[van-discuss] free the Cuban 5

[Geordie Birch]

(My apologies for any inconvenience caused by two replies to the same
post.)

On Wed, May 14, 2003 at 01:12:42PM -0700, Marjorie Brown wrote:
> Yes, and a few more clicks will demonstrate that the first story is from
> the "Free Cuba Foundation" espousing "Free Markets, Permanent Values,
> Limited Government".

Telling, isn't it, that the left is largely silent on this issue.  And
what's your point about the "first link"?  This proves something other 
than your cleverness?  Did you actually read the articles?

Here's one that shouldn't sully your mouse's cursor:
http://www.blacklightonline.com/cubanow.html

An interesting site on Cuban neologisms of the periodo especial:
http://www.amigospais-guaracabuya.org/oagbv002.html
The relevant portion excerpted:
"In the province of Havana, people address a person from another province
as palestino (palestine). This new gentile form was explained to me as
the crowded way people from other areas have to live when they first
come to Havana."

(Hmm.  I smell smoke.)

> I'm sure they have a completely objective, scientifically based
> methodology for their comments on homelessness.

It's called using your eyes and common sense.  None of the articles 
bothered with your precious scientific methodology - they were all 
anecdotal.  You would know this if you had read the articles before 
commenting on them.  (Another research method that is not scientific:
parroting government press releases.  Or is sauce for the goose no
longer sauce for the gander?)

(I'm reminded here of the late-era USSR intelligentsia phrase "right
wing", referring of course to the Soviet government and its apologists.  
I feel that in this context and with that meaning, this phrase applies 
to anyone who says Cuba has no native homeless population.)

A tourist making such claims about homelessness is demonstrating
naivete if not foolishness.  Any government making such claims is 
being dishonest.  Shame on the Cuban government.  Why do they fear
widespread awareness of their beautiful country's social problems?

My bullshit detector goes off real fucking loud when I hear superlatives.  
As one who has often found himself to be homeless I get angry when I hear
supposed fellow travellers denying the existence of the homeless.
(Reminds me of trying to get a welfare cheque from the god damned NDP.  At
least the god damned Liberals are up front with their war on the poor.)

I believe that Cuba's homeless problem is probably much less severe
than that found in much of the rest of the world.  However as they say
over at the IWW (and the ILWU for that matter) "An injury to one is an
injury to all."  The Cuban government's preposterous claims add insult
to that injury.

We're talking about peoples lives here.  Have you no respect?

In solidarity with the "Palestinos" and other homeless Cubans,

Geordie.


> > On Tue, May 13, 2003 at 08:57:52PM -0700, waldern at sfu.ca wrote:
> >>
> >> Housing
> >> is affordable; there is no homelessness and most people own
> >> a home. When they do rent housing they pay 10% of their
> >> income.
> >
> > Two weeks in Cuba and you state definitively that there is no
> > homelessness there?  What was the methodology of your research?
> >
> > A cursory search of the web indicates there is plenty of
> > homelessness in Cuba.
> >
> > Unfortunately the Left is in denial of this.
> >
> > A few links:
> >
> >  "To be Homeless in Havana" Manuel David Orrio, Cooperativa
> >  de Periodistas Independientes
> >  http://198.62.75.1/www2/fcf/tobeho.html
> >
> >  "Why doesn't the government help the homeless?"
> >  http://64.21.33.164/CNews/y00/nov00/03e1.htm
> >
> >  "CUBA Now" by Walter Lippmann
> >  http://www.blacklightonline.com/cubanow.html
> >
> > The word "palestino" is a good search term for finding
> > info re. Cuban homelessness.
> >
> > Geordie.