Get the F*** Out

October 20, 2010


For five decades, the Castro regime has made it absolutely clear -- through torture, imprisonment and executions -- that Cuba is its exclusive, totalitarian fiefdom.

No exceptions.

And if any Cuban doesn't like it -- nor any of the above options -- they can simply get the f*** out (pardon the vulgarity, but there's really no better way to capture such preponderance).

Thus, in effect, nothing has changed in Cuba.

Well -- almost nothing.

Sadly, what has changed is the role being played by the Cuban Catholic Church, led by Cardinal Jaime Ortega, which has regressed from being a historic victim of the Castro regime to becoming the current henchman of its "forced exile" policy.

This year (2010) began with the tragic death of Cuban political prisoner Orlando Zapata Tamayo and the heroic efforts of the Ladies in White. Through their tremendous sacrifice, the Castro regime was confronted with unprecedented international scrutiny and pressure. Yet, as the year closes, that pressure has waned thanks to the "forced exit" hatch held open by the Catholic Church.

Two recent news items sealed their shamelessness.

First, it was confirmed that 3 political prisoners who were not part of the 52 announced for release in July will be sent to Spain this week.

Meanwhile, 13 of the original 52 remain in prison. Why? Because they refuse to be banished to Spain.

Instead of insisting on the unconditional release of these innocent men in Cuba, the Catholic Church has instead focused on alternatives -- for their banishment -- such as sending them to Mexico, Chile or the U.S.

Since the 13 have continuously refused, the Church has moved on to three others that will accept banishment.

As if that wasn't enough, the Church has also been trying to force the mother of Orlando Zapata Tamayo to leave the island. Reina Luisa Tamayo has undoubtedly been a thorn in the side of the Castro regime, for the "crime" of demanding the freedom to visit her son's grave and keep his memory alive.

Therefore, in a one-two punch, the Castro regime has made Reina Luisa's life impossible -- her home under constant surveillance and her family harassed and assaulted.

Then, upon exhausting her with unbearable repression, the Catholic Church intercedes to provide her with an "exit strategy" -- to be exiled abroad.

The excitement of her potential exile was such that the Catholic Church got ahead of itself and hastily notified the media, which immediately published the news (unlike the weeks it takes them to publish news of her daily repression). But soon thereafter, she burst their bubble.

"...one cannot be happy in exile or in oblivion. One cannot always be a stranger. I want to return to my homeland, make all my loved ones happy. I see no further than this."

-- Albert Camus (1913–1960), French-Algerian novelist, dramatist, philosopher.