Having visited Cuba in 1993, 1995, 1999, 2000, 2001 and 2002 (and I am going
there again tomorrow) I do not recognise the Cuba that Dan Bye describes. Is
his version based on personal visits or second hand accounts? I have spoken
to literally hundreds of ordinary Cuban people, and many Cuban librarians
and, while they all admit that the Cuban system is far from perfect, they
are very proud of what the Revolution has achieved under the leadership of
Fidel Castro.
>From: "Bye, Dan J" <[log in to unmask]>
>Reply-To: Chartered Library and Information Professionals
><[log in to unmask]>
>To: [log in to unmask]
>Subject: Re: Impending US invasion of Cuba
>Date: Fri, 6 Jun 2003 15:43:37 +0100
>
>John Pateman asked:
>
> >>If something similar happened in the UK or the US what do you think the
>government reaction would be?
>
>Similar, no doubt. That makes it OK? Now UK/US are the moral standard by
>which supposedly 'socialist' regimes are to be judged?
>
>The fact is that the counter-revolutionary nationalist Castro runs an
>unpleasant state-capitalist regime. I don't have very much sympathy
>for the pro-US-imperialist types he's apparently been locking up lately,
>but that doesn't mean I think they *should* be locked up. And of
>course they're not the only people who have suffered over the years.
>
>But of course the authoritarian left gets all weak at the knees when it
>comes to Castro. Why? Because he's so big and tall? Some of us
>know what he did to the Cuban anarchist movement, for example, and I for
>one would not be sorry to see him toppled and strung up from the
>nearest palm tree. Which doesn't mean that I think America should invade
>or that I support their embargo, or anything like that.
>
>"Librarians" (if that's what they are, and I don't see it matters if
>they're not) in Cuba should be able to peacefully do whatever they
>want, even if they are funded by the CIA/whoever. Free speech for
>pro-American neo-conservative feudal-throwback anti-Castro Cubans!
>
>I think it is disgusting that some people on this list apparently think it
>acceptable to lock "librarians" up if they're playing for the
>"wrong" team.
>
>Dan
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