Thank you for the distinctive differences between rich Cuban exiles and freedom loving Cuban immigrants who know the good things about Cuban independence. It is vital to know histories of people and nations, not just the slogan sluggers.
Alisa, I think you could say this about most “Latinos” … in my experience it is a matter of class rather than ethnicity. Rich right wing Mexicans, Costa Ricans, Argentinos, etc. then to side with rich right wing Europeans, Arabs, “Americans” because there is in their interest and their education to do so.
I am ignorant of the people you mention but I have known others who supported Castro and were disillusioned when he turned to Russia for help. But they kept their interest and their efforts in supporting the people here and back in Cuba.
We end up being a mixed group that people tend to bunch together willy nilly by names ir skin color. Thanks for reminding us that we can’t be lumped together any more than they can.
No. The revolution was against Batista and American intrusion in Cuba. It was for Democracy not Communism or another dictatorship. The revolution was led by rich kids like Fidel Castro and like my Mom’s wealthy cousins. She wasn’t wealthy but supported the revolution because she was tired of US involvement in Cuba for the benefit of the US and not Cubans. What good did Castro do?! 🤣 Make himself and his family even wealthier? Turning against his comrades in arms when they demanded the Democracy they had fought for? People like William Morgan? Like recent arrivals from Cuba in their 20s and 30s have told me, Cuba was destroyed by Castro and Communism. There’s plenty for the rich, the government and
and the tourists. They laugh and say they know the embargo wasn’t to blame. “Eso es mie’da que decía Castro para engañar al pueblo, chica! No jodas!” Third generation revolutionaries who can see what their parents and grandparents didn’t or wouldn’t see. My father was arrested at 19 for speaking out against Castro. You know, like Trump is doing now in the US! He was tortured for five years. Things I can’t even write about here. He was the son of immigrants who didn’t have Ph.D.s and worked like animals for what they had. They were middle class not rich. My grandfather’s restaurant, which he worked in mines and factories in the US to save money to buy, is still open. It’s on the corner of Águila and Barcelona in Havana. They stole it from him. A rich adulterous deadbeat who didn’t earn anything he had. Stole what my grandfather gave his entire life to. So while we hate Trump, we also despise Castro and all dictators. My parents were true political exiles
and had to leave Cuba to save my father’s life. And that’s why my sisters and I were born stateless. My parents had given up their Cuban citizenship in protest. And because my father couldn’t enter a Cuban embassy. My father died at 82 hallucinating that he was still being tortured. So there’s nothing good about Castro or Trump or Putin, Stalin, etc. NOTHING.
Then go live there like a regular Cuban citizen. Otherwise you’re just another hypocrite. Just visit and live it up like all tourists? Then you’re a hypocrite and a parasite just like Castro and his family. Or like Trump and his family.
Though I do think that it's fair to note that in the recent past Cuban Americans have voted for the GOP in large numbers. 80-90% voted for Reagan. That number is going down as the generation that fled Castro dwindles and the population is made up of an ever greater portion of native born Cuban Americans. But even so, 60% still voted for Trump.
As your article says- the reason for this is because many of the Cuban Americans who came to the US in the 50s and 60s fleeing Castro were previously the ruling oligarchs.
May I ask you not to say anything bad about religious people. We are also not monolithic. I am a Catholic Christian that does not believe like some of the Catholics and their evil ways. So what is true for race, culture, or ethnicity is also true for the religious. Some can be bad in all those different from us. So don’t blame all of us for whatever. Just a thought! ✌🏼
Yes, let’s STOP. SCAPEGOATING.
Thats what got us here in the first place. And I know long time republican cubans who are not for this. Thank you for your work.
Thank you, Barbara. Dehumanization and labeling are our downfall as a species.
Yes, and I meant * Cuban Americans, as we are all American citizens and residents
Thank you for the distinctive differences between rich Cuban exiles and freedom loving Cuban immigrants who know the good things about Cuban independence. It is vital to know histories of people and nations, not just the slogan sluggers.
