Friday, October 16, 2009
Note from Gerardo Hernandez Nordelo
I received a letter from Gerardo dated October 6 acknowledging receipt of a copy of my blog. He was very emotional about the contents. He was more concerned over the criticism I may get from family, friends and others, while genuinely touched by my expression of support. While he of course disagrees with some sentences in my blog he states that I wrote them in a respectful manner. I responded that while I had been damaged as a child when I lost my country and believe that I was forced to leave it behind, as an adult Fidel Castro sent me an adopted son to care for, on a temporary basis, who is also a patriot. It is amazing how the world turns for all of us. I suppose Fidel and I are now even.
Tuesday, September 22, 2009
Blazing Saddles and Satire, Miami Cuban 5
In the 70s’ Mel Brooks directed a satire exposing racism in Hollywood. Brooks made us laugh while he taught us that continued flouting of the Civil Rights Act was well entrenched in Hollywood. He changed our perception of mass media as we knew it.
Gerardo Hernandez Nordelo through his correspondence and satirical illustrations has exposed me to a world that I never knew existed. He is a caricaturist and a good one. His illustrations depict the duality of the treatment of terrorists in Florida.
In December 2008, I began writing to a prisoner in Adelanto, California by the name of Gerardo Hernandez Nordelo. My grandmother, Consuelo Morillo de Govantes, had corresponded with prisoners during the Batista regime in Cuba. I asked her why she wrote to prisoners when I was a tender age of 10 or so. She responded that she did it because she must do so.
My memory of my grandmother and my experience as an investigator and neutral fact finder led me to Gerardo. My first letter to him included some stamps and airmail envelopes that I thought would come in handy. They were returned because the federal prison system does not allow outsiders to send such things to prisoners. He responded very promptly and we continue our correspondence to this day. Mailing correspondence is difficult when delivered to the jail. It is terribly delayed because a third party reviews it
Gerardo is not allowed the same email privileges as other prisoners. His wife has not been granted a visa to see him in 10 years. Yet they retain a very tender and caring relationship.
I contacted Gerardo while letting him know that my parents had been forced to leave Cuba for ideological reasons and that my reason for contacting him was that I had doubts over the justice meted by the court and was concerned over the length of their sentences.
I was touched that he was grateful for my interest. His kindness and pleasant approach took me by surprise. We began a dialogue, which has open my mind to things that I had not conceived existed before in post Castro Cuba and in Miami.
After a bit of research and my correspondence, many questions and answers, some very upsetting to Gerardo, I have come to the conclusion that it is impossible for the 5 to have had any complicity in the alleged crime regarding the Brothers to the Rescue. The 5 were here in the states at great risk to themselves to stop some members of the exile community from engaging in terrorist attacks against the island. For some insane political reason the exiles had been allowed unfettered access to the island for purposes of terrorism. Innocent people had died and the attacks continued till approximately 1997. The 5 infiltrated exile groups to keep an eye on their activities to prevent their insurgencies.
One of the infiltrated groups, the Brothers to the Rescue had been warned approximately 16 times by the Cuban government through the Federal Aeronautics Administration and directly while in flight that they were not to fly over Cuba. Basulto’s final answer when warned to leave Cuban air space, which led to the attack, was that they violated the airspace because they are free men. Not exactly a smart response to an alleged ”terrorist” country.
I find it intriguing that the plane of Jose Basulto was not destroyed and I wonder whether the blood of his brothers is on Basulto’s hands. Could Basulto have prevented the attack? I believe that he could have. All he had to do was to refrain from flying over Cuban territory on that fateful day of February 24, 1996. Luckily he lost his license over this incident. There is no telling how many other lives may have been lost if he had not lost his license to fly while littering Cuban territory.
The 5 were operatives of the Castro regime. This is absolutely true. However, anyone who thinks that the operatives had the right of advise and consent is truly ignorant of the nature of the ways of the regime of Fidel Castro. They were at best order takers. It is true that Gerardo was able to give feedback to the Cuban government but it is also clear to me that the Cuban government made all decisions with respect to any of their findings and activities, and of course, over the fatal attack against the brother’s plane while the operatives were in Miami.
Gerardo and his four compatriots have been in jail for 11 years for crimes that they did not commit. They did not have access to classified information nor were they a party to the downing of the plane in Cuba. The legal proceedings have developed through three administrations while the international community and various good people whose beliefs cover the political spectrum have raised their voices to denounce this injustice.
