Obama Travels to Cuba - An Advice to Enjoy His Visit
I just returned from Cuba and the news of his coming visit has caused a stir. It would be the first acting president of the United States to visit its neighbor after 88 years (Calvin Coolidge had come in 1928). A country separated merely by the Florida Straits and by the unique history of hegemony on the part of his country that leads to the second president in the history of the United States, when John Adams in 1783 had said that Cuba should be under the jurisdiction of the United States.Afterwards in 1898 Washington stole the victory from the Cuban patriots against Spanish colonialism and occupied the island as well as Puerto Rico and the Philippines. They imposed a neo colonial with the Platt Amendment and supported all criminal elements in power in the Island as well as some bloody tyrannies in Latin America and the Caribbean. This made the continent plagued by with an exceptional virulence. The Cuban Revolution ended these crimes and disgrace and the reaction of his predecessors in the White House condemned the rebel island for its desires of freedom and self-determination and loyalty to the historic mandate of José Martí. They did everything in their power to destroy the revolution and everything went wrong. The provoked thousands of dead and caused enormous harm and suffering to the Cuban people with a blockade that if we estimate its current values it would by twice the Marshal Plan. One plan was enough to reconstruct Europe after the Second World War; with two they did not manage to sink Cuba. Doesn’t this say something? You and your Secretary of State, John Kerry, have the enormous merit to be the first to recognize the resounding failure of US policy against Cuba. “We wanted to isolate Cuba “– Kerry said – “and ended up being isolated.” That is why you and Raúl Castro decided to begin tearing down the blockade, seriously this time with a new beginning. That December 17 of 2014 was an historical date. The embassies were opened and now you will travel to Cuba and if your secret services allow you to meet the Cuban people, you will appreciate their cordiality, their integrity, their freedom to say what they want without fear on any subject, their pride for having resisted so many aggressions without ever bowing down. You may find many problems in Cuba, like what you have in your own country; but the Cubans never kneeled – nor will they kneel! –. In spite of such adverse conditions they must face every day they take care of the health and education of its people better than in the United States. You will be able to see it. With this said and since I know that your advisers are a bit inexperienced and not so smart let me give you some practical advice so that your stay is pleasant in this beautiful island. First don’t take any US dollars. I know that for the imperial world boss and president of the only country that issues this currency this advice may sound absurd, even offensive. But as the psychoanalysts would say, it is a brutal narcissistic wound, but this is the way it is. That is why before you get on the Air Force 1 be sure that your people and Michelle change their dollars to Euros. The dollar is not very useful in Cuba, it is not Cuba’s fault it was because of the stupidity of your predecessor, the brilliant George W. who assuredly during an alcoholic rage issued the executive order that stipulates that any dollars coming from Cuba are from drug trafficking and for that reason were not acceptable by the Treasury Department of the United States. If you take dollars they will not be accepted because the Cuban’s can’t do anything with them. But since the people are big on solidarity and hospitable perhaps they will change them for CUC, the Cuban convertible currency but with a ten percent discount of its value. Take into consideration that after the British Pounds Sterling and the Euro and Cuban CUC these two are the strongest currency in the world. Even stronger than the dollar! This is a hard bone to gnaw on for any United States president, so save himself from an unpleasantness: change you dollars to Euro and when you can change them at the official rate – that in Cuba this function is done in the offices of the CADECA – and change them to CUCs. That way you will be able to drink your mojitoes in the Bodeguita del Medio or rum in the fabulous gallery of the National Hotel and buy CDs of the very good Cuban bands that day and night are heard every day by the Cubans. With your dollars you won’t also be able to buy the magnificent paintings and sculptures made by Cuban artist nor with the religious intent that almost all your compatriots do by hiring a convertible Cadillac of 1955 vintage to tour the city. And, of course, the unforgettable Malecon bathed by sea breezes and fill you with positive energy. Luckily for you if you arrive a day before you will be able to attend the Rolling Stones