Ironically, I am posting this essay after correcting "errors" inserted by N.J. hackers who do not like my criticisms of Senator Bob. It may be that these Cuban students have as much freedom as I do. Maybe more. I wonder how many of them have been tortured or see their writings defaced and vandalized to the indifference of governmental authorities. (Please see "New Jersey's Third-World Ethics" and "Senator Bob, the Babe, and the Big Bucks.") March 10, 2008 at 2:29 P.M.
In fact, newly discovered alterations of the spacing of sentences in this text suggests that Cuban-American Fascist elements can only threaten the freedom of persons struggling for self-expression, whether in the U.S. or Cuba. (I have just corrected an "error" in the foregoing sentence.) The Cubanoids from Miami or elsewhere are deserving of political "Preparation-H," not of your support. It saddens me to think that such persons are the most visible representatives of the Cuban-American community in America. No more "errors" inserted today? March 13, 2008 at 9:40 A.M. Any more "errors" to be inserted today, boys?
James C. McKinley, Jr., "Cyber-Rebels In Cuba Defy the State's Limits," in The New York Times, March 6, 2008, at p. A1.
"HAVANA -- A growing underground network of young people armed with computer memory sticks, digital cameras and clandestine Internet hookups has been mounting some challenges to the Cuban government in recent months, spreading news that the official state media try to suppress."
The Internet is a powerful tool for Democracy and freedom of expression. The Cuban government -- no government -- can contain ideas or the spread of intellectual curiosity, along with a growing desire to take the Cuban "brand" of socialism to a new level -- a level that allows for greater Democratic freedom and the inviolability of basic human rights. (See "Umberto Eco and the Semiotics of Power" as well as my book -- which I cannot see because of hackers -- entitled: Paul Ricouer and the Hermeneutics of Freedom.)
Before we deplore the undeniable repressions of the Cuban political reality, consider that a high official of the Cuban government met with students "face-to-face" in a no-holds-barred, question and answer session, and also that the video tape of the event is circulating in the capitol city.
Cuba is opening up. New ideas are wedging their way into the society. Do you wish to encourage or discourage that process? With a lifting of the embargo, MORE cultural exchanges, a greater participation by Cuba's brilliant young people in the global intellectual conversation of humanity -- the liberation of Cuban scientific and cultural creativity -- will result in improvements in the quality of life for all people, billions of dollars will flow into the economy, while allowing the Revolution to retain greater social equality resulting from the events of 1959. The goal for Cubans may be to bring their Revolution closer to completion by allowing for greater personal freedoms and economic prosperity, without a loss of social equality.
Today's Cuban Revolutionaries are a "Geek Squad." They do not carry guns, only digital cameras and laptops. They are not aiming missiles at the U.S. Students only have questions for the American people, especially for intellectuals and artists in this society. Where is the political courage and conscience of America's young people? From one "Geek" to others in Havana -- Venceremos. (No accents on this keyboard.)
In Havana, today's revolutionaries dress like fighters in the Matrix. "Whoa ..."
"Last month students at a prestigious computer science university videotaped an ugly confrontation they had with Ricardo Alarcon, the President of the National Assembly."
If this were 1963, those students would already be in prison or dead.
"Mr. Alarcon seemed flummoxed when students grilled him on why they could not travel abroad, stay at hotels, earn better wages or use search engines like Google. The video spread like wildfire through Havana, passed from person to person, and seriously damaged Mr. Alarcon's reputation in some circles. "
Can you imagine an unscripted encounter between Mr. Bush or Mr. Cheney and a group of sophisticated interlocutors concerning the state of the world? It is difficult to do so these days. Once upon a time, such a thing was not unheard of in American politics.
Cuba's Revolutionary government -- like any government, ANYWHERE -- belongs to you, the people, especially if you are a young person or any kind of student. Cuban students have the admiration and support of intellectuals and dissidents all over the world, struggling (as you are) to speak freely, facing the consequences (which can be devastating, also anywhere) for presuming to think and speak FREELY. Any more "errors" inserted in my essays today? Probably, just a few. ("How Censorship Works in America" and "More Censorship and Cybercrime.")
Like all of you: I am not a slave. I am a free human being. I will think and speak freely, regardless of who approves of my opinions. Being tortured and otherwise "penalized" has not altered my position on this matter. In the immortal words of Billy Joel at his concert in Moscow: "Don't take any shit!"
Whether your would-be silencers are Right-wing Cubanoids from Miami (more "Preparation H" anyone?), or the Cuban Revolutionary government's "nomenklatura," the result is exactly the same -- the suppression of that liberty for which Jose Marti suffered and died, which is the real promise of the United States of America to every person in the country and world. That liberty with equality and a healthy suspicion of government power is what the U.S. Constitution is all about. ("Manifesto for the Unfinished American Revolution.") Don't let anybody tell you something different about America.
Ideas cannot be jailed, tortured, beaten or suppressed for long, not even in New Jersey. I promise you that in some ways, New Jersey is as bad or WORSE (as fraudulent and just as sinister) as the Cuban government at its worst. The "Internet cannot be regulated" and the struggle to make use of this conversation (where we are right now) will never be won by political hacks in any society. In a battle of wits, government hacks -- in every nation -- are unarmed. This is fortunate. Keep fighting. I will struggle with you. Soon. Always.
