Uncommon Sense

The 10 most important Cubans in 2010, Nos. 7-8 (UPDATED)

See update below.

The year almost over saw many pivotal events in and related to Cuba, and people who shaped them, from the death of Orlando Zapata Tamayo to the release of many — but far from all — of his fellow political prisoners.

Here is my attempt to recognize those Cubans who made a difference in 2010.

No. 8 — Jordan Allott.

If the Jews have their "righteous gentiles" who do a great service to the Jewish people, then we Cubans have our "righteous gringos," who although not Cuban, use their skills and interests to help the cause of Cuban freedom with a passion no less fervent than those of us with family roots on the island.

The Anglo-American filmmaker Jordan Allott has done just that with his documentary, "Oscar's Cuba," in which he tells the story of Dr. Oscar Elias Biscet, the island's best known political prisoner, and other Cubans on the front lines of the struggle for liberty.

The film, which deserves as wide a distribution and viewing as possible, is a poignant, sometimes maddening testament to Biscet and other courageous Cubans, and the reality of life in Cuba today.

And ironically, that the filmmaker is not Cuban, makes its message that much more powerful, that much more convincing, that much more righteous.

UPDATED, Dec. 22, 2010 — Pedazos de Cuba has published an outstanding interview with Allott.

Jordan Allot at screening of "Oscar's Cuba" at the University of South Florida in Tampa, Nov. 4, 2010.

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No. 7 — Cuban bloggers.

Like all tyrants, the Castro dictatorship held onto power for almost half a century by controlling the flow of news and information, shaping what and how it was delivered in whatever manner it took to keep the Cuban population in check, and its lies to the world intact.

The Internet has changed all of that.

The censors do what they can to restrict access. But the egalitarian quality of the 'Net has allowed Cubans with a little bit of ingenuity and a lot of guile and guts to take to the ether to break the dictatorship's information blockade.

Almost every week, a new blog is launched, with authors of different approaches and writing styles reporting on the reality of Cuban life, sharing their inner hopes and dreams and frustrations, criticizing the Castro regime — whatever they want!

The challenges — technological, political and otherwise — can be daunting but with the help of supporters overseas, and of each other, the blogueros have built a real community and shown what is possible with just a little bit of courage.

Yoani Sanchez, who has repeatedly been honored internationally for her blogging, is the godmother of Cuban bloggers, inspiring and sharing with her colleagues tips and strategies on how to use their blogs, Facebook, Twitter, etc. to get their messages out, and to tweak the dictatorship.

But Sanchez is not the only one deserving of attention. My favorites include Claudia Cadelo, Iván García and Luis Felipe Rojas.

Each has done their part to ensure that what the world knows about Cuba is not limited to what the Castros want the world to know.

You will only embolden them if you take the time to read them.

 
Graduates of Yoani Sanchez's Blogger Academy.

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Read about others on the list, here.

Stay tuned for the rest of the list in coming days. I welcome your ideas on who should — or shouldn't — be on the list. Leave the comments here, on Twitter @marcmasferrer or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/UncommonSenseCuba.

Michael Moore is a useless idiot (UPDATED)

A few years ago, Cuban Americans and others were up in arms about the propagandist, overly rosy and in the end inaccurate portrayal of the Castroite health care system in Michael Moore's documentary, "Sicko."

It turns out, the Castro dictatorship shared our pain, banning the film in Cuba out of fear it would create unreasonable expectations among the Cuban people about what they should expect from their health care, according to an American diplomatic cable revealed as part of the Wikileaks releases.

Undoubtedly, the dictatorship thought Moore would do it a favor, using his disdain for American health care and general idiocy to deliver for Cuba a public relations boon. Otherwise, it wouldn't have allowed him into the country.

Instead, Moore got his film banned in Cuba!

What an idiot, and useless — to the Castros — at that.

UPDATED, Dec. 18, 2010 — Good satire is always true.

A 4-hour, 28-minute movie about Ché Guevara ...

... that "eludes the damning first years of the Castro era, with their executions and clampdowns"?

Sean Penn and the other Ché-lovers at Cannes — who obviously need to be re-educated — may love it, but I think I'll pass.

Chérevulsion

Apparently yet another movie that explores the legend of Ernesto "Ché" Guevara and the power of a solitary photograph has been made. And surprise, surprise, based on this description, it gives no shrift to his legacy as a cold-blooded murderer.

But there was this acknowledgement by filmmaker Trisha Ziff of the challenge faced by those of us who try to inform others of the real Ché Guevara.

