book on cuba

[Ken Gargett]

while i was away, i read 'adios, havana' by andrew rodriguez. it is the story of himself and his wife as, young people in cuba before and during the revolution and a little on his later life in the states after they escaped. granted, it certainly had a bias, and fair to say that fidel probably does not receive christmas cards from him, but a really interesting and enjoyable, if at times disturbing read.

even though i have been there quite a number of times, i have often wondered why some of the ex-pats still hold such hatred for castro and others, after all this time. i guess unless you were one of them it is impossible to fully understand but this book goes a long way to explaining it. the brief mention of what happens to his aunt, a woman who had studied around the world and was considering whether she should become a nun or marry the love of her life, is heartbreaking.

i got it through amazon a while ago. for anyone wanting to understand how something can go so horribly wrong, and why there is such lingering hatred, it is really worth reading. but it is from a perspective that is very much set against castro.

[sounddust]

Thanks Ken, I've always wanted to read more about the history of Cuba itself. May get it from bookdepository.co.uk (free intl' shipping) or my local book shop if they stock it (I doubt it).

[Colt45]

Thanks KG, I'll keep it in mind next time I order some books.

Why would anybody forced to flee tyranny maintain hatred for the tyrant.........

[Ken Gargett]

Why would anybody forced to flee tyranny maintain hatred for the tyrant.........

a compltely sensible comment of course, but being so distanced from the original event, in both distance and time, it has all sometimes seemed a bit cartoonish. this book brought home just how it affected normal, middle class people.

[Colt45]

being so distanced from the original event, in both distance and time, it has all sometimes seemed a bit cartoonish.

Perhaps try looking at it this way:

Even if it did not affect you directly, if someone committed atrocities against your mother, father, grandparents - how would

you feel about the perpetrators?

[Ken Gargett]

Perhaps try looking at it this way:

Even if it did not affect you directly, if someone committed atrocities against your mother, father, grandparents - how would

you feel about the perpetrators?

absolutely. i think part of it all stems from the fact that this small island has so effectively thumbed its nose at the world's greatest power, for so long. there is a touch of the underdog. it all seems a bit unreal from over here. then you look at something like vietnam and what happened there and there seems absolutely no lasting resentment towards either yourselves or us (though we were obviously a far more minor player, there would be legit gripes about our role). and i do realise that this is very much hindsight and not wishing to bring about any argument about the pros and cons of that conflict.

years ago, when i went through iran, there was absolutely no animosity towards american people from the locals (and again, not looking at rights and wrongs). the american govt was a different kettle of fish. but i remember thinking that i'd like to think i could differentiate in a similar manner if it ever came to that but i had doubts i could. when travelling, i have always got extremely annoyed at being lumped in with actions by the aussie govt, as though i'd personally approved of them - often quite the opposite.

[bolivr]

I understand and agree with Ken. Personally , time and again I have noticed how I need to separate in my mind what I think of a people versus what I think of their government.

Big difference. It has really only become apparent by actually visiting a country. When dubya was president I had a negative view of America that was blown away completely by the warmth, honesty and welcome I received from real Americans. It was humbling and has me looking forward to my next trip there.

Sure I need to visit Cuba but that's a bit different; I already have an affection for the people there, hey they roll my smokes after all .

[Colt45]

To be quite honest, I don't understand the correlation between ex-pat Cubans hating castro, and people

hating Americans / Australians.

[Colt45]

Thanks Ken, I've always wanted to read more about the history of Cuba itself. May get it from bookdepository.co.uk (free intl' shipping) or my local book shop if they stock it (I doubt it).

While not a history book, another book KG has recommended, which I've read and enjoyed is Looking For La Bomba by Richard Neill.

As an addendum to my previous post, I could understand a comparison of ex-pat Cubans with a disdain for castro and ex-pat

Cambodians with a disdain for the khmer rouge and pol pot. But personally I feel the other comparisons another story....

[Habanos2000]

Perhaps try looking at it this way:

Even if it did not affect you directly, if someone committed atrocities against your mother, father, grandparents - how would

you feel about the perpetrators?

Not too long ago I read Castro's spoken autobiography "My Life". I found his perspective on life in Cuba before, during and after the revolution rather interesting considering the version that we American's normally hear. I don't forgive him for killing political political prisoners, withholding basic human rights and generally being responsible for the lifestyles the Cuban people have had to endure the last 50 years, but I did find it eye opening. A totally new perspective from what I always understood to be the truth.

[Morientes50]

Why would anybody forced to flee tyranny maintain hatred for the tyrant.........

I usually put it this way. Imagine a country you love (Australia or The USA, for example) got taken over by a dictator and you were forced to leave it forever. Can you imagine yourself feeling warmly for that dictator? I don't think so. Not if he forced you to leave your home, family, comfort etc. to start over in a foreign land.

I've felt myself abliged to defend the Cuban-American community on another forum because attitudes towards them were quite hostile. Some Americans (not so much aussies) feel a bit peeved at the Cuban-Americans because their support for the embargo puts a barrier between them and the cigars they love. But you got to remember that it is natural to love your country and hate anyone who separates you from it. Americans would be just as bitter if forced to leave the u.s. in a like manner.

Now I feel the embargo is counter productive and, therefore, oppose it. But I understand the bitterness towards Castro as a natural consequence of folks that love their country being forced to leave.

[Ken Gargett]

I usually put it this way. Imagine a country you love (Australia or The USA, for example) got taken over by a dictator and you were forced to leave it forever. Can you imagine yourself feeling warmly for that dictator? I don't think so. Not if he forced you to leave your home, family, comfort etc. to start over in a foreign land.

I've felt myself abliged to defend the Cuban-American community on another forum because attitudes towards them were quite hostile. Some Americans (not so much aussies) feel a bit peeved at the Cuban-Americans because their support for the embargo puts a barrier between them and the cigars they love. But you got to remember that it is natural to love your country and hate anyone who separates you from it. Americans would be just as bitter if forced to leave the u.s. in a like manner.

Now I feel the embargo is counter productive and, therefore, oppose it. But I understand the bitterness towards Castro as a natural consequence of folks that love their country being forced to leave.

all of which makes terrific sense but when you visit the place, you miss a lot of this, of course. this book really did give me a different perspective.