Is it "here we go again"? Have the monsters who've been silent for about a decade decided that the urge for terrorism was too strong to ignore? Was this act the first of what may be more until Miami once again has more bombings than the Middle East as it did one year during the 1970's? Will the guilty be found? Who will cooperate? Who won't? These are important questions that may only be answered in time.
Given that we are in a war on terror, surely the people who did this must be against us since they obviously aren't with us. Ask the former President Bush who put it in those terms as he stated that the U.S. would search every dark corner of the globe for terrorists. There seems to be a dark corner in South Florida that needs to have some light shined upon it.
We know that there are individuals walking freely down the streets of Miami who have openly said that these types of acts are legitimate. We know that Luis Posada Carriles sleeps like a baby and has no regrets, even though he has said (although his lawyers now advise him against talking about it anymore) that he has been involved in violent acts of a similar nature. He is considered one of the masterminds of the most infamous acts of terror in our hemisphere.
Let's say for a moment that President Obama is true to his word and really favors increased engagement between Cubans and Americans. Would an attack on a business that helps facilitate his policy be offensive enough to him that he would want law enforcement to get to the bottom of this? I would think so. The fire could have been an attempt to intimidate those who are seeking more exchanges with the island. It could also be an act of desperation on the part of some folks who feel that they have been losing ground in the battle of public opinion as more and more people feel that a change to the wrong-headed policy the U.S. has to change. Either way, burning down offices is definitely the act of someone who should be brought before the law and dealt with accordingly. They are dangerous and shouldn't be free to wander among the peaceful public.
This act cannot be ignored and it seems like it isn't. The press reported that the FBI and ATF were on the scene including a counter-terrorism agent. They will have their hands full. There are plenty of people in Miami who they may want to talk to and look into. They can even question those who have heralded some of the most violent people as patriots, like the deceased Orlando Bosch. Even some congress people, both former and present, have relationships with same of those who have advocated violence, like Ileana Ros-Lehtinen and the Diaz Balart brothers.
This could be a turning point, more powerful then the Elian Gonzalez incident when the American public got to see how incredibly illogical some elements in Miami actually are. Not only are there people willing to keep a boy away from his father like they were involved in some sort of imagined chess match against Fidel Castro, but there are people willing to blow up and burn down businesses right here in our cities simply because they feel like they can. Too many years have gone by and too many criminals have been ignored and this is what happens.
Showing posts with label Diaz Balart. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Diaz Balart. Show all posts
Sunday, April 29, 2012
Tuesday, January 10, 2012
The Pope's Visit and the Choices That the Cubans in Miami Face
This is my comment to the opinion by one person's take on the Pope's Visit to Cuba which was in the Miami Herald. As usual, the opinion tries to belittle the Pope's visit with the typical condescending tone of the anti-Cuba crowd, which is finding itself more marginalized by the day.
"From afar, by choice, the Cuban community in South Florida can do a few things. They can, under current law, send money and packages of helpful goods to their families on the island. Many do already and the gestures are always welcomed.
Also, they can become more vocal in their desires to build on the connections they have on the island by insisting that those who represent their districts do not support the hurtful policies that have a huge hand in some of the difficulties that the Cubans on the island experience. Cuba's economy should be able to grow without the unnecessary obstacles posed by the embargo and Helms-Burton.
They can let it be known that the politicians such as Diaz-Balart, Ros-Lehtinen, and Rubio represent a shrinking minority of folks who don't want life to be better on the island.
One thing that they cannot do, nor ever will be able to do, is determine how Cuba decides to conduct its affairs. One can agree or disagree, but no one outside of Cuba can make a sovereign Cuba do anything that it doesn't feel is in its interest. Not even the Pope, who I'm sure won't be imposing himself on anyone. He will simply be lending his spiritual support to those who feel they would like it."
Read more here: http://www.miamiherald.com/2012/01/10/2583319/a-sliver-of-hope-in-popes-visit.html#storylink=cpy
"From afar, by choice, the Cuban community in South Florida can do a few things. They can, under current law, send money and packages of helpful goods to their families on the island. Many do already and the gestures are always welcomed.
Also, they can become more vocal in their desires to build on the connections they have on the island by insisting that those who represent their districts do not support the hurtful policies that have a huge hand in some of the difficulties that the Cubans on the island experience. Cuba's economy should be able to grow without the unnecessary obstacles posed by the embargo and Helms-Burton.
