Elian Gonzalez slams U.S. embargo against Cuba

[NeoConsSuck]

Source: CNN.COM

Quito, Ecuador (CNN) -- One name stands out on the guest list of thousands of youth at a conference in Ecuador this week: Elian Gonzalez.
Fourteen years after he made headlines as the subject of a bitter international custody battle, Gonzalez spoke to CNN on Tuesday.
It's his first trip abroad since the U.S. government removed him at gunpoint from his relatives' home in Miami and, after a legal battle, sent him back to Cuba to live with his father.

He had harsh words for the United States on Tuesday as he recalled his mother's deadly journey.

"Just like her, many others have died attempting to go to the United States. But it's the U.S. government's fault. Their unjust embargo provokes an internal and critical economic situation in Cuba," Gonzalez said.

"But, despite that, Cuba, even with all its problems has progressed over the years. The progress we've made is all thanks to Cuba's courage, our dignity, our continued fight for a more just model."


Read more: http://www.cnn.com/2013/12/10/world/americas/elian-gonzalez-ecuador-interview/index.html?hpt=hp_t2

[onehandle]

1. Propaganda Drone Achieved. nt

[onlyadream]

2. And look at how we lay on our backs for China.

China is a huge threat, but we seem to turn a blind eye.

[reformist2]

4. Any justification for an embargo with Cuba ended when we cozied up to China.

[Adenoid_Hynkel]

8. Exactly - the Beijing butchers make Castro look like a saint

The Cuba embargo has jack to do with freedom or human rights. China gets away with far, far worse, but is treated as an ally because they let U.S. corporations come in and exploit their brutal labor conditions.

[davidpdx]

16. Beijing butchers

You can say that again...

[Blue_Tires]

45. +1

I was beside myself watching the same old-school, red-baiting senators who wanted to crush Cuba into oblivion argue so heavily in favor of normal relations with China...

[treestar]

3. Oh really, so it's our fault?

What an entitled little monster. Stay in Cuba then.

[ForgoTheConsequence]

17. Typical.

Still hiding from Commies in your closet?

[treestar]

26. His other tried to come here

and apparently died trying, and that's our fault?

Yet this is such a horrible place!

[Ash_F]

40. I never heard him say this was a horrible place. Did you?

Maybe your lies would be more easily received on freerepublic.

[kskiska]

81. The trip to Miami was not political

The boyfriend had ferried people back and forth quite often to shop or whatever. I remember an article back then in George Magazine by Ann Louise Bardach stating this.

According to this 60 Minutes interview, he was going to Miami and she just wanted to be with her boyfriend. There was a love letter to that effect.
http://www.cbsnews.com/news/elians-father-speaks-on-i60-minutes-i/

Here's the George article:

(snip)

BARDACH: Well, according to friends and family that were the closest to Elizabeth, she was pretty apolitical and she was pretty much a small-town girl who didn't have much curiosity. She didn't even travel much in Cuba. She came to the states for one reason only, and that's to be with her boyfriend Lazaro who came back from Miami to get her. But he was no longer able to live in Cuba because he was always in trouble with the law. He had a lot of problems in Cuba. In order for her to be with him, she had to be with him in Miami. Otherwise, they say she never would have left. And she was unable to leave her son Elian because this is a child -- she had had seven miscarriages previously and just was very bonded with the child.

RANDALL: So you're saying this was not the political statement that the Miami relatives would have people believe?

BARDACH: Well, her best friend said -- and it's in the story -- is those were not her sentiments, those were not her ideals, she was never a dissident. In fact, Elizabeth Brotens (ph) Rodriguez was, in fact -- had a job in the Communist Party in Cardenas, was pretty active. She represented her union of workers in the local Communist Party.

http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0004/23/sm.19.html

[AZ Progressive]

21. "I hate reality, please take me back to la la land"

[carla]

23. Yes.

It is YOUR fault. Have you done ANYTHING to help change the unjust situation? Didn't think so. It's done in your name, it's done with your consent (silence is consent) and it's done by your government, so yes, it is YOUR fault. Try to be an honest person in political debates, it makes all the difference in the world. PS, Cuba has no equal measure against the USA, Cuba has NO EMBARGO against your country. Now go away with your solipsistic privileges.

