Talk:Cuba/Archive14

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[edit] Reality of government structure,DNA evidence of indigenous genes, etc denied

Apparently it not only offends some to compare the socialist government structure of Cuba to that of China etc, but also mitochondrial DNA evidence is now ignored. Apparently to Wikipedia reality is secondary to consensus...an interesting and not too flattering state of affairs. El Jigue 3-7-07208.65.188.149 21:57, 7 March 2007 (UTC)

Yet again I have had to add our sources re:DNA evidence, EJ. I have no idea why this is so contentious to people, I think you and I must have added that detail about 15 times over the last 12 months or so. As for comparing the government structure of Cuba to China in an article, perhaps the editor that removed it wasn't so much offended, as thought that it isn't necessary. As they said in their edit summary "this is about Cuba, not any other country" [1], and I have a feeling a lot of other people are going to feel the same way, for good faith more than sinister reasons.-- Zleitzen(talk) 23:44, 7 March 2007 (UTC)

Added two references (1)DNA Genealogy, E. Elizondo "The mt-DNA haplogroup results were a complete surprise. The test results indicated that I descended on my maternal line from Siberian Eskimos who migrated across the Aleutian chain and Alaska and down to North and South America*. This contrasted with my genealogy research which showed that my oldest known female ancestor, Maria Obregon Ceballos, was born in the city of Trinidad, one of the oldest towns in Cuba -founded in 1514, presumably of Spanish ancestry." (My family's mt-DNA is similar) http://www.cubagenweb.org/dna.htm</ref>. And "This Cuban socialist system is frequently defined as nondemocratic and totalitarian ref>TITLE 22 > CHAPTER 69A > § 6021 U.S. Code Collection Cornell Law School, Ithaca N.Y,. Retrieved on 2007-03-07.</ref> El Jigue 3-7-07208.65.188.149 02:00, 8 March 2007 (UTC)

Z: Perhaps the problem is in part rooted in the usage of the word "Mestizo" this word is mainly continental, in Cuba the word "Indio" or "Siboney" (note the S) is usually usedt. Thus, Mestizo is not commonly applied in Cuba or Puerto Rico for that matter (note the character Indio) in "Westside Story." For instance the indigenous members of "El Regimiento de Guantanamo", or Mambi General Jesus Rabi are called "Indio." Unfortunately there is a tendency among some non-Cuban historians to refer to "Indios" as "Black". Indio, in Cuba. is generally applied to an individual with dark complexion but straight hair (perhaps derived from the ethnic mix in the Palenques of the Cimarron). Another problem is an apparent confusion between genetic inheritance and acceptance of European derived culture, this seems to make all the difference in places such as Guatemala where "Ladino" (a word used in other contexts to describe Jewish descent, and the Sephardic version of Spanish; or in yet still another context to mean thief) is used to characterize a European style culture (as opposed to the Mayan traditionalist "Indio)." El Jigue 3-7-07208.65.188.149 14:30, 8 March 2007 (UTC)

EJ, I've moved your Cornell reference to the area of the section that refers to democracy (and lack of). I don't really want to get involved in that fiasco again, not having fond memories of Scott Grayban, Adam Carr and those tedious edit wars. There are more important things to do on the page. I reiterate that this section would be better to detail the nuts and bolts - and keep these varying impressions to a minimum. That some guys in the United States think that Cuba is a totalitarian society, or that some other guy thinks that Cuba represents a grassroots participatory democracy doesn't really rock my boat. I just want to know how many seats are on the assembly, how often is an election etc etc. At least we have another source though, thanks EJ.-- Zleitzen(talk) 16:08, 8 March 2007 (UTC)

Z: Thank you that was most useful. However, I take a bottom line approach to this: e.g. "there is no democracy in Cuba, and Cuban laws and rules are merely windressing, actions speak louder than words. However, you efforts are much appreciated." BTW I inserted [2] which may make the escape matter more real. I need to reference the mafia evaluation, will do that tomorrow, El Jigue 3-7-07208.65.188.149 00:14, 9 March 2007 (UTC)

EJ, I've removed the mafia speculation for the time being until we can examine sources, at present it seemed too much like speculation. As for your other addition re:Batista era, as I understand it, the economy was spiralling downwards during the mid to late 50s due to shifts in sugar prices, and - as Hugh Thomas writes - "Cuban society had become stagnant" The pursuit of freedom. 2nd Edition p.748. More sources are needed for this whole page, particularly given that Adam Carr wrote the whole history section seemingly off the top of his head. A bold effort on his part, but badly needing some qualifiers for certain points.-- Zleitzen(talk) 00:23, 9 March 2007 (UTC)

