Buena Vista Social Club
This week we watched a very engaging little film, Buena Vista Social Club on Mary Jane's computer. Loved the music and enjoyed learning something about the lives of the Cuban musicians. One thing that struck us was dilapidated condition of everything around Havana. The place appeared to be clean and neat, but paint and maintenance was lacking and there didn't seem to be anything in the way of new construction that one notices in any film shot in American cities. And those cobbled together classic cars lining the streets in every exterior scene were almost surreal.
At first glance the average American is supposed to take this as proof of the inferiority of the socialist system, unable to even manage a few gallons of fresh paint and new cars for the people. Then it struck me, the Cubans committed the grave sin of overthrowing a Washington backed government, cleared the country of Mafia and big business interests and tried to organize their society along egalitarian principals. This is not allowed, and fifty years of punishment at the hands of the ruling elite in the U.S. is the result.
The implications for us here in the belly of the beast are obvious. No matter how much we may want to vote for change, the same ruling elements still have their boots at our necks, and they will not give up easily. Take the Cuban experience as a lesson. A half century of senseless embargo just to teach those foolish people a lesson. Never mind that the people behind this draconian response to the Cuban revolution would certainly have profited greatly if normal commerce had continued with the island. No, it is forbidden to take charge of your own affairs period. And it will not happen in this country any time soon either.
The very same elements who are responsible for punishing the Cuban people have a pathological grip on power in this country and will not willingly let it go. Behind the walls of their gated communities the the rest of us may as well be living in Sadar City or Havana. It will take a lot more than a few votes in the heavily choreographed elections we are allowed to have in this country to fix the problem, and after a generation of powerful propagandized media and co-opted churches, the class of people who have the most to gain by clearing the gangsters out of this country tend to be their most strident supporters.
If there is a future for our species, all this will make for fascinating historical reading, but it may not be the best of times to be a citizen in this particular empire.
At first glance the average American is supposed to take this as proof of the inferiority of the socialist system, unable to even manage a few gallons of fresh paint and new cars for the people. Then it struck me, the Cubans committed the grave sin of overthrowing a Washington backed government, cleared the country of Mafia and big business interests and tried to organize their society along egalitarian principals. This is not allowed, and fifty years of punishment at the hands of the ruling elite in the U.S. is the result.
The implications for us here in the belly of the beast are obvious. No matter how much we may want to vote for change, the same ruling elements still have their boots at our necks, and they will not give up easily. Take the Cuban experience as a lesson. A half century of senseless embargo just to teach those foolish people a lesson. Never mind that the people behind this draconian response to the Cuban revolution would certainly have profited greatly if normal commerce had continued with the island. No, it is forbidden to take charge of your own affairs period. And it will not happen in this country any time soon either.
The very same elements who are responsible for punishing the Cuban people have a pathological grip on power in this country and will not willingly let it go. Behind the walls of their gated communities the the rest of us may as well be living in Sadar City or Havana. It will take a lot more than a few votes in the heavily choreographed elections we are allowed to have in this country to fix the problem, and after a generation of powerful propagandized media and co-opted churches, the class of people who have the most to gain by clearing the gangsters out of this country tend to be their most strident supporters.
If there is a future for our species, all this will make for fascinating historical reading, but it may not be the best of times to be a citizen in this particular empire.
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