"The flames you stirred...
Raise a glass, make a toast
A toast in your honor" Tori Amos, "Toast"
Despite US’ desperate efforts to block the move and some compromises surrendered to placate Pentagon, the Organization of American States (OAS) finally lifted the 4-decade isolation imposed on Cuba by the Washington consensus, consequently isolating the US as the only country left on earth belligerently refusing diplomatic ties with Havana. About time, I say with vehemence. Cuba has been penalized so much and for what?
The failed campaign of the US against Latin America opening its arms to a long-lost brother is not lost on Fidel Castro. The OAS resolution is not something Cubans were begging and fighting for. In fact, Fidel lambasted OAS time and again for being a puppet to American interests and downplayed this historical vindication of sorts, poetic justice, if I may say.
It’s fait accompli, a mere formality. Several years before, Cuba’s steadfast “medical diplomacy” caused wreckage to its grotesque image deliberately conjured by the US and steadily converted prejudice and suspicion to respect and admiration of its spirit-cousins in Latin America and elsewhere.
Through Operacion Milagro, around 1.6 million people have restored their vision. At present, 24,000 foreigners are studying medicine in Cuba for free and Cuba sends thousands of medical practitioners to respond to disasters and help in capability-building efforts in the sphere of healthcare.
Maybe my soul is Black and Cuban because in my previous incarnation, yo era un Cubano. This is what I shall scribble on my notebooks, this is the story I shall share to my phantom grandchildren: This is not about the US thawing its animosity towards Cuba. This is not about US getting soft on Cuba.
Let’s give credit where it’s due. This is a result of Cuba’s confidence-building measures finally bearing fruit. This is Cuba’s much-deserved reward for its magnanimity towards the world that slammed its doors because Big Brother threatened not to give lollipops to anyone making friends with Fidel. This is Fidel’s fulfilled prophecy of “history will absolve me” echoed by Honduras President Zelaya.
No lie will remain unexposed forever or as music’s legitimate 3rd World superstar Bob Marley reggaed, “you can’t fool all the people all the time.” The incurably romantic in me clings to the idea that it’s the US slipping down, decreasing its clout, losing face in Latin America.
Realpolitik however, stares me in the eye: this is still a victory of capital. Of course, everybody is set to rake in huge profits if they establish economic relations with Cuba. Capital has more to lose if Cuba continues to be frozen in isolation. This is not lost on the US as its economic nemesis China and Brazil have the upperhand at the moment, reaping benefits from their Cuban tryst.
Let’s not get shocked if the US, in the next months, wrestles that economic advantage. Been there, done that.
The failed campaign of the US against Latin America opening its arms to a long-lost brother is not lost on Fidel Castro. The OAS resolution is not something Cubans were begging and fighting for. In fact, Fidel lambasted OAS time and again for being a puppet to American interests and downplayed this historical vindication of sorts, poetic justice, if I may say.
It’s fait accompli, a mere formality. Several years before, Cuba’s steadfast “medical diplomacy” caused wreckage to its grotesque image deliberately conjured by the US and steadily converted prejudice and suspicion to respect and admiration of its spirit-cousins in Latin America and elsewhere.
Through Operacion Milagro, around 1.6 million people have restored their vision. At present, 24,000 foreigners are studying medicine in Cuba for free and Cuba sends thousands of medical practitioners to respond to disasters and help in capability-building efforts in the sphere of healthcare.
Maybe my soul is Black and Cuban because in my previous incarnation, yo era un Cubano. This is what I shall scribble on my notebooks, this is the story I shall share to my phantom grandchildren: This is not about the US thawing its animosity towards Cuba. This is not about US getting soft on Cuba.
Let’s give credit where it’s due. This is a result of Cuba’s confidence-building measures finally bearing fruit. This is Cuba’s much-deserved reward for its magnanimity towards the world that slammed its doors because Big Brother threatened not to give lollipops to anyone making friends with Fidel. This is Fidel’s fulfilled prophecy of “history will absolve me” echoed by Honduras President Zelaya.
No lie will remain unexposed forever or as music’s legitimate 3rd World superstar Bob Marley reggaed, “you can’t fool all the people all the time.” The incurably romantic in me clings to the idea that it’s the US slipping down, decreasing its clout, losing face in Latin America.
Realpolitik however, stares me in the eye: this is still a victory of capital. Of course, everybody is set to rake in huge profits if they establish economic relations with Cuba. Capital has more to lose if Cuba continues to be frozen in isolation. This is not lost on the US as its economic nemesis China and Brazil have the upperhand at the moment, reaping benefits from their Cuban tryst.
Let’s not get shocked if the US, in the next months, wrestles that economic advantage. Been there, done that.
2 comments:
yes indeed. and to think that despite the embargo that US had imposed, cuba rose to become one of the most socially viable countries in the world to live in- subsidized electricity, phone serivics, transportation, education, health - the basic necessities that we filipinos still have to fight for. without even trying, cuba teaches the world what US version of democracy has failed in many of its neo colonies including ours - triumph in self determintaion.
Bravo!!! Cuba libre!!! Patria o muerte!!!
And what you have to admire is the great sense of pride Cubans have as a people, even in tremendous adversity. If only we, Filipinos, had a fraction of their political will and revolutionary fervor, we would be in a happier place.
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