The Batista economy except in the last war years of 1957, and especially 1958, was quite good. Building in Havana was growing enormously, one has to realize, that the "newest" buildings in Havana, the Plaza Civica wth its monument, the Tunnel under the Bay and the Almendares River date from that time. Castro just renamed these structures to give the impression he ordered them built, a tactic as least as old as the Pharos, and of course the Maya. Then the minimum wage was $60 dollars a month, and clinic membership was as low as $5 ($300 and $30 in present value). Present average wage is less than $20 dollars (about $4 dollars in 1958 equivalents). As to the Mafia, one only has to take the 1958 phone directory and check for Italian names, and it is clear that there was not anywhere enough numbers of Italians to sustain a secret Mafia. Far earlier in the century the French Mediterranea Camorra was run out of Cuba, after the Apache's committed a particularily nasty murder trying to control the sex trade. All this misrepresentation is because Castro unable or unwilling "to raise the cieling has been forced to lower the floor," to justify his rule. This is comparable to the "lack" of crashes of Soviet civil aircraft in USSR times. Castro's overseas support depends on these misrepresentations....and thus they are very precious to his supporters. When Wikipedia does not present the reality…. El Jigüe 3-9-07208.65.188.149 22:07, 9 March 2007 (UTC)

Hi EJ, here is an article which attempts in some way to address these issues [3]. My personal understanding, though you are welcome to correct me, is that the Cuban economy was so dependent on sugar export prices that successive governments, including Batista eras & post Soviet Cuba, have been helpless to its whims. The market expansions of the vast cheap sugar exporters of India and Brazil etc, and the lack of diversification by Caribbean producers, exacerbated in Cuba by Castro's Soviet sheltered economy, lead to the long steady deterioration of the overall Caribbean economy over time. The second Batista presidency saw a drop in all foreign investments, and a stagnation of the economy that was flourishing after the war, alongside a deterioration of public projects beyond those sponsored by the U.S. (which you rightly mention). Hugh Thomas actually dates the roots of this slow decline as far back as 1930.[4] Your building projects were merely sticking plasters over cracks. Of course, the post revolution economists failed to adapt or forsee the wider global changes that were occurring, and for this Castro is probably to blame. But I think it is important to see the decline as a continuum, mirrored in Jamaica and other Caribbean sugar exporters, that spans both the pre and post revolution period of the last century. These reports from the US that hail the "great economy" of 1950s Cuba are as short sighted as the pro-revolution attacks on the Batista era. They are attempting to disguise massive problems - that were not of Batista's making - throughout the region.-- Zleitzen(talk) 23:06, 9 March 2007 (UTC)

Z: One can look a the same data and reach different conclusions. Blaming it on a slow decline because of sugar is just not sufficient, for to propose that is to conclude that a low in the business cycle was merely extended into the Castro era. The Cuban economy, although dominated by sugar, was far more complex than that. For instance one notes the required use of ethanol (yes ethanol in the 1959s)in Cuban gasoline. The coffee, tabacco, rice and cattle industries were prospering until the less than well advised marxist "reforms" of Castro came into place. Tourism of course was maligned and then adapted by the Castro regime. Now Castro sells Cuban coffee which is high quality Arabica, and replaces it with extremely bad, but far cheaper African Robusta. During coffee season now the government places military road blocks to gather from it the historic producers in the Sierra Maestra and fines producers ten times the official price for missing quota portions. Rice production in Cuba now has increased somewhat but has fallen on a per capita basis. Cattle have dropped from 6 million to less than 2 million. The milk industry factories were confiscated and are run down. Mining property manganese, copper, and nickel were confiscated without payment and sold to Canadian interests. There was even some oil production....... As to competition with India and Brazil for sugar markets, Cuba then had a US quota which was quite large. In the US the canesugar of Florida, as opposed to the canesugar production of Hawaii is now commonly in Cuban-American hands. Will provide data as soon as I finish a paper with a coming deadline meanwhile I leave with a main source of reference [5]. In summary Cuba was working its way out of that "slow decline" or business cycle low, but Castro crashed the economy and in almost fifty years there has been not only no recovery, but today rations are less than those given to slaves...... El Jigue 3-10-07208.65.188.149 15:10, 10 March 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Pre-Castro medical care in Cuba

In an visit to a pre-Castro Cuban past there is an article on the presence of these clinics in the US [6] Here are a few "snippets" of interest: Cuban-style clinics may be a model for U.S. JOHN DORSCHNER, jdorschner@MiamiHerald.com, Miami Herald March 12,2007 he emergency room.