Alisa, I think you could say this about most “Latinos” … in my experience it is a matter of class rather than ethnicity. Rich right wing Mexicans, Costa Ricans, Argentinos, etc. then to side with rich right wing Europeans, Arabs, “Americans” because there is in their interest and their education to do so.
I am ignorant of the people you mention but I have known others who supported Castro and were disillusioned when he turned to Russia for help. But they kept their interest and their efforts in supporting the people here and back in Cuba.
We end up being a mixed group that people tend to bunch together willy nilly by names ir skin color. Thanks for reminding us that we can’t be lumped together any more than they can.
Thanks for this. I am not a fan of labels generally.
No. The revolution was against Batista and American intrusion in Cuba. It was for Democracy not Communism or another dictatorship. The revolution was led by rich kids like Fidel Castro and like my Mom’s wealthy cousins. She wasn’t wealthy but supported the revolution because she was tired of US involvement in Cuba for the benefit of the US and not Cubans. What good did Castro do?! 🤣 Make himself and his family even wealthier? Turning against his comrades in arms when they demanded the Democracy they had fought for? People like William Morgan? Like recent arrivals from Cuba in their 20s and 30s have told me, Cuba was destroyed by Castro and Communism. There’s plenty for the rich, the government and
That has nothing to do with the point of this essay, Lourdes. Put down the wine.
I’m tee-total. It does have to do with it. Because we oppose Trump as well.
and the tourists. They laugh and say they know the embargo wasn’t to blame. “Eso es mie’da que decía Castro para engañar al pueblo, chica! No jodas!” Third generation revolutionaries who can see what their parents and grandparents didn’t or wouldn’t see. My father was arrested at 19 for speaking out against Castro. You know, like Trump is doing now in the US! He was tortured for five years. Things I can’t even write about here. He was the son of immigrants who didn’t have Ph.D.s and worked like animals for what they had. They were middle class not rich. My grandfather’s restaurant, which he worked in mines and factories in the US to save money to buy, is still open. It’s on the corner of Águila and Barcelona in Havana. They stole it from him. A rich adulterous deadbeat who didn’t earn anything he had. Stole what my grandfather gave his entire life to. So while we hate Trump, we also despise Castro and all dictators. My parents were true political exiles
and had to leave Cuba to save my father’s life. And that’s why my sisters and I were born stateless. My parents had given up their Cuban citizenship in protest. And because my father couldn’t enter a Cuban embassy. My father died at 82 hallucinating that he was still being tortured. So there’s nothing good about Castro or Trump or Putin, Stalin, etc. NOTHING.
Fidel created a genuine socialist country. I love it there and thank him.
Then go live there like a regular Cuban citizen. Otherwise you’re just another hypocrite. Just visit and live it up like all tourists? Then you’re a hypocrite and a parasite just like Castro and his family. Or like Trump and his family.
I learned much from this article and gratefulness is upon me
Good article. Well said.
Though I do think that it's fair to note that in the recent past Cuban Americans have voted for the GOP in large numbers. 80-90% voted for Reagan. That number is going down as the generation that fled Castro dwindles and the population is made up of an ever greater portion of native born Cuban Americans. But even so, 60% still voted for Trump.
As your article says- the reason for this is because many of the Cuban Americans who came to the US in the 50s and 60s fleeing Castro were previously the ruling oligarchs.
I agree with you 100%.
May I ask you not to say anything bad about religious people. We are also not monolithic. I am a Catholic Christian that does not believe like some of the Catholics and their evil ways. So what is true for race, culture, or ethnicity is also true for the religious. Some can be bad in all those different from us. So don’t blame all of us for whatever. Just a thought! ✌🏼
Brava to you. "Dios los bendiga a todos" to everyone on your path.
Thank you. As a Texas (Mexican) Latino, I didn't know this history.
Could you explain why the right-wing Cubans are still in such power in Miami or Florida? Or has that changed over time.
Que viva Fidel!