[Marxism] Should Cuba stay poor, but pure? Debate with an ultraleftist sectarian

["Walter Lippmann" <walterlx@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

This is in response to a crank message posted by Cort Greene a former
CubaNews list subscriber (he dropped out for some unexplained reason
awhile ago) posted to several international e-mail discussion lists.

The author of the crank message is a supporter of the In Defense of
Marxism website based in England: http://www.marxist.com 
=======================================================================

For nearly fifty-years, silence and hostility have been the hallmarks of
US policy toward Cuba, carried out mostly in a silent manner. What forces 
like Obama and Dodd, who has called for a complete end to the travel and 
remittance bans for ALL people in the U.S. represents is the fact that a 
demographic shift has had political consequences, and Washington's blockade 
has failed to pressurize the Cuban people into overthrowing the Cuban 
Revolution and bringing Washington and its Batista-minded gang back into 
control on the island. In Iraq and Afghanistan today we are witnessing
what Yankee-style freedom would actually look like.

Like many of the ultra-left sectarians, this reader is evidently afraid
Cuba will be go the route of China of Vietnam if the blockade is lifted.
Or maybe, even worse, that Cuba would collapse as the Soviet Union did.
In effect, this means such voices are afraid of lifting the blockade.

They must think it's better for Cuba to be poor, but pure, or that both
China and Vietnam were better off before normalization of relations took 
place. Truly bizarre is out critic's mis-informed complaint about the 
US dollar, which is NOT, as our critic says illegal in Cuba today. It is
TOTALLY legal to possess the U.S. dollar in Cuba, but you just can't take 
it into a store and buy anything. For that one must go to the CADECA and 
change it for Cuban Convertible pesos. You can't buy things in the UK
except with the British Pound or the Euro. You can't buy things in France
without the frank, or in Germany without the Deutsche mark. So what?

After the fall of the Soviet Union, which had been Cuba's principal trade
partner for decades, the island had to open itself up to foreign private 
investment, expanded tourism, and other things. Most foreign observers 
didn't think Cuba would survive, but it's still here. Today, thanks to 
trade with Venezuela, China and Vietnam, Cuba continues to defeat the 
US blockade. According to YOU, I am in favor of the overthrow of the
Cuban Revolution. I don't know what kind of crack you've been smoking,
But you certainly can't come up with any quotes from ME to suggest any 
anything like that. 

You ask why the experience of the Soviet Union is being studied today 
in Cuba? It should be obvious. The Soviet Union collapsed, imploded or 
was overthrown, or a mixture of these things, take your pick. Naturally
Cubans do NOT want to lose their Revolution as the peoples of the USSR 
lost theirs. Thus, Cubans are looking back at the experiences of the 
USSR so they can learn from the USSR's experiences and not lose the 
Cuban Revolution.

I do not support Obama, Dodd or any of the other Democratic or Republican 
candidates. But I recognize that putting U.S. policy on the agenda today 
as an issue which can be publicly discussed can only be a good thing for 
the goal of normalized relations, which Cuba really wants and needs now. 
Cuba is willing to negotiate all outstanding issues with the United States. 
It's Washington which refuses to negotiate with Cuba.

But here's what I AM in favor of, and you can quote me:

1-More discussion in U.S. public life on U.S. policy toward Cuba.
2-An end to the travel restrictions on Cubans in the United States
  visiting their families in Cuba and sending them financial aid.
3-An end to all restrictions imposed by the U.S. government on anyone
  from the United States visiting Cuba today.
4-An end to all restrictions imposed by the U.S. government on any U.S. 
  companies doing business with Cuba. Let Cuba trade freely with whoever 
  it wants to trade. Or not.
5-And end to U.S. restrictions on Cuban visiting the United States if 
  they want to visit friends and families here.

More examples this kind of foolish substitute for debate:
http://www.walterlippmann.com/debating-obama-round-one.html 


Walter Lippmann, CubaNews
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/CubaNews/
=========================================================================

From: Cort Greene <cort_greene@xxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Aug 29, 2007 12:26 PM
To: GreenLeft_discussion@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx, venezuela_today@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx, 
Cuba Solidarity NY <cubasolidarityny@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Subject: Re: [GreenLeft_discussion] Obama's full speech

No Walter I am not opposed to Cuba trading, with whom it wants too
but this idea does not come from them does it, or restrictions on
travel being lifted for all and why would the leader of the Dade
County Democrats support this if it was not for the overthrow of the
Cuba government, did they suddenly become progressive overnight? Is
Circles Robinson doing this for comic relief?

Why is the dollar illegal again in Cuba and not legal cuurency? Why is
the policy by the Soviet Union economic and otherwise being looked at
now in Cuba.

And don't you think those that are for a opening in Cuba in the
tourist and other industries where their is corruption waiting for
this?

Don't you think Obama and the crowd behind him has thought this out?
Or is he suddenly a progressive also? What have been his other
statements on Cuba and Venezuela before and did you read his book
also?

+ but lets look at a little history.. This is a-la Richard Nixon.in
China, can you honestly say China still has any socialist
foundations??.

Say in Yugoslavia when the IMF and World Bank when in to destabilize
the country starting in the 50's and 60's or the same thing with
Poland in the 70's or early 80's having them produce golf carts when
their was not one golf course in Poland.

At a time when Cuba, Venezuela and other countries are creating ALBA
and the idea of a socialist federation is being put forward by many,
you are for the overthrow by economic means of the revolution. And
funny you did not think these things out but as long as it has the
word Venezuela or Cuba in it you post it if it is not important.

You are showing your true Stalinist colors aren't you!!!

Walter Lippmann <walterlx@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:

Sounds like you're opposed to the lifting of restrictions on visits
and sending remittances by Cubans to their families who continue to
live in the island, Cort. Obama gives bad reasons for proposing it,
but the ending of the limits itself would be a good thing, were it to
take place.

Anyway, you didn't bother to read this carefully as it is NOT Obama's
speech, but rather an ironic commentary on it written by my friend
Circles Robinson in Havana.

You should read more carefully before leaping up to denuncify things,
Cort.

Walter Lippmann, CubaNews 
Los Angeles, California


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