Análisis y Debate - Enero 2003

DIÁLOGO (ANÁLISIS Y DEBATE) - Enero 2003

Date:: 02 Jan 2003
Time:: 12:50:22

Comments

Estimada compañera Mirabel C. Noda,

1. We still enjoy learning about your view of the world in your own language and, from time to time, visit your website in the hope of reading something interesting in your analysis and opinion section.

2. Coge tu pan, pero no lo pidas coge to luz, coge tu esperanza cierta como a un caballo por las bridas. Plántate en medio de la puerta, pero no con la mano abierta, ni con tu cordura de loco

3. Although we hope that the strike organized by yanki trained Trades Unionists in Venezuela is not detrimentally impacting on the ability of Cuban and US workers to travel, we were pleased to see pictures of Fidel who looked healthy and confident as he participated in the Presidential Inauguration Ceremony in Brazil.

Yours fraternally,

David Whitefield

Date:: 03 Jan 2003
Time:: 13:17:33

Comments

Estimada compañera Mirabel C. Noda,

2. We hope that, to celebrate New Year, Social Democratic Revolutionary men worked with their mothers in the kitchen and cleaned the bathrooms, paying particular attention to the toilets. Also, we hope that they resisted temptation to drink rum or beer and that they told stories, based on your own cultural traditions, to the children.

3. While he was planning to sail to the Antilles, the national poet of Scotland wrote this story.

*****

When chapman billies leave the street,

And thirsty neighbours, neighbours meet,

As market-days are wearing late,

An’ folk begin to tak the gate;

While we sit bousing at the nappy,

An’ getting fou and unco happy,

We think na on the lang Scots miles,

The mosses, waters, slaps, and styles,

That lie between us and our hame,

Where sits our sulky sullen dame,

Gathering her brows like gathering strom,

Nursing her wrath to keep it warm.

This truth fand honest Tam o’ Shanter,

As he frae Ayr ae night did canter,

(Auld Ayr, wham ne’er a town surpasses,

For honest men and bonny lasses.)

O Tam! had’st thou but been sae wise,

As ta’en thy ain wife Kate’s advice!

She tauld thee weel thou was a skellum,

A blethering, blustering, a drunken blellum;

That frae November till October,

Ae market day thou was nae sober;

That ilka melder, wi’ the miller,

Thou sat as lang as thou had siller;

That ev’ry naig was ca’ed a shoe on,

The smith and thee got roaring fou on;

That at the Lord’s house, even on Sunday,

Thou drank with Kirkton Jean till Monday.

She prophesied that, late or soon,

Thou would be found deep drown’d in Doon;

Or catch’d wi’ warlocks in the mirk,

By Alloway’s auld haunted kirk.

Ah, gentle dames! it gars me greet,

To think how many counsels sweet,

How many lengthen’d sage advices,

The husband frae the wife despises!

But to our tale: Ae market night,

Tam had got planted unco right;

Fast by an ingle, bleezing finely,

Wi’ reaming swats, that drank divinely;

And at his elbow, Souter Johnny,

His ancient, trusty, drouthy crony;

Tam lo’ed him like a very brither;

They had been fou for weeks thegithir.

The night drave on wi’ sangs and clatter;

And ay the ale was growing better;

The landlady and Tam grew gracious,

Wi’ favours, secret, sweet, and precious:

The Souter tauld his queerest stories:

The landlord’s laugh was ready chorus:

The storm without might rair and rustle,

Tam did na mind the storm a whistle.

Care. mad to see a man sae happy,

E’en drowned himself among the nappy:

As bees flee hame wi’ lades o’ treasure,

The minutes wing’d their way wi’ pleasure:

Kings may be blest, but Tam was glorious,

O’er a’ the ills o’ life victorious!

But pleasures are like poppies spread,

You sieze the flow’r, its bloom is shed;

Or like the snow falls in the river,

A moment white - then melts for ever;

Or like the borealis race,

That flit ere you can point their place;

Or like the rainbow’s lovely form,

Evanishing amid the storm. -

Nae man can tether time or tide;

The hour approaches Tam must ride;

That hour, o’ night’s black arch the key-stane,

That dreary hour he mounts his beast in;

And sic a night he taks the road in;

As ne’er poor sinner was abroad in.

The wind blew as ‘twad blawn its last;

The rattling showers rose on the blast;

The speedy gleams the darkness swallow’d;

Loud, deep, and lang, the thunder bellow’d:

That night, a child might understand,

The Deil had business on his hand.

Weel mounted on his gray mare, Meg,

A better never lifted leg,

Tam skelpit on thro’ dub and mire,

Despising wind, and rain, and fire;

While holding fast his gude blue bonnet;

While crooning o’er some auld Scots sonnet:

While glowering round wi’ prudent cares,

Lest bogles catch him unawares:

Kirk-Alloway was drawing nigh,

Where ghaists and houlets nightly cry,-

By this time, he was cross the ford,

Where, in the snaw, the chapman smoor’d;

And past the birks and meikle stane,

Where drunken Charlie brak’s neck-bane;

And through the whins, and by the cairn,

Where hunters fand the murder’d bairn,

And near the thorn, aboon the well,

Where Mungo’s mithir hanged hersel.

Before him Doon pours all his floods;

The double storm roars thro’ the woods;

The lightnings flashed from pole to pole;

Near and more near the thunders roll:

When, glimmering thro’ the groaning trees,

Kirk-Alloway seem’s in a bleeze;

Thro’ ilka bore the beams were glancing;

And loud resoundeth mirth and dancing.

Inspiring bold Jouh Barleycorn!

What dangers thou can make us scorn!

Wi’ tippeny, we fear nae evil;

Wi’ usquabae, we’ll face the devil! -

The swats sae ream’d in Tammy’s noddle,

Fair play, he car’d na deils a boddle.

But Maggie stood right sair astonish’d,

Till, by the heel and hand admonish’d,

She ventured forward on the light;

And, wow! Tam saw an unco sight!

Warlocks and witches in a dance;

Nae cotillion, brent new frae France,

But hornpipes, jigs, strathspeys, and reels,

Put life and mettle in their heels.

A winnock-bunker in the east,

There sat auld Nick, in shape o’ beast;

A towzie tyke, black, grim, and large,

To gie them music was his charge.

He screwed the pipes and gart them skirl.

Till roof and rafter a’ did dirl.-

Coffins stood round, like open presses,

That show’d the dead in their last dresses;

And by some devilish cantraip slight,

Each in his cauld hand held a light. -

By which heroic Tam was able,

To note upon the Holy table,

A murderers banes in gibbet airns;

Twa span-lang, unchristened bairns;

A thief, new cutted frae a rape,

With his last gasp his gab did gape;

Five tomahawks, with blood red-rusted;

Five scymitars, with murder crusted,

A garter, which a babe had strangled;

A knife, a father’s throat had mangled,

Whom his own son of life bereft,

The grey hairs yet stick to the heft;

With more o’ horrible and awful,

Which even to name wad by unlawful.

As Tammie glowered, amazed, and curious,

The mirth and fun grew fast and furious;

The piper loud and louder blew;

The dancers quick and quicker flew;

They reeled, they set, they crossed, they cleekit,

Till ilka carlin swat and reekit,

And coost her duddies to the wark,

And linket at it in her sark!

Now, Tam, O Tam! had they been queens,

A’ plump and strapping in their teens,

Their sarks, instead o’ creeshie flannen,

Been snow-white seventeen hunder linnen!

Their breeks o’ mine, my only pair,

That once were plush, o’ good blue hair,

I wad hae gi’en them off my hurdies,

For ae blink o’ the bonnie birdies!

But withered beldams, auld and droll,

Rigwoodie hags wad spean a foal,

Lowping and flinging on a crummock,

I wonder, didna turn thy stomach.

But Tam kend what was what fu’ brawlie,

There was ae winsome wench and wawlie,

That night enlisted in the core,

(Lang after kend on Carrick shore;

For mony a beast to dead she shot,

And perish’d mony a bonny boat,

And shook both meikle corn and bear,

And kept the country-side in fear).

Her cutty sark, of Paisley harn,

That while a lassy she had worn,

In longitude though sorely scanty,

It was her best, and she was vauntie.-

Ah! little kend thy reverend grannie,

That sark she coft for her wee Nannie,

Wi’ twa pund Scots (twas a’ her riches),

Wad ever grace a dance of witches!

But here my Muse her wing must cour,

Such flights are far beyond her power;

To sing how Nannie lap and flang,

(A souple jade she was, and strang),

And how Tam stood, like one bewitched,

And thought his very eyes enriched,

By the Cuban chica’s every twich!

Even Satan, glowered and fidged fu’ fain,

And hotched and blew wi’ might and main;

Till first ae caper, sine anither,

Tam tint his reason a’ thigither,

And roars out, “Weel done, Cutty-sark!”

And in an instant, all was dark:

And scarcely had he Maggie rallied,

When out the hellish legion sallied.

As bees bizz out wi’ angry fyke,

When plundering herds assails their byke,

As open pussie’s mortal foes,

When, pop! she starts before their nose;

As eager runs the market-crowd,

When “Catch the Thief” resounds aloud,

So Maggie runs, the witches follow,

Wi’ mony an eldrich skreech and hollow.

Ah, Tam! Ah. Tam! thou’ll get thy fairin!

In hell they’ll roast thee like a herrin!

In vain thy Kate awaits thy comin!

Kate soon will be a woeful woman!

Now, do thy speedy utmost, Meg.

And win the key-stone of the brig;

There at them thy tail may toss,

A running stream they dare na cross.

But ere the key-stane she could make,

The fient a tail she had to shake!

For Nannie, far before the rest,

Hard upon noble Maggie prest,

And flew at Tam with furious ettle,

But little wist she Maggie’s mettle.

Ae spring brought off her master hale,

But left behind her own gray tail:

The carlin caught her by the rump.

And left poor Maggie scarce a stump.

Now, who this tale of truth shall read,

Ilk man and mother’s child take heed;

Whene’er to drink you are inclined,

Or cutty-sarks run in your mind,

Think, ye might buy the joys o’er dear,

Remember Tam o’ Shanter’s mare.

*****

4.Yours fraternally,

David Whitefield

Date:: 04 Jan 2003
Time:: 03:57:04

Comments

Estimada compañera Mirabel C. Noda,

2.This evening, on CBC TV, we watched a long interview with Enrique Oltusi.

He mentioned a poem by Nicolás Guillén.

Before the Revolution,

Cuba was a paper boat.

Now, it is a wooden boat.

3. In your country, most of the Cuban state budget is spent to educate young people, to provide essential health services and sufficient calories to the people.

4. In your country, a new leadership is emerging. We hope that you are informing the world about the achievements of the Revolution.

Yours fraternally,

David Whitefield

Date:: 05 Jan 2003
Time:: 23:44:29

Comments

Estimada compañera Mirabel C. Noda,

1. Although we still enjoy learning about your view of the world in your own language and, from time to time, visit your website in the hope of reading something interesting in your analysis and opinion section, we notice that very few members or associates of your Party contribute constructive information, opinions or comments about the achievements of your Revolution or the conduct of the Cuban state during the Period of Emergency.