[CKS]

86. The blame rests with Cuba

Reasons the US continues it's embargo on Cuba: Human Rights violations, terrorism designation, and billions of dollars worth of financial claims against the government.

Cuba has been given steps it could take to begin the end of the embargo but does not.

I am very sad that so many people in Cuba suffer because of the embargo and I wish the embargo did not exist. But Cuba's government has brought this embargo upon it's own country and does not follow steps given to end the embargo. So no, the US is not to blame for the embargo still being in affect. Cuba is to blame.

[carla]

24. I loved your last bit of projection.

"Entitled little monster" just about sums up how I see you through your post.

[idwiyo]

28. Yes, it is your fault. Deal with it. BTW, the real monsters are those who support embargo.

Never mind about "entitled". Looked in the mirror lately?

[Ash_F]

39. No just yours and people who think like you.

There is a another(dying) party at which you would probably find yourself more comfortable.

[Comrade Grumpy]

66. Maybe if you stomp your feet hard enough, he will hear you.

[Fantastic Anarchist]

72. What the fuck?

Yes, the embargo is our fault. Unless it's another country I'm unaware of that has it implemented.

[Judi Lynn]

76. You're going to be busy a very long time if you decide to get busy learning about the embargo,

and its impact on the people of Cuba.

The embargo has been protested massively at the U.N. for many years.

Why do you think the rest of the world sharply disapproves of this economic war on the people of Cuba, anyway?

Take some time off from trying to scuffle with people who know what they're talking about, and start looking for the truth, yourself. It's right in front of anyone industrious, and honest enough to start getting educated on the subject. You have to put in the work, yourself, just as everyone else does who expects to know more than deliberately crafted propaganda.

[geek tragedy]

5. They indoctrinated him quite nicely. nt

[Adenoid_Hynkel]

6. you'd prefer he star in hostage videos for the Miami Batista-ites?

complete with rehearsed finger-wagging and other nonsense?

Those rightwing loons even went on Hannity and told him they saw the Virgin Mary appear over the house he was staying in. Yeah, that was such a better place for him than with his dad.

God bless janet Reno for standing up to those rightwing crackpots and refusing to let them use the kid for their stupid agenda.

[geek tragedy]

7. The US did the right thing by returning him to his father.

The downside was that it meant he'd get brainwashed into loving dictatorship.

But it was still the right call.

[JustAnotherGen]

38. Amen

The father was alive and well and the then little boy needed to be with his flesh and blood - and not used as a political bludgeon. It set a precedent in the family court system that Americans encounter every single day. Kind of solidified first right of refusal in custody issues right then and there.

[ForgoTheConsequence]

18. And that would never happen in the US, would it?

Like it or leave it, pledge allegiance, git r done, usa number 1!!!! better dead than red.

[geek tragedy]

31. indoctrination does happen here, but there are competing visions and diversity nt

[carla]

25. Another opinion

based on nothing. Is it fun to just make stuff up? Cuba has an EXCELLENT educational system and the vast majority of Cubans think more complex thoughts than all Americans who support the embargo. Elian indoctrinated? Take a look at your own offspring and youth if you want to see what real indoctrination looks like. Cuban youth doesn't want to kill other people, your youth is enthralled by the idea of killing, in games, in life. Indoctrination so deep even you are oblivious to the dumb things you are saying in defense of a nation that has long ago lost it's bearings. Cuba is what it is because of external pressure and responses to imperial aggression. Prove me wrong. I know you wouldn't even know where to begin. Facts are Cubans are now way freer than you.

[geek tragedy]

32. "Facts are Cubans are now way freer than you."

Can they start a "capitalist underground" where they log on to describe Castro as a dictator?

Can dissidents get passports?

Can they oppose the Communist party in elections?