"These clinics, which trace their roots to pre-Castro Cuba, could well be a vision of the future ofhealthcare in America. This is a very good model, says Steven Ullmann, a healthcare economist at the University of Miami." El Jigue 3-12-07208.65.188.149 14:39, 12 March 2007 (UTC)

Good work EJ. From what I have ascertained, the most consistent feature of Cuba's history is an obsession with healthcare that goes back centuries, and appears to be something of a national treasure. I don't think there are any people in the world who talk about their health and ailments more than Cubans! Perhaps it stems from local resistance to normally debilitating diseases, as per your previous speculations? -- Zleitzen(talk) 15:23, 12 March 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Castro's first recruitment as a communist

Z: For a project investigating the first steps of Castro's conversion to communism, certain references have come to light: Vives, Raul del Mazo Serra, and others sustain that this dates from a recruitment mediated by Fabio Grobart about 1948

  • Vivés, Juan (Translated to Spanish from 1981 Les Maîtres de Cuba. Opera Mundi, Paris by Zoraida Valcarcel) 1982 Los Amos de Cuba. EMCÉ Editores, Buenos Aires. ISBN 9500400758


Right now I am examining the role of Otto Meruelo and Ángel Velázquez related material. Personal communications from knowlegable persons indicate that Otto Meruelo was a communist at an earlier time and later after 1952 he became a propagandist for Batista. At the time most discounted Meruelos media attacks on Fidel Castro in the Sierra Maestra as mere propaganda; however, Castro's extremely virulent attacks on Meruelo (before and after victory), and Che Guevara's tribunal sentencing Meruelos de 30 years of imprisonment suggest that there well may have been something there. The most accepted theory is that Castro knew that Meruelo knew that he (Fidel Castro) had been recruited by the communist party early in his political life and feared that Meruelo's media pronouncements would "out him." Ángel Velázquez seems to have been one those rebels who fled the Che Guevara's first purges in the Sierra. Other references follow:


  • Batista, Fulgencio 1960 Repuesta. Manuel León Sánchez S.C.L., Mexico D.F. pp.298 and 491 mention Otto Meruelos condemned to 30 years. And p. 491 also mentions the trial of former army photographer Sergeant Leal Gamboa, tried on February 6, 1960, and condemned to one year of imprisonment for photographing a group of Castro supporters giving the communist salute.
  • Bohemia Staff 1959 Oriente. Bohemia 51(3, Enero 18-25) 4-8, 142-146, 158-164, 172-175 cite on p174 “Otto Meruelo, el bufón de la TV ofreció uno de sus acostumbrados libretos. Un desertor de la Sierra, Ángel Velázquez, compareció ante las cameras para recitar su papel como papagallo amaestrado. Según explico. Fidel recibía órdenes directas del Kremlin. Era Kruschev quien dirigía, a través del Che, al Movimento 26 de Julio. Evidentemente, la propaganda batistera estaba en manos de cretinos y malvados.”
  • Castro, Fidel 1957 (accessed 3-11-07) Un año de lucha armada. Centro de Estudios Che Guevara Taken from Verde Olivo, el 5 de enero de 1964. http://cheguevara.cubasi.cu/content.aspx?menu_activo=5&estado=2&id=723 ” Se podían expresar, cuando no había censura, algunas opiniones disidentes, pero voceros oficiosos u oficiales del régimen llamaban a la concordia nacional con sus voces potentes, transmitidas en cadena para todo el territorio nacional. Con la histérica voz de Otto Meruelo se alternaban las engoladas de los payasos Pardo Llada y Conte Agüero y, este último, en la palabra escrita, repetía los conceptos de la radio, llamando al “hermano Fidel”, a la coexistencia con el régimen batistiano.”
  • Castro, Fidel 1959 (accessed 3-10-07) Discurso pronunciado por El Comandante Fidel Castro Ruz, Primer Ministro del Gobierno Revolucionario, En La Universidad Central “Marta Abreu”, de Santa Clara, Las Villas, El 15 de marzo de 1959. (versión taquigráfica de las oficinas del primer ministro) http://www.cuba.cu/gobierno/discursos/1959/esp/f150359e.html “Al pueblo no lo van a tupir, al pueblo no lo van a engañar, porque al pueblo no lo engañaron los Otto Meruelo, los Díaz Balart y toda aquella caterva de pícaros que lo único que sabían era mentir, pero a pesar de ser los únicos que hablaban no engañaban a nadie.”
  • Meruelo, Otto 1957 Pobreza Mental y Política, El Mundo July 26th, 1957 p. A.6 Cited by Luis, A. Perez in To Die in Cuba: Suicide and Society. University of North Carolina Press, Chapel Hill, # Publisher: The University of North Carolina Press (April 13, 2005) English, ISBN-10: 0807829374, ISBN-13: 978-0807829370
  • Sueiro Rodríguez, Victoria Maria (accessed 3-11-07) Huellas y momentos cronológicos del exilio republicano español de 1939 en Cienfuegos. Biblioteca Virtual Miguel de Cervantes http://descargas.cervantesvirtual.com/servlet/SirveObras/13582408112350940722202/017105.pdf?incr=1 p. 9 “El Dr. Chabás fue presentado a la sociedad cienfueguera en un acto celebrado en la Escuela de Comercio, presidido por el Dr. Felipe Silva Hernández las palabras de presentación corrieron a cargo del profesor Otto Meruelo” January 12, 1943
  • Vilasuso, José (accessed 3-10-07) Executions at "La Cabaña" fortress under Ernesto "Ché" Guevara. Witness to persecution An electronic journal http://www.chiefsplanet.com/BB/archive/index.php/t-143321 “I was part of the team assembling the details of the cases against those accused of committing crimes during the previous government, such as murder, embezzlement, torture, betrayal, etc. Through my desk passed the files of accused men such as Commander Alberto Boix Coma and the journalist Otto Meruelo. Most of the indicted were military of low ranks, or politicians of no renown or charisma. On their side, the witnesses were ardent youth, vengeful, utopian, or simply malicious, anxious to earn revolutionary honors. I remember a Lieutenant Llivre, with an eastern-Cuba accent who would instigate us with “We must set up the show, we must bring real revolutionary witnesses who can shout ‘justice!, justice!, firing squad!, esbirros*!. This is what moves people.” The commissioner of the Marianao section once exhorted us: “We have to get all of these heads. All of them””
  • Velázquez, Ángel (not sure this is the same person) 2007 Cuban Regional Historiography during the Revolution (accessed 3-11-07) International Studies February 2007 Calendar http://is.fiu.edu/calendar/calendar.php?print=1&date=2007-02&cal=0 "Cuban Regional Historiography during the Revolution" Luncheon lecture by Ángel Velázquez, Teacher, Miami Dade Public Schools. Mr. Velázquez is a graduate of the Universidad de Oriente in Santiago de Cuba, where he studied history and wrote a thesis on the “Movimiento Campesino de la Región Oriental de Cuba.” After working from 1987 to 1996 as museum researcher, from 1996 to 1998, Velázquez was professor of Cuban historiography and researcher for the Center for Regional Studies on Sierra Maestra and Guacanayabo at the Universidad Pedagógica in Oriente. During 1999 he worked as director of historical research at the “Oficina del Historiador” in the city of Santiago de Cuba. Velásquez has published several articles and the books Campecheula: Historia de un barrio cubano a fines del siglo XIX (Bayamo, Oriente: Ediciones Bayamo, 1989) and La hacienda ganadera de Bayamo (La Habana: Editorial de Ciencias Sociales, 1995). Sponsored by FIU's Cuban Research Institute (CRI). Lecture will be in Spanish.