2. We can provide no explanation and wish that members or associates of your Party would provide it.

Yours fraternally,

David Whitefield

Date:: 07 Jan 2003
Time:: 13:12:25

Comments

Estimada compañera Mirabel C. Noda,

2. Last night, we were able to review on the Canadian Broadcasting & Television Network (CBC) a more extensive version of the interview by a Canadian journalist with Enrique Oltusi.

3. We regret our statistical error. Compañero Enrique said that fifty percent of the Cuban state budget is applied to meeting the direct needs of the people. Obviously, through international solidarity efforts in Africa and elsewhere in the Americas, the Cuban state does more for the peoples of the world.

4. Compañero Enrique stated that, in your country, opposition to the Cuban state is “insignificant”. We hope that members of your party support the achievements of the Revolution.

5. The Canadian interviewer asked Compañero Enrique to speculate, as a Marxist, about the revolutionary process and its relationship to political parties. Compañero Enrique pointed out that the Cuban Revolution is a peoples revolution, that Fidel is regarded as the Father of the Revolution and is the longest serving world leader. Compañero Enrique compared Fidel’s longevity to President Bush and Clinton.

6. We are not North Americans. Prime Minister Jean Chetien has provided longer and better public service than any yanki. Canada has never participated in the “embargo”

7. Marx taught that the Revolution is the crucible within which scientific socialist ideas are tested.

8. Yours fraternally,

David Whitefield

Date:: 08 Jan 2003
Time:: 20:16:38

Comments

Estimada compañera Mirabel C. Noda,

2. This morning, we received a message requesting further information about the Hostal del Tejadillo. I think that it is located at No. 12, esquina a San Ignacio, La Habana Vieja and that the telephones are 863-7283 & 863-6895...Fax 863-8830. I do not have the Hostal’s email address.

Yours fraternally,

David Whitefield

Date:: 09 Jan 2003
Time:: 13:16:04

Comments

Estimada compañera Mirabel C. Noda,

2. We were interested by the following statement issued today.

“The government must deliver the financial needs to execute the electoral process and guarantee the proper functioning of the National Constitutional Assembly, and deliver the services requested by the Court and supervise administrative and police units.”

3. In our opinion, it would cost ‘nothing’ to publish the email address and other information about the Hostal Tejadillo on your web site. I visited the Hostal last year and thought that it was a pleasant place where ideas could be discussed.

4. Like yourselves, we are concerned by the catastrophe in Africa. In our talks with Stephen Lewis, we disagreed with the opinion, reiterated by yourselves, that dollars are needed. (The euro could be used as an accounting unit.) We expressed the opinion that priority be provided to overcoming such fundamental health issues as lack of clean water and illiteracy. In addition, we drew his attention, as we did to the Commonwealth representatives during the G8, to the work that is being done by Cubans under the auspices of the Panamerican and World Health Organization.

5. Also, we have drawn the attention of that work to the Canadian Minister for Human Resources Development (HRDC) and to the Premier of Alberta who referred it to the Minister for Health & Wellness.

Yours fraternally,

David Whitefield

Date:: 09 Jan 2003
Time:: 17:44:18

Comments

Estimada compañera Mirabel C. Noda,

2. We have noticed that members of your Party adhere to the principle of solidarity and lack inititative in providing it.

3. We have several disagreements with the statement recently issued. These disagreements might be a consquence of inadequacies in its ‘metaphysical ‘ formulation

4. We do not require permission to provide solidarity and have “edited” the English language version. We prefer to mix water, sugar and a small amount of rum with lemon rather than a manufactured lemon essence.

****

Working for Peace

The Situation in Cuba and Viable Alternative Policies

Policy is a guide to action within a specific real-historical context. The belief that political phenomena can be understood on the basis of living within them in an error. [Our purpose is to change political phenomena for the benefit of the proletariat and their allies..ed]

Cuba is a nation that is comprised of more than the sum total of the objective and subjective parts that will determine the country’s future. At this time, there is inadequate understanding of the historical reasons for Cuba’s geo-political role within Latin America . This is not the moment to analyze foreign intervention, positive or negative, or the profound polarization of Cuban society which is now burdened by more frustration than any other time in its history. The objective is to develop policies that will lead to the creation of a new national contract.

Frustration and extremist attitudes that permeate Cuban society weaken the nation. Some believe the current system is eternal and unalterable. Some want it and its components to vanish. Others want to avert civil war by sustaining the status quo.

Civil war would drown the people in a blood bath. Civil war would place Cuba at risk of increased foreign intervention, directly at first and indirectly, by taking advantage of the forces within in all countries that are ready and willing to subordinate to the hegemonic power.

Having rejected civil war or other chaotic solutions , we assert that the first necessary act is to neutralize elements in Cuba and overseas that attempt to undermine the process of democratization, which is the only viable alternative to change the present situation.

Without delving into details, it is necessary to say that democratization does not mean the importation of political and economic structures from other nations that call themselves democracies or other parties that call themselves social democrats.

As Cuban social-revolutionaries, we reiterated our determination to redirect the Cuban revolutionary process. We are well aware that the term "revolution" does not have the same meaning everywhere. In the Cuban political process, "revolution" is the continuity of national political identity via its main thinkers: Felix Varela, Jose Marti and Antonio Guiteras.

If it is evident [to the PSRDC..ed] that democracy has in its essence a judicial connotation and that socialism is essentially an ethical concept that encorporates specific individual and social values. Without prostituting its essence, democracy cannot be identifed with an single judicial system such as "centralized democracy," "direct democracy” "authoritarian democracy," etc.. Similarly, without distortion, socialism cannot be defined within a certain economic structure.

"Socialism" is creative liberty, for itself and for others.

While others are enslaved, no-one is truly free. .

Freedom enters consciousness when humans feel the need for solidarity with our own species being and to rediscover work as co-labor.

This preamble is needed to identify the future of Cuban society and the fundamental factors that we must consider in order to perceive reality and the elements that move history forward.

In the first place, the widest consensus possible is needed to evolve from the de facto state the country has been living under since March 10, 1952, to the normal state of law for which the people yearn and clamour. The de facto government is the result of a political motive [ survival during the Period of Emergency...eds] that lacks the legitimacy which can be provided only the people. The Popular Will can be expressed only in a society which guarantees political rights. Therefore, the creation of a state of law cannot grow from a decree. It is the product of a process.

A [second ..eds] critical starting point requires avoidance of an ideological definition of a state which is so cumbersome [pobre setos..eds] to today's Cubans. All definitions establish a priori that actions or omissions outside of "official philosophy" justify authority to determine who is antisocial or a heretic. [Can rape be good for women? Is the appropriation of the labour power of others exploitation? Is ‘up’ really ‘down’? ..eds]

"State ideology" negates the possibility of a state of law, where political, social and individual rights are guaranteed.

For structural reasons, internal and external factors within Cuba prevent contemplating formulae similar to Perestroika and other modes used in former Soviet bloc countries in Europe. What is needed is a basic dialogue in the spheres of power and among the governmental and non-governmental forces of which the nation state is conprised to establish a consensus which, in turn, will provide governmental and non-governmental forces with the trust and credibility that are needed for further to development.

Lucid minds reject violence, in any form. The most likely outcome of violence is additional foreign intervention. All other political means that do not undermine national sovereignty or trample on the people's political, social and individual rights are legitimate.

Nevertheless, some well intended people want to engage in a process of change within the current [Period of Emergency...eds.] legal system. Without the proper foundation, they believe in the possibility that the current government, known as "socialist legality," can change by inertia.

We do not purport to disregard current legislation and customs or to impose another group which lacks legitimacy.

In order to obtain the broadest possible consensus, the historical process with which we must now proceed ought to be projected by agents of social change. [President Bush? eds.] . It must lead to the creation of an autonomous non-partisan judiciary committed to the objective application of the law, while guaranteeing social and individual liberties.

Projection of Cuban society which we foresee

As a result of what has been said [a priori without dogmatism?...eds] about the process for change which will start soon, priority must be given to dialogue between governmental and non-governmental forces in order to reform the penal and procedural code, so that the judiciary can proceed with its tasks. [Of trying Fifth Columists, saboteurs and terrorists? Freedom is the appreciation of the necessities of the PSRDC? La vida no es cruel y loca...eds.]

Having established judicial autonomy, the interim government, with ample public participation, will implement the necessary reforms to guarantee people's social and political rights.

The current absolutist and repressive state [of the United States of America? eds} is sustained by the constitutional order, penal code, and lack of due-process guarantees. Consequently, those who share this message of reconciliation must commit to a process of non-violence and firm support of legal norms which severely punish APOLOGIA and the instigation of violence.

In order to overcome the current situation, this first phase must culminate with the government's decision to concede political amnesty and to invite Cubans living in the Republic and overseas to participate. Self-exclusion is the assumption of an historical responsibility [to migrate so that hard currency etcetera could be sent home to privileged families?..eds.] and the process will not be continued by those who choose to end the exclusion [The crisis of unemployment in hard-currency countries is severe...eds.]. Neither the process nor the National Constitutional Assembly can be conditioned. Political parties do not create a state of law. [“Law is the command of the Sovereign. ” Thomas Hobbes...born 1588, the year of the Armada....eds] Political parties and their functions ought to be the result of established constitutional norms.

In the national Cuban historical process there are three amply recognized institutions. The overwhelming majority of social activists have defended them as autonomous organs representing the public's expression of national sovereignty. Those institutions are the municipalities (representing the local community), the labour unions (representing the workers), and the universities (representing the intellectual community). In consideration of this historical consensus, and of the need to strengthen Cuba’s social basis to facilitate formulation by the the Constitutional National Assembly of a Social Contract, these institutions must be institutionalized.

Therefore, municipalities, unions, and universities must be autonomous, non-partisan, and democratic with the capacity to establish their own regional and national institutions.

With an established state of law, a social base is needed to sustain social rights and the construction of peace. This aim can be achieved by using several possible instrument including unilateral reforms by the current government, referenda, and a Sovereign Constitutional Assembly.

Unilateral reform initiated by he current government would not quickly obtain support from various Cuban sectors or the international community. This approach would not halt the Cuban people's frustration or create the situation needed to establish optimal economic agreements and long-run projects such as the "Anfictionía de Caribe," an association with the Southern Cone Common Market (Mercosur), and tighter relations with the European Union and United States of America.

A referendum is not appropriate to Cuban conditions. The issue is not whether to support or amend a certain law, but whether to change the system.

A referendum is a measure by the government to establish a direct relationship with the non-governmental forces and can only be used for matters that do no affect the judicial system's legal condition. In a state of law, this instrument can be used for rapid dialogue between the government and non-government on particular issues that do not endanger democracy, thereby perverting its origin and aim would be perverted.

The Social Contract that our nation desires and which is so necessary for the new generations who will to lead the country requires real existence, not only formal, of a state of law, functioning community-based representative organisms and of a climate which facilitates participation of all Cubans regardless of ideology

The sole functions of Sovereign National Constitutional Assembly must be the establishment of respect for sovereignty, national integrity, individual and social rights.

