Loading ...Cuba’s Forbearance of President Barack Obama
BY: Barbara Nimri Aziz/Contributing Writer
President Obama began his address to the Cuban people in Havana invoking parallels between America’s and Cuba’s political histories: “We both live in a new world colonized by Europeans; and Cuba, like the US was built in part by slaves brought here from Africa; and Cubans, like us, can trace our heritage to slaves and to slave owners”. He listed other commonalities before turning, however gently, to differences, then unabashedly ‘selling’ his American democracy.
In the March21 press conference the day before with his counterpart President Raul Castro, after some intelligent, compassionate remarks, Obama raised the hackneyed human-rights stick that obsesses western diplomats. Why Obama is compelled –I suppose because, after all, he IS American– to shift from noble dialogue and grace to political posturing, I can’t understand. His condescending remarks reduce Obama from an outstanding individual to a humdrum spokesman. Raul Castro, prepared for the American’s subtle assault, made a firm rejoinder, pointing out just how inclusive the concept and application of ‘human rights’ really is and where the US falls short. Castro too reminded us that the US embargo is still in place, an issue we might forget given the press’ attention on not what the US is withholding but what Cuba is offering: tourist pleasures and profits for US businesses.
By Tuesday, both the press conference and Obama’s address were overshadowed by news of the terror attacks in Belgium. Maybe TV networks welcomed the diversion, with their rosters of terror experts within easy reach. Covering terror is easier than admitting how gracious and resolute the Cubans are, more graphic than questioning why America continues the embargo on Cuba.
US press coverage of the historic visit of President Obama began with little substance. Reporters, perhaps contemplating their next book, opine how tourists won’t be able to see (quaint) old Cuba, with its decrepit 1950-model autos, its deteriorating manors, and discontents who fawningly approach them for American jeans or a Mets baseball cap. What reporters warn us will follow is the end of the cheap Cuba, the Cuba where their American dollar would go far, the Cuba accessible only from a Canadian airport, a Cuba without internet that offers you a real rest.
I regret not visiting Cuba during its hard years and its revolutionary wetness, when it built its powerful global reputation. My colleagues at WBAI Radio producers and activists Rosemary Mealy and Sally O’Brien kept us informed of the stalwart Cuban spirit, their social achievements and steady diplomatic successes. They documented the mean-spirited embargo against Cuba, highlighting each US veto against Cuba at the United Nations despite overwhelming support from the rest of the globe.
While these colleagues focused on Cuba, I was in Iraq witnessing the newly imposed US-led and policed embargo there. Iraq’s isolation was more severe, abandoned by its Arab neighbors and largely ignored by the world press. Not to compare this barbarian form of collective punishment in the two nations. (It was dramatically different.)
I recall how Cuba’s embargo experience arose obliquely each time I arrived in Iraq. From 1991 to 1998, I was repeatedly confronted by the question, “When will the embargo end?” Hundreds of thousands of Iraqis perished in that bloodless assault; it penetrated every home; the economy swiftly collapsed; medical care was shredded, farms closed down, disease flourished. (Four million fled their homeland.) At first, I replied to that naïve question saying “Look at Cuba”, meaning look how long the US has imposed sanctions there. What I should have suggested was that Iraqis look to Cuba for ways to survive and counter such punishment.
If only Iraqis had learned from Cuba. If only Iraq had not been a leading Arab champion of the Palestinian struggle for statehood, a position unacceptable to US-Israeli interests. If only Iraq and fellow Arab states succored one another with a healthy revolutionary spirit. If only Iraq had not exhibited such prowess, and hadn’t invaded a neighbor even though Baghdad’s military power was bolstered by the West (mainly USA) to fight its greater enemy Iran.
But the two peoples and two embargoes are not comparable. Neither is the outcome. Eventually, after 8 years of a tortuous blockade, in 1998 Iraq abandoned attempts to appease the US or win UN approval, and sought other means to rebuild itself. It had begun to succeed when the US announced the sanctions regime had failed and in 2003 proceeded with plans to finish Iraq off with an invasion, crushing its leadership, throwing its borders open and forcing privatization of its oil.
Cuba was smarter and more self-sufficient. It furthered revolutionary ideals with friends while also ensuring its citizens were cared for. Cuba build its outstanding medical service while a succession of Latin American neighbors carried out their own social and political revolutions, until finally it was the powerful USA who found itself isolated, its meanness and hubris exposed for all to see.