"Reclaim the Republic / Athshealbhaígí an Phoblacht" campaign reaches Cuba

by barra Fri Aug 11, 2006 01:27

A quote from the éirígí website article, is worth a visit to travel anyone who travels to the island

"The monument had sustained considerable storm damage which had resulted in the marble on one side becoming detached and shattering into pieces. éirígí member, Daithí Mac An Mháistir, contacted the government department in charge of parks and monuments to make them aware of the damage to the monument. Within a week the area around the monument had been tidied-up, the bushes surrounding the monument had been cut back, the monument itself was totally repaired and a wreath was laid on behalf of the Cuban government. The respectful and dedicated approach displayed is a reflection of the spirit of the Cuban Revolution and its attitude towards internationalism in struggle."

by Reminder Fri Aug 11, 2006 01:36

They don't have free and fair elections in Cuba.

A Cuban version of Indymedia would be closed down by the police, and activists who tried to engage in the sort of protests and campaigns we take for granted would be thrown in prison.

by Fidelista and proud Fri Aug 11, 2006 01:49

Firstly the nonsense - They do have fair, free and transparent elections in Cuba. Even the so-called 'opposition' concede this. Educate yourself

As to the substance of the story. It is an excellent piece. Well done

by gerrup Fri Aug 11, 2006 10:55

What do you mean by the phrase : "the so-called 'opposition' "? Are they the opposition or not?

When was the last presidential election and what parties ran candidates?

Who is the main opposition leader in Cuba (their Enda Kenny)?

Is there a Cuban version of Indymedia? If not, why not?

Are there regular demonstrations and protests in Cuba of the type we often see here? When was the last time someone demonstrated against Fidel Castro?

As for the piece, it's more like someone's holiday snaps with a bit of gushing priase for the Cuban government, but it seems to be a mark of Éirigi stories that every other member of Éirigi has to come on here once or twice and say how wonderful they are.

by Hack Fri Aug 11, 2006 11:18

'Opposition' in terms of merit-o-cracy is as outmoded a concept as 'leadership'
they are defunct because we are no longer speaking in democratic terms
in relation to world politics.

It is a facistic facade to provide nourishment to people who have fought for
the concept, these people are largely educated in universities and have
traded idealistic concept for harsh reality of living and earning in this 'culture'

This can be applied equally to the people of Cuba , Ireland, England, US.

Be it fiddling bureaucracies branded in simplistic concepts of right and left
or the ideal of a leader, who is a puppet , (but what the people desire).

It's simple trade -off, corporate branding and creation/juxtaposition of images
that encapsulate a vision or concept of 'equality', 'democracy' is where it is at.
Once the idea of democratic freedom is there and tailored to the specific
desire or model , it becomes easy to manipulate.

For example, a lot of Irish people believe that having a SUV and four kids in private
school, home-help, health insurance, good roads (very important- they join up
across the EU, military purposes) is something to aspire to- they vote
because they buy the brand, the ones who do not vote , can't be arsed, cos they
are left behind by the ideal of attainment, materiality. Education laws, tend to uphold this
junior barristers, consultants and solicitors are bred in the privates and workers in the
States.The divide is gaping and unfair to the poor. getting more unfair.

So they go to the ballots, the political parties shadow the concepts, they all live in
the centre. they too ignore the poor. theres not a spit between the policies of Green, Labour,
FG, FF, SF and PD. Statsis, Ossification and obsolesence. A couple of generations
and the ideal will be completely alien to our kids/grandkids.

This is repeated in every European , and US -western 'democracy'.
It protects us through complicity in loss of freedom from the harshness of War.
It feeds the war machine too.

There is no opposition in western democratic political structures.* It exists outside of them*.

by Caobhin Fri Aug 11, 2006 11:31

"Who is the main opposition leader in Cuba (their Enda Kenny)?"

We have a so-called opposition here too; No Inda Kinny? Thought you're meant to be criticizing Cuba not pointing out it's benefits.

"Is there a Cuban version of Indymedia? If not, why not?"

Do they not teach history in Clongowes or are you just thick

by Hack Fri Aug 11, 2006 11:37

They vote with FF on the councils.
They do not use Dail opportunities to build a strong left and address issues
of concern in the state.
Grass-roots and community- wise they are better than most-but nationally they are
perceived as a one-trick pony.

Inda kenny is the not the oppostion in Ireland. He's a choirboy for the multi-nationals.

by Hack Attack Fri Aug 11, 2006 17:20

Yes Sinn Fein vote (occasionally) with FF on councils if it is in the interest of the community. This could be a FG lead council with a motion that there is multi-party opposition to..... Your narrow view of local government politics is incredibly naive. Just because you agree on some (very mundane) elements of community politics does not mean you back them in government. If FF put forward a council motion calling for a traffic survey of the local district and SF back it, I can't for the life of me see how that's a bad thing for the community as a whole.

It is difficult for a party such as SF to use "Dail opportunities" to build a strong left within that scenario. Who do the 5 TDs approach in the Dail to build this "strong left"? Joe Higgins? The man would rather saw off his own leg than co-operate with SF (or any other left-wing group for that matter). So he is clearly out of the running. The independants? The Greens? Who is actually in there apart from SF (and dear old Joe of course) that's serving a left-agenda? Could you please tell me where these missed opportunities are?

