Keep An Eye on Cuba
by Kathy Russell

Department of Philosophy
SUNY - Cortland

In June of this year I went to Cuba as part of a delegation of North American Philosophers and Social Scientists organized by the Radical Philosophy Association (RPA) to speak at a conference at the University of Havana. There were over 60 of us. Last year the delegation was over 90. Many had to drop out this year (e.g., a group of over 25 African Americans going to study Yoruba culture) because of yet another series of new travel restrictions. On March 24, the Office of Foreign Assets Control suspended people-to-people licenses for travel to Cuba. These new license requirements apply not only to US citizens, but also to non-citizens living here or traveling through a US agency.

 People-to-people licenses were part of the Track II strategy, the "battle of ideas," designed to allow people from our country to go to Cuba so that they could extol the glories of US capitalism to the Cuban people, thus undermining support for their government. But the Cubans were winning this particular battle because people were learning instead about all the positive things Cubans had—like free education and health care—and they wanted more of that here. So the rules changed!

 In its relations with Cuba the US has made a mockery of the universal principle of national sovereignty. We have not respected Cuba’s territorial integrity, nor its right to self determination. But our policies against Cuba have also limited the rights of US citizens: our freedom to get an education, to travel and to enter into economic and cultural exchanges, for example.

 Educational and cultural exchanges between our two countries have been virtually eliminated. Cuban musicians, students, intellectuals, athletes, and scientists are refused visas. I have invited Professor Miguel Limia, a noted Cuban philosopher and President of the Council of Social Sciences, to speak at SUNY-Cortland but his visa has been denied twice.

 Cuban successes

 The US blockade has worked to a certain extent, because it has hampered great social experiment that is the Cuban revolution from blossoming on its own terms. Despite repeated attempts by the US government to undermine it, however, the revolution has made inspiring progress.

 For example, health care in Cuba is universal and free. There is one family physician for every 168 people. Infant mortality fluctuates between 6 and 6.5 per 1000 live births, the lowest rate in the Western hemisphere. Today, 48% of all Cuban doctors are women and people of color (IFCO, Pastors for Peace volunteer).

 While I was there several Cubans were proud to tell me that 85% of the people own there own homes; the rest pay rent which is 10% of their salary. All children in Cuba have real access to free education and computers and audiovisual materials are found in every school --they use solar panels in remote areas even if there’s only one pupil. According to the UN Development Program and the World Bank, Cuba has a literacy rate of 97%. I visited a social work school where I met students who are part of a new program to provide young people between the ages of 17 and 30, who were not already in school or employed, the chance to go back to school and receive a stipend from the state while they study.

 Will Cuba Be Next?

 One thing that impressed me quite deeply when I was there is the very real worry that the US will attack Cuba as it has Iraq. After September 11 President Bush put Cuba on its list of terrorist nations, and he frequently accuses Cuba of developing biological weapons, despite internationally respected evidence that it is not doing so.

 In April US ambassador in the Dominican Republic Hans Hertell stated that the invasion of Iraq is "a very positive sign and is a very good example for Cuba." The war on Iraq is the beginning of "a crusade of liberation that will cover all countries in the world, including Cuba," he exulted.

 Florida governor Jeb Bush said that after the "success" of Iraq, the United States should look to Cuba. "A regime that totally lacks respect for human rights can’t be kept in place," he said (La Jornada, 4-12-03). This spring in Miami right-wing Cubans were demonstrating with signs reading "Iraq now, Cuba later."

 What’s preventing US military aggression against Cuba? For one thing, our government knows that Cuba, unlike Afghanistan and Iraq, is not weak. It has a strong military and the support of its people. A poll conducted by the independent Costa Rican firm of CID Gallup in 1994 (a period of severe economic hardship and increased pressure from the US) found that 69% of Cubans identified as revolutionaries, socialists or communists. 58% thought that on balance the revolution had more achievements than failures. Only 24% said they were not integrated into the revolution. ("Cuba Update." Feb.1995)

 The RPA delegation visiting in June 2002 stated, "During our visit we have been privileged to witness a remarkable political process as over 99% of the Cuban electorate have reaffirmed this country’s socialist character and national dignity. We have been impressed by the spirit of the Cuban people manifested in this process and its participatory and democratic character, reminiscent of our own earlier New England town hall meeting tradition."

 Free the Cuban Five!

 Gerardo Hernández, Antonio Guerrero, Ramón Labañino, René González and Fernando González are currently serving from 15 years to two life terms in federal prison in Florida. Two are U.S. citizens. After their arrest by the FBI in September 1998, they were convicted of espionage and related charges in June 2001 and sentenced that December. They had revealed evidence that right-wing groups in Miami had made concrete plans for terrorist attacks against Cuba. Instead of acting against these plans as required by international agreements, our government jailed the five men. Spouses of two of the men have been denied visas to visit their husbands three times. Ivette, the 5 year old daughter of René González has not her father for 3 years.

 The case is being appealed in the 11th circuit court in Atlanta. It is a national priority for the National Lawyers Guild whose president Bruce Nestor said, "At issue is a politically charged prosecution by the U.S. government of five men who were simply trying to defend their country from long-documented acts of terror attacks by organizations in Miami."

 The appeals claim the five were denied rights of due process, and they "document the media intrusiveness and harassment into the lives of the jurors selected for the trial, their doubtful impartiality given the bias associated with the trial location, and the efforts made to influence them by right wing anti-Cuba organizations." (http://www.freethefive.org)

 "It is outrageous that while the US government is allegedly waging a ‘war on terrorism,’ it is imprisoning Cubans who were trying to stop deadly attacks on their country," says Gloria La Riva of the National Committee to Free the Five.

 On June 10, 2003, the Berkeley City Council was the first city to pass unanimously a resolution demanding a fair trial in a neutral venue. They also called for the Cuban Five to be given the same family visitation rights, humanitarian concerns and equal treatment under the law as any other prisoner in the U.S.

 Perhaps Ithaca should be the next city to pass such a resolution!