Kids wear Che T-shirts, she continued, "and they don't know who the hell's on their T-shirt. They just wear it because it's cool. And what kind of culture do we live in when that level of ignorance is permissible? I think the only image that still isn't (able to be used) that way is the swastika. Punks wear it on one level to be outrageous, but it doesn't transcend its meaning. It's still locked in its meaning. Skinheads in England wear it because they aspire to Fascist ideas, but it's never lost its meaning. It's always locked in that history. It's almost like the only untouchable film symbol."

Unfortunately, Ziff reveals herself as someone in desperate need of a scholarship to the Ché Guevara Re-Education Program.

"Korda was a fashion photographer and I think he saw through the lens with a very specific kind of aesthetic. The picture's taken from below looking up in this kind of socialist realist heroism. Che was a very good looking charismatic guy with great eyes. I think Korda because of his history photographing beautiful people saw that moment whether consciously or not and he got it. I think part of the allure of Che is that he is an attractive man. The image has that (movie star) quality. He also was a very uncompromising man and he did something that a lot of people don't do -- he lived by what he said and he died for it."

Idiot.

John Waters drags Ché out of the closet

It is a wonderful thing when I come across something in the media genuinely surprises me. Unfortunately, those moments come few and far between.

Not surprisingly, surprising me today is maverick filmmaker John Waters, who sees right through the myth of Che Guevara, as revealed in this interview with the Charlotte Observer.

Q. If United States is destined to be the world's policeman, where should we send our troops next -— and why?

To Cuba, to find the people who were mean to gay people and locked them up and punished them, just the way we (went after) the Nazis. We're supposed to forget that? I can't, and that's the only thing I'm right-wing on; Che Guevara was horrible to gay people. And something about my rich liberal friends going to Cuba rubs me the wrong way, because Cuban people can't do what we do there and spend the money we spend.

Considering how far Waters is out of the Hollywood mainstream, and the mainstream in general — just read the rest of the interview — maybe it isn't so surprising that Waters would call Che Guevara, one of the idiot left's grand icons, out of the closet, and denounce him for the terrorist he was, and always will be.

(H/T to Alberto at Babalú.)

Kevin Spacey: Another Hollywood actor who doesn't give a damn about Cubans

Fresh from a glad-handing visit to Venezuela, EFE has confirmed that Oscar-winning actor Kevin Spacey has touched down in Havana.

No word on his agenda, but here's guessing he comes back with some glowing reviews of his visit.

At least now we have a reason to skip "Fred Claus" later this year.

Debunking the myth of Cuban health care

Before or after you see Michael Moore's "SiCKO," you must read the following testimony from a doctor well familiar with the Cuban health care system. (To read it in the original Spanish, go here.)

By Dr. Darsi Ferrer, via Misceláneas de Cuba:

Havana, June 30, 2007. The achievements of the Cuban Health System reflect the reality of the services offered in the centers and installations devoted to medical attention for foreigners and the members of the ruling cupola, which the total opposite of the dismal quality, insufficiencies and total deterioration of the services available to the general public.

Although it is not officially recognized, the family doctor and nurse program disappears in actual practice. So far the authorities do not implement any alternative to compensate as substitution for that plan, that was in Cuba BC the cornerstone of the primary health service and care.

In the latter years the “plundering” of physicians for the population reaches a figure higher than twenty thousands, to which we have to add tons of resources such as equipment, medications, suppliers and chemicals requisitioned to cover missions of political interest in the countries of Latin America and Africa.

In our country the majority of medical offices are closed for lack of staff. Physicians are forced to work 3 or 4 cities of more than one hundred and twenty families each for a salary of 22 dollars per month which does not cover even their bare necessities. Many offices stay open due to the work performed by medical students attending third year or later at medical school who obviously lack professional qualification and responsibility.

Hospitals and policlinics where the Cuban Joe Doke is treated are in bad shape due to building problems, lack hygiene and minimal conditions to offer adequate medical services. When the patients are admitted they must provide their own meals, utensils and supplies, such as sheets, towels, pajamas, fans, china, table service, glasses, light bulbs, medication, chemicals et al, among other difficulties they face.

Contrary to the orientation of multilateral organizations, the Cuban system is ruled by a centralization policy. The functioning of the system is planned at high levels of the government and forbids independent participation of the civil society in decision making and utilization of resources. This provokes a high level of bureaucracy, deficiencies, dysfunctional operations, ignorance of reality and corruption at all levels. Besides, it generates the use of lies as an official mechanism to “meet the goals” set by the “higher ups."