El Jigue 1-12-071208.65.188.149 18:58, 12 March 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Cuba's religion and Internet network

Why is Cuba not on the list of countries that violate religious freedoms or even the list of countries that are labeled "enemies of the web". By the phrase "enemies of the web", I indicate countries whose Internet works are put under political manipulation. 72.194.116.63 04:30, 8 March 2007 (UTC) Vahe Demirjian 20.30 7 March 2007

Vahe Demirjian, Castro supporters try and erase such things, I am sure this item has been addressed before here and then erased. "El Jigue" 3-09-07208.65.188.149 22:05, 9 March 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Tranfer of duties

Editor RookZero restored some old material I removed recently which theorised that Fidel Castro had stomach cancer and/or was dead. I have removed the material, though I wrote much of it myself in the first place. If this editor wishes to dispute the removal for a second time, I welcome his/her comments here on talk, and would like to here his/her analysis that these 5 month old news stories proclaiming Castro's death/terminal illness are still relevant.-- Zleitzen(talk) 05:04, 11 March 2007 (UTC)

Sure. I'm not sure what is out of date... the speculation continues apace and the Castro's health issues are still periodically in the news. The situation hasn't changed much to my knowledge and I don't see why it should be removed except to update it with more recent restatements of the same speculation. (RookZERO 19:46, 13 March 2007 (UTC))

You have restored a section detailing Castro's non appearance at the Granma celebrations December 2 2006 - of little significance now - and this gem..