How's that free press working out for you?

http://en.rsf.org/spip.php?page=predateur&id_article=44496

[idwiyo]

29. Nah, nothing to compare with your indocrination. :)

[geek tragedy]

33. I don't claim that my government isn't responsible for any of our problems. nt

[geek tragedy]

44. Where did I claim that? Of course the utterly stupid and immoral trade embargo

has hurt Cuba.

It's hurt the US too, but to a lesser degree.

[geek tragedy]

48. I bet you $100 you can't post a link to me saying that. nt

[geek tragedy]

50. Okay, pay up the $100, you failed nt

[geek tragedy]

56. Tell you what, copy and paste the entire post, including author name, and post it. nt

[ronnie624]

60. Sorry about that.

I'll delete.

[pstokely]

79. indoctrinated there, he'd indoctrinated in Miami

nt

[geek tragedy]

84. True, his family in Florida were insane rightwingers. nt

[pstokely]

85. he'd probably be brainwashed into a young teabagger

and propped up on Faux news

[Penicilino]

87. Who indoctrinated me?

I agree with him. Most members in this thread seem to agree with him too. Does it take indoctrination to hold the embargo view in question?

[cheapdate]

9. Cuba had a coummunist revolution to overthrow a deeply

unjust system where the vast majority of all Cuban lands were held by a few wealthy families and corporations. Modern Cuba has some very admirable ideals and characteristics. Freedom of expression and conscious remains a very troubling aspect of the Cuban state for me and many others.

Elian Gonzalez has every right to speak out about Cuba's "courage" and "dignity". He has every right to talk about his and his country's journey toward "a more just model."

There are things I admire about Cuban society and there are things I cannot support.

But I won't make the assumption that Elian's pride in his country or his disdain for the United States makes him a "pawn" or a "propagandist". He's a grown man with his own perspective on social justice, politics, economics, and the organization of society and state.

I'm frankly surprised by some of the dismissive and condescending comments to that effect here on DU.

[erronis]

11. K&R (or however I'm supposed to say it)

Thank you for a very clear summation of the history of Cuba as it applies to this situation.

I'm not involved with the Cuban-American community or the Cubans but I think that the U.S. relationship with one of our closest countries has been stupid, counter-productive, vindictive, and without any clear rationale.

Just look at how many other countries the U.S. has subjugated just through the insiduousness of the $. Of course, that's one of the reasons that Fidel threw out the worshipers of the US$.

[okaawhatever]

80. FYI: K & R is correct. It's short for kick and recommend. DU uses the number of recommends and the

number of comments to determine which posts stay at the top of the news feed. The recommend button is at the bottom left of a post, by share facebook & share twitter. If you click on the center of the recommend box you'll see who has recommended the story/post and if you click the lower portion you can recommend a story you like. If you recommend it, the small box will turn yellow. If there's a story someone likes but doesn't have a comment they'll post K & R just to keep the story/post near the top. Just thought i'd share that with you. Welcome to DU.

[adirondacker]

14. I recall attending a lecture in college that discussed Cuba's ability to demonstrate

true sustainable agricultural methods. It was actually quite fascinating that an island nation could accomplish what they did with the little resources they have.

[Renew Deal]

35. He is a pawn

I agree with some of what you said, but I disagree about the pawn argument. Not only is he a pawn, but an important one at that. He's one of the most well know Cuban political figures there are, particularly in the US. He will be very useful to the Castros.

[Little Star]

43. Amen!

[TBF]

65. Excellent, thoughtful post.

The knee jerk comments in this thread are the obvious product of propaganda against an island that has made it without capitalism 50 years. They are predictable and to be expected from the "reasonable" people who support imperialism. I would venture a guess Cuba will re-join the world a bit more in this next century with the help of other nations. But I give them kudos for what they've managed to accomplish as they had the guts to throw off their overlords.

[MyNameGoesHere]

10. I believe in the revolutionary ideas

of Cuba. But I am white and therefore folks here know I can think for myself, unlike those Spanish people that are just drones.

If it were me I might look into his life a little and explore the possibility he may actually have a brain.

[Ash_F]

41. I think you nailed it. /nt

[Cal Carpenter]

12. Let the red-baiting begin

Oh wait, it already has.