Even though the country centers with cutting edge technology where drugs are produced and even exported, the pharmacies lack all kinds of products. The deficit extends to even the essential medications such as analgesics, antacid, vitamins and minerals, syringes and thermometers.

An old lady known as Fina was admitted to the Julio Trigo Hospital suspected of having lung cancer. But it was not possible to perform a bronchoscope to confirm the diagnosis because the equipment was out of order. Coincidentally, a few days after admission she suffered a brain infarct which complicated her condition.

Octavio Armenteros had fever during several days that was associated with loss of appetite, difficulty in swallowing, shortness of breath, cold symptoms and progressive loss of weight. He was admitted in the 10 de October Hospital. The deplorable conditions of the facility made him go home. A “Godfather” of the family (a high ranking official) could get him admitted to Almeijeiras Hospital (reserved for the cupola and foreigners). There they diagnosed him with pulmonary emphysema, brochiectasis and a larynges tumor. He has been in his house for months in a desperate condition because he has no way of obtaining a simple oxygen bottle to mitigate his respiratory condition. Neither can him obtain follow up for the treatment of his tumor, with a clinical deterioration ensuing from all this.

It took almost a year for Lidia to, finally, obtain that a gastroscopy would be performed. The diagnosis was chronic duodenitis and peptic ulcer. The specialist a treatment and due to lack of physicians in the offices of her neighborhood , months have gone by and she can not obtain a certificate about the medications required so that the pharmacy that belongs her “health area” could sell them to her.

The increase in transmissible diseases has given rise to an ever increasing state if worry. During all year we see epidemics of dengue, hepatitis, leptospirosis, meningo encephalitis, respiratory and diarrheic diseases. Most of the population is affected by parasites, anemia and mal nutrition. Pathologies such as tuberculosis have high rate of occurrences and prevalence that are alarming.

Some programs that had achieved a degree of functioning within the system were abandoned several years ago. One that is a thing of the past is “massive mammograms”. This has made frequent that the diagnosis of breast cancer, highly elevated now and with tendency to increase, is made in advanced stages of the cancer when the possibilities of surgical treatment that could cure it are minimum. Also, in detriment of the women’s health, there are serious difficulties to carry out massive cytological tests, which generates an increase in deaths due to cervical cancer.

Given the case that no active checkups are made for the detection of cases of high blood pressure and diabetes mellitus, among others, many times the patients go to the doctor only when serious complications appear, factor that explains the increase in the vascular/encephalic accidents, cardiovascular problems, kidney insufficiency and other chronic illnesses that arise from this.

Similar situation is faced with those affected by HIV. Lately the number of cases diagnosed in the SIDA phase, that is, the full bloom stage of the disease with all symptoms and signs, which demonstrates the under recording of the data with a high percentage of patients without diagnosis and the lack of control in the national program carried out in the country.

The infant mortality rate (less than a year old) is one of the few programs that is still functioning, as it is an strategic indicator that produces political benefits at the international level when it is related to the development of human development and quality of life among other aspects. Of course, it is not explained to the public that in Cuba this low infant mortality rate is associated with astronomical figures of abortions. The doctors are supposed to suggest abortion in risky pregnancies y, in some occasions, must perform the interruption without the consent of the couple.

It is probable that as long as the apartheid in medical services continue and, therefore, the people is negated access to medical assistance in “differentiated hospitals” such as Cira Garcia, CIMEQ, Frank Pais, La Pradera, Almeijeiras, Koly and other, exclusively devoted to foreginers and members of the “high ruling class”, the Cubans keep resisting the use of the health system and opt for “santeria” (witch doctors) and herbal treatment with the prevalence of generalized inconformity with the poor quality of the medical services.

Cuban health care ...

... for the average Cuban.

The Cuban health care not seen in Michael Moore's "SiCKO" looks something like this.

To see even more disturbing examples, go here.

Michael Moore's tropical vacation from reality

Michael Moore may be right.

The American health care system may suck, especially if you don't have health insurance, and maybe even if you do. In "SiCKO," which I saw this weekend, Moore presents just enough anecdotes — if not anything resembling context — that when combined with the horror stories told by your friends and families may make you conclude that America, we have a problem.

Heartless HMOs. Greedy pharmaceutical companies. Compliant politicians.