The Constitional Assembly must adopt norms to prevent financial resources from controlling the electoral process which must depend on the people and not corporations or local and foreign governments. Therefore, financial contributions must be carefully regulated to prevent manipulation. In cases of electoral fraud, severe punishment should be applied to the responsible parties, whether they be voters, candidates or institutions.

A Supreme Electoral Court must be established to supervise the voting process on a national scale. It must establish measures to guarantee that elected delegates will respond to their electorate. It will establish voting methods and the number of delegates to be elected We suggest that each province and community residing overseas choose a number of delegates proportional to its electorate.

The government must deliver the financial needs to execute the electoral process and guarantee the proper functioning of the National Constitutional Assembly, to deliver the services requested by the Court and to supervise administrative and police units.

Having completed the electoral process, with representative delegates in place within a Sovereign Assembly working as the legislature and creating the social contract ( the essence is what the legitimate Constitution) , the new historic phase for the Republic of Cuba will have started.

We do not intend to apply rigid norms to the process. We have merely expressed our interpretation of present Cuban reality and how to overcome it.

Our ideal is to implement the society dreamed by Marti, with everyone and for the good of everyone, in which the supreme law will be the full dignity of man.

Date:: 10 Jan 2003
Time:: 16:58:12

Comments

Estimada compañera Mirabel C. Noda,

2. “All for one and one for all!” was the motto used in the novel “The Three Musketeers” by Alexandre Dumas.

3. The bravados were not required by the Constitution to clean the toilets or to rise in the middle of the night to feed the babies.

Yours fraternally,

David Whitefield

Date:: 11 Jan 2003
Time:: 13:53:46

Comments

Estimada compañera Mirabel C. Noda,

2. The “Crisis” to which Roberto Simeon has referred threatens the lives of every person in the world., including inhabitants of your part of the Americas.

3. It is an environmental and cultural developmental crisis of enormous magnitude.

4. Some of us are old people who agreed with Lenin's opinion about the need to answer the national question. We hope that you possess the cultural and technical skills that will enable you to overcome the deficit of practical ideas that will enable you to overcome the crisis.

Yours fraternally,

David Whitefield

Date:: 12 Jan 2003
Time:: 00:54:39

Comments

Estimada compañera Mirabel C. Noda,

2. We have strong disagreements with many of the ideas which your Party seems to espouse and which your Party seems to be unwilling to debate through this medium.

3. We hope that you will be successful in your independent efforts to build a better world.

Sincerely,

David Whitefield

Date:: 14 Jan 2003
Time:: 01:15:10

Comments

Ustedes no son una verdadera oposición, ni representan a un partido que busca la democracia en Cuba, solo repiten y hacen la función de partido titere al gobierno, criticando solo a la globalización. No critican la falta de claridad del gobierno cubano de como manera la economia, la cuestión social y la democracia. Son ustedes una extención de partido comunista de la Familia Castro y compañia.

Date:: 14 Jan 2003
Time:: 02:17:42

Comments

NOTA DE LA REDACCION. ROGAMOS QUE FIRMEN SU COMENTARIO. EN PRIMER TERMINO PARA CONOCER DESDE QUE POSICION ES LA CRITICA O EL INSULTO, LOS QUE NOS PERMITIRA DAR LAS RESPUESTA ADECUADA, SI CONSIDERAMOS QUE ES IMPORTANTE. NOSOTROS PODEMOS BORRAR NOTA COMO LA ANTERIOR. No lo hacemos porque si somos democratas.

La redaccion

Date:: 16 Jan 2003
Time:: 00:23:03

Comments

Estimada compañera Mirabel C. Noda,

2. Although we have strong disagreements with many of the ideas which your Party seems to espouse and which your Party seems to be unwilling to debate through this medium, we challenge neither your integrity nor your democratic credentials.

3. People who openly present constructive ideas for frank debate are never “irrelevant”. Constructive people do not oppose merely in order to oppose. This assertion applies to the Strategic ‘Iberolatinoamerican’ Plan of Action that was presented by Fidel in Caracas.

4. Today, the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) reported that, because the US Academy of Sciences does not recognize Palestine, a film that won an award at the Cannes Film Festival will not be considered for an “Academy Award” and that, while supporters of the Venezuelan Constitution are disarming members of the Caracas police force, opponents of the Venezuelan Constitution are demonstrating on Wall Street in the hope of obtaining additional financial support.

5. Of course, we assume that university leaders in Cuba are aware that the President of the Sherritt International Corporation is the Chancellor of the University of Calgary.

6. We hope that you will be successful in your independent efforts to build a better world.

Sincerely,

David Whitefield.

Date:: 16 Jan 2003
Time:: 18:44:24

Comments

Hi everybody

I thought I would share this well-written article with you.

Fuad

The United States of America has gone mad John le Carr

America has entered one of its periods of historical madness, but this is the worst I can remember: worse than McCarthyism, worse than the Bay of Pigs and in the long term potentially more disastrous than the Vietnam War. The reaction to 9/11 is beyond anything Osama bin Laden could have hoped for in his nastiest dreams. As in McCarthy times, the freedoms that have made America the envy of the world are being systematically eroded. The combination of compliant US media and vested corporate interests is once more ensuring that a debate that should be ringing out in every town square is confined to the loftier columns of the East Coast press.

The imminent war was planned years before bin Laden struck, but it was he who made it possible. Without bin Laden, the Bush junta would still be trying to explain such tricky matters as how it came to be elected in the first place; Enron; its shameless favouring of the already-too-rich; its reckless disregard for the world's poor, the ecology and a raft of unilaterally abrogated international treaties. They might also have to be telling us why they support Israel in its continuing disregard for UN resolutions.

But bin Laden conveniently swept all that under the carpet. The Bushies are riding high. Now 88 per cent of Americans want the war, we are told. The US defence budget has been raised by another $60 billion to around $360 billion. A splendid new generation of nuclear weapons is in the pipeline, so we can all breathe easy. Quite what war 88 per cent of Americans think they are supporting is a lot less clear. A war for how long, please? At what cost in American lives? At what cost to the American taxpaye's pocket? At what cost because most of those 88 per cent are thoroughly decent and humane people in Iraqi lives?

How Bush and his junta succeeded in deflecting America's anger from bin Laden to Saddam Hussein is one of the great public relations conjuring tricks of history. But they swung it. A recent poll tells us that one in two Americans now believe Saddam was responsible for the attack on the World Trade Centre. But the American public is not merely being misled. It is being browbeaten and kept in a state of ignorance and fear. The carefully orchestrated neurosis should carry Bush and his fellow conspirators nicely into the next election. Those who are not with Mr Bush are against him. Worse, they are with the enemy . Which is odd, because I'm dead against Bush, but I would love to see Saddam's downfall just not on Bush's terms and not by his methods. And not under the banner of such outrageous hypocrisy.

The religious cant that will send American troops into battle is perhaps the most sickening aspect of this surreal war-to-be. Bush has an arm-lock on God. And God has very particular political opinions. God appointed America to save the world in any way that suits America. God appointed Israel to be the nexus of America's Middle Eastern policy, and anyone who wants to mess with that idea is a) anti-Semitic, b) anti-American, c) with the enemy, and d) a terrorist.

God also has pretty scary connections. In America, where all men are equal in His sight, if not in one another's, the Bush family numbers one President, one ex-President, one ex-head of the CIA, the Governor of Florida and the ex-Governor of Texas. Care for a few pointers? George W. Bush, 1978-84: senior executive, Arbusto Energy/Bush Exploration, an oil company; 1986-90: senior executive of the Harken oil company. Dick Cheney, 1995-2000: chief executive of the Halliburton oil company. Condoleezza Rice, 1991-2000: senior executive with the Chevron oil company, which named an oil tanker after her. And so on. But none of these trifling associations affects the integrity of God's work. In 1993, while ex-President George Bush was visiting the ever-democratic Kingdom of Kuwait to receive thanks for liberating them, somebody tried to kill him. The CIA believes that somebody was Saddam. Hence Bush Jr.'s cry: That man tried to kill my Daddy. But it's still not personal, this war. It's still necessary. It's still God's work. It's still about bringing freedom and democracy to oppressed Iraqi people.

To be a member of the team you must also believe in Absolute Good and Absolute Evil, and Bush, with a lot of help from his friends, family and God, is there to tell us which is which. What Bush won't tell us is the truth about why we're going to war. What is at stake is not an Axis of Evil but oil, money and people's lives. Saddam's misfortune is to sit on the second biggest oilfield in the world. Bush wants it, and who helps him get it will receive a piece of the cake. And who doesn't, won't. If Saddam didn't have the oil, he could torture his citizens to his heart's content. Other leaders do it every day think Saudi Arabia, think Pakistan, think Turkey, think Syria, think Egypt.

Baghdad represents no clear and present danger to its neighbours, and none to the US or Britain. Saddam's weapons of mass destruction, if he's still got them, will be peanuts by comparison with the stuff Israel or America could hurl at him at five minutes' notice. What is at stake is not an imminent military or terrorist threat, but the economic imperative of US growth. What is at stake is America's need to demonstrate its military power to all of us to Europe and Russia and China, and poor mad little North Korea, as well as the Middle East; to show who rules America at home, and who is to be ruled by America abroad.

The most charitable interpretation of Tony Blair's part in all this is that he believed that, by riding the tiger, he could steer it. He can't. Instead, he gave it a phoney legitimacy, and a smooth voice. Now I fear, the same tiger has him penned into a corner, and he can't get out. It is utterly laughable that, at a time when Blair has talked himself against the ropes, neither of Britain's opposition leaders can lay a glove on him. But that's Britain's tragedy, as it is America's: as our Governments spin, lie and lose their credibility, the electorate simply shrugs and looks the other way. Blair's best chance of personal survival must be that, at the eleventh hour, world protest and an improbably emboldened UN will force Bush to put his gun back in his holster unfired. But what happens when the world's greatest cowboy rides back into town without a tyrant's head to wave at the boys? Blair's worst chance is that, with or without the UN, he will drag us into a war that, if the will to negotiate energetically had ever been there, could have been avoided; a war that has been no more democratically debated in Britain than it has in America or at the UN. By doing so, Blair will have set back our relations with Europe and the Middle East for decades to come. He will have helped to provoke unforeseeable retaliation, great domestic unrest, and regional chaos in the Middle East. Welcome to the party of the ethical foreign policy.

There is a middle way, but it's a tough one: Bush dives in without UN approval and Blair stays on the bank. Goodbye to the special relationship. I cringe when I hear my Prime Minister lend his head prefect's sophistries to this colonialist adventure. His very real anxieties about terror are shared by all sane men. What he can't explain is how he reconciles a global assault on al Qaeda with a territorial assault on Iraq. We are in this war, if it takes place, to secure the fig leaf of our special relationship, to grab our share of the oil pot, and because, after all the public handholding in Washington and Camp David, Blair has to show up at the altar.

But will we win, Daddy? Of course, child. It will all be over while you're still in bed. Why? Because otherwise Mr Bush's voters will get terribly impatient and may decide not to vote for him. But will people be killed, Daddy? Nobody you know, darling. Just foreign people. Can I watch it on television? Only if Mr. Bush says you can. And afterwards, will everything be normal again? Nobody will do anything horrid any more? Hush child, and go to sleep.

