Cuba’s spotlight reveals the revolution’s failure, not America’s imperialism’ | Opinion
Cuba’s failures
A positive result of the recent media spotlight on Cuba is that the world now knows the Cuban Revolution’s failure is responsible for the dire conditions on the island. Before the revolution, Cuba enjoyed one of the best living standards in the Americas, as measured by respectable organizations. Today, that standard is among the worst.
The media now frequently mentions GAESA’s monopolistic control of Cuba’s economy, which, ironically, is not a communist, socialist, or Marxist organization, but a capitalist one. The acronym, in English, is Administrative Entrepreneurial Group, with S.A. being the Cuban equivalent of Incorporated. Can’t get more capitalist than that!
Cuba’s repressive military establishment, which is headed by Raúl Castro, runs this very capitalist group, not for the benefit of the Cuban people, but to enrich themselves and their families. GAESA controls hotels, resorts, retail stores, banking ports, remittances, real estate and construction, among other industries.
Recently, Cuba’s President Miguel Díaz-Canel devoted seven minutes of a press conference to blame the island’s lack of electricity on the “imperialist” Americans. The U.S. has cut off Venezuela’s oil shipments to Cuba and pressured other countries to halt shipments, but the island’s electrical problems have existed for decades.
Díaz-Canel devoted the rest of the hour to reiterating the revolution’s achievements and to announce that 700 bakery ovens across Cuba had been converted from electric or gas to charcoal or firewood. For heaven’s sake, we’re 25 years into the 21st century!
Hopefully, after 66 years of suffering and misery, help will arrive with the $100 million aid package of food and medicine the U.S. offered and which the Cuban regime eventually accepted. A condition of the aid is that it be administered by non-governmental entities and not GAESA, for obvious reasons.
Leslie Pantín,
president,
The Pantin Partnership,
Coral Gables
Foggy port deal
Re: the June 5 story, “Miami Dade mayor rejects $400 million port deal negotiated by her administration.“ As part of her fiduciary duty to the residents of Miami-Dade County, it is appropriate for the mayor to release the entire proposed agreement, including all of its terms, to the public.
Some extraordinarily talented experts live here, and I would like to hear or read from them on what they think of this abandoned deal.
Robert E. Panoff,
Pinecrest
Learn to relate
The June 7 Real Estate Counselor column published in the Miami Herald’s Neighbors section, “Community Associations need emotional Intelligence to go with managing the rules,” was helpful and valuable for board members of any condo or homeowner association seeking successful management.
However, the author, Niurys Robaina, placed the emphasis on board members’ lack of emotional intelligence. She did not mention the condo owners who make the work of these board members so difficult. The members are volunteers who donate their time and effort to manage building operations in which, as owners themselves, successful management is a top priority.
Some condo owners take any unpleasant notice, such as a budget increase or violation letter, as a personal attack. They see the board members as the enemy instead of equal owners with the same goals. They often treat them with disrespect and hostility. Board meetings then become uncomfortable for everyone.
Emotional intelligence is the greatest ability to understand others, resulting in greater communication and better understanding among all humans.
Sylvia Viyella,
Coral Gables
Trump wins again
With the decision from acting U.S. Attorney General Todd Blanche — and with tacit Republican support — the Trump family and affiliated companies’ income tax returns will be exempt from IRS audit.
The Trump organization (previously convicted of tax fraud) will now be enticed to take aggressive tax positions without fear of penalties, regardless of how flagrant those positions may be.
Myles Klein,
Aventura
Osher is online
Re: Norma Orovitz’s June 5 op-ed, “Closure of FIU’s center is a blow to seniors.” I’m so sorry her classes are being discontinued; it is disconcerting to lose such a vital connection.
The good news, particularly for those interested in remote learning, is that there are wonderful Osher Lifelong Learning Institutes (OLLI) throughout the country and many offer Zoom-style classes with nominal fees. The closest is at the University of Miami — a wonderful, thriving group with affiliations to other OLLIs to share classes.
A sampling of OLLIs nationally, each with unique offerings, include Auburn, Brandeis, the California State and University systems, Carnegie Mellon, Dartmouth, Duke, Emory, FAU, FSU, Johns Hopkins, Northwestern, Penn State, SUNY, UMass, the Universities of Michigan, North Carolina, Texas, and Virginia, Vanderbilt and William & Mary.
Through distance learning, many of these are open to anyone 50 and over. Gather your friends and find enlightening subjects to take together while making new friends. A full list of OLLI programs nationwide are available at https://www.osherfoundation.org/olli_list.html.
Ally Easley,
Miami
Iran strategy
At the start of World War Two, the French Maginot fortifications, with all its guns facing East, were ineffective against Germany’s assault. The German army outflanked the line by invading the low countries (Belgium, the Netherlands, Luxembourg), with little deterrence from French troops. War strategy changes during battles and over the decades.
There is no question that the United States’ and Israel’s strategies of waging the Iran war may differ, but there is also no question they share the same goals:
- Iran must not have nuclear weapons and the existing fissionable material must be either removed or destroyed;
- The Strait of Hormuz must be permanently open and free for all to navigate;
- Iran’s ballistic missiles must be removed;
- Iran must stop financial and military support for Hamas, Hezbollah and Houthis.
All this may be a tall order, however, implementation may provide a safer and more prosperous Middle East for all involved.
Roger Shatanoff,
Coral Gables
Dominoes falling
The capture of Venezuelan dictator Nicolás Maduro, with U. S. assistance, has unleashed a move away from communism in the western hemisphere. Maduro’s removal gives the once-wealthy Venezuela an opportunity to reverse the descent toward a Cuba-like economy. Venezuela’s oil industry is slowly revitalizing, with the opportunity to benefit the people rather than the corrupt Maduro family.
As is true in other communist countries, the inefficiency and lack of investment in infrastructure virtually destroyed Venezuela’s economy. The process is slow and must end with open, democratic elections.
The trend in Latin America is evident as nations move toward western democracy and free enterprise.
Cuba is in the worst shape economically and politically since the communist revolution. The Trump administration is attempting to hold the Cuban dictatorship accountable for this suffering with the indictment of Raúl Castro, economic pressure and sanctioning the communist leadership. These moves will eventually lead to the downfall of that regime and restoration of a democratic and free Venezuela and, hopefully, Nicaragua.
Tim Seale,
Miami
Fearless and brave
If there is someone out there to honor and give thanks to, it is Miami Herald investigative reporter Julie K. Brown. When we remember unsung heroes, Brown should come to mind. Her investigative abilities demand an equal respect for her choice of taking on those powerful figures who believe themselves inviolate. May her reign continue.
Michael G. Merhige,
Kendall
News, not flash
My wife and I are on a couple’s odyssey. Less daunting, perhaps, than actor Matt Damon’s soon to be released movie, but seemingly equally challenging.
What is the goal?
To find a national network news program that provides real news. We seem to fast-forward through innumerable local human interest stories that may be amusing, shocking, touching or interesting, but in truth, do absolutely nothing to inform about the world around us.
We’re eager to learn. We need information, not pablum.
Bruce Shpiner,
Miami