"Some believe that Castro may have not survived his illness and that the Cuban officials will not be releasing this information until the government has re-stabilized under its new leadership"

Do people presently believe that Castro, who has been making various appearances in recent weeks[7], [8],[9] "may have not survived his illness" and operation of 2006? And if so, who are these people?-- Zleitzen(talk) 23:28, 13 March 2007 (UTC)

Hey Zleitzen. If you don't mind, I'm going to put in the links you put in your comment above in the main article and mention his recent appearances... that should provide an adequate counterpoint to those still speculating that Castro is dead (I am NOT among them). (RookZERO 04:13, 15 March 2007 (UTC))

Well the section is still out of date, has broken links, a sentence in the middle from a completely different story about journalists, and continues to state that "Some believe that Castro may have not survived his illness etc". Without citing who these mystics are, who presumably must be under the impression that the walking talking Castro of late is some sort of ghost. Speculation ended long ago when Castro reappeared looking healthier, and then started appearing live on Hugo Chavez's talk show gibbering on about corn fields. -- Zleitzen(talk) 07:32, 15 March 2007 (UTC)


Recent article suggests, Castro "recovery" is not quite what it seems [10]. Frankly a doddering Castro with some powers would do far more to accelerate change to democracy, than a "dead leader." El Jigue 3-17-07208.65.188.149 14:09, 17 March 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Censorship

You might want to add something about censorship in Cuba to this page because it will give the reader more information about Cuba or at least make a link to the "Censorship in Cuba" page. This will give the reader more information about Cuba and its strict laws...and etc. This will give you some information about how this article should be improved more and better... I just hope this can make this article at little better but I think it will make the article way better than before and please do not block me because I was just trying to help to make this page better and have more information..

lucky333123 02:12, 15 March 2007 (UTC)lucky333123

There is censorship in the Wikipedia which censors informations about Censorship in Cuba.Xx236 14:17, 11 April 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Cuba's debt to Spain

Cuba's debt to the Spain is believed to be 1.7 million billion should have read a billion euros [11] El Jigue 208.65.188.149 15:19, 20 March 2007 (UTC)

1.7 million euros, are you sure that's correct EJ? 1.7 million Euros will just about buy you an apartment in a fashionable part of London. [12] -- Zleitzen(talk) 16:22, 20 March 2007 (UTC)


Z: Sorry that should read billion (US style 1,000 million) apparently enough to buy a whole "subdivision" in fashionable London. But heck who can afford to live in such (:>). Apparently I forgot that in Spanish, or at least in Spanish usage in Spain the comma. used to separate thousands is replaced with a period (or is that a "full stop" in the UK). Then the Spanish use the word "Ordenadora" (instead of the "Computadora") and the former sounds much like a milking machine (ordeñadora) (:>). El Jigue208.65.188.149 17:01, 21 March 2007 (UTC)

Indeed it is a full stop in the UK, EJ. I imagine the debt to Spain is related to the joint partnerships between the two countries in the tourist industry. Typically, Cuba negotiated with Spanish industry to share ownership of hotels and other projects, then turned round to the Spanish and said that as they were on Cuba soil, they were under direct control of the Cuban government! I've added your link to the economy page for future reference.-- Zleitzen(talk) 18:14, 21 March 2007 (UTC)


Z: Thank you El Jigue208.65.188.149 00:31, 22 March 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Interesting new stats on amount of Chinese goods in Cuba

Cuba, China pledge to build on growing trade -- It would be safe to say China is probably now Cuba's most importaint ally. CaribDigita 23:01, 28 March 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Data on Cuban heath from dissident sources

Mone Borrego, Julián Antonio 2007 (accessed 4-2-07) Health in Cuba, the two faces of a myth, Misceláneas de Cuba 2007-04-02 |[13] [1]

cited by El Jigue208.65.188.149 13:57, 2 April 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Chinese Girl

Looks more black than Chinese to me. LOL —The preceding unsigned comment was added by Dualldual (talk • contribs) 03:09, 3 April 2007 (UTC).

If thats a black girl as you claim, thats my first because I never seen a black girl with long straight NATURAl hair as her's. she clearly looks multiracial.

One might well distinguish partial Black inheritence from "Black." El Jigue208.65.188.149 21:54, 4 April 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Dictatorship

Isn't Castro the dictator of cuba? -Mrsanitazier

He was now his brother Raul is in charge. However, stating such in Wikipedia, is considered by many to merely point of view El Jigue 208.65.188.149 22:00, 4 April 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Educational access

As has been pointed out a good number of times, access to higher education in Cuba is dependent on adherence to Cuban Government doctrines, most commonly indicated by membership in the Cuban Communist Party. Thus it is not correct to state that university education is accessible to all. Have inserted references to this a number of times but this caveat has always been removed. El Jigue 208.65.188.149 22:00, 4 April 2007 (UTC)

e.g. "However, access to higher education apparently requires party membership since such is "a de facto prerequisite for high-level official positions and professional advancement in most areas."[14]. In addition requirements for part time child labor [15] weaken the Cuban Government's claim of free education for all." Posted in March by El Jigue208.65.188.149 22:05, 4 April 2007 (UTC)

