Cuban Health System

"It was just mentioned to me by our esteemed speaker, 'Did anyone say
anything about the Cuban health system?' And lemme tell ya, before you
say “Oh, it’s a commu–”, you need to go down there and see what Fidel
Castro put in place. And I want you to know, now, you can think whatever
you want to about Fidel Castro, but he was one of the brightest leaders
I have ever met. [APPLAUSE] And you know, the Cuban revolution that
kicked out the wealthy, Che Guevara did that, and then, after they took
over, they went out among the population to find someone who could lead
this new nation, and they found…well, just leave it there (laughs), an
attorney by the name of Fidel Castro…"

Oh man... I came across this video and transcript (thanks Charlie) of a congresswoman from L.A. praising the Cuban Revolution and Fidel Castro stating that he is one of the brightest leaders she's ever met and that the health system in Cuba is one that America should aspire to.

No offense lady, but have you been to a Cuban hospital? I don't mean the nice one for tourists that Michael Moore went to, I meant the "REAL" hospitals that regular every day people go to? Didn't your mother teach you not to be a Communist? Didn't you grow up in the land of opportunity? I bet you never tried to get on a raft made of tires and driftwood to sneak INTO CUBA!

Anyways... Enough said, read the transcript or watch the video and I dare ANY of you to come up with something positive to say about Watson's stance about Castro.

Chavez Blames US and EU for Unrest in Iran

After some of the international community has spoken out against the violence in Iran (or at least pretended to) and after president Obama addressed the issue; ut should come as no surprise that self-made arch-nemesis of the US, Hugo Chavez is blaming the US and Europe for the uprising in Iran.

Now... here's a point I'd like to make to President Chavez in regards to his comments:

Just because you didn't like Bush and probably don't like Obama, it doesn't mean that you have to contradict everything that the US has said. If you'd like to accuse the US and Europe of inciting these riots please provide proof because so far certain sources say over 150 people have died and, as far as I know, they were ALL civilians.

Are you saying that the militia that is killing civilians backed by the US?
Or that the Iranian military is funded by Europe?
Or are you blaming the US and Europe because the PEOPLE WANT TO BE HEARD?
Or... are you just being contrary because it's what is expected of you?

Either way... you've managed to stay in power this long, a lot of your people genuinely admire you and some will believe everything that you say, so please, when you are going to blame the entire world for something without providing proof... please be aware that your words can have real consequences for the people living inside your borders.

A word of advice, before you decide to accuse any nation of something like this again without having proof, remember the story of the little boy who cried wolf.

Muchacho Enfermo

Hate Crime in DC

Watching the news last night and reading about it on half a dozen websites today, I decided that I'm going to post about James von Brunn, the white-supremacist who walked into the Holocaust museum in DC yesterday and killed a security guard...

First off though, I'd like to offer my condolences to the family of Stephen T. Johns the security guard who lost his life to take down von Brunn.

When you go to von Brunn's website you can see the ignorance and hatred of this WWII veteran. He promotes his book called: "Kill the Best Gentiles!" that he claims is "A new, hard-hitting exposé of the JEW CONSPIRACY to destroy the White gene-pool". This guy is a total nut-job. He's tried in the past to kidnap board members of the federal reserve and he's been to jail for his "cause".

Yesterday I was writing about causes and those I didn't understand, this in one of the ones I don't understand. How does one deny the Holocaust? Why is white-supremacy so important? Why walk into a museum to kill people? What pushes a man to do this? And more importantly why does he have supporters?

I have family members who were in those death camps and I have family members who were POWs in concentration camps.

No one can make me believe it didn't happen and no one can make believe that being white gives you the divine right to rule the world. How can a person have so much hate in their hearts as to want a whole race wiped off the face of the earth? How can a person born and raised in a free country like the US, born with the privilege of a good education system, born with the right to choose his destiny decide one day that all of his failures and shortcomings be caused by the people his fellow soldiers died to save in WWII?

On second thought... I don't even want to know. I think the answers would be even more mysterious and frustrating than the questions.

Muchacho Enfermo

Punishment from the US and the UN?

So I'm going to go ahead and miss the boat on this one and I'm going to post something completely off-topic, well maybe a little bit off-topic... you be the judge

I was reading this article this morning: 2 U.S. journalists on trial in North Korea from the Associated Press. While reading the article and thinking of how to post about it, a sentence really jumped out at me and made me veer off the topic of the sad story of these two journalists. First here's the sentence:
"As discussions continued at the United Nations and in Washington on how to punish the regime for its defiance..."

