"But we should not confuse the historic exile community with the hysterical exile community. The historic is noble and generous, the hysterical is incoherent and irresponsible. The hysterical exile community believes it possesses the absolute truth, classifying itself as the 'sacred intransigence' as if intransigence were a virtue, and it refuses to change as if 53 years were not enough to amply demonstrate the need for change."
-via Babalu [they block my links so you'll have to believe me]
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13 comments:
One problem with these kind of statements is that they're proclaimed as if it was some well-established line of demarcation, when in fact it's just an free individual's opinion. It's arrogant and ungenerous on the part of Saladrigas to make this kind of statement as if it were a matter of fact "knowing who goes where", no less to make it in Cuba. And I thought Mr. Saladrigas was interested in uniting the Cuban community, when it appears that he's really dividing it further by making these kind of remarks.
Oh, please. It is a very well established line. Everybody knows who the hysterical exiles are. They are the ones who always oppose and defame anybody who does not fall in line with their orthodoxy -even if it results in the release of more than 3,000 political prisoners, or family reunification, or immigration accords that have allowed hundreds of thousands of Cubans to enjoy the same freedom those on the hysterical wing enjoy and profess to love, or family travel and remittances that are supported by the majority of Cubans abroad, or a concert, or the Pope's visit (both of them) or even dissidents in Cuba if they do not prove to be "pure" enough according to their paranoid, delusional standards.
Then when it's pointed out that all they have done for 50 years is obstruct for political and monetary gain in Miami, they play the victim and accuse the rational ones of being divisive.
Is not fooling anybody anymore.
Just thinking out loud here...is Saladrigas' pragmatism driven, in part, by personal political and/or monetary gain? If the "hysterical right-wing" is accused of "obstructing for political and monetary gain", then it's only fair to shine the same skeptical light on people like Carlos Saladrigas.
And here comes the paranoid and ill-intentioned suspicions. Even if that was the case, so waht? In the larger context of changes in Cuba, Saladrigas can only aspire to political gain in Cuba if there's a regime change, and any business in which he participates will likewise benefit Cubans in the island.
The obstructionism of the hystericals in Miami has not helped Cubans for 53 years. They can't say their "intransigence" has put food on one table, released one prisoner or facilitated one family reunification. That's the difference.
Doesn't sound so good when those paranoid and ill-intentioned suspicions which you initially accused the "hystericals" of are shown a mirror, eh? So what, then, if the "hystericals" do it for personal gain themselves? Both sides have personal interests at play here.
It's fine if you may not agree with hardliners. But you can't honestly deny that most of them have good, principled reasons for thinking the way they do and for not liking Saladrigas' methods, just as Saladrigas probably has good, principled reasons for thinking the way he does and for disapproving of the methods of some. I just don't like or agree with Saladrigas' arrogant tone in making those statements in Cuba when he should be focusing on whatever he thinks will help Cubans. Bringing in petty politics and pointing fingers doesn't help anyone. If he doesn't like it when it's done to him, he shouldn't do it in return in front of a group of people who don't give a crap about Miami politics.
"Both sides have personal interests at play here." Nice of you to admit that the hystericals are in it for personal gain. But while there's plenty proof that the hystericals have profited by whoring the cause of Cuban freedom -no paranoia or suspicion there- you on the other hand, have no reason to suspect Saladriga's motives, other than not agreeing with what he believes.
There's a very clear line between "disapproving" and denigrating, and the hystericals cross it all the time - in fact, it's the only response they have. Their knee jerk reaction is to accuse those who think differently of being commies, collaborators, agents of the regime or out for personal gain. It's rich that you guys are now complaining of arrogance and playing the victim. Are you honestly going to tell me that the hystericals have not been slandering Saladrigas long before he gave any speech? Get real.
Yes, in a hysterical's Perfect World, I guess they would smear and insult endlessly while the objects of their attacks would say nothing or, more preferably it sounds, thank the hystericals and ask for more.
How dare Mr. Saladrigas give his opinion in a very frank and direct manner.
For a group that loves to do nothing more than sully their opposition's character and reputation, it amazes me what thin skin the hysterical's have at times.
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C'mon, George, I know you're out there. Don't disappoint me....
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(Slightly) shorter Rick and Alex: It's OK to be frank, direct, knee-jerk, arrogant, denigrating, talk tough, sully the opposition's character and say all sorts of stupid and divisive things when they on "our side". The other side, not so much.
Robert...I think Alex quite adequately detailed the difference between the criticism that Mr. Saladrigas delivered in Cuba and the barrage of smears, slander and denigration that is specialty of the hystericals. It's not like there's a shortage of examples.
Just ask the Estefans.
Or, better yet, the Pope.
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The road to hell is paved with good intentions. However "principled" their "reasons," their policies have failed to achieve anything.
It's not petty to notice complete failure. It is petty, however, to blame someone for noticing it.
I'm confused by this "personal gain" business. How much does Saladrigas get paid to say the things he says? I know how much Ninoska and the congressionals get paid...
All this makes me want to throw a bullhorn at somebody. You know, for the cause of freedom.
Mr. Saladrigas doesn't get paid a cent to say the things he says. He is a successful, honest, intelligent and hard working man who doesn't use "the Cuba issue" to profit from the US dollars that our federal government so liberally distributes to these "Cuban support organizations and individuals" who keep the bulk of the money in Miami instead of sharing the it to the NGO's in Cuba.
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