They can let it be known that the politicians such as Diaz-Balart, Ros-Lehtinen, and Rubio represent a shrinking minority of folks who don't want life to be better on the island.
One thing that they cannot do, nor ever will be able to do, is determine how Cuba decides to conduct its affairs. One can agree or disagree, but no one outside of Cuba can make a sovereign Cuba do anything that it doesn't feel is in its interest. Not even the Pope, who I'm sure won't be imposing himself on anyone. He will simply be lending his spiritual support to those who feel they would like it."
Read more here: http://www.miamiherald.com/2012/01/10/2583319/a-sliver-of-hope-in-popes-visit.html#storylink=cpy
Tuesday, December 13, 2011
Florida's 21st District's Representative Is Shameful
Hialeah. The home of international fugitive terrorist Luis Posada. Hialeah. The city awarded the keys to the city to this terrorist. Hialeah. Is it any wonder that Mario Diaz-Balart is its representative in the House of Representatives? Hialeah. Florida's 21st district.
As nearly the entire world has recognized, the U.S. embargo against Cuba should end. Long after the end of the Cold War, over a decade after the attempted kidnapping of Elian Gonzalez, tensions remain between the two countries. It really isn't necessary, Cuba has reiterated its willingness to have discussions with the United States. But the prerequisite Cuba places is too much for Washington to accept at this time. What is Cuba's prerequisite? To be treated respectfully.
Cuba isn't alone in its insistence of a prerequisite for talks. The U.S. believes that it has some sort of moral authority to decide if Cuba has met the artificial requirements that the U.S. has decided to place as conditions to holding talks. It's pure arrogance on the part of my country, the United States.
History's irony has landed Mario Diaz-Balart in the position of U.S. Representative for the 21st District of Florida. He is the congressman with the most direct ties to the Batista regime which was removed by the triumph of the Cuban revolution. His father worked directly for Fulgencio Batista and obviously couldn't accept the revolution that removed his ruling circle. But the most ironic historical fact is that Mario's aunt had been married to Fidel himself and with him, had a child, Mario's cousin.
Opinions of Cubans living in the U.S. are drasticly different than they were a few decades ago. Cubans living here are now very interested in maintaining family ties with relatives on the island. Many are apolitical or are just plain tired of the politics of the past. Diaz-Balart couldn't care less. His personal frustrations about Cuba's independence trump the desires of much of the public he is supposed to represent. He has refused to speak with constituents who oppose his policies choosing instead to be sure that people like the old terrorist Posada Carriles, who have spent much of their lives dedicated to policies that are meant to cause suffering, can smile to each other even though their circle is getting smaller and weaker as the days pass.
His personal ambitions of impressing to most extremist elements in South Florida outweigh the respect of family that his own political party like to tout (although it is just a lot of political posturing). His most recent claim to fame is the fact that he is attempting to turn back the laws regarding travel to where they were during the infinitely terrible Bush presidency. His proposal is to prevent people from traveling to the island more than once every three years. Of course in the twisted logic of an anti-Cuba politician, this proposal is supposedly for the good of the Cuban people.
Candidate Obama made a lot of promises. To me, the most easy to accomplish of all was his promise to eliminate restrictions on travel for people with relatives on the island. This opinion was so popular that he was able to receive applause while speaking to the Cuban American National Foundation during the campaign. The Bush policy was extremely upsetting to many and a change was more than welcomed. Now if Mario Diaz-Balart's proposal makes its way through all of the wrangling in Congress, it will be up to President Obama to stand by his word and veto this madness. Will he? Will this provision even make it that far? That is to be seen. But either way, the President must realize that allowing this kind of thing to make its way into law will be an insult to the idea of family, a defeat for justice.
It is to be expected that Hialeah's representative stands for destructive, counterproductive policy. It is expected that a son of the Batista dictatorship has no regard for the Cuban people, neither those one the island nor those he is supposed to represent. Congressman Jose Serrano from the Bronx represents the immigrants from Cuba better than Mario Diaz-Balart. What a shame that such a man, such a hateful ideology still seems to find a way to cause so much hurt.
Let"s find a replacement for the folks like Diaz-Balart in 2012. Let's move towards the future in a way that avoids the obvious mistakes of the past. Let's respect our fellow nations and let us truly respect the idea of family. Throw away this hurtful provision and go further. End the travel ban on Americans to Cuba and the entire embargo. Let's not let the small man from Florida's 21st district destroy the only positive pieces to the puzzle of U.S.-Cuba relations.