EJ, have added "Education has a strong political and ideological emphasis, and students progressing to higher education are expected to have a commitment to the goals of the Cuban government." Your party membership detail is certainly not the case. As you know, the number of people attending higher education in Cuba far outweighs party membership, so it is an impossibility.-- Zleitzen(talk) 02:03, 5 April 2007 (UTC)


Z: thank you. However, my understanding is that the Cuban Communist party has about 2,000,000 members, thus I do not follow your logic. This is interesting from another point of view, because one must take into account that this minority of less than 20% "legally" and defacto rules Cuba. One also notes that the Cuban leadership is far less heavily pigmented than the rest of population, thus logically one can and some do argue that Cuba has an apartheid government. The latest wrinkle in repression is that there is a new curfew on being on the street during "working hours." [16] El Jigue 4-5-07208.65.188.149 15:12, 5 April 2007 (UTC)

Z: Perhaps that reference you cited is not the most reliable since it seems to accept Cuban government statistics without challenge or question. The base year for chosen for comparison was 1959, at the end of the War Against Batista, a time of considerable turmoil. Even so its claim of 2,000,000 illiterates out of a population of 7,000,000 (higher levels of illiteracy than prior census data) does not appear to be consistent with claims of only 50% school attendance. In latter part of 1958 most of the rural areas of Cuba (then containing a little less than half the population) were at war. By the end of 1959 the vast exodus of educated people was already underway. El Jigue208.65.188.149 15:36, 5 April 2007 (UTC)

EJ, the source chosen was the World Bank. But this was to reference your point above, not to reference the level of literacy pre-1959. Which isn't mentioned in this article other than that standards were comparatively high. So we seem to be at total cross purposes.-- Zleitzen(talk) 15:43, 5 April 2007 (UTC)

Been a while but what the hell. El Jigue is 100 percent correct. Those who aren't party members are not permitted to enter university - as has been the case with several members of my family.

"Your party membership detail is certainly not the case."

The above statement is 100 percent categorically incorrect on all accounts and should be discounted. NO PARTY MEMBERSHIP = NO UNIVERSITY. It is that simple. Period.

Goatboy95 17:04, 5 April 2007 (UTC)

Giles: Thank you. Z: What Goatboy says has been my experience also. The trouble is to document and quantify these experiences is difficult, since Cuba is not an open society. This gives rise to a great difficulties for scholars studying the present Cuban condition, since on one side the Cuban governments allegations are commonly backed by massive, but unreliable statistics, while the opposition is forced to use small samples and personal experiences. However, the very fact that Cuba is a closed society by logical necessity means that government is hiding factual information. Please forgive me, for my some what intemperate rant, which although it is true it is not scholarly, and must seem quite ungrateful given your efforts to present this material in the light of reality. Not to worry honest disagreement is not a problem for me, for it serves to help me think clearly. However bear in mind, this is all personal to me, and that every so often I get so upset at attempts to enforced conformity of ideological thought and impose the propaganda of the Cuban government on Wikipedia that it makes me lose any rationality mustered in calmer moments. Thank you again for correcting the point of ideological control in Cuban higher education. El Jigue 4-6-07208.65.188.149 17:29, 5 April 2007 (UTC)

EJ, I sympathise with your rant. But having spent the last week simultaneously arguing against both a communist pro-Castro editor (see my talk page) and an anti-Communist extremist about the neutrality of the same page (El Che), I feel another period of gloom approaching. By the way, you're both wrong on the Communist party membership education issue, I guarantee it {:> But to perhaps lighten the mood, you could head over to Timeline of Cuban history where I threw a few basic edits together, but which desperately requires your input.- Zleitzen(talk) 19:07, 5 April 2007 (UTC)

Wow, I guess that afternoon that Carli was turned back from registering for classes at the University of Havana was simply a figment of his imagination. Shucks, I never thought about that way. You're right, those who didn't grow up in Cuba really would understand the facts much better than those of us who actually live it. My most sincere apologies.

Unbelievable. How much are they paying you?