concert because in Cuba, different to almost all the world, these performances are free. If you travel with dollars you won’t be able to do this. Except of course if you annul the stupid decision of Bush son. Secondly, if your daughters don’t travel with you be sure to leave them recent photographs of you and your wife and also bring theirs with you because Skype in Cuba does not work. You may be able to talk on the phone, if you’re lucky but will not be able to see each other. As a result of the blockade many regulations prevent or make difficult the supply of internet services in Cuba and this is one of them. Another regulation still in force prevents underwater cables that pass by Cuba for internet transmission. Look at a map of the cables that crisscross the Caribbean and you will note that the Island only has one that was generously brought from Hugo Chávez to bring connection to the homeland of Martí and Fidel and some US citizens such as the writer Ernest Hemingway and the sociologist C. Wright Mills who loved the island intensely. All the other countries of the area are connected with those cables except Cuba. They should invite you to visit Varadero or Guillermo Key I suggest this very emphatically. But you shouldn’t try to find out in which location you are in Cuba by trying to open Google Maps, a little sign will appear on the screen says something like “in the location where you are it is not possible to open this program”. Also, don’t try to read the messages sent by your millions of fans to your account on FB or count those “I like” or send a warble on Twitter with an image. Since the principal connection of internet is by air, except for a small part of traffic that travels by Venezuelan cable; internet connections are slow, expensive and not trustworthy and the same happens with telephone connections. Imagine what would happen to international competition in the US economy if it had these problems! Unthinkable. But let us leave the world of business and go to the favorite subject of your government: “national security”. God forbid that while you enjoy Cuban hospitality your Secretary of Defense sends you an email of an alleged terrorist they want to “neutralize” (a euphemism for assassinate) with a drone in Syria. Probably you receive the message and must wait very patiently to download the photograph and return an email with the world OK for the kids of the Pentagon to find the subject in the Seychelles islands enjoying the dirty money stealing oil in Syria and Iraq, with the complicity of your government and its European partners. And not to mention your vice, Joe Biden, if he wants to send you in a video of the latest mass assassination in Michigan or a draft of how your meeting went with President Raúl Castro or intend to read the New York Times or Washington Post or the international issue of Granma (in English) to find some local news…. Cuban problems, inefficiencies of the revolution?.... No. The blockade, simply the blockade. And you can certainly remove this rotten aggression; you have that faculty and do not have to pass it by Congress. In fact, I must recognize that slowly there has been some progress in connectivity and telecommunication but there is still a long road to travel but the situation above mentioned continues the same. If you order your people to step lively and permit that Cuba has the same connectivity of Jamaica or Dominican Republic it will prevent that the huge wave of US visitors and Cubans who live in Florida will talk bad about the “useless and stupid bureaucrats in Washington” for the problems with Internet. Another practical advice: Cuban food is excellent. It has taste and variety of this marvelous melting pot of peoples and cultures that is Cuba, a virtuous fusion of African, Spanish and creoles. Surely they will entertain you with real delicacies. Don’t forget to taste the Cuban lobster, bright red like the revolution, an unforgettable treat. I lived several years in New England and there they have good lobsters but none with the taste of the Cuban ones. Of course, the kids of your delegation will not be feted with lobster and Red Snapper, a magnificent Caribbean fish and may be upset because the alternatives are not many, even in the best paladares of Havana. And why? Because Cuba has enormous restrictions for importing any goods, even food or medicines from the United States. They cannot use dollars and must triangulate operations with third countries, with banks who help trade transactions can receive scandalous fines such as the almost 9,000 million dollar fine imposed by the Treasury Department in 2014 on the French Paribás that was indignantly accepted by President François Holland instead of dismissing the fine because the US law cannot have extraterritorial effect, that is, outside of US territory, was limited to grumble that he “thought it was excessive”. De Gaulle must have turned in his grave!
