Estefan to Lead March on Cuba

NBC Miami ^ | Tue, Mar 23, 2010 | Todd Wright

[marron]

I admire her. She seems like a decent human being who aspires to be a decent human being.

Miami is the capital of Latin America, so she has a bigger audience than just Miami.

Most entertainment people are jumping all over themselves to suck up to Castro and Chavez. She is a refreshing exception to the rule.

[freedumb2003]

ANSWER is domestic.

Line up all the false dichotomies you want.

[Polybius]

But the Miami Cubans are "temporary Americans" in their minds, awaiting the day when they go back after the Castros all die out. I honestly think they have zero allegiance to this country, except as a stepping stone to their eventual return.

Bay of Pigs Veterans Commissioned in the U.S. Armed Forces 1963

You will find my Bay of Pigs veteran uncle's "allegiance to this country" specifically outlined for you on pages 25, 101-102, 104, 107-108, and 118 in the book "We Were Soldiers Once ... And Young - Ia Drang - The Battle That Changed the War in Vietnam".

My brother is a veteran of the 10th Mountain Division and my sister is a veteran of the U.S. Army Nurse Corps.

I served twenty years in active and reserve duty in the U.S. Navy Medical Corps although I did not drill to get retirement points because my medical practice as a specialist solo practitioner was not conducive to being away one weekend a month. (Translation: I put myself at risk for being called back during wartime, and I was called back during the Gulf War, but I did not expect any retirement money. As I told the Reserve pencil-pushing officer that did not understand why I was neither drilling nor resigning my comission, "I don't need the Navy's money for my retirement. But, if there is a war and you need me, I will be there for you.")

So, go ahead and think that Americans of Cuban descent have no "allegiance to this country".

Whatever floats your boat.

[Polybius]

Hmmm, I can see why you say that, but I don’t agree. Some people have made a commitment to not go to Cuba under this regime.

So have I.

My secretary has been to Cuba. My only return to Cuba has been a one year U. S. Navy tour of duty at Guantanamo.

This opportunity was different.

This was a chance to stick a fork in the eye of the Castro regime on the international stage with the Pope as a witness.

At the time, I really did not understand why Gloria did not take the opportunity handed to her on a silver platter.

The older and wiser exile Cubans on the forum set me straight.

Her record sales would suffer.

[nickcarraway]

If it was about record sales, then why is she doing this now, and why has she done it before? People are not buying her music because of her political beliefs on either side. Those people were just being overly cynical.

I'm not sure what she could have done to stick a fork in his eye. That would have seriously risked backfiring and possibly embarrassing the Pope.

If the Pope had asked me to go, I would have respectfully have to have declined. I'm giving her the benefit of the doubt.

[Polybius]

If it was about record sales, then why is she doing this now, and why has she done it before?

She is doing it on a local Miami stage. Not on an international stage.

She is whispering her message very softly in a whisper that will not carry very far beyond Miami. SHE IS NOT SHOUTING IT AROUND THE WORLD.

Her international buyers will never hear about it.

The opinion that I gave was not my original opinion. In 1997, I was clueless in regards to why she did not seize such a golden opportunity to denounce Castro, in Cuba, in front of the Pope with the international media covering her every word.

That opinion in regards to her failure to do so came straight from Cubans on the Cuban exile political forum who were actively fighting Castro when I was still in First Grade in 1960.

[ETL]

She's been bashing Castro and the communist system in Cuba for years. But even if she said nothing, she's still a way better American than pro-communist creeps like Sean Penn.

Penn Hangs Again With Pal Chavez:
http://www.newser.com/story/40507/penn-hangs-again-with-pal-chavez.html
__________________________________________________________

Sean Penn Applauds as Venezuela's Chavez Bashes Bush:
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,291855,00.html
__________________________________________________________

From National Public Radio (NPR):
August 29, 2006
"Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez has been visiting countries such as China, Iran and Russia as part of an effort to build a 'strategic alliance' of interests not beholden to the United States. He considers the United States his arch enemy.":
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=5729764
__________________________________________________________

From CBS-News:
July 29, 2006
"Chavez pledged that his country would 'stay by Iran at any time and under any condition,' state television reported. Ahmadinejad said he saw in Chavez a kindred spirit." "'We do not have any limitation in cooperation,' Ahmadinejad was quoted as saying. 'Iran and Venezuela are next to each other and supporters of each other. Chavez is a source of a progressive and revolutionary current in South America and his stance in restricting imperialism is tangible.'":
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2006/07/29/world/main1847331.shtml

[freedumb2003]

Yes, a single exception removes the rule.

“HOW DARE YOU IMPUGN MY (brother/sister/uncle/aunt/stepmother/nun who taught me in 1st Grade)!”

Not a counter argument.

But nice to know we have people who know some people that are here for the duration.