Last Friday a friend of mine in California drove to his local supermarket with a sticker on his car saying: Peace is also Patriotic. It was gone by the time he'd finished shopping.

The author has also contributed to an openDemocracy debate on Iraq

Date:: 19 Jan 2003
Time:: 23:28:52

Comments

Estimada compañera Mirabel C. Noda,

2. Today, the British Broadcasting Corporation reported that Elections for the Cuban National Assembly were held earlier today.

3. How many members of the PSRDC openly offered to serve the people?

4. How many were elected?

Yours fraternally,

David Whitefield

Date:: 23 Jan 2003
Time:: 00:42:35

Comments

Date:: 23 Jan 2003
Time:: 23:47:56

Comments

Hi everyone, 1) Just wanted to remind everyone about the upcoming anti-war on Iraq meeting on Saturday at 10 am at parkdale united church (2919 8th avenue NW). If you can't make the meeting but are interested in submitting some ideas about what we could look at taking on next please send me an email with your ideas.

2) Here are two articles which might be of interest to all of you. The first concerning Canada's stance on the war and second about France and Germany. (Thanks to all of you who passed on these articles) FIRST ARTICLE Thursday January 23 11:36 AM EST

Attack on Iraq Not Justified Now, Canada Says By David Ljunggren

OTTAWA (Reuters) - The United States would have no justification for attacking Iraq now because U.N. inspectors have not had enough time to probe for weapons of mass destruction, Canada said on Thursday.

Foreign Minister Bill Graham told CBC television he sided with France and Germany, which have both irritated Washington by insisting war must be the last option on the table.

"I agree with the French and German analysis that at this particular time, we couldn't justify a war," he said.

"But that doesn't mean no war would ever be justified if the U.N. was satisfied that in fact there were conditions there that Iraq was resisting in trying to develop a capacity for weapons of mass destruction."

Paris and Berlin said the inspectors under Dr. Hans Blix might need several months to complete their work. Blix is due to deliver an interim report to the U.N. Security Council on Jan. 27.

"We're going to have to wait until Jan. 27. Hear Dr. Blix, let him do his job, force Iraq to conform to the inspections regime. It's biting, it's working, let's keep the pressure on them through that regime," said Graham.

Next week Graham is due to fly to Washington for talks on Iraq with Secretary of State Colin Powell.

Polls show a vast majority of Canadians oppose the idea of backing a U.S.-led attack on Iraq without U.N. authorization. Graham said Ottawa had not changed its view that an attack on Iraq must be sanctioned by the United Nations.

"Ultimately, if there is a conflict, it must be a conflict that is undertaken by the world," he said.

"Otherwise the risk of destabilizing the Middle East and creating enmities between the West and other countries becomes insurmountable and a terrible additional problem for us."

U.S. President George W. Bush is expressing impatience with his allies' hesitancy over an intervention in Iraq amid increasing speculation about an imminent attack, timed to avoid the hottest part of the year.

"Everyone knows there's a preferable window for action in that area but that doesn't mean an attack is imminent or is going to happen without U.N. approval," said Graham, speaking ahead of a full-day cabinet session at which Iraq is likely to be a main agenda topic.

Prime Minister Jean Chretien said last week that Canada would stick by the United Nations but declined to answer questions as to whether there were any circumstances under which Canadian troops might join a unilateral U.S. attack.

2ND ARTICLE FRANCE AND GERMANY

Germany blocks the road to war http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,3-552032,00.html

Date:: 24 Jan 2003
Time:: 18:20:27

Comments

Estimada compañera Mirabel C. Noda,

2. We continue to try to encourage young people to conduct themselves as citizens of the world.

3. This poem was sent to me by an “aboriginal” woman in Canaria, possibly a descendant of the Cro-Magnon culture, who has not had an easy life

Sincerely, David Whitefield

I No digas nunca: Ya está aquí el amor. El amor es siempre un paso más, el amor es el peldaño ulterior de la escalera, el amor es continua apetencia, y si no estás insatisfecho, no hay amor. El amor es la fruta en la mano, aún no mordida. El amor es un perpetuo aguijón, y un deseo que debe crecer sin valladar. No digas nunca: Ya está aquí el amor. El verdadero amor es un no ha llegado todavía...

Y es que el verdadero amor- nos dicen- nunca jamás se parece a su imagen. Disociadas la forma y la materia, se nos obliga a elegir, considerando en más a la interior morada. (¡Pequela traición, dulce retaguardia, muy humana!) Porque el verdadero amor coincide con sí mismo, y dice bien Novalis que todo será cuerpo un dia que anhelamos. Columna de oro y niño de azul, el tetractys entregando en la mirada, tú fuiste al tiempo unísono el amor y su imagen y sólo la realidad trastocó nuestros cuerpos o confundió con falsa voz nuestra amistad equivocada. Porque no siempre es posible el encuentro y hostil es, a menudo, el bosque y su carcoma, y se cubren los senderos de hojas malas... Mas el verdadero amor, el alto amor, -lo sé y te ví- coincide, inevitablemente, con su alta representación afortunada.

III

Será el amor vencer tan sólo al cuerpo con el cuerpo? Porque el ansia de beldad empuja hacia dentro, para alcanzar un alma confundida con las formas mismas de la materia... Y al succionar los labios bebes alma, y al estrechar el pecho tocas otro jardín cuyas ramas te alcanzan. Queremos romper el cuerpo para encontrar el cuerpo, bañarnos en el pozo acuático de adentro con la imagen misma que la luz nos muestra. Presionar el cuerpo para tocar un alma que es el mismo cuerpo. Pues al ver y palpar el dorado desierto deseando entrar en ti, restregarse a ti, ser en ti, chupando tus acilas y tus nalgas y tu cuello, ebria de ti, la absurda, la infame, la degenerada...

Ya que el más alto amor es imposible. Ya que no existe el alma pura convertida en cuerpo. YA que el instante detenido (¡Oh párate un momento, eres tan bello!) no es más que un grato sueño de la literatura. Ya que se muda el dios de un día y el tiempo torna falaz toda imagen armónica. YA que el eterno muchacho es sólo mito y fugaz representación que somnoliza el arte; cuando alguien nos provoca amor, cuando sentimos el ansia irreprimible de estar con fuertemente, y de abrasarnos, cuando creermos que aquel ser es toda la dorada plenitud, sin dudar nos engañamos. (Una magia y un dese nos embaucan) Mo existe el sumo amor. Es tan sólo un impulso del alma, y unas horas o unos meses, ciegos, felices, burlados...

Aunque quizá todo esto es mentira. Y el único amor posible(entiéndase, pues el Amor con mayúscula) sea un ansia poderosa y humilde de estar juntos, de compartir problemas, de darse calor bajo los cubrecamas... Reír con la misma frase del mismo libro o ir a servirse el vino a la par, cruzando las miradas. Deseo de relación, de compartir, de comprender tocando, de entrar en otro ser, que tampoco es luz, ni extraordinario, pero que es ardor, y delizadeza y dulzura... No la búsqueda del sol, sino la cama día a día encontrada. El montón de libros sobre la mesa, tachaduras y tintas en horarios de clase, el programa de un concierto, un papel con datos sobre Ophuls y la escuela de Viena... Quizá es feliz tal Amor, lleno de excepcionales minutos y de mucha, mucha vulgaridad cotidiana... Amor de igual a igual, con arrebato y zanjas, pero siempre amor, un ansia poderosa, pobre, de estar unidos, juntos, acariciar su pelo mientras suena la música y hablamos de las clases, de los libros, de los pantalones vaqueros, o simplemente de los corazones... Aunque quizá todo esto es mentira. Y es la elección, elegir, lo que finalmente nos desgarra.

Pero no utilices la palabra desprecio si no aceptan el amor que regalas. Si es u amor de palabras dulces, de comprensión, de afecto, de ternura, sabrás bien que el obsequio que ofreces no lo has de dar tú sólo... Y si es pasión tu amor, si es un arrebatamiento que desborda y desdeña la vida cotidiana, entonces tu regalo recae sobre ti propio. Desprecio no habrá en ningún caso. Sólo carencia. Echar algo en falta. Pero es que todo gran amor, el poderoso amor, el importante amor, el que llenaría plenamente un vivir, ése es siempre ausencia, hay un foso siempre; lo ves y no lo alcanzas...

VII

Eres, al fin, el nombre de todos los deseos. No importa si en ti buscamos la solicitud o la amistad. No importa si es el río dorado de la carne, o el alma, el anasible alma, siempree la última frontera. Son tuyos todos esos nombres, y en ellos te vemos pero nunca, jamás te acercas. No eres el codiciado calor de la leña que temen perder quienes tienen morada y compañero. No eres el brillo acuático, ni la piel del ídolo solar que buscan paseantes solitarios. Tampoco la marcha alada, el cendal cabello, l aplástica antigua del que desea la corpórea forma (aunque espiritual) del ángel... Sombrío dios sin devotos, les prestas tu mirar a todos ellos, pero ninguno eres. Estás siempre más allá, más lejos. Y no te adornan aljabas ni rosas. Ni proteges en tu seno a quienes nombran la palabra amor, o dicen cumplirla, célibes y familiares. Sobre tus largas uñas pones frío oro molido, y en tus ojos oscuros dejas entrar la luna... ¿Qué nombre darte? ¿Amor, Hipólito, Cupido? Eres un dios de muertos. El dios, por excelencia. Y pues que nada te cumple, ni rosas te sirven ni anacreónticas imágenes. Frío cuerpo de oro, las rojas amapolas te coronan y las plantas del largo sueño eterno...

Date:: 25 Jan 2003
Time:: 01:47:20

Comments

Nota de la Redaccion:

El amigo y compañero David Whitefield, que con tanta maestria escribe en ingles y español al mismo tiempo, me comenta, que quien de nuestros militantes participan en las llamadas elecciones en Cuba o a prestado sus ideas para resolver el "periodo especial", En las elecciones no participamos porque el gobierno no deja al Partido hacerlo. En cuanto ofrecer nuestras ideas,nuestra soluciones y nuestros proyecto la mayoria del Comite Central del Partido Comunuista de Cuba las conoce y en los archivos de la seguridad del estado esta nuestro programa economico. Los Social-Revolucionarios participaran en las elecciones en Cuba cuando se nos deje hablar en los sindicatos, en las casas de la cultura y en los comitees de Defensa de la Revolucion. La redaccion de esta pagina se confeccionara en Cuba en cuanto el actual gobierno no nos lo impida. Hablaremos en Cuba en las plazas, la radio, la TV en cuanto el gobierno no nos lo impida. Queremos reencauzar el proceso revolucionarios, lo haremos en Cuba y estamos prestos para comenzar el dialogo ahora mismo,

Su amiga

Maribel C. Noda.

Date:: 25 Jan 2003
Time:: 15:50:10

Comments

Estimada compañera y amiga Mirabel C. Noda,

1. Thank you for providing an explanation of the work that members of your Party are doing. Ceomments based on our ignorance benefit no-one.

2. We suspect that you do not agree with our use of the term “Period of Emergency” to describe the “Special Period” of hardship that the people of Cuba have endured since the collapse of the Soviet Bloc. We realize, of course, that for most Cubans, life has not been easy since the time of the Conquest.