They are all, according to Moore, co-conspirators in a grand plot to bolster their profits and screw Americans out of the health care they need, and deserve, to better themselves and the nation.

I just don't believe Michael Moore.

That's because to help make his case that the American system is broken, he holds up in the best possible light the health care system in Cuba.

Well, at least part of the health care system in Cuba.

The part available to the Communist Party elite and government officials, with its well trained doctors, modern diagnostic equipment and inexpensive pharmceuticals.

And to wealthy foreigners and in Moore's case, filmmakers who allow themselves to serve as vessels for one of the great lies of the Cuban revolution: That the lack of real freedom on the island is outweighed by the availability of health care for everyone.

That Cuba is a dictatorial hellhole was not the subject of Moore's movie, but that he did not at least acknowledge the lack of freedom for most Cubans — and their lack of access to the type of health care Moore portrays in "SiCKO" — is another example of the needed context missing from so much of the film. Without that context, as least as it applies to Cuba, the only reasonable conclusion is that Moore has no shame in allowing himself to serve the propagandist aims of the Castro dictatorship.

No, all Moore presents are Americans, including three ill 9/11 rescue workers, getting the care that apparently had been denied them in the United States, and assurances from Cuban officials that the Americans were getting the same care as "regular Cubans."

When considering Moore's portrayal of the Cuban system, remember this.

Cuba's was one of four foreign countries' to which Moore compared the American system.

On each of the three other stops — in Canada, Great Britain and France — Moore interviewed both natives and Americans who had taken advantage of the health care available there. In their own words, they glowingly described how in England, all medical care is free, and in France, a new mother can get six months off work — with full pay.

In Cuba, the closest Moore got to a "real" Cuban was a group of men playing dominoes on a Havana street, one of whom informed the filmmaker that there were hospitals and pharmacies on almost every block. No questions from Moore about whether the man thought the health care was any good.

From there, it was onto a Havana hospital, where white-coated doctors were prepared to examine and treat the 9/11 workers, and another woman Moore had introduced earlier in the film. And, of course, all for free.

But as with everything coming from the dictatorship, and from Michael Moore, I don't believe it.

MTV's Kurt Loder gets it ("SiCKO blogburst update)

To read my contribution to a recent "SiCKO" blogburst, go here. To read what others wrote, go here.

Some days, you wake up and read something about Cuba that both will surprise the hell out of you, and make you smile.

Today, thanks to veteran rock journalist Kurt Loder of MTV, is one of those days.

From his review of "Sicko":

Fidel Castro's island dictatorship, now in its 40th year of being listed as a human-rights violator by Amnesty International, is here depicted as a balmy paradise not unlike the Iraq of Saddam Hussein that Moore showed us in his earlier film, "Fahrenheit 9/11." He and his charges make their way — their pre-arranged way, if it need be said — to a state-of-the-art hospital where they receive a picturesquely warm welcome. In a voiceover, Moore, shown beaming at his little band of visitors, says he told the Cuban doctors to "give them the same care they'd give Cuban citizens." Then he adds, dramatically: "And they did."

If Moore really believes this, he may be a greater fool than even his most feverish detractors claim him to be. Nevertheless, medical care is provided to the visiting Americans, and it is indeed excellent. Cuba is in fact the site of some world-class medical facilities (surprising in a country that, as Ricardo Alonso-Zaldivar noted in the Los Angeles Times last month, "imprisoned a doctor in the late 1990s for speaking out against government failure to respond to an epidemic of a mosquito-borne virus"). What Moore doesn't mention is the flourishing Cuban industry of "health tourism" — a system in which foreigners (including self-admitted multimillionaire film directors and, of course, government bigwigs) who are willing to pay cash for anything from brain-surgery to dental work can purchase a level of treatment that's unavailable to the majority of Cubans with no hard currency at their disposal. The Cuban American National Foundation (admittedly a group with no love for the Castro regime) calls this "medical apartheid." And in a 2004 article in Canada's National Post, writer Isabel Vincent quoted a dissident Cuban neurosurgeon, Doctor Hilda Molina, as saying, "Cubans should be treated the same as foreigners. Cubans have less rights in their own country than foreigners who visit here."

As the Caribbean sun sank down on Moore's breathtakingly meretricious movie, I couldn't help recalling that when Fidel Castro became gravely ill last year, he didn't put himself in the hands of a Cuban surgeon. No. Instead, he had a specialist flown in — from Spain.

(H/T to Michelle Malkin, who links to the blogburst)