Also, regarding purchase of food from the United States the Cubans must pay in advance, unique in the world and pay scandalous prices for charters because of the laws of the blockade that prevent any transportation of product from and to Cuba to dock in any port of the United States for six months. That is why the secret service kids might get bored with the food and get angry and you need to keep them happy and motivated. Don’t forget that the twenty attacks against the lives of US president all occurred at home and four ended up with the death of the attacker. Do yourself and your family a favor and avoid verbal insults of US citizens who arrive in Cuba and eliminate these restrictions. Also, aren’t you one who believe in the virtue of free trade? Let the Cubans practice it! Lastly, Mr. President, don’t waste your time. I know you as a cultured man – as a brilliant exception of the collection of the rustic personages who preceded you such as Ronald Reagan, Gerald Ford and George W. Bush, son –to just refer to the Republicans – as a class politician you should burn in desire to meet with Fidel. Is that your purpose to visit Cuba so suddenly? You are aware that the comandante will be 90 on August 13, maybe you can try to meet him now since he will probably receive many visitors around this date. Of course; you must meet first with Raúl but as you know Fidel is the last survivors of great statisticians in the 20th century and the trail of his trajectory is still moving into the 21st. I assure you that a talk with him will be inspiring: talk with a very cultured person – you who has to deal with tough and primitive persons such as Netanyaju or eminent mediocrities such as Cameron, Rajoy and Hollande or bandits such as the oil monarchs of the Gulf, as well as some neighbors south of the Bravo River whose names I reserve but everyone knows who they are. You will be able to talk with a man that has an overwhelming level of general information, a statesman , a who was ahead of his time in the complaint of climate change on the Earth Summit in 1992, and the threats that this entails for mankind, a subject that you are also concerned; also a pioneer in promoting biotechnology and nanoscience in a small and underdeveloped country, with the unique political experience and relaxed and courteous gestures an acute sense of humor. Michel will be enchanted with the respectful reception in contrast to the ill treatment that women suffer in your country, even the wife’s of the Presidents. I know that you are aware that in this electoral year you may frighten voters – only some – of the democrats. Not those who support Bernie Sanders who could upset the balance and end up with the nomination of his party. About this you can talk to Fidel because he knows like few, the twists and turns of political battles and the internal lines of the democrats and republicans. You can have revealing conversations. That is why, have the taste and go visit him. You will be received with his proverbial affable manner, take a photograph with him. All do it: politicians, intellectuals, popes, artists, everyone. Even your grandchildren will appreciate it. Also it will be a well deserved rest. I am sorry for you: insulted every day by the beasts of the Fox chain and surrounded by ignorant uncouth persons such as Donald Trump, Ted Cruz and Marco Rubio. Chats with someone as wise as Fidel may be a balsam that will help you support what is left of your mandate. I will end with one note recalling that Pope Francisco, in an unprecedented gesture went to Washington and spoke in a joint session of both houses of Congress. If representatives and senators had an iota of sense they could make retribution to Francisco, one of the main statists in todays world would be in line with the call of the Pope and withdraw the laws of the blockade now without any more delays. But the immense majority are armchair politicians, rude country folk unable to understand the world problem. That is why you don’t wait for them: move forward and do all that is possible; you have the faculty to bring down that infernal machinery of the blockade. Us the attributions of the White House. In the end your enemies bound your hands and feet and will not stop insulting you: the reforms you made: in terms of finances, migration and health ended up being little more than a fiasco because of them. It could be an exquisite vengeance. Latin America, always so generous, offers you the last opportunity to enter history as a president that changed the course of events: free Cuba from the blockade and have your representative in the peace talks between the Colombian government and FARC-EP speed up the concretion of the agreement. This dialogue, don’t forget, is one of the great legacies that Hugo Chávez Frías left us. He was a man of peace, of peace with social justice and created the conditions to have both parties sit at the table in Cuba because as Francisco said in his meeting with the Patriarch Kirill this island has become a place for excellent dialogues. Don’t lose this opportunity and if everything ends up well you could return to Havana, a few months later to sign the peace agreement with your presence and end the war in Colombia. And yes, with those achievements you will enter the large gates of universal history. The recent decease of Umberto Eco, semiologist and great writer said that a feature of good writing is its musicality. Convinced of this I recall that it seems appropriate to end these lines with something that sounds good, that has music. Surely you remember that Frank Sinatra ended his exquisite interpretation of New York, New York. We could say, in relation to everything we have been talking about, "it's up to you, Barack, Barack!" It sounds very, very well. At the end of the day it was not Cuba who blocked the United States, but vice versa.
CNIDOH/AO
