THE REACTIONARY CUBAN EXILE IS A SICK GROUP
When Miami Cuban Orlando Bosch blew up a Cuban Airliner back in 1976, killing 73 innocent Cubans, when in a documentary by Stela Bravo entitled Havana-Miami, a recalcitrant exile, in referring to the Pioneers, young Cuban students, stated, " I would hang all those little communists from a tree", when a Miami Cuban woman saw a plane overhead that supposedly carried Elian back to Cuba shouted, " God, I hope the plane crashes", they are expressing their intense hatred and obsession with respect to Cuba.
Renown Argentinean born psychologist Orlando Garcia, who often appears on Spanish speaking radio and TV during a NY conference on Elian, called the recalcitrant "exiles" a very sick group. I couldn't agree more. For more than 40 years of acts of terrorism in and out of Cuba by the exiles clearly demonstrates this.
To the American public however who doesn't know much about this reactionary element or their history this is not apparent. The Elian saga was a wake up call for many who did not understand what they stood for. The Elian case demonstrated to the public at large not only how sick the exiles are but how far they are willing to go in their deep hatred. The kidnapping of a child to foster their cause, to satisfy their hate did not sit well with the American public. This is evident in the fact that a year later 73% of the public agrees with the actions taken by the INS.
Don't kid yourself or let yourself be taken in by the "exile". Their hate is not only against Fidel Castro but the Cuban people and even their own families. This was evident when Lazaro, uncle of Juan Miguel, refused to turn the child over to his father his nephew. It is not uncommon for the recalcitrant to hate his own family, specially those in Cuba. I've known some "exile" recalcitrant who do not talk with their families nor do they send money - as other groups do - to their loved ones back home. Nor is it uncommon for the "exile" to wish that uncle Sam would invade the island - even at the cost of thousands upon thousands of innocent lives.
Why this profound hate?
The hate comes from many factors all revolving around the Cuban revolution. Let's face it the Cuban revolution was a revolt by the masses against injustices and the corrupt system that existed at that time. It was a conflict between social classes. In a class war like any war there are the winners and the losers. The bourgeois with all of their power lost one for a change; the little guy won one.
Not only were they rejected by the Cuban people back in '59 but are resented and rejected by a majority of the Cuban people today. With all the "exiles" rhetoric that the Cuban people are on their side, they know fully well that they are not welcomed by most Cubans on the island. They try not to manifest this rejection but once in a while it becomes evident as when a Cuban-American women commented on radio, " I hope the Cuban people starve to death". When asked by the show host why she took such a hostile position, she added, "because they do not do anything, they don't rebel...".
This is one of the reasons for their deep hate: they not only feel rejected but are angered because they would love to see the Cubans on the island revolt. But the problem is that the majority of the Cuban support their revolution and the majority are not about to play the game of the "exile". It's not in their best interest to let these people in. It's as simple as that. The Cuban people know fully well how reactionary and how much this group is out of touch with reality. They know this from family ties and people specially reactionaries who visit the island. The Cuban people are aware that the only thing the Miami thugs want is "pasar la cuenta" - to settle old scores, to take revenge - and to take their property back. They know these people do not represent, with all their rhetoric, democracy nor human rights. As I have often heard from Cubans, "they would love to come back to destroy".
To the Cuban bourgeois and the corrupt politicians who were uprooted from their wonderful life in Cuba, the revolution and Fidel Castro was and is a nightmare. For not only did they lose power and material wealth, but most importantly they lost the love of their own people. The Cuban's people rejection of this group was like a child losing the love of his mother. Even today they are utterly bitter and frustrated because of this deep sense of rejection. They in a sense lost their self esteem. That is why they walk around with a saddened and hateful face. They would like to regain their self worth by setting things "right" in Cuba and by once again placing themselves in the inner circle of power and elitism. Most of the Cuban-American power brokers, the most recalcitrant within the exiles, like Miami Congressmen Lincoln Diaz Balart, Congresswoman Ileana Ros-Lehtinen and the heads of the CANF fall within this category or are the offspring of these people.