[Forward the Light Brigade]

All Americans should march with her and wear white—we are all Cubans just as we were all Berliners when the wall went up. Where ever freedom is repressed Americans should take a stand. We failed when Iranians march in the streets for free elections—and some died—we failed to notice. Let us not do the same when the brave people of Cuba fall to Castro Brother’s goon squads.

[ETL]

If you don’t mind my asking, what is the meaning behind your “FreeDumb2003” screen name? Did you just choose it randomly or are you trying to convey something? Has it anything to do with the 2003 start/continuation of the Iraq war?

[TheThinker]

The Castro regime is external and impervious. It just seems like a waste of time and energy, but it is hers to waste.

I think this is what's wrong with America, IMO. There's not enough people to champion liberty openly. It should be done at every opportunity so that it becomes an widespread and integral part of our culture. Then maybe we will have a chance ourselves.

[freedumb2003]

I chose it years before — an independent chain of events led me to the “2003” (obviously several years before 2003).

The Freedumb part was a bit more conscious. It is a bit smart-alecky (which follows my personality), but also I wanted to convey the idea that I am “dumb” in terms of having so much to learn, from so many who know so much.

I will take my arguments, and my knowledge, to the precipice with anyone — but, when I have been bested, I try to acknowledge that (difficult when I brick-wall myself into a corner but I somehow survive even those).

FWIIW...

[freedumb2003]

Now that you mention it, I should add what I just posted to my profile.

I think I shall! :)

[AuH2ORepublican]

Even if you think that Estefan should have sung in Havana when the Pope visited (at the risk of adding “legitimacy” to Castro’s brutal regime—remember that Castro used the Pope’s visit as a propaganda tool and the media in free countries fawned over Castro’s “openness” and largely glossed over the Pope’s criticisms of the intolerable conditions faced by Cubans), why would you applaud someone who childishly calls Estefan a “coward” for leading a protest on U.S. soil? She’s an American citizen and lives in the U.S., and if the only way that Americans opposed to Castro’s regime can protest is to travel illegally to Cuba and get arrested then you’re setting an impossible standard, aren’t you? Are you a “coward” for not returning to Cuba and starting a protest in front of Havana’s Capitol?

Gloria Estefan would have made a crapload more money selling albums in the U.S. and Latin America had she just stayed quiet and not devoted her life to telling people about the evils of Communism and Castro’s regime. She is the antithesis of a “coward.”

[RipSawyer]

“Cubans and non-Cubans alike that live in liberty”
////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////

Hey, Gloria, ain’t nobody livin’ in liberty in the USA no more! Give us jus’ a little more time and it’ll be jus’ like Cuba.

[RipSawyer]

Odd that we are protesting Cuban communism at the same time we are being submerged in communism here. The Castro brothers must be dying laughing.

[ETL]

The Freedumb part was a bit more conscious. It is a bit smart-alecky (which follows my personality), but also I wanted to convey the idea that I am “dumb” in terms of having so much to learn, from so many who know so much.

Thanks, freedumb2003. I was just wondering, because a lot of lefties opposed to Bush's 2003 "Operation Iraqi Freedom" mocked the effort as "Operation Freedumb".
___________________________________

Operation Iraqi Freedom:

At 9:34 PM EST on March 19, 2003 (5:34 AM local time in Baghdad on March 20), United States and United Kingdom forces consisting of 40 cruise missiles and strikes led by 2 F-117s from the 8th Fighter Squadron (supported by Navy EA-6B Prowlers) and other aircraft began conducting military operations against the state of Iraq designed to disarm Iraq of its weapons of mass destruction and to remove the Iraqi Regime from power.

http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/ops/iraqi_freedom.htm

[Lancelot Jones]

I following your discussions with Polybius (can't tell whether he is one of those fabled "Miami Cubans" that you speak off, as he chooses to fly the American flag, rather than the flag of any State in his homepage) I couldn't help but to ponder the notion that a Cuban (Polybius) should probably have a deeper base of knowledge to draw from when discussing what thoughts Cubans at large, and "Miami Cubans" specifically, may have on the subject of whether they wish to return to Cuba at any time.

It would seem to me that a Cuban (I am more than bothered calling someone who has served this nation, anything other than an American, and a patriot at that) would have a deeper understanding of the "Cuban" psyche per se, than you, who I suspect may NOT be "Cuban" in the least bit.

I know...some of your best friends are Cuban.

Requiem æternam dona eis, Domine, et lux perpetua luceat eis.; In memoria æterna erit justus, ab auditione mala non timebit.

Beauseant!

[VRWCmember]

Hey, if she wants to have at it, then have at it. It is just yelling into a whirlwind.

And so is -- apparently -- the Tea Party movement. Are you suggesting that because there are no "discernible results" (after all the dems still have majorities in both houses and were able to ram HCR through) that it is all a big waste of time?