idea.
All this makes is look silly and spiteful to the rest of the world, and in fact, is a cause of tension between us the rest of the countries in the hemisphere, as noted here:
Obama Urges 'Equal' Ties in Hemisphere;
Latin American Resentment of U.S. Policy on Cuba Overshadows Speech
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/04/17/AR2009041700389.html
- lunchcountersitin
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