The Supreme Court chose not to take their case. Three will receive a revised sentence on or after October 13 and I hope that they will be going home. However, two including Gerardo will remain in jail. Their activities as unregistered agents should have resulted in repatriation.
The US government based on their activities long before the attack should have stopped the Brothers to the Rescue from flying and littering Cuba with anti Castro flyers before February 24, 1996. Terrorism against Cuba should have not been allowed and/or promoted during the 60s, 70s, 80s and 90s by people who are likely to be equal or worse than the current regime based on their blatant disregard for human life.
It appears to me that we all have unclean hands on this case and we should recognize our complicity in the madness related to the politics toward the island and the current plight of the Cuban 5.
Gerardo through his illustrations and correspondence has shed light on the hate, fear and loathing created by my compatriots in Miami. While there were no Cuban Americans in the jury, it is impossible that the jurors had not been exposed to the downing of the plane prior to the trial or to the Elian Gonzalez saga, or that they were not afraid of retribution by their Miami neighbors. Worse than all of the above, the trial lasted a very long time. The jurors were ready to go home and their deliberations were short and callous. The verdict and sentence of the 5 are very reminiscent to me of the tribunals set up by the Castro brothers after the revolution.
I keep thinking that any of the 5 could have been my sons.
Gerardo Hernandez Nordelo through his correspondence and satirical illustrations has exposed me to a world that I never knew existed. He is a caricaturist and a good one. His illustrations depict the duality of the treatment of terrorists in Florida.
In December 2008, I began writing to a prisoner in Adelanto, California by the name of Gerardo Hernandez Nordelo. My grandmother, Consuelo Morillo de Govantes, had corresponded with prisoners during the Batista regime in Cuba. I asked her why she wrote to prisoners when I was a tender age of 10 or so. She responded that she did it because she must do so.
My memory of my grandmother and my experience as an investigator and neutral fact finder led me to Gerardo. My first letter to him included some stamps and airmail envelopes that I thought would come in handy. They were returned because the federal prison system does not allow outsiders to send such things to prisoners. He responded very promptly and we continue our correspondence to this day. Mailing correspondence is difficult when delivered to the jail. It is terribly delayed because a third party reviews it
Gerardo is not allowed the same email privileges as other prisoners. His wife has not been granted a visa to see him in 10 years. Yet they retain a very tender and caring relationship.
I contacted Gerardo while letting him know that my parents had been forced to leave Cuba for ideological reasons and that my reason for contacting him was that I had doubts over the justice meted by the court and was concerned over the length of their sentences.
I was touched that he was grateful for my interest. His kindness and pleasant approach took me by surprise. We began a dialogue, which has open my mind to things that I had not conceived existed before in post Castro Cuba and in Miami.
After a bit of research and my correspondence, many questions and answers, some very upsetting to Gerardo, I have come to the conclusion that it is impossible for the 5 to have had any complicity in the alleged crime regarding the Brothers to the Rescue. The 5 were here in the states at great risk to themselves to stop some members of the exile community from engaging in terrorist attacks against the island. For some insane political reason the exiles had been allowed unfettered access to the island for purposes of terrorism. Innocent people had died and the attacks continued till approximately 1997. The 5 infiltrated exile groups to keep an eye on their activities to prevent their insurgencies.
One of the infiltrated groups, the Brothers to the Rescue had been warned approximately 16 times by the Cuban government through the Federal Aeronautics Administration and directly while in flight that they were not to fly over Cuba. Basulto’s final answer when warned to leave Cuban air space, which led to the attack, was that they violated the airspace because they are free men. Not exactly a smart response to an alleged ”terrorist” country.
I find it intriguing that the plane of Jose Basulto was not destroyed and I wonder whether the blood of his brothers is on Basulto’s hands. Could Basulto have prevented the attack? I believe that he could have. All he had to do was to refrain from flying over Cuban territory on that fateful day of February 24, 1996. Luckily he lost his license over this incident. There is no telling how many other lives may have been lost if he had not lost his license to fly while littering Cuban territory.
The 5 were operatives of the Castro regime. This is absolutely true. However, anyone who thinks that the operatives had the right of advise and consent is truly ignorant of the nature of the ways of the regime of Fidel Castro. They were at best order takers. It is true that Gerardo was able to give feedback to the Cuban government but it is also clear to me that the Cuban government made all decisions with respect to any of their findings and activities, and of course, over the fatal attack against the brother’s plane while the operatives were in Miami.