Goatboy95 20:01, 5 April 2007 (UTC)

Goatboy, responding to those who disagree about something on an encyclopedia article with statements such as "How much are they paying you?" says a lot more about your attitude to inquiry and debate than it does about anything else. I wish someone was paying me for this endeavour, I think I deserve it considering the crap I put up with on a regular basis. Your latest edit can be added to my collection. Last week I was accused by an editor of writing anti-Cuban government "slander falling short of propaganda" and my "machinations" were "completly evident to those of us who can see the reeking anti-Che, anticommunist, POV". So I'm pretty used to partisans coming here and spouting off some wild-eyed, straw man baloney by now and using me as a scapegoat to exercise some axe they have to grind. Not very interesting or helpful.-- Zleitzen(talk) 06:32, 6 April 2007 (UTC)


Z: perhaps the problem of permission to attend centers of higher education is a matter of definition. If one excludes the communist youth which technically are not "Communist party" members, then you are (technically again) correct since it is my understanding that most Cuban communist party members have to "prove themselves" and such proof takes time, thus the vast majority are older than is common for university students. However, if one includes as communist all those who belong communist youth organizations then your statement is incorrect. Then as in early twentieth century England, Cuba appears to have elite and "less elite" centers of higher education, and those from the elite centers will reach positions of greater power, and those from "less elite" centers will not (some are simply less equal than others (:>)). Thus ideological affinity is almost certainly a far greater factor in among the elite than among the less elite. What ever ideological affinity to the regime is a requirement for higher education in Cuba. Notice for the most part I use lower case for communist, to avoid any marxist theological sophistry about who is a Communist. However, in common English, being a communist (again note lower case) is a requirement to gain a "decent" advanced education in Cuba. BTW as Hemingway pointed out to Dos Passos in Civil War Spain payment has many forms, and still in many circles of academia conformity to certain liberal dogmas is a requirement for success. A central dogma is that Castro has brought considerable progress to Cuba...to defy that, as a number of my academic friends have found out is punishable by personal attacks, scorn towards one's achievements, and denegration which quite commonly ends in refusal of tenure. A number of now famous figures in the humanities have accepted this coin and paid this toll price with their integrity merely to survive. El Jigue 4-6-07208.65.188.149 16:03, 6 April 2007 (UTC)

Indeed EJ. A clear copybook, free from incidents of "ideological controversy" seems to be a marker for progression to elitist circles - not party membership. Also apolitical types who stay clear of the radar can progress unimpeded. By the way, recall that many of the leading dissidents, some highly educated doctors and economists, were never communist party members in their youth. And we must have all met educated Cubans who were neither members of the youth or adult parties. I certainly have, regardless of Goatboy's stories. Your comparison to early twentieth century England seems apt. Conveying the "invisible straitjacket" within policies and making sure it meets WP:V and WP:NPOV is our challenge. -- Zleitzen(talk) 16:17, 6 April 2007 (UTC)

Z: I understand what you are saying, but there are other barriers even if one does get a university degree, familiar links to exiles have caused some to be denied the opportunity to work in the field that these persons were educated. It seems that the barriers to advancement, are denied not only on lack of KNOWN bonds to the Cuban Communist Party (many educated dissidents in Cuba still subscribe to Socialist doctrines to the extreme that many are lower case communists); and others, perhaps a good number as was the case East Germany, are informers for Cuban state security agencies. Now in Cuba essentially all the population has been educated in Marxist doctrine. To be educated as a physician in Cuba does not commonly mean social advancement, to be educated as a Communist Party or FAR leadership does. Still the parallel to early 20th Century England, is not exact since some bright working class "boys," never heard of bright working class "girls" receiving such, were offered scholarships to the "Public" (e.g. elite private schools) and from hence to Oxbridge. In Cuba there seems not to be equivalent advancement for the children of former middle and upper class families who were not communist (Latin American communist families were often upper class, e.g. Rigoberta Manchu whose family owned large pharmacies). This of course is part of the development of the "New Class." However, in your "clear copybook" favorable status includes by necessity attendance to "voluntary" projects promoted by the government. By the time they reach university age will have marched in official protests, attended "voluntary" meetings and "volunteer" labor projects, and not have neglected to inform on any unfortunate they know who has done anything the Cuban government objects to. Thus, by definition of action and by their acceptance of Cuban government discipline these are communists, even it they may not have official Communist Party credencials. Advancement in their chosen field will mean futher acceptance of official Communist party guidelines. After all, a society directed towards a totalitarian view attempts to control all. El Jigue 208.65.188.149 19:00, 6 April 2007 (UTC)


Thus both you and Goatboy are correct, what differs is the inclusivity or exclusivity of your definitions of communist or Communist. El Jigue 208.65.188.149 19:04, 6 April 2007 (UTC)

Poland allows to publish documents of secret police. Many people worked for the police. Recently even Zygmunt Bauman acknowledged he worked as an informer for the Military Intelligence from 1945 to 1948. Secret police and party created or destroied personalities, inspired marriages with police informers. As far as I understand the Cuban system is more self-made, people want to cooperate. Sooner or later they will realize what they do.Xx236 12:14, 2 May 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Time line

Will work on it as time permits

It seems to me that the statement:

"# 1538 Slave rebellion comprising of African and indigenous slaves is crushed."