Not all the "exiles" can be placed in this category. Some of them were never bourgeois in the old Cuba, never lost anything because of the revolution, but nevertheless are recalcitrant. Most in this group either are ignorant of US-Cuba history, and/or are only looking out for themselves; without giving much thought to the fact that Cuba is at war with the northern giant who wants to destroy them; they do not see that others are facing the same hardships with dignity and a sense of patriotism. Most of these - not all - are always on the lookout to make a quick peso and how they can leave the island so that they can live in paradise. Once living in what they think is paradise they just continue being recalcitrant; some of them becoming more so in the "friendly" compounds of the exile community. They are the vociferous chusma within the exile, most often voicing their opinions using obscenities and aggressions. Most of the exiles I have come in contact with, growing up in the "exile" community, fall within this category.
My family and I come from that part of the Cuban community which do not fall in these two categories but through ignorance of history and "exile" indoctrination - yes brainwashing - were recalcitrant nevertheless. The children of Cuban "exiles" most often fall within this category.
The best example I can give you of this, is when on a US flight - on a return trip from Cuba - I spoke about Cuba to a brother and sister - in their 20's - of Cuban decent They were extremely interested in learning about Cuba. The conversation went something like this:
brother: Wow, you were in Cuba. How was it?
myself: I had a nice time, I visited family and spent time with them.
brother: Where did you stay?
myself: In a hotel
brother: They have hotels in Cuba?
myself: Sure and some very nice one.
brother: I didn't know that. How did you get to eat? I heard there is no food in Cuba.
myself: I had no problem with the food, I ate mainly in the hotel I stayed in. (note: This was back in 92, it was at the height of the economic crisis. Unlike today where there are small restaurants in dollars and pesos, back then there was a scarcity of restaurants.)
brother: How did you get around?
myself: I took a taxi and rented a car.
brother: Is that right! I didn't know you can rent a car in Cuba.
myself: Sure, that is the only way to get around, for transportation is very bad.
brother: Did you have problems with the police? Were you followed?
myself: No, I didn't have any problems. Don't be fooled with what people tell you. I tell people to visit Cuba and see things for themselves.
The plane had landed and as I was getting my luggage from the overhead compartment the brother turned to someone in the row behind and said in Spanish in a gleeful voice, "Look abuelito, he just came back from visiting Cuba. As I turned around, I saw this elderly Cuban-American who with a hateful expression shouted in Spanish," aha!, you went to Cuba to give Fidelito (Fidel Castro) dolaritos (slang for dollars)". As I walked out I realized why these two young people were so misinformed. I felt sympathy for them because I had been in the same boat and hoped that someday they would take my advise and see Cuba for themselves.
If you speak to a recalcitrant exile about Cuba all you will hear is one point of view. They will tell you how evil a system and place it is. Nothing is good in Cuba, nothing is worthwhile. You can see it in their posts, in their letters to the editors, you can see them ranting on how rotten Cuba is. There is no middle ground for them; all is either black or white; you are either for them or against them. Heaven help you if you speak out against them.
If you try to take a middle of the road approach and simply agree with them on some points but take the view that the Cuban revolution has it's good points, you will see that most often your arguments falling on deft ears. It comes to a point where you think to yourself, that they are a bunch of lunatics and/or a bunch of liars and cynics.
As previously stated their obsession and deep hatred stemming from their loss of self esteem drives the "exile" but it doesn't explain fully why they hold a position on Cuba that often seems exaggerated and even deceitful to many.
To understand better the "exile" mind and their recalcitrance one must look at something else most of them share.
What they mainly share is, what they have in common, is a psychological ploy known as reaction formation. In psychology reaction formation is a survival mechanism adopted by the person as to avoid internal conflict. The recalcitrant to be free from internal strife, to avoid conflict within their souls, start by adopting and adhering to one thought : that the Cuban revolution is a total failure and that there is nothing good about it. They form a whole structure around this; to them this denial mechanism becomes real; all beliefs within this structure is true, anything else is false. By this mechanism they are able to relieve any self guilt and self doubt. They live by it. Hating the Cuban revolution, blaming other things and other people, is easier than blaming themselves.
By the way not only does this makes it easier to live with one's self but it makes it easier on yourself if you go with the consensus of the exile community; for as we have seen living in an exile barrio and having a different point of view can be dangerous to your health.
Lastly, there are those who not only live more at peace with themselves with this denial mechanism and the hate that comes out of it ; but there are those who receive perks from their boisterous hate and opposition to the Cuban revolution; as is the case of Cuban sports figures and others who have defected and who go along with the right wing Miami on all issues relating to Cuba. They puke out lies after lies about Cuba so that they can earn points with the power brokers and groups within the exile community. It is common to see Cuban defectors such as El Duke the pitcher of the NY Yankees and Arturo Sandoval Cuban-American musician constantly blasting Cuba on all issues and to even supporting US aggression against the island. Case in point is when during the Elian saga, they among others, wholeheartedly supported the actions by the right wing Miami exile, specifically the show run by the CANF.