3. We have visited Cuba on very many occasions and have noticed considerable progress.

4. Above all, we have noticed progress in the struggle against racism and sexism. Although, on one occasion at the Hemingway Marina, I (as a Canadian) was threatened by a visiting Cuban expatriate who had joined the U.S. armed forces, I have not encountered a single Cuban resident who favours war.

5. Nevertheless, there is no point in denying that, as in most parts of the world, Cuban young people lack initiative and refer to lack of incentive as the explanation.

6. Perhaps because so many of us are old, we are attracted by spiritual values that are contained in the better features of your traditional culture.

7. Previously, I have referred to the magnificent performance by the Afro-Cuban Dance Group, to the fantastic dramatic ballet, The Sale of African Slave Women, in which we, as members of a group of delegates to the 1999 Assembly of Iberolatinoamericam States participated in the Habsburg Colonial City of Santa Maria del Rosario.

8. Prior to the Assembly, I was asked by Province of Havana Poder Popular officials to encourage the Mayor of the city of Calgary to attend. The Mayor was in China and his place was taken by the Deputy Mayor accompanied by one of my former students who was the Mayor’s international assistant.

9. Perhaps you will forgive my relating an anecdote about a trivial event that occurred.

We were asked to attend a meeting in an hotel in Old Havana. It was boring. I walked along the boulevard near the Golden Tulip Hotel, sat on a bench and had a conversation with a Cuban woman whose daughter was at a ballet class. During the conversation, she asked if I had not noticed that she was “negra”.

10. Last year, on the same boulevard, I encountered two Cuban women who told me that they were from the Province of Oriente and that they were in Havana to obtain money to purchase medications for members of their families.

Were they “prostitutes”?

They inquired about the contents of my satchel and seemed to be delighted when I showed them a book of poems by Nicolas Guillen. Certainly, I was fascinated as they told be about their interest in Ibu culture, in poetry and in world history. . 11. We could mention an exhibition by a progressive German artist that was presented last year in the Cuban National Art Museum and, of course, we have referred on so many occasions to the Museum of the History of the Campaign Against Illiteracy as well as to the concert by young people at the nearby palace of the Dictator Batista.

12. It is with feelings of nostalgia that I refer to the German exhibition. Shortly before the collapse of the German Democratic Republic, work was begun by Academician Joachim Herrmann, Ingrid Sellnow (the author of the massive U.N study of Sub-Saharan Africa) a few Russians, including Putin, who were engaged in revitalizing the Sorb Spree Valley culture, and a Cuban historical ethnographer, begun to study the relative importance of “class struggle” in the Era of the Scientific and Industrial Revolution. This concept was discussed by Fidel in Caracas

12. You have referred to your work in the Committees to Defend the Revolution.

13 Recently, a former Venezuelan Minister for International Trade expressed his fear that this paradigm is being used in that country where the “strike” that was organized by the owners/managers and the U.S. trained trade union leaders seems to be coming to an end.

14. Ours is a very small party comprised mainly of old people. At this time, we are working to encourage opposition to the war against the people of Iraq. There is nothing more important than the struggle for peace.

15. Perhaps at some time in the future, I might be able to visit Cuba again for a holiday.

16. Possibly, compañera y amiga Mirabel C. Noda, we’ll be able to meet face-to-face to talk about ideas.

Yours fraternally,

David Whitefield

Date:: 25 Jan 2003
Time:: 21:26:26

Comments

DAVID WHITEFIELD: THE REASON WHY THIS ANALYSIS AND DEBATE SECTION IS SO INACTIVE IS THAT YOU MAKE IT IMPOSSIBLY BORING TO VISIT. NOW IT´S YOUR TURN TO ROLL DOWN THE SCREEN AND FIND OUT WHAT YOU APPARENTLY DON´T KNOW NOR WISH TO LEARN. The info was lifted from a site you would do well to visit www.cubaicei.com (Institute of Independent Economists in Cuba...). As far as I´m concerned, your interventions in this page are clearly SPAM and if I were the ´´redacción´´ I would kick your butt out of here in no time at all! As for your idol, Fidel, his performance speaks clearly of his dubious origins: he is the son of a Spanish mercenary who first arrived in Cuba in order to fight against Cuban independence. That´s the kind of home he was born in, which to me help explain much of what has happened to the Cuban people over the last four decades!

Del Instituo cubano de economistas independientes: La lista que abajo se relaciona ha sido publicada con la misma redacción como se han estado recibiendo por parte de organizaciones y personas y es por eso que la llamamos Primera Versión. Después serán ajustadas a un lenguaje único y haremos una clasificación por materia para hacer más fácil su estudio y comprensión.

1- Está prohibido comprar una olla de presión arrocera en las tiendas de divisas aunque se tengan dólares.

2- No se pueden utilizar los servicios de un teléfono celular.

3- No hay opción para alquilar en divisas un auto llámese rent a car.

4- Una computadora completa no se puede comprar en las tiendas por dólares donde las venden.

5- No puede hospedarse en un hotel de turismo internacional.

6- Las medicinas en las diplofarmacias no están a la venta para quienes no puedan exhibir pasaporte extranjero.

7- Si no es parte de la nomenclatura oficial no puede entrar a la Biblioteca Nacional.

8- El dueño de una res no puede sacrificarla.

9- Tiene que utilizar el servicio de una operadora para llamar al extranjero. No hay discado directo.

10- Están prohibidas las antenas de televisores de otro tipo que no sean las convencionales, por lo que no se pueden ver programas de otros paises.

11- Los médicos no pueden recetar para todas las farmacias del país, sino sólo para las asignadas.

12- El sertvcio telefónico a particulares se asigna solamente al personal de confianza de la cuadra, con la anuencia del CDR (Comité de Defensa de la Revolución).

13- Los médicos y paramédicos no pueden abandonar el país, antes de haber pasado 5 años de solicitar el permiso al Ministerio de Salud Póblica ó 5 años de haberse retirado.

14- No hay acceso a la televisión por cable

15- Los enfermos de asma de 3er grado sólo pueden comprar un spray de salbutamol al mes, aunque necesiten utilizar más que esto. A los de 1er grado se les vende uno cada dos meses.

16- No puede viajar a Cuba un nacional de ese país que resida en otro, si antes no obtiene una visa.

17- No se pude llevar a pasear a los niños por lugares donde hayan tiendas de juguetes en divisas exhibiéndose en vidrieras. El Estado no vende juguetes para niños en pesos cubanos.

18- Una persona menor de 18 años no podrá salir del país en condición de visitante, sólo lo hará si se va definitivamente.

19- En las relaciones con la economía estatal (entiéndase mercado de racionamiento en pesos cubanos) no se pueden comprar productos en el lugar que la persona estime conveniente, sino donde le sea asignado.

20- Las medicinas para enfermos crónicos sólo pueden ser compradas en la farmacia asignada.

21- En las pocas ocasiones en que se vende carne de res por la libreta de racionamiento, no se pude decidir qué parte de la res comprar.

22- No se tiene derecho a comprar bienes de uso duradero a plazos.

23- No se puede comprar una cocina eléctrica.

24- Los padres no pueden decidir a qué escuela mandar a sus hijos.

25- No hay forma de decidir qué médico de la familia lo atiende en sus problemas de salud.

26- Los recién casados no tienen opción de dónde pasar la luna de miel, es donde le toque.

27- Cuando se espera un hijo, si no se tiene dólares, no hay forma de escoger una canastilla para el bebé.

28- No se puede adquirir en las tiendas de dólares una video cassetera .

29- Los padres no pueden impedir que sus hijos vayan a la escuela en el campo.

30- No existe humor en los medios oficiales que permita hacer chistes donde estén implicados figures e instituciones estatales y paraestatales.

31- No se puede participar en juegos de azar.

32- Aunque Cuba es una isla no se puede pescar libremente.

33- No hay libre acceso a la playa de Varadero y a centros turísticos como Cayo Coco, Cayo Guillermo, etc.

34- No se conoce el nombre de la esposa del Presidente del país, ni el número y nombres de todos sus hijos.

35- No hay prensa amarilla.

36- Aunque en Cuba se celebran peleas de gallos y se exportan gallos de lidia, está prohibido asistir a peleas de gallos.

37- No hay acceso, siendo un ciudadano corriente, a las estadisticas económicas, demográficas y sociales del país.

38- Los padres no pueden impedir que sus hijos pertenezcan a la organización de Pioneros Jose Marti y que repitan la frase:”Pioneros por el comunismo, seremos como el Che”.

39- Los miembros de un vecindario no pueden contratar un guardajurado.

40- No hay acceso al circuito cerrado de TV de los hoteles internacionales.

41- No se tienen posibilidades de acceso a las sesiones del Parlamento.

42- No se puede ni siquiera pasear en bote por las costas de la isla sin una autorización.

43- Al no haber construcción de viviendas y existir numerosas restricciones en las leyes vigentes y una alta demanda de vivienda, cuando una pareja se casa no tiene opción de alquilar al menos un apartamento para vivir y formar una familia.

44- No hay derecho a conocer los problemas vinculados con la deuda externa, déficit commercial y problemas financieros fundamentales del país en cifras.

45- No hay derecho a crear organizaciones e instituciones independientes, a pesar de que existe la Ley de Asociaciones, el Gobierno no contesta siquiera las solicitudes de los opositores.

46- Los padres no pueden decidir qué tipo de educación le dan a sus hijos.

47- Si no es trabajador vanguardia, no tendrá derecho a alquilar una casa en la playa para pasar sus vacaciones.

48- Aunque tenga dólares no podrá comprarse un aire acondicionado en las tiendas

49- Si va a ser objeto de una intervención quirúrgica, no podrá ingresar en el hospital si antes no lleva una donación de sangre.

50- No se pueden cambiar billetes con nominaciones mayores de cincuenta dólares sin entregar el carnet de identidad y firmar una planilla con los datos de su nombre, dirección y la serie del billete.

51- No hay acceso a los hospitales de extranjeros , aunque ud. posea dólares.

52- Son mejores las condiciones de vida y estudio para los estudiantes de medicina extranjeros que para sus homólogos nacionales. Como ejemplo: en la Provincia de Villa Clara los estudiantes de medicina fueron desalojados de los albergues para dárselos a los extranjeros.

53- No se puede asistir al Club Havana que antes fue el Havana Biltmore Yacht and Country Club, una de las playas que fueron convertidas en círculos sociales y que vuelve a ser propiedad de unos pocos a pesar de la llamada justicia social.

54- Están restringidos los movimientos de cualquier porvincia a Ciudad Habana, en particular de las provincias orientales. Sin embargo, las fuerzas represivas del Ministerio del Interior en su gran mayoría proceden de estas provincias,.

55- Aunque ud. sea propietario de su casa no puede venderla.

56- Las motocicletas que trajeron muchos técnicos que trabajaron en el ex campo socialista, y que fueron permitidas ingresar en el país, como estímulo, no pueden ser vendidas por sus dueños.

57- El trabajador vanguardia en la industria azucarera, al que se le asigna un carro, por su rendimiento cortando caña, no puede vender el automóvil.

58- Los dueños de embarcaciones no pueden usarla libremente para pasear, practicar algún deporte marítimo ui otras actividades.