Wow... the US and the UN are trying to find a way to punish North-Korea for its defiance? It's really easy for the UN and for the US to try and tell a small essentially bankrupt nation what to do isn't it? And when they don't listen the world gets all upset and scolds that country the way you would scold a 4 year old for drawing on the walls of your kitchen.

But when a big country like China jails people for supporting Tibet before the Olympics or bans hotmail or jails local journalists for having opinions the UN and the US would never EVER dream of imposing sanctions or punishment on them... I wonder why?

Or when a small country close to them like Cuba has political prisoners and more jailed journalists per capita than any other place on earth (according to Reporters without Borders) all they do is keep the embargo and don't demand anything else.

Or when in Burma bloggers are jailed for 58 years and the opposition leader awaits trial in her hospital room because an American swam to her home/prison thus forcing her to violate the terms of her house arrest; no one says anything.

So what makes North-Korea so damned special? Why does anyone care? Oh yeah: nukes! They've threatened to attack the US... that's what makes them special. That's what warrants the UN's attention. Threatening the world largest and most powerful military (that could probably destroy NK in like 17 1/2 minutes) is definitely something that is infinitely more important than the defense of the innocent people that live in these countries that are jailed, tortured and starved on a daily basis for being different.

Not that they'll listen to me but here's my message to the UN: If you want to be taken seriously start taking action and demanding justice for ALL innocents jailed and tortured and living under repressive regimes that ignore Human Rights. And please PLEASE kick China and Cuba off your Human Rights Council. Seriously it's just shameful that they're there...

Muchacho Enfermo

And Now the State Department?

When I first posted about Laura Gainey's death and the subsequent withholding of information by the Conservative government, I did not expect that of my 20 hits per day I'd have the Canadian Government read it which they did.

Now, for some reason the US State Department seems interested in the story.


I'm not exactly sure why, but I really wish one of the two governments would leave some sort of comment! Please...

Muchacho Enfermo

Holy crap... Man in the US sold his daughter for 16k

That's right folks... A man from California sold his 14 year old daughter into marriage for a grand total of $16,000 and an undisclosed amount of beer and meat. The only reason the authorities found out was because the father went to the police when payment wasn't made.

Can you believe this crap? I know I can't, not even a little bit. I'd sell, maybe, some hockey cards for meat if I was really hard up, but my own offspring? This dude is nuts... thankfully he now faces a year in jail and then deportation.

I must say that whenever I hear stories like this it makes me want to to jump on a plane and being back the good old vigilante justice that I'm so fond of... If he was in Canada he'd get a slap on the wrist, but since he's in the US this backwards @ss father will face a much harsher sentence.

The moral of this story folks? There just isn't one. Something is just really REALLY wrong with the world when fathers sell their daughters.

Muchacho Enfermo

Obama to GM CEO: You're fired

In a move that surprised the industry and will surely rock the stock market today, President Obama asked GM CEO Rick Wagoner to resign. The President has also given Chrysler a 60 day deadline to prove it is worthy of bailout money.

I have a really mixed sort of emotion about this whole thing, as I'm writing this I'm not even sure how the end of this post will look.

On the one hand I LOVE the accountability that Obama is trying to push hard for, especially when giving out tax dollars; as opposed to say... the proposed Conservative slush fund to "quickly disperse the money without going through the usual parliamentary spending checks" , which did not have the safeguards in place to protect Canadian tax dollars. I also love that the President seems to be paying attention to what companies are doing and the economy.

On the flip side, I don't like that when he appears on TV for presidential addresses the stock market almost inevitably goes down the next day. I also very much dislike the idea that a President of the US can force the president of a publicly traded company to resign. Can he urge the board to make radical changes? Certainly. Could he make suggestions to said board? Of course, the bailout money is his to dole out.

But GM is not a federally owned company, like say VIA Rail is here in Canada. That for me is where my moral dilemma lies. I understand that he's trying to look out for his people, making sure their money is well spent, making sure that past trends are reversed; and I agree with all of that. I just have a hard time believing what I'm seeing in the country that is probably the purest form of capitalism known to man, you wouldn't even see something like this in Canada and we LOVE public programs such as Healthcare, Medicare, EI, Welfare, Child Tax Credits and "Free Education". The only time CEOs here were forced to step down was after the sponsorship scandal where government funds had been misspent and misdirected.

GM under its current management probably doesn't deserve billions of tax dollars and yes, the CEO should have resigned, along with most of the board. But that's just my view, as a potential shareholder. Maybe the President is also a shareholder... In any case, as steward to the trillions of American Tax Dollars and after the bailout goes, he'll be the only shareholder that matters.

Muchacho Enfermo

Welcome to the US...eh?