A good example of how this denial mechanism works can be best seen when you confront an "exile" with anything positive on Cuba. When you tell a recalcitrant, for example, that the education and health system of Cuba is one of the best in the world, they will bitterly deny it. They of course will give you all kind of petty personal experiences, which to them validates their point. However when you hit them hard with facts from UN studies and investigation, which demonstrate your points they will pass it off by making outrageous comments like: the UN is run by communists.
One must remember that for them these are not necessarily lies but is part of the denial system, part of their "truth" system.
Some of the most recalcitrant beliefs based on this mechanism that they adhere to include:
1) yesterday's Cuba was a paradise - they get angry when I ask them, why then was there a revolution
2) back in 59 Fidel Castro fooled everyone - they are the only ones that have the truth
3) you have to be Cuban to know the problem - this is often used against people from other countries making positive comments on Cuba. It is a way of silencing the opposition. You are not Cuban, a Cuban radio announcer once told me - I have a birth certificate to prove it
5) you are a communist - to them, this is their most potent weapon. I know for I often used it when I was a recalcitrant. Everyone who they disagree with is a communist. Even Rockefeller who epitomizes capitalism has been branded a communist for having visited Cuba recently in an effort to negotiate possible future trade.
6) that the health, education system of Cuba is rotten, it is only a facade. To the recalcitrant Miami exiles everyone is being fooled by the Cuban govt. on health, education and other issues, the UN and even the CIA (for they also publish stats on Cuba )
7) that Fidel is the only embargo on Cuba - when I tell them that if this true then why doesn't the US end it so that Castro cannot use it as an excuse, they get confused and they start their ranting.
8) people "flee" from Cuba to gain liberty - most of them I would venture to guess 99% leave because of the economic crisis and because Washington stimulates their illegal migration by giving them special privileges (Cuban Adjustment Act).
9) children in Cuba suffer - this was a common theme during the Elian saga. Cuba where there are no homeless children and no child labor.
10) Communism doesn't work - they get hysterical when I ask them with over 200 million people, in Latin America, homeless, poor and illiterates, 20 million of them children living and working on the streets, is capitalism that much better?
11) there is apartheid in tourism - before Cuba lost trade with the Socialist bloc, tourism was exclusively Cuban. Cubans were able to stay in hotels. Once Cuba lost it's trade they had to open it to international tourism. This has caused some ill feeling among Cubans on the island but the majority of the Cuban people understand that the revenue from tourism goes toward their social programs
12) the Cubans do not support the revolution - when I ask them why the people attend the marches in support of the revolution, they tell me that they are forced to march. When I ask them why I see so many determined and happy faces in these marches, they get angry. That the marches are forced of course is utterly false. But remember think of their denial mechanism. It's easier to see it this way.
This has been but just a short list of current beliefs expounded by the recalcitrant exile. Believe me the list is extremely long. Someday maybe someone will write a book on "exile" mythology and folklore.
On my return from Cuba in 1991 I remember showing photos of young Cubans on the beach to some students at my school. When I spoke a few days later to these students they told me that a recalcitrant Cuban-American teacher at my school had said that the people on the beach were not Cubans, that they were foreigners. This ridiculous conclusion is based on their belief that Cuban beaches are for tourists.
One of the most funniest experiences occurred when speaking on a radio show about how well children are taken care in Cuba, how there are no children shinning shoes in Cuba, I had this Cuban-American woman state that, " there are no children shinning shoes in Cuba because there are no shoes in Cuba". I just love it when they say things like this. For it shows not only their lunacy, it shows how recalcitrant and how hateful they are.
Finally, I've come to the conclusion that, when we consider that slanders and lies are not only about demonizing Cuba and it's revolution, but are in reality "truths" to the Cuban recalcitrant "exile"; when we consider that their hate has been so intense as to have driven them to acts of terrorism against innocent people, when we consider that they see the world as black or white, nothing in between, that their view of the world has become so irrational, so narrow, so obsessive, that they can be judged, as some have suggested as being an irrational, sick group.
Juan, de Casa de las Americas, New York