59- Si no está integrado a las organizaciones de masa y las MTT (milicias de tropes territoriales), no puede ejercer como maestro.

60- Cuando un funcionario, deportista, dirigente, etc., pide asilo politico durante un viaje al extranjero, su familia deberá como castigo permanecer sin salir del país al menos 5 años.

61- A muchos de los familiares de los miembros de la oposición dentro de la isla, no se les permite entrar en el país.

62- Cuando el jefe del núcleo familiar abandona el país definitivamente, las personas que quedan en la vivienda, deberán pagar al Estado de nuevo el valor de la casa y de todos los bienes que quedaron dentro. Sin excepción, aunque sea el padre que le deja la casa al hijo.

63- Existen restricciones para los estudiantes de la enseñanza media que están recogidas en la ley. El artículo 23 del código de la niñez y la juventud expresa: ”Al terminar la enseñanza básica los jóvenes pueden continuar los estudios en Institutos Preuniversitarios, Centros Politécnicos o dedicados a otras enseñanzas especializadas, sobre la base de los rendimientos académicos, actitud politica y conducta social”.

64- La Universidad es sólo para los revolucionarios.

65- Todo joven que se gradúe de una profesión de nivel medio o superior, no puede trabajar donde desee, está obligado a cumplir el servicio social, en el puesto de trabajo que se le asigne.

66- No se le permite a la Iglesia Católica dar ayuda humanitaria directa, como repartir alimentos a través de Caritas.

67- Los que profesan alguna religión, se ven imposibilitados de que la iglesia a la que pertenecen participe en el programa educativo de los niños y los jóvenes.

68- Los niños no tienen otra alternativa que firmar en las escuelas los documentos politicos que elabora la alta jerarquía.

69- No se puede ir a jugar golf, en un campo de golf exclusivo para extranjeros.

70- Los niños no pueden celebrar el día 6 de Enero como el día de los Reyes Magos.

71- Para salir al extranjero de visita se necesita una carta de invitación, que será pagada en las embajadas cubanas, en los diferentes lugares donde se efectuará el viaje con un costo promedio de 150 dólares.

72- El pasaporte que se necesita para viajar se debe pagar en divisa con un precio de 50 USD.

73- Para viajar al extranjero debe tenerse un permiso de salida conocido como “tarjeta blanca”, que cuesta 150 USD.

74- Cuando se sale al extrajero de visita se tiene permiso de un mes, si decide quedarse más tiempo (hasta 10 meses), deberá pagar la suma de 175 USD mensuales para renovar su permiso.

75- Si permanece más de un mes fuera del país en una visita temporal, el pasaje de regreso se pierde totalmente, para volver debe comprar uno nuevo.

76- En Ciudad de la Habana, con mayor restricción en algunos municipios, cuando ud. se muda y es el propietario de la casa, no puede llevar a vivir a ella a alguien sin la aprobación estatal, ni siquiera a personas con vínculos carnales como un hijo(a) o un esposo(a). Arquitectura tendrá incluso que medir la casa para determinar si cumple el requisito de la cantidad de metros cuadrados por habitante.

77- No hay acceso a Internet.

78- Si usted abandona el país definitivamente tiene que entregar todas sus pertenencias al Estado. Le realizarán un inventario de los bienes de su casa que confirmarán una semana antes de emigrar, cuando deberá abandonar definitivamente su residencia. Si se le rompe un vaso, deberá mostrar los cristales. Si falta algo le cancelerán la salida. Si tiene un auto lo deberá entregar caminando. Le quedará congelada su cuenta bancaria. En fin, pierde todos los bienes que quedan confiscados por el Estado.

79- En la mayoría de los casos en que existen catástrofes, desastres, accidentes y son publicados, se desconoce lo que dio motivo a que sucedieran; en tal ocasión se plantea que queda sometido a investigación, pero los resultados, en casi la totalidad de los casos no son informados posteriormente a la opinión pública.

80- Aunque tenga dólares, no podrá comprar un automóvil en divisas.

81- Ninguna persona extranjera que tenga un automóvil en Cuba, por motivos de trabajo, cuando termine su misión y abandone el país lo podra vender a un ciudadano cubano.

82- Si necesita cambiar el motor de su refrigerador, no hay opción en moneda nacional, deberá inscribirse en una lista, que puede esperar años sin que lo resuelva.

83- La opinión pública no conoce cuando se destituye un Ministro, vice Ministro, dirigente del Poder Popular o del PCC (Partido Comuinista de Cuba), los motives que dieron lugar a que fueran quitados de sus cargos, usualmente se da a conocer que: ha sido liberado de sus responsabilidades.

84- Si una persona viene del extranjero y quiere comprar un automóvil para regalárselo a un ciudadano cubano, no podrá hacerlo.

85- No puede trabajar en una firma extranjera, si no usa por el medio los servicios de una Empresa Estatal que controla los trabajadores. Por lo que sólo lo logrará si es personal “idóneo”, que significa estar integrado a las organizaciones de masas, las MTT (Milicias de Tropas Territoriales) y ser fiel al sistema.

86- Ningún alumno podrá estudiar la carrera que quiera, sino la que le toque en el escalafón, según las que se ofertan en ese curso. En algunos casos coincide el deseo con la posibilidad, en la mayoria queda la frustración del joven.

87- No tiene derecho, aunque tuviera dinero a invertir en una firma extranjera.

88- Si es trabajador por cuenta propia, no tiene derecho a tener empleados, sólo los familiars residentes pueden ayudarlo.

89- Si usted se casa, no tendrá derecho –en moneda nacional- a nada más que: 3 cajas de cerveza, 2 botellas de ron de mala calidad, un cake, 75 panecitos y una botella de líquido concentrado para hacer refresco.

90- No tiene derecho a comprar productos en las zonas francas.

91- No hay posibilidad de comprar al Estado (el único suministrador) efectos electrodomésticos en moneda nacional.

92- No tiene posibilidad de reparar su casa si el Estado no le suministra los medios materiales correspondientes, lo que no ocurre con frecuencia.

93- No puede mantener los medios una institución (de las pocas registradas en el país) de su filial, si cierra las puertas. Por ejemplo, si una Logia Masónica cierra, todo su patrimonio pasará al Estado, incluyendo la cuenta bancaria, no podrá entregarle sus bienes a la Gran Logia.

94- No hay autorización de movimiento de personas para ir a vivir en Ciudad de la Habana, en los municipios del Cerro, Centro Habana, 10 del Octubre y Habana Vieja, los cuales están vedados.

95- La moneda nacional no tiene poder liberador en determinados lugares del territorio, como los polos turísticos de Cayo Largo, Cayo Coco, etc.

96- No hay ningún medio de prensa que permita publicar anuncios clasificados.

97- No están permitidos en la television los porgramas de participación que estimulen materialmente a personas.

98- Está prohibido divulgar por los medios la actuación de artistas que viven en el exilio, como por ejemplo: Celia Cruz, Olga Guillot, etc.

99- Según los abastecimientos racionados que entrega el Estado, no se puede comer entre las cosas: langosta y camarones, pescado fresco, carnero y otros tipos de carne.

100- Los niños después de los 10 años no pueden tener un cake el día de su cumpleaños.

101- Después de los 2 años los niños no tienen derecho a las compotas que se les venden por la libreta de racionamiento.

102- Sólo tomarán leche los niños hasta los 6 años, el mismo día que cumplen los 7 se les retira la asignación por la libreta de racionamiento.

103- No se puede hacer uso de instrumentos de pago tales como: cheques, letra de cambio y pagarés. El acuerdo No. 3619 del Comité Ejecutivo del Consejo de Ministros de 29.12.99, autorizó el uso “experimental” de estos documentos, mediante la aplicacion de los Titulos X y XI, los artículos 944 y 950 del Código de Comercio y la legislación complementaria de los mismos; a las empresas estatales, organizaciones políticas y de masas, cooperatives y unidades de producción agropecuaria.

104- No hay acceso a la obra del renombrado escritor cubano Guillermo Cabrera Infante.

105- No se puede comprar un apartamento en alguno de los condominios de las firmas inmobiliarias extranjeras acreditadas en Cuba.

106- No hay acceso a recorrer el país en autos-casas según plantea en Cubamar Viajes.

107- No puede reservarse en Havanatur para una excursión a Cancun, Merida, Nassau, Gran Caiman, Jamaica, etc.

108- No hay acceso general (pues hay que pagarlo en divisas) a viajar al interior del país en omnibus Viazul, con aire acondicionado, asientos reclinables, baño, radiocasetera y snack bar.

109- No se puede reservar en la compañía británica Jolly Roger, que ofrece viajes diarios por cayos aledaños a la peninsula de Hicacos.

110- No se tiene acceso al programa Flexi Fly and Drive de la cadena Horizontes.

111- No se puede leer las llamadas “revistas del corazón” como: Hola, Vanidades y Cosmopolitas.

112- No se puede leer la prensa extranjera, en particular: El Nuevo Herald, El País, Excelsior, etc.

113- No se puede solicitar los servicios de Radio Cuba.

114- No hay acceso al servicio Direct TV.

115- No pueden utilizarse los servicios de las agencias de la firma Automotriz S.A. de la corporación Cubalse.

116- Aunque la moto Suzuki de 50cc está ensamblada en Cuba, no puede comprarse por un nacional particular.

117- No se pueden comer frutas selectas como: mangos de Trinidad, naranjas y toronjas de Jaguey Grande, piñas clase “A” de Ciego de Avila. Sólo cítricos y frutas de baja calidad.

118- Aunque en Cuba se fabrican medicamentos tales como: factor de transferencia, spirulina, ferricol, no hay acceso a ellos, a no ser en el Mercado Negro.

119- Las personas de la tercera edad, no pueden tomar Vasoactol un suplemento alimenticio natural de producción nacional, extraído de la caña de azúcar.

120- No se pueden adquirir en moneda nacional los medicamentos que, en más de 300 entre genéricos y hemoderivados, se comercializan con una veintena de países de Africa, Europa, Centro América y el Caribe.

121- Sólo se pueden adquirir en dólares, y a precios altísimos, medicamentos simples como: vitamina C, efervescentes, pomadas analgésicos y pastillas para la tos y la garganta.

122- Las mujeres no pueden adquirir, ni siquiera un mínimo de 20 almohadillas sanitarias mensuales.

123- Aunque Biorat es un raticida producido en Cuba, no está al acceso de los que necesitan eliminar los roedores.

124- A los niños después de 7 años, que pierden la cuota estatal de leche, no se les proporcionan vitaminas y alimentos ricos en calcio, aunque están en plena etapa de crecimiento.

125- Existen cubanos en el exterior, a los cuales les está prohibida la entrada al país.

126- No hay acceso, por parte de las mujeres a revistas de moda.

127- La orientación de la moda que se trasmite por televisión es inaccessible para el cubano promedio.

128- No hay acceso a la compra de revistas especializadas, que se editan en Cuba, pero se venden en divisas, tales como:Bussines Tip, Opciones, la revista de la Cámara de Comercio, etc.

129- El dueño de un carro no puede chapistearlo sin cometer un delito, ya que el oxígeno y el acetileno no se le venden a los particulares, al igual que otros materiales que se usan en esta labor.

