On June 22, 2002, The Cycle of Cuban Films of the Miami-Dade Community College presents at the Tower Theater in Miami a documentary about the Escambray saga written by Enrique Encinosa and directed by Pedro Suarez, titled "Al Filo del Machete" (At the Edge of the Sword). This film is part of the effort of the Institute of the Cuban Historic Memory against Totalitarianism to document little-known or twisted chapters of the armed struggle against Castro's tyranny since 1959. "Al Filo del Machete" presents the testimonies of a group of survivors who took part in the struggle for freedom during the 1960s in the Escambray Mountains in the center of the island and the urban struggle as well. Discredited as "bandits" for years by Castro's propaganda machine, this film documents why these peasants had no alternative but to fight back to a regime that was cutting off the most fundamental civil rights and liberties. Unfortunately, for the English-speaking American public that ignores the reality of the Castro regime, this documentary does not have English subtitles now, but hopefully will in the near future.
Another example of Castro's brutality was carried out in the early hours of April 17, 1961, when Castro ordered the massive detention of about 250,000 citizens suspected of being unsympathetic to his revolution, in order to cut off public support for the Bay of Pigs invasion. They were housed in stadiums, theaters and prisons. Many of them were executed or remained in prison. Once the invasion failed, Castro ordered the installation of dynamite in all jails housing his political prisoners, so that if another invasion occurred, they could be killed quickly.
If the Cuban people really love Castro and his regime, as some claim, why not hold free democratic elections in Cuba? Why not allow other political parties besides the Communist Party? Why not have a free press and freedom of expression for the citizens? Why no freedom of association and why automatically consider all private organizations illegal? Why can't parents educate their children according to their own beliefs? Why can't citizens own property and enter in business partnerships with foreigners? Why can't ordinary Cuban citizens enjoy the same facilities as foreigners? And the list of deprivation of the most elementary human rights goes on.
The notion that Castro was not and is still not opposed in Cuba is false. For 43 years he has been waging a war against Cubans, who, since 1959, rejected his betrayal of the democratic ideals of the political revolution against Batista. Castro has ruled and maintained power by repression, brutality and terror. Castro is involved not only in international terrorism but also in national terrorism directed against millions of citizens. This situation has affected all Cubans in all walks of life. That is why it is so inaccurate for the U.S. media and others to dismiss anti-Castro Cuban Americans as "upper class," "conservative," "right wing" and other negative and derogatory epithets very much in vogue and with the seal of approval of the far-left-engendered "political correctness."
Being anti-Castro is being pro-democracy and in support of human rights and the principles of the U.S. Declaration of Independence and Constitution.***
How do we get our elected officials to believe in the U.S. Declaration of Independence and Constitution.