As nearly the entire world has recognized, the U.S. embargo against Cuba should end. Long after the end of the Cold War, over a decade after the attempted kidnapping of Elian Gonzalez, tensions remain between the two countries. It really isn't necessary, Cuba has reiterated its willingness to have discussions with the United States. But the prerequisite Cuba places is too much for Washington to accept at this time. What is Cuba's prerequisite? To be treated respectfully.
Cuba isn't alone in its insistence of a prerequisite for talks. The U.S. believes that it has some sort of moral authority to decide if Cuba has met the artificial requirements that the U.S. has decided to place as conditions to holding talks. It's pure arrogance on the part of my country, the United States.
History's irony has landed Mario Diaz-Balart in the position of U.S. Representative for the 21st District of Florida. He is the congressman with the most direct ties to the Batista regime which was removed by the triumph of the Cuban revolution. His father worked directly for Fulgencio Batista and obviously couldn't accept the revolution that removed his ruling circle. But the most ironic historical fact is that Mario's aunt had been married to Fidel himself and with him, had a child, Mario's cousin.
Opinions of Cubans living in the U.S. are drasticly different than they were a few decades ago. Cubans living here are now very interested in maintaining family ties with relatives on the island. Many are apolitical or are just plain tired of the politics of the past. Diaz-Balart couldn't care less. His personal frustrations about Cuba's independence trump the desires of much of the public he is supposed to represent. He has refused to speak with constituents who oppose his policies choosing instead to be sure that people like the old terrorist Posada Carriles, who have spent much of their lives dedicated to policies that are meant to cause suffering, can smile to each other even though their circle is getting smaller and weaker as the days pass.
His personal ambitions of impressing to most extremist elements in South Florida outweigh the respect of family that his own political party like to tout (although it is just a lot of political posturing). His most recent claim to fame is the fact that he is attempting to turn back the laws regarding travel to where they were during the infinitely terrible Bush presidency. His proposal is to prevent people from traveling to the island more than once every three years. Of course in the twisted logic of an anti-Cuba politician, this proposal is supposedly for the good of the Cuban people.
Candidate Obama made a lot of promises. To me, the most easy to accomplish of all was his promise to eliminate restrictions on travel for people with relatives on the island. This opinion was so popular that he was able to receive applause while speaking to the Cuban American National Foundation during the campaign. The Bush policy was extremely upsetting to many and a change was more than welcomed. Now if Mario Diaz-Balart's proposal makes its way through all of the wrangling in Congress, it will be up to President Obama to stand by his word and veto this madness. Will he? Will this provision even make it that far? That is to be seen. But either way, the President must realize that allowing this kind of thing to make its way into law will be an insult to the idea of family, a defeat for justice.
It is to be expected that Hialeah's representative stands for destructive, counterproductive policy. It is expected that a son of the Batista dictatorship has no regard for the Cuban people, neither those one the island nor those he is supposed to represent. Congressman Jose Serrano from the Bronx represents the immigrants from Cuba better than Mario Diaz-Balart. What a shame that such a man, such a hateful ideology still seems to find a way to cause so much hurt.
Let"s find a replacement for the folks like Diaz-Balart in 2012. Let's move towards the future in a way that avoids the obvious mistakes of the past. Let's respect our fellow nations and let us truly respect the idea of family. Throw away this hurtful provision and go further. End the travel ban on Americans to Cuba and the entire embargo. Let's not let the small man from Florida's 21st district destroy the only positive pieces to the puzzle of U.S.-Cuba relations.
Thursday, June 23, 2011
Mario Tries to Flex His Muscle
Today the House Appropriations Committee passed an ammendment that is intended to erase the tiny progress that Persident Obama has made allowing more travel and money to be sent to Cuba. The less relevant extremists in Miami is trying to flex their muscles which are strong only due to the steroids they have beeen pumped with thanks to years of money and support by Washington. But others' muscles will prove stronger. When Bush tightened restrictions during his presidency, he upset a lot of people who want to see their families in Cuba and also support them in their tough circumstances by sending remittances. Mario hates his family back in Cuba, since ironically his family tree has Fidel in it. The blood connection from way back isn't as strong for him as it is for the majority of Cubans living abroad. They love their families and don't support his endeavors. His big brother Lincoln had to appear on TV to threaten the Cuban community living in Miami who were outraged at Bush's policy and became quite outspoken at the time. Since so many people who enjoy the benefit of political refugee status granted to almost any Cuban as a political tool, a status that is much less given to people from other countries, he threatened to have immigration double check their claims of politcal refugee. Obviously there are almost no true political refugees coming from Cuba, the majority have come simply for economic reasons conveniently using the "refugee" excuse to stay.