LIST STILL GROWING...

Date:: 25 Jan 2003
Time:: 21:35:27

Comments

Oops! I forgot to identify myself. The list above, concerning the real situation of Cubans today, copied from the www.cubaicei.org site and the commentary were sent by Sylvia María Valls, seventh generation Cuban born woman...living in Mexico...(mamadoc77@hotmail.com) As far as I´m concerned, the only thing we´ll have to thank Fidel for is Cuba hasn´t become a replica of South Florida...We´re going to have to invent something very different. Thank God there are alternatives...in spite of you and Fidel, David Whitefield et al...

EN ESPAÑOL: A PESAR DE FIDEL Y DE DAVID WHITEFIELD, HAY MEJORES ALTERNATIVAS PARA CUBA DE LO QUE ES HOY. LA LISTA QUE LES PASÉ NO ESTÁ COMPLETA, por supuesto, y por desgracia...

Date:: 26 Jan 2003
Time:: 00:45:47

Comments

NOTA DE LA REDACCION.- Rogamos a todos los participantes en esta seccion que firmen sus comentarios. La redaccion de esta revista virtual estara situada en Cuba cuando el actual gobierno de Cuba permita a los social-revolucionarios cubanos hacerlo en Cuba. Cuando permita a los social revolucionarios expresarse libremente en Cuba y participar en las actividades sindicales y en toda otra actividad social publicamente. Por ejemplo poder poneR un tribuna en un parque publico para desede alli expresar nuestro pensamiento tal como lo hace el partido de gobierno. Y por favor le rogamos de nuevo a nuestros visitantes que firmen su comentarios.

Fraternalmente, LA REDACCION.

Date:: 26 Jan 2003
Time:: 12:22:01

Comments

Estimada compañera y amiga Mirabel C. Noda,

1. Electronic publication methods require very little use of paper. Several times daily, we receive graphic examples of violent pornographic material that we could purchase. (Some people are not bored by violent pornography or by TV shows about criminals).

The conditions under which the editorial team will censor publication have been clearly stated.

WE WOULD COMPLY WITH A SIMPLE REQUEST FROM THE EDITORS.

2. Political economy is and always has been a dismal science that is practiced by accountants, bureaucrats and other “dessicated calculating machines” who frequently “spam” the virtues of productivity without reference to production or to those who produce. A few years ago, an article was published in Granma about a work stoppage in a factory in Oriente Province in protest about the condition of the lavatories. Apparently, “strikes” of this kind do not capture the imagination of the editors of the commercial media. I (for one) would like to know if working and living conditions in that Province are being improved.

3. At some time in the future, a better way of thinking about value might be rediscovered. Meanwhile, we know that unless the Kananaskis decision to secure the nuclear arsenal in Russia is implemented within less than ten years, even fourth generation Cubans-in-exile will have free and easy access to pie in the sky. The right of Cubans-in-exile to be bored by issues such as global climate change and environmental degradation or public health cannot be denied. We do not regard ourselves or Fidel or (with respect) compañera y amiga Mirabel - who we have never met - as important issues.

4. The list of essentials that are not available to the people of Iraq is lengthy, and growing, as is the number of people who are working to prevent the intensification of the war against that country. We do not want the Iraqi or the Palestinian or various African peoples to receive foreign aid in the form either of more bombs or of more dollars to be spent on non-essential imports or, even, on “Cosmopolitan”, “Nike” sportsgear, “Viagra” and “Pampers”.

5. In Cuba, we have openly expressed the opinion to University of Havana economists and experts on international finance that the decision by the Cuban state to permit such extensive use of US dollars as a means of exchange was an understandable mistake that can be corrected.

6. We are aware of nothing that restricts others from sharing constructive ideas, from providing accurate information about the Cuban people’s achievements either before or after the Revolution or about the work that is being done in Cuba by members of your own Party. If I am again able to visit again Cuba on holiday, I shall keep a look out for your members’ work.

7. Although we have been told that many young people (including Fidel) participated in it, we continue to regard the campaign against illiteracy as the greatest of the Cuban peoples’ achievements. Recently, in a meat processing factory in Red Deer, Alberta, five Vietnamese workers who were unable to read English and French safety instructions received fatal injuries from the machinery that they were cleaning. They have been replaced by semi-literate Mexican workers. We are now working with trades unionists for changes in both the immigration procedures and the health-in-the-workplace laws.

8. Without hesitation or concern for the opinion that we are “spamming”, we express our admiration for the work to overcome illiteracy and hope that, by continuing it, the educational level of the Cuban people will continue to improve, together with their knowledge of the finer aspects of their own traditional culture. Without hesitation, we continue to draw attention to them.

9. Cubans-in-exile who believe that ignorance and depravity lead to bliss could be right. We assert our right to be IN THEIR FACE and to express our admiration for the work that is being to overcome sexism and racism that has contributed to the uneven development of that most progressive social force, the Mujer Nueva.

10. Some of your readers might be activated by reading a signed commentary containing a long list of reasons that provide a justification for sexism, racism and illiteracy.

11. We shall not be offended if you wish to contact us either openly or privately) with a request to stop contributing to the struggle to overcome racism, sexism and illiteracy..

Yours fraternally,

David Whitefield

Date:: 29 Jan 2003
Time:: 18:40:02

Comments

Estimada compañera y amiga Mirabel C. Noda,

1. From time to time, we continue to view your website in the hope of reading informed analysis and well-written comments in the English and Spanish languages on issues that, in our opinion, are of much more than personal interest.

2. The recently expressed opinion of a wise Cuban-in-exile in Mexico who, regardless of the relatively recent discovery of effective blood and DNA testing method, claims to be aware of her multi-generational paternal ancestry, might be right. Certainly, Mexicans have been in no hurry to implement the agreement with the governments of Canada to construct urban infrastructure aimed at reversing the population drift to conurbations such as Mexico City.

3. Relatives of former Dictator Batista might think that this opinion is worthy of respectful consideration.

Ya yo me enteré, mulata

mulata, ja sé que dise

que yo tengo la narise

como nudo de cobbata.

Y fíjate bien que tú

no ere tan adelantá

poqque tu boca e bien grande,

y tu pasa colorá.

4. Yours fraternally,

David Whitefield

Date:: 30 Jan 2003
Time:: 11:48:59

Comments

Estimada compañera y amiga Mirabel C. Noda,

2. We seem to have no differences of opinion that require further discussion.

3. We hope that, in solidarity with millions of others in the United States of America and Canada, you are doing what you can to win in the struggle for peace.

Yours fraternally,

David Whitefield

*******

Subject: NY Times Anti-war Ad Date: Wed, 29 Jan 2003 13:09:06 -0800 From: "Alberta New Democrats-Southern Office" <andp@telusplanet.net>

Here is the Anti-War Ad that is appearing in newspapers across the US. Visit www.nion.us for more information!

NOT IN OUR NAME "We believe that peoples and nations have the right to determine their own destiny, free from military coercion by great powers. We believe that all persons detained or prosecuted by the United States government should have the same rights of due process. We believe that questioning, criticism, and dissent must be valued and protected. We understand that such rights and values are always contested and must be fought for."

A STATEMENT OF CONSCIENCE Not In Our Name

Let it not be said that people in the United States did nothing when their government declared a war without limit and instituted stark new measures of repression.

The signers of this statement call on the people of the U.S. to resist the policies and overall political direction that have emerged since September 11, 2001, and which pose grave dangers to the people of the world.

We believe that peoples and nations have the right to determine their own destiny, free from military coercion by great powers. We believe that all persons detained or prosecuted by the United States government should have the same rights of due process. We believe that questioning, criticism, and dissent must be valued and protected. We understand that such rights and values are always contested and must be fought for.

We believe that people of conscience must take responsibility for what their own governments do -- we must first of all oppose the injustice that is done in our own name. Thus we call on all Americans to RESIST the war and repression that has been loosed on the world by the Bush administration. It is unjust, immoral, and illegitimate. We choose to make common cause with the people of the world.

We too watched with shock the horrific events of September 11, 2001. We too mourned the thousands of innocent dead and shook our heads at the terrible scenes of carnage -- even as we recalled similar scenes in Baghdad, Panama City, and, a generation ago, Vietnam. We too joined the anguished questioning of millions of Americans who asked why such a thing could happen.

But the mourning had barely begun, when the highest leaders of the land unleashed a spirit of revenge. They put out a simplistic script of "good vs. evil" that was taken up by a pliant and intimidated media. They told us that asking why these terrible events had happened verged on treason. There was to be no debate. There were by definition no valid political or moral questions. The only possible answer was to be war abroad and repression at home.

In our name, the Bush administration, with near unanimity from Congress, not only attacked Afghanistan but arrogated to itself and its allies the right to rain down military force anywhere and anytime. The brutal repercussions have been felt from the Philippines to Palestine, where Israeli tanks and bulldozers have left a terrible trail of death and destruction. The government now openly prepares to wage all-out war on Iraq -- a country which has no connection to the horror of September 11. What kind of world will this become if the U.S. government has a blank check to drop commandos, assassins, and bombs wherever it wants?

In our name, within the U.S., the government has created two classes of people: those to whom the basic rights of the U.S. legal system are at least promised, and those who now seem to have no rights at all. The government rounded up over 1,000 immigrants and detained them in secret and indefinitely. Hundreds have been deported and hundreds of others still languish today in prison. This smacks of the infamous concentration camps for Japanese-Americans in World War 2. For the first time in decades, immigration procedures single out certain nationalities for unequal treatment.

In our name, the government has brought down a pall of repression over society. The President's spokesperson warns people to "watch what they say." Dissident artists, intellectuals, and professors find their views distorted, attacked, and suppressed. The so-called Patriot Act -- along with a host of similar measures on the state level -- gives police sweeping new powers of search and seizure, supervised if at all by secret proceedings before secret courts.

In our name, the executive has steadily usurped the roles and functions of the other branches of government. Military tribunals with lax rules of evidence and no right to appeal to the regular courts are put in place by executive order. Groups are declared "terrorist" at the stroke of a presidential pen.

We must take the highest officers of the land seriously when they talk of a war that will last a generation and when they speak of a new domestic order. We are confronting a new openly imperial policy towards the world and a domestic policy that manufactures and manipulates fear to curtail rights.

There is a deadly trajectory to the events of the past months that must be seen for what it is and resisted. Too many times in history people have waited until it was too late to resist.

President Bush has declared: "you're either with us or against us." Here is our answer: We refuse to allow you to speak for all the American people. We will not give up our right to question. We will not hand over our consciences in return for a hollow promise of safety. We say NOT IN OUR NAME. We refuse to be party to these wars and we repudiate any inference that they are being waged in our name or for our welfare. We extend a hand to those around the world suffering from these policies; we will show our solidarity in word and deed.

We who sign this statement call on all Americans to join together to rise to this challenge. We applaud and support the questioning and protest now going on, even as we recognize the need for much, much more to actually stop this juggernaut. We draw inspiration from the Israeli reservists who, at great personal risk, declare "there IS a limit" and refuse to serve in the occupation of the West Bank and Gaza.