[geek tragedy]

34. Cuba is still a totalitarian state. Sorry if that fact inconveniences your arguments

It ranks lower in press freedom than Saudi Arabia, Russia, Sudan, and Burma.

http://en.rsf.org/press-freedom-index-2013,1054.html

[tavalon]

51. So are we

Pull back the curtain. There isn't anything remotely representing a Democracy here. We are Consumers, not Citizens. Open the box and your mind.

[geek tragedy]

53. that's really deep. nt

[tavalon]

55. You wasted pixels to say that and now I've wasted pixels to say I disagree with you

Let's stop wasting pixels, shall we?

[ronnie624]

59. RSF has no credibility.

The organization accepts money in exchange for writing propaganda.

http://www.counterpunch.org/2006/08/01/reporters-without-borders-and-washington-s-coups/

[geek tragedy]

61. RSF has 10,000 times the credibility of counterpunch nt

[ronnie624]

63. Why is that?

Counterpunch hasn't accepted money from the CIA.

[geek tragedy]

64. Counterpunch publishes Holocaust deniers. nt

[ronnie624]

67. Reporters Without Borders

RWB in turn has been described as an "ultra-reactionary" organization by the official newspaper of the Central Committee of the Cuban Communist Party, Granma.[66] Tensions between Cuban authorities and RWB are high, particularly after the imprisonment in 2003 of 75 dissidents (27 journalists) by the Cuban Government, including Raúl Rivero and Óscar Elías Biscet. An article by John Cherian in the Indian magazine Frontline alleged that RWB "is reputed to have strong links with Western intelligence agencies" and "Cuba has accused Robert Meynard [sic] the head of the group, of having CIA links".[69]

RWB has denied that its campaigning on Cuba are related to payments it has received from anti-Castro organisations.[70] In 2004, it received $50,000 from the Miami based exile group, the Center for a Free Cuba, which was personally signed by the US State Department's Special Envoy to the Western Hemisphere, Otto Reich.[65] RWB has also received extensive funding from other institutions long critical of Fidel Castro's government, including the International Republican Institute.[71]

Journalist Salim Lamrani has accused Reporters Without Borders with making unsupported and contradictory statements regarding Internet connectivity in Cuba.[72]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reporters_Without_Borders#Cuba

[geek tragedy]

68. how about that jailing of 75 dissidents, including 27 journalists?

Would you have a problem with Obama throwing Glenn Greenwald in a cell, along with Ed Snowden and Chelsea Manning?

[ronnie624]

70. The Cuban government says the "dissidents" and "journalists" are US government agents.

Considering the history of US involvement in Cuba and many other countries, I give the Cuban government the benefit of the doubt.

Per capita, the US has more people in prison than any other country. US prisons also tend to be as brutal as it gets.

[geek tragedy]

71. Yeah, governments can totally be trusted when they say

someone they put in prison for political beliefs is a foreign agent.

[ronnie624]

73. We can't say with certainty, I suppose,

but there is no disputing the history of US interventionism throughout the world or the deceit and duplicity in its relations with other countries. This makes it very difficult to believe any pronouncements about Cuba by the US government.

[geek tragedy]

75. no government should be trusted when it throws

its critics in prison. The US included.

[Mika]

13. VIVA CUBA!

A little old, but, still an accurate representation ...

Learn from Cuba
http://www.twnside.org.sg/title/learn.htm

[No Vested Interest]

15. I guess Elian didn't get the memo that his President Raul Castro

and the U.S. President Barack Obama were making nice in South Africa.
(And I'm glad they did.)

[DeSwiss]

19. VIVA Elian!

- K&R

[1000words]

20. Indoctrinated capitalists calling out indoctrinated communists makes my head hurt

And vice versa.

[ronnie624]

46. Historical documentation shows that the young man's words are correct.

US extraterritorial sanctions against Cuba have resulted in considerable hardship for the Cuban people, and are soundly condemned by the international community, including the UN General Assembly. This is not in dispute by anyone but the hopelessly bamboozled.