Undoubtebly, if his ammendment were to become part of the law, the same outrage would occur, as would quite likely the threats from the extremists. The idea of separating families is one of the most disgusting pleasures of the Diaz-Balart brothers. These individuals are incapable of caring about those who they purport to represent. These guys are at a weak point, and their fears are what they are fighting against. The changes in Cuba have along with an increase in remittances have made it possible for some on the island to begin their own businesses. Mario certainly fears the prospect of people's economic situations getting better. If less and less people choose to leave the island for economic reasons then where will all of the "political refugees" be? There might be less photos in the propagandic press centered in Miami of people trying to "escape" Cuba. There will be less and less applicants for "political Asylum." There will be less and less excuses for this absurd policy. The extremists are running in circles confused and scared. Now they are even faced with the dilema of trying to fend off Big Oil, as it is extremely excited about the prospects of doing business with Cuba.
Now the question is whose muscles are bigger. Are the withering muscles of the extremists down in Miami? Or are the muscles of the American people who have had enough of their own rights restricted by these extremists? I think that though it is unfortunate that the ammendment passed, we will see it eventually, somewhere along the process of creating a budget, get brushed aside with ease as there are now much stronger musles that the Miami crowd must contend with. There time is passing, and soon they will all have to find a place in the Bay of Pigs museum down there in Miami.
Undoubtebly, if his ammendment were to become part of the law, the same outrage would occur, as would quite likely the threats from the extremists. The idea of separating families is one of the most disgusting pleasures of the Diaz-Balart brothers. These individuals are incapable of caring about those who they purport to represent. These guys are at a weak point, and their fears are what they are fighting against. The changes in Cuba have along with an increase in remittances have made it possible for some on the island to begin their own businesses. Mario certainly fears the prospect of people's economic situations getting better. If less and less people choose to leave the island for economic reasons then where will all of the "political refugees" be? There might be less photos in the propagandic press centered in Miami of people trying to "escape" Cuba. There will be less and less applicants for "political Asylum." There will be less and less excuses for this absurd policy. The extremists are running in circles confused and scared. Now they are even faced with the dilema of trying to fend off Big Oil, as it is extremely excited about the prospects of doing business with Cuba.
Now the question is whose muscles are bigger. Are the withering muscles of the extremists down in Miami? Or are the muscles of the American people who have had enough of their own rights restricted by these extremists? I think that though it is unfortunate that the ammendment passed, we will see it eventually, somewhere along the process of creating a budget, get brushed aside with ease as there are now much stronger musles that the Miami crowd must contend with. There time is passing, and soon they will all have to find a place in the Bay of Pigs museum down there in Miami.
Thursday, May 26, 2011
Alan Gross a Victim?
Are we to believe that Alan Gross is a victim? Are we to ignore that he was breaking Cuban law? Are we to think that our tax dollars being used to contract him through USAID weren't used with the intent of subverting a sovereign government? Are we to think that nations don't have the right to punish subversion? Are we going to say that the U.S. doesn't incarcerate people without charging them or allowing them due process? Are we going to pretend that our Constitution can be ignored when we think it should be in certain circumstances? Are we going to pretend that we aren't hipocritical in our foreign policies? Are we going to say that Cuba is thumbing its nose at us because they prosecuted Mr. Gross? Are we going to suppose that Americans who travel to Cuba should be able to visit Mr. Gross in the prison that he resides? Are we going to ignore that the five Cubans being held in U.S. prisons for spying on the terrorist networks in Miami have been able to receive family visits? Are we going to say that there are no terrorists walking free in Miami? Are we going to imagine that Mario Diaz Balart grew up in "just another Cuban American household?" Are we going to conveniently forget that his father was a Batista loyalist? Are we going to hear if Bradley Manning thinks his "accomodations" are better than dispicable? Are we going to let these extremists in Miami continue influencing our Cuba policy? Are we presuming to know better than anyone else? Are we really open to different opinions? Are we really that righteous? Are we fooling anyone? Are we?
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)