We also draw on the many examples of resistance and conscience from the past of the United States: from those who fought slavery with rebellions and the underground railroad, to those who defied the Vietnam war by refusing orders, resisting the draft, and standing in solidarity with resisters.

Let us not allow the watching world today to despair of our silence and our failure to act. Instead, let the world hear our pledge: we will resist the machinery of war and repression and rally others to do everything possible to stop it.

The over 40,000 signers include... 53 Maryknoll priests and brothers James Abourezk As`ad AbuKhalil, Professor, Cal State Univ, Stanislaus Dr. Patch Adams Michael Albert Jace Alexander Robert Altman Aris Anagnos Laurie Anderson John Ashbery, poet Edward Asner, actor Jon Robin Baitz Russell Banks, writer John Perry Barlow, co-founder, Electronic Frontier Foundation Rosalyn Baxandall, historian Joel Beinen Medea Benjamin, Global Exchange Phyllis Bennis, Institute for Policy Studies, New Internationalism Project Jessica Blank, actor/playwright William Blum, author Theresa & Blase Bonpane, Office of the Americas Fr. Bob Bossie, SCJ Oscar Brown, Jr. Judith Bulter Leslie Cagan, chair, Interim Pacifica Foundation Board Kisha Imani Cameron, producer Henry Chalfant, author/filmmaker Kathleen Chalfant Bell Chevigny, writer Paul Chevigny, professor of law, NYU Noam Chomsky Ramsey Clark Ben Cohen, cofounder, Ben and Jerry's David Cole, professor of law, Georgetown University Robbie Conal Stephanie Coontz, historian, Evergreen State College Paula Cooper Kia Corthron, playwright Robert Creeley Kimberly Crenshaw, professor of law, Columbia and UCLA Culture Clash Joan Cusack John Cusack Kevin Danaher, Global Exchange Barbara Dane Rev. Herbert Daughtry Angela Davis Ossie Davis Zack de la Rocha Mos Def Ani Di Franco Diane DiPrima Mark Di Suvero Julie Dorf, International Gay & Lesbian Human Rights Commission Carol Downer, board of directors, Chico (CA) Feminist Women's Health Center Roma Downey Roxanne Dunbar-Ortiz, professor, California State University, Hayward Bill Dyson, state representative, Connecticut Michael Eric Dyson Steve Earle, singer/songwriter Barbara Ehrenreich Deborah Eisenberg, writer Hector Elizondo Daniel Ellsberg Brian Eno Eve Ensler Leo Estrada, UCLA professor, Urban Planning Nina Felshin, author of But Is It Art? The Spirit of Art as Activism Frances D. Fergusson, president, Vassar College Lawrence Ferlinghetti, City Lights Bookstore Laura Flanders, radio host and journalist Jane Fonda Richard Foreman Thomas C. Fox, publisher, National Catholic Reporter Elizabeth Frank Michael Franti, SpearHead Glen E. Friedman Bill Frisell Terry Gilliam, film director Milton Glaser Charles Glass, journalist Jeremy Matthew Glick, co-editor of Another World Is Possible Corey Glover Danny Glover Danny Goldberg Leon Golub, artist Juan Gómez Quiñones, historian, UCLA Vivian Gornick Jorie Graham André Gregory John Guare, playwright Allan Gurganus Jessica Hagedorn Sondra Hale, professor, anthropology and women's studies, UCLA Suheir Hammad, writer Nathalie Handal, poet and playwright Daniel Handler (aka Lemony Snicket) Michael Hardt, author of Empire Christine B. Harrington, Professor of Politics, NYU David Harvey, distinguished professor of anthropology, CUNY Graduate Center Stanley Hauerwas, theologian Tom Hayden Geoffrey Hendricks Edward S. Herman, Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania Susannah Heschel, professor, Dartmouth College Fred Hirsch, vice president, Plumbers and Fitters Local 393 bell hooks Doug Ireland, contributing editor, In These Times Rakaa Iriscience, hip hop artist Abdeen Jabara, attorney, past president, American Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee Rev. Jesse Jackson Mumia Abu-Jamal Fredric Jameson, chair, literature program, Duke University Harold B. Jamison, major (ret.), USAF Jim Jarmusch Erik Jensen, actor/playwright Chalmers Johnson, author of Blowback Bill T. Jones Casey Kasem Evelyn Fox Keller, history of science, MIT Robin D.G. Kelly, history and Africana studies, NYU Martin Luther King III, president, Southern Christian Leadership Conference Barbara Kingsolver Arthur Kinoy, board co-chair, Center for Constitutional Rights Sally Kirkland C. Clark Kissinger, Refuse & Resist! Yuri Kochiyama, activist Annisette & Thomas Koppel, singers/composers Barbara Kopple David Korten, author Ron Kovic Barbara Kruger Tony Kushner James Lafferty, executive director, National Lawyers Guild/L.A. Ray Laforest, Haiti Support Network Beth K. Lamont, Corliss-Lamont.org Jesse Lemisch, professor of history emeritus, John Jay College of Justice, CUNY Harriet Lerner Rabbi Michael Lerner, editor, TIKKUN magazine Phil Lesh, Grateful Dead Richard Lewontin, Professor Emeritus of Biology, Harvard Lucy R. Lippard James Longley, Filmmaker Barbara Lubin, Middle East Childrens Alliance Janet L. Abu-Lughod Staughton Lynd Arturo Madrid, professor of humanities, Trinity University Dave Marsh Rabbie Robert Marx Rep. Jim McDermott Aaron McGruder Rep. Cynthia McKinney W.S. Merwin Susan Minot Anuradha Mittal, co-director, Institute for Food and Development Policy/Food First Malaquias Montoya, visual artist Tom Morello Robin Morgan Viggo Mortensen Minister Benjamín Muhammed, Hip-Hop Summit Action Network Jill Nelson Robert Nichols, writer Linda Nochlin Kate Noonan Claes Oldenburg Pauline Oliveros Yoko Ono Rev. E. Randall Osburn, exec. v.p., Southern Christian Leadership Conference Ozomatli Grace Paley Michael Parenti Jeremy Pikser, screenwriter Frances Fox Piven, Graduate Center of the City University of New York Katha Pollitt James Stewart Polshek Harold Prince Jerry Quickley, poet John T. Racanelli, Presiding Justice (Ret), California Court of Appeal Bonnie Raitt Margaret Randall Marcus Raskin Michael Ratner, president, Center for Constitutional Rights Amy Ray, Indigo Girls Rev. George Regas, Interfaith Communities United for Justice and Peace Adrienne Rich David Riker, filmmaker Boots Riley, hip hop artist, The Coup Kate Robin James Rosenquist Judith Rossner Matthew Rothschild Ed Sadlowski Edward Said Angelica Salas, director, Campaign for Humane Immigrant Rights of Los Angeles Luc Sante Susan Sarandon Saskia Sassen, professor, University of Chicago John Sayles Jonathan Schell, author and fellow of the Nation Institute Carolee Schneemann, artist Ralph Schoenman & Mya Shone, Council on Human Needs Juliet Schor, director of women's studies, Harvard Annabella Sciorra Pete and Toshi Seeger Mark Selden, historian Peter A. Serkin Frank Serpico Richard Serra James Schamus Rev. Al Sharpton Wallace Shawn, playwright & actor Martin Sheen Ron Shelton, filmmaker Alex Shoumatoff Russell Simmons John J. Simon, writer, editor Kevin Smith Kiki Smith, artist Jack Steinberger, Nobel Laureate Michael Steven Smith, National Lawyers Guild/NY Norman Solomon, syndicated columnist and author Scott Spenser Nancy Spero, artist Art Spiegelman Starhawk Bob Stein, publisher Jack Steinberger, Nobel Laureate Gloria Steinem Oliver Stone Mark Strand William & Rose Styron Peter Syben, major, US Army, retired Ron Takaki, ethnic studies, Berkeley Jonathan Tasini, president, National Writers Union, NYC Michael Taussig, anthropology, Columbia Tony Taccone, director Studs Terkel Marisa Tomei Marcia Tucker, founding director emerita, New Museum of Contemporary Art, NY Lief Utne Nina Utne Kinan Valdez, El Teatro Campesino Coosje van Bruggen Gore Vidal Anton Vodvarka, Lt., FDNY (ret.) Kurt Vonnegut Alice Walker Rebecca Walker Naomi Wallace, playwright Immanuel Wallerstein, sociologist, Yale University Rev. George Webber, president emeritus, NY Theological Seminary Leonard Weinglass, attorney Cornel West Haskell Wexler John Edgar Wideman Cora Weiss C.K. Williams Saul Williams, spoken word artist S. Brian Willson , activist/writer Jeffrey Wright, actor Mary A. Zimmerman Howard Zinn, historian

Organizations for identification only (partial list as of early December) For more complete listing of signers, or to add your name to the statement, see: www.nion.us .

Date:: 31 Jan 2003
Time:: 17:10:06

Comments

Antes de que se me olvide, este mensaje es de Sylvia María Valls en México...Checando el sitio, veo que Whitefield sigue monopolizando la situación, y mientras se dedique a sabotear los intercambios con sus excesivas e interminables intervenciones este sitio no nos servirá de nada. Quién va a querer perder su tiempo con las intervenciones de este Señor: como dicen en inglés, YOU CAN´T TEACH AN OLD DOG A TRICK, y como Whitefield es un idólatra estalinista del segundo Valeriano Weyler de nuestra historia, inútil tratar de hacerle ver nada. Si tuvieran forma de eliminar su sabotaje, ganaríamos algo... y podrían anunciar que ya está disponible el sitio para quienes quieran genuinamente intercambiar puntos de vista sin tener que dispararse las peroratas de semejante mentecato. A ver si conoce lo que quiere decir la palabrita...una forma fina de decir pendejo...Bueno, a ver si se puede hablar, por ejemplo, de qué puntos en el Proyecto Varela nos parece bien tomados y cuáles no... Aquí en México la cosa pinta muy fea, pero lo bueno es que sí hay movilización. Yo por mi parte trataré de llegar a la demostración del miércoles al medio día que sale de El Ángel en contra del ALCA...El punto que habría que retomar es que no es la ´´globalización´´ en sí lo que no funciona, sino pretender que ésta pueda tener resultados beneficiosos para la humanidad a partir de la nación estado...mientras las leyes migratorias conviertan a los pueblos en criaturas concentracionarias y el ser un ´´alien´´ (no extraterrestre sino venido de más allá de las fronteras nacionales) se convierta en una nueva forma de esclavitud, quedando la persona humana expuesta a la más fiera explotación. Es por lo que sigo insistiendo en la importancia de cambiar el modelo de ciudadanía a uno que nos permita a cada cual tener un curriculum ciudadano individual dentro de un contexto de autonomías municipales bajo pactos biorregionales e interbiorregionales... Y esto no es nada para el próximo siglo, sino que ya tenemos las tecnologías necesarias y todos los conocimientos y de no implementar su uso para los efectos de liberar a la humanidad del peso de la nación estado, acabaremos todos bajo las bombas de unos y de otros. Saludos a los amigos laboristas y gracias por sus trabajos que tanta falta nos hacen. Sylvia María Valls mamadoc77@hotmail.com

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