[1000words]

74. My post was addressing some of the "wisdom" put forth in this thread

You are, in my opinion, correct.

[cosmicone]

22. It is time for some democratic president and congress

to throw the Miami cubans under the bus and restore full trade with Cuba.

The Miami cubans vote for repukes anyway -- it will be a net gain in votes.

[Paladin]

69. +100. (nt)

[idwiyo]

27. k&r

[joelz]

30. Elian is not alone,American exceptionalism strikes again

29 October 2013 – For the 22nd consecutive year at the United Nations, the General Assembly today adopted a resolution calling for an end to the economic, commercial and financial blockade imposed by the United States against Cuba.

By a vote of 188 in favour to two against (Israel and the United States) with three abstentions (Marshall Islands, the Federated States of Micronesia and Palau), the Assembly reiterated its call to all States to refrain from promulgating and applying laws and measures not conforming with their obligations to reaffirm freedom of trade and navigation.

[cpwm17]

36. Yes, the brain washing runs strong for some in the US

Last edited Wed Dec 11, 2013, 07:28 PM - Edit history (1)

Somehow the world is supposed to accept our self-declared entitlement to control the world.

[Renew Deal]

37. He's been re-educated well

[Capt. Obvious]

52. Who let the BOG out?

Jesus, you would think Elian said something bad about Obama.

[geek tragedy]

57. You're the only person in this thread mentioning the Preznit. Derp.nt

[Capt. Obvious]

58. RELEASE THE BOG

[geek tragedy]

62. I don't post there. You should be less obsessed with the president. nt

[marshall]

77. That embargo is one of Kennedy's most enduring legacies, outlasting moon exploration

Kennedy laid the planks for the embargo we know today by executive order in 1962, which was finally more or less codified by Robert Toricelli in 1992.

Perhaps President Obama can use the same executive privilege to finally do away with it.

[pstokely]

78. If he had stayed with his Miami relatives, he probably would have been brainwashed into a young

teabagger, and he'd have a show on faux news

[Judi Lynn]

82. You've got that right! One shudders to even consider it. It would be a circus. n/t

[Mika]

83. The Miami relatives sent Elian to ultra RW Lincoln-Marti school.

http://www.cubanet.org/CNews/y00/jan00/18e12.htm

Here's what Elian Gonzalez, 6, will learn at the private school he now attends in Little Havana: He lives in a Christian society and should support prayer in public and private schools. He should oppose abortion, homosexuality and racism. He should love the American flag and realize that ``the influence of The United States in the world has been beneficial to all.''

The child has completed two weeks of kindergarten at the Lincoln-Marti School. If he stays in Miami and his great-aunt and great-uncle continue to use the $3,000-a-year full tuition scholarship offered by school owner Demetrio Perez, Elian will graduate from the school in Little Havana when he is 18.

This means that the boy will more than likely be influenced by the school's main textbook, Citizens Training Handbook, subtitled Discipline, Moral, Civism, Urbanity, which students use from kindergarten through 12th grade. Perez, the author, who also serves on the Miami-Dade County School Board, says he wrote the 315-page guide for parents, teachers and students at the private school to ``produce the worthy citizens our society so badly needs.''

The $25 book is divided into 57 chapters ranging from ``Foreign Policy'' to ``Serving a Formal Dinner'' to ``Friendship.'' Elian, like his classmates, will study the book and be tested on its contents every nine weeks during his 12 years at the school.

``The book and the practice of it is a very important part of the Lincoln-Marti education,'' says Amelia Estrada, 22, a former student.

While at the school, Elian will learn from the main textbook that Cuba, where he came from and where his father and grandparents still live, ``has not been able to provide for people's most basic needs such as food, clothing and housing.''

``We want Elian to know that in this country, we in no way support Cuba or people in Cuba who believe in that system,'' Perez says.

At Lincoln-Marti, the book will teach Elian that, according to immigration laws, certain undesirables are not allowed to come to this country: ``habitual drunks, adulterers and sexually immoral people.'' Elian will read that Richard Nixon got a raw deal when he was forced to resign as President, and that Americans now regret this and honor him.