Oh they must be the opportunities that SF have missed when they put forward the amendments to legislation that gets voted down by the dominant parties?? Or are they the opportunities they miss during ministers questions? Or voting against right-wing policies??

Please, do tell.

by Duine Fri Aug 11, 2006 17:37

Ar athshealbhaigh sibh an Chúba agus sibh ann?

An Chúba? Ambaist!

by Duine eile Fri Aug 11, 2006 19:35

Ar chuaigh tú riamh go dtí Cuba? Dearfainn nár chauig.

Viva Cuba!!

Viva la Revolucion Cubana!!

Viva El Comandante en Jefe!!

by Seamus Ó Raghallaigh Thu Aug 17, 2006 19:30

In case you were not aware Mr "Reminder" if you are a member of Sinn Fein Phoblachta you will be harrassed by the Irish Stasi aka the special branch for being a member of a true opposition party to the current quasi dictatorship of FF\PD. There are several members of SFP who have indeed been thrown in jail for simply being a member of this opposition group. I myself have been threatned with being thrown in jail for daring to vist the SFP book shop!

Have you not heard about the Rossport five who were thrown in jail by the ruling junta for daring to expose the corruption of their dealings with Shell and Statoil?

What about pease activists who are regularly thrown in jail for opposing the FF dictatorships war mongering?

What about the working class youths who mysteriously die in Garda custody with no investigations into why?

And you have the cheek to critise Cuba? Go on fool yourself that we live in a Democracy, its no more or less Democratic here then in Cuba. They have Castro and we have Bertie. Who has the better health system? Education system? One is supported economically by the US imperialists the other is crushed by them, yet the Cuban revolution continues.
Come back and critise Cuba are real democracy finds its way to Eire, until then dun do bheal!
Beir bua Cuba,

S

by E O'Dwer Thu Aug 17, 2006 20:53

These people in eirigi amaze me. They support SF without question for years and then leave over not being selected to run in elections.
They support a party without questions who are in bed with the likes of Peter KIng, Kissinger, Blair etc...all of whom have right wing agendas and now....yes now... after they leave SF, they head to Cuba.
Members of SF have for years abused many Irish workers with Sticky taunts when we went to Cuba.
Eirige need to come clean over their past support for SF policies and their dodgy split or else we will continue to see them as nothing more than irrelevant ex's without a cause.

by Duine Fri Aug 18, 2006 12:32

A Dhuine Eile:

"Ar chuaigh tú riamh go dtí Cuba? Dearfainn nár chauig."

Ní raibh mé i gCúba riamh. Cad chuige? Ní thig le gach duine an domhan a shiúil.

by pearson68 - swp-personal capacity Fri Aug 18, 2006 15:32

I've just come back from Cuba, where it costs €6 (ie 6 CUCs) per hour to use the internet. This is way out of reach of most cubans, who would be lucky to earn that in a week. What is Castro afraid of here? It seems to me that this is a way of reserving the Internet for the tourist class, who live in a totally different economic domain than most Cubans do. But they crucially provide hard currencies needed to subsidise the Cuban economy. Some may say this is understandable but doesn't it also show up, as an illusion, the idea of building an island of socialism. (It was a withdrawal of USSR economic support in the early 90's that saw the Cuban economy collapse. So we have to see their political orientation in terms of the cold war and more recently the end of it, which led to a 10-year 'special' period in the Cuban economy. The pope's visit was part of an overall political re-orientation, but the state still wants a cut of every single economic transaction)

Political oppression (and repression)is often subtle, if you complain it may mean that you don't get your gas or electricity as the local commitees (CDRs) look after distribution of such, so it's often imp-ossible to find Cubans willing to engage with you politicall. Furthermore, as a Cuban, you would want to keep your nose clean to get a job in tourism, which is the only legal way to earn hard currency (CUCs). All of the new shops opening up deal only in this currency.

The transition to the free market is already taking place. This in no way implies that a transition to democracy is also taking place.

The workers are not in power,Castro is a nationalist afterall (his hero is Jose Marti) not a marxist, economic apartheid is rampant and the only ones living the good life are the tourists and the party faithful.

by reminder Fri Aug 18, 2006 16:47

Seamus - if this was Cuba your bookshop would be closed. You may not like Bertie Ahern, so you can vote aginst him in the next election.

You can even put up a candidate and campaign for other people to vote for him.

There is a lot wrong with the political and judicial system in this country, and you are right to complain about it. However, it is more of a democracy than Cuba, and if you can't admit that then you are in danger of looking stupid.

by Duine Fri Aug 18, 2006 18:25

Muna Sóisialachas é seo, tá sé gar dó:

http://mondediplo.com/2006/08/11cuba

by Ciarán Ó Brolcháin Fri Aug 25, 2006 06:11

Seamus Ó Raghallaigh wrote: "They have Castro and we have Bertie."

Ouch. What has Fidel done to deserve that juxtaposition?

by pearson68 - swp Fri Aug 25, 2006 09:13

...both claim to be socialists, neither should be believed!

by Duine Fri Aug 25, 2006 14:35

Ná bac lena n-éileamh.

Tóg ceann de a bhfuil siad freagrach as