refers to the Guama rebellion, which was in essence indigenous, is a little early for the mixed race Cimarrones of the Palenques. A better title "Guama's Rebellion" as well as a broader time interval since my memory of my readings suggests a span of at least ten years, might be used; by the way this rebellion was apparently defeated because of Guama's adultery with the wife of his brother, there are all kinds of juicy details...... For sexual playfulness it is hard to beat the Tainos (;>) El Jigue 4-6-07208.65.188.149 16:01, 6 April 2007 (UTC)

[edit] The Truth is In the Middle

Before going on a Vacation to Cuba I had only heard that it was a poor country where the people had no choices of they're own. I had heard many not so great things about the country and it's rulers and people, as well as about the way cuba is ran on several American Sites. But when I got to Cuba, the people were happy, and friendly, and very willing to share they're views which were complete opposite of what I had learned before this trip. They may not like certain factors about their government, just as we dislike some about ours. But the way they put it, is they wanted to be their own government, and own people, not being controlled by another country. That I do understand. They told us about the many disagreements between them and the US, and how they would like to remain nuetral, not being controlled by some other large country. Much of the things that I read from both sides are too offending to wright about on this page, but I believe that the truth is somewhere down the middle. I found Cuba to be a mostly happy, and very hard working country. I feel awful that they have been cut off by the USA government just because they dont agree! I think that they should get over the past, and let each other be, holding no grudges, and sharing what they wish to! There is really no right side! But I am tired of other countries trying to change another county that is content with the way that they are being run. It is time for these concerned countries to butt out and mind their own business, if no one is being hurt! Bullying does not promote peace! or friendship!


Al Glucide

Al: The word "write" is not spelled "wright." El Jigue208.65.188.149 19:56, 1 May 2007 (UTC)

I visited Communist Bulgaria in 1981 and my impressions were comparable, only the enemy was unclear, maybe NATO. Later the system failed. I have a number of questions:

  • Do Cuban people demand censorship? Are they afraid of liberty?
  • Do Cuban people demand limitations of small business? I doubt very much.
  • If Cuban people hate the USA, why don't they cooperate with the EU?
  • Germany, Japan - those countries hated the USA, lost wars, now are leading powers of the world. Isn't it better to cooperate now rather than to pretend that they are fighting and finaly loose?
  • Sooner or later Castros' regime will fail. The people of Cuba will pay for 50 years of dreams - the young ones will succeed, many of them will earn millions like in Russia after 1991, the old ones will live like they are today.
  • Do Cuban people need Castros? If yes, how will they live without Castros? Every dictator is allegedly irreplacable before he goes.Xx236 12:04, 2 May 2007 (UTC)
  • Every state puts limits on what it allows its population to do. Those negatively affected don't like it, most others don't care. Cuba's no different, and with different subjects your question could be posed of every country in the world. They are no more afraid of liberty than you and I. Liberty isn't a singular thing, we each accept different limits in some areas in order to enhance greater liberty in other areas.
  • Yes many Cubans do agree with limits on small businesses. Without limitations small businesses tend to grow into bigger businesses. Many Cubans resented the growing economic divisions in their society that private businesses have contributed to.
  • What makes you think the Cuban people hate the USA? From Fidel's visit in 1959 to Raoul's recent offer of normalisation the Cubans have always hoped for respect as a sovereign nation that the US governments have refused to give. Some of the Cuban people and/or government may have any number of negative feelings about the US governmment, though I'd guess contempt and fear will feature more prominently than hate. U.S citizens visiting Cuba usually to get a genuinely friendly reception. The vast majority of Cuban residents do make a clear distinction between the US government and the population at large.
  • They aren't pretending to fight - they are defending their sovereignty against a superpower which refuses to co-operate on anything but its own terms.
  • The idea that Castro is irreplaceable is one shared by a large percentage of Cuba's enemies and a smaller percentage of the Cuban population and their friends. I would have thought that the general reaction in Cuba to his absence these last nine months has shown that it is a stable society irrespective of who is at the head of the government. MichaelW 20:59, 2 May 2007 (UTC)

If Cuban people fight a war against the USA since ages, allow nuclear weapons into the country, jam US propaganda - they don't seem friendly. Eventually the Castros' regime does it and Cuban people are friendly. I'm puzzled.

It's quite probable that US errors have pushed Castros into Soviet arms. However the hostile US governments - both democratic and republican - were elected by US people so the good common people have the same responsability like the bad governments.

The only Soviet regime which survived the death of the leader is the North Korean one. In any other country the death of beloved teacher caused liberalisation, even if millions truly loved the beloved father. I bet there are hundreds of Cubans who can rule the country better than senile Castros.Xx236 07:03, 4 May 2007 (UTC)