As much as I hate to rag on our neighbors to the south the story I read yesterday in the Globe and Mail nearly killed me.

A Canadian citizen was pepper sprayed and interrogated for the 3 hours at a US border crossing off British Columbia for get this: asking them to be polite. He was told to turn off his car engine, he asked the border guard to say please at which point he was asked to exit the vehicle, pepper sprayed, tackled to the ground and interrogated by US customs officers.

This is a guy who apparently crosses the border 3 times per week to visit his second home in Washington state.In order to cross into the US, he must now provide written proof from the mounties that he does not have a criminal record and that he is in fact Canadian.

A US customs spokesman said that the officers gave a lawful order that travelers must obey.

And people ask me why I don't shop in Vermont anymore...

New years eve reflections and wishes for the new year

I'm sitting in my kitchen sipping on a beer and reflecting back on 2008. The whole tumultuous year that has seen Canada through another election, one in Quebec, the financial meltdown, renewed violence in Gaza, the whole business with Irak, my travels throughout the Americas and Canada. Looking back on the amazing people I've met (you all know who you are, despite the fact that some of you can't even view my blog), the things I've seen and done. Looking back on all this... I'm happy. I'm happy I went where I went, I'm in some strange way glad for the meltdown that forced me into a new life. All in all, 2008 was a huge success for me and I'm sad to see it go.

For 2009, despite the fact I'm sad to see 2008 finish, I'm looking forward to 2009, if only for my friends my Cuba. One more year forward is one year closer to change. I keep this little island country in my heart everyday and everyday I knock on wood for change.

For 2009 here are my wishes:
-For my blog: I want to increase my traffic, figuring this out is tough for me but I hope I can get more people here and spark some meaningful debates.
-For Canada: I wish that our politicians grow up and step up and figure out what we need in this time of crisis.
-For Gaza: I wish that there is a compromise that will finally end decades of bloodshed.
-For Africa: I wish an end to corruption of government, for the world to finally realize that Africa needs us.
-For South America: To realize that they are all sovereign nations without the need for radical views or extremist governments (ie Bolivia, Venezuela).
-For Russia: For Putin not to pass the laws he plans on passing.
-For Hoder: Freedom from Iranian jail and for the spotlight to be brought to Human Rights in that country.
-For Burma: For the struggle for human rights come to an end. For my friend and fellow blogger Ashin Mettacara not go to prison.
-For the US: That Obama really is change for the better.
-For Cuba: I wish for Cuba freedom, all sorts of freedoms. I wish for free elections, for reforms and for freedom of thought and expression. For Yoani Sanchez to continue paving the way for other revolutionaries.
-For my fellow bloggers: I wish the strength to carry on the good fight in the face of adversity or low readership. You are all making a difference no matter how small, you change the world one person at a time. Never give up.

In conclusion that's my motto for 2009: Never give up.

Muchacho Enfermo

Protest in support of "Shoe Thrower" held in Montreal and Toronto

The Canadian Press reported that yesterday protest were were held in Toronto and Montreal to show support for the shoe thrower who tried to hit outgoing President George Bush with both of his shoes.

40 or so protesters in Montreal went to the US consulate and threw shoes at black and white pictures of the president. One of the first to do this was new elected Amir Khadir who ran for the separatist party Quebec Solidaire. Protesters spoke to anyone they could find in the media and made sure to mention that this was a "humorous protest". After the shoe throwing was over the Montreal protesters walked over to the Canadian Armed Forces recruiting Center and protested something else.

In the Toronto group of protesters was an Iraqi refugee by the name Ahmed Habib who stated he hopes that Canadian journalists start throwing shoes at Stephen Harper.

Normally, I like protest and I'm really happy that as Canadians we have the right to protest. I just wish people would pick their causes a little better. Don't get me wrong I was the first to laugh when the reporter threw his shoes at Bush but holding protests in solidarity of him and trying to equate his actions towards Bush as something that should somehow be done against our Prime Minister? I don't think so, I'm pretty sure if you asked the shoe thrower himself what he though of Stephen Harper he wouldn't even know or care about who he was.

Also, I just think the manner in which this protest was conducted, especially in Montreal, exhibited a complete lack of control and is a black eye on this city.

Not to mention that if any protest should be in Canada right now it should be about having blogger and fellow Canadian Hossein Derakhshan released from jail in Iran for speaking his mind. This seems a little bit more important to me then showing your solidarity for the shoe thrower. Just my two cents.

Muchacho Enfermo

Mariela Castro and US agree on Human Rights

The US this week was the only western nation to vote a against a non-binding declaration proposed by the UN to decriminalize homosexuality. In voting against this motion the US is sending a clear message that although it has signed the Declaration of Human Rights 60 years ago, it seems that it considers homosexuality to be outside of that declaration and that sexual preference is not a basic Human Right.

In Cuba, Mariela Castro (daughter of Raul Castro and director of the Cuban National Center for Sex Education) was holding a conference on the inclusion of homosexuals and transgendered people into Cuban society. At this conference she was asked by Yoani Sanchez (author of Generation Y)if Cuba's acceptance of gay and transgendered rights would open the door for a more widespread reform on Human Rights, such as giving Cubans the right to have political opinions. Mariela answered that this was outside her field of responsibility. Later in a letter she wrote, she more or less indicates that a discussion about gay rights is in no way related to a discussion about greater Human Rights.

So.... without even talking to each other about it both Cuba and the US seem to think that sexual preference is not really related to Human Rights. Maybe these two feuding nations have more in common then they like to admit.

Muchacho Enfermo

Castro: Wants to trade political prisoners for the "Cuban Five"

In Brazil today President Castro, little brother of Fidel Castro, has said that he is willing to send political prisoners and their families to the US in exchange for the "Cuban Five". The Cuban five are currently imprisoned in the US for espionage and attempted murder.

Castro has stated that he do "gesture for gesture" as a show of goodwill to the president elect Barack Obama and hopefully spur talks about ending the embargo. This comes on the heals of the other 32 South American and Caribbean nations having urged the US, last Tuesday, to end the embargo against Cuba.

We will have to wait and see if this pans out for Castro. If it does it would mean a major image boost in Cuba for his regime that has done their best to portray the "Cuban Five" as the "Five Heroes".

Nobody knows how this will play out on either side. Will Cuba hold their end of the proposed deal? Will the US cave and make the trade? This could be a chance to help the US rebuild their international reputation that has suffered worldwide in the last few years. International pressure has been mounting in the last few months for the US to lift the embargo, since both the UN and the EU have both voted to oppose it.

In my opinion, nothing will come of this, both sides are too entrenched in their self-righteousness to make a move and both sides have to deal with tremendous opposition pressure from within. I think this was just another volley in an ongoing war of words between the two nations.

For more information please visit Reuters.

Muchacho Enfermo

What happened to the shoe thrower?

The associated press today put out a video by Ed Donahue in which he reports that the Iraqi journalist that threw his shoes at Dubya hasn't been seen since being handed over to the Iraqi judicial system directly after the incident. The man's employer says he was seriously harmed in the aftermath of the shoe hurling while other officials say he is in good health. The White House also states they have confidence in the Iraqi judicial system.

One wonders if the Iraqis will judge him harshly to cozy up to the US or if they will grant him clemency because of world wide press coverage...

Muchacho Enfermo

"Hit Bush with the Shoe": Most popular game in Irak

I laughed so hard when I read this:

“The war is not over,” Mr. Bush said, adding that “it is decisively on it's way to being won.”
It was at that point the journalist stood up and threw a shoe. Mr. Bush ducked, and it narrowly missed his head.

No one says what happened to the guy after he was tackled by the soldiers though... I'd be curious to see a follow up story on this.

Muchacho Enfermo

The world according to me (dec 12 2008)

Ecuador: Defaulting on debts owed to their own people is okay? Ecuador says that it is fighting foreign monsters as it decides to defaults on 2012 bonds... Good jobs Ecuador, how many of those bonds were bought by your own citizens?

US/CUBA: Portugal decides to take in detainees from Guantanamo. The US has hailed this as a great idea as they slowly move towards closing this Human Rights black hole, but now they are also saying the closure, set for January 20th 2009, will have to wait. It will have to wait because the US is all of a sudden concerned that the current prisoners might not be treated humanely in other countries... my question is: Were they treated humanely in Guantanamo?

Tibet: Sovereign leaders are not allowed to speak with the Dalai Lama. China has stated their discontent in the face of recent meetings between the French Prime Minister, the Polish Government and the Dalai Lama. China seems to think that meeting with the Dalai Lama as a spiritual leader also strengthens his position as a leader in exile. Good job China, just cause your big... doesn't mean you're the boss.

Cuba (as always) : Here's a kind of not really well researched but still interesting enough article on the realities of life as a counter-revolutionary in Cuba. Read it and learn people, then go check out Generation Y and all of Yoani's links on my blogroll.

Canada : I decided to google the question: Does Canada suck... here's what I found out from yahoo answers : No!

That's about it for tonight... I'm more then a little drunk sitting at the pub... so I'll probably post more when I can actually type. Have a great weekend everyone!

Muchacho Enfermo