Gerardo and his four compatriots have been in jail for 11 years for crimes that they did not commit. They did not have access to classified information nor were they a party to the downing of the plane in Cuba. The legal proceedings have developed through three administrations while the international community and various good people whose beliefs cover the political spectrum have raised their voices to denounce this injustice.
The Supreme Court chose not to take their case. Three will receive a revised sentence on or after October 13 and I hope that they will be going home. However, two including Gerardo will remain in jail. Their activities as unregistered agents should have resulted in repatriation.
The US government based on their activities long before the attack should have stopped the Brothers to the Rescue from flying and littering Cuba with anti Castro flyers before February 24, 1996. Terrorism against Cuba should have not been allowed and/or promoted during the 60s, 70s, 80s and 90s by people who are likely to be equal or worse than the current regime based on their blatant disregard for human life.
It appears to me that we all have unclean hands on this case and we should recognize our complicity in the madness related to the politics toward the island and the current plight of the Cuban 5.
Gerardo through his illustrations and correspondence has shed light on the hate, fear and loathing created by my compatriots in Miami. While there were no Cuban Americans in the jury, it is impossible that the jurors had not been exposed to the downing of the plane prior to the trial or to the Elian Gonzalez saga, or that they were not afraid of retribution by their Miami neighbors. Worse than all of the above, the trial lasted a very long time. The jurors were ready to go home and their deliberations were short and callous. The verdict and sentence of the 5 are very reminiscent to me of the tribunals set up by the Castro brothers after the revolution.
I keep thinking that any of the 5 could have been my sons.
Tuesday, February 10, 2009
Stimulus Package
I find it ironic that the same senators that without hesitation commit to war and its costs in lives and future dollars are refusing to commit to funding the domestic economic recovery plan. The infrastructure projects are not enough and the tax credits are too many. Thanks to Specter, Snow and Collins for your dedication and bipartisanship. There is a revolution afoot and people without means revolt if their representatives do not act in their best interest. Lets do everything we can to save our precious system of government.
Tuesday, January 27, 2009
President Obama's comments to Muslims
Language matters and President Obama's words are a welcomed change. There was a time prior to the Crusades when Jews, Muslims and Christians lived happily and prosperously. If we could only revisit and try to imitate.
The Republicans and the economy
I am no economist and cannot claim any knowledge except the articles that I have read written by Krugman and conversations with old friends. I find the subject a bit too dry and it puts me to sleep. However, it is clear to me that the Republicans who sound like Palin are more clueless over what it will take to get the economy back on track. They are in complete denial still claiming that tax cuts are the panacea as well as smaller government. Their tunnel vision is not conceivable considering the terrible situation in which we find ourselves. If the citizens do not take care to elect people who are willing to look at the situation outside the proverbial box and send these tunnel visioned persons back to run their small businesses we will continue to be in trouble.
Government is big business and it takes a multi-disciplinary approach to solving problems related to big government. Small minds need not apply. Please remind your representatives that the Bush tax cuts were one of the causes of the economy's demise along with the war in Iraq. Lets not forget our own greed for the here and now was also a cause.
We have a lot of compound problems that need to be resolved quickly and effectively. Again, small minds need not apply and should stand aside.
Government is big business and it takes a multi-disciplinary approach to solving problems related to big government. Small minds need not apply. Please remind your representatives that the Bush tax cuts were one of the causes of the economy's demise along with the war in Iraq. Lets not forget our own greed for the here and now was also a cause.
We have a lot of compound problems that need to be resolved quickly and effectively. Again, small minds need not apply and should stand aside.
Monday, January 19, 2009
Martin Luther King
This day has a very special meaning. The day of the dream is here for all of us to cherish. We are about to inaugurate the first president who transcends racial lines in the United States while he enjoys the support of 78% of the population. Martin Luther King must be watching over us with joy and pride on his day. The people have chosen Barack Obama to become the 44th President and we are still coming down from our euphoria. I am ready for action after January 20. I hope that all the promises of change will be be made possible after tomorrow. We have to repair our mistakes and our image in the rest of the world. This is an awesome proposition and I hope that we are ready for the task.
Saturday, November 22, 2008
Return from Belize and back to reality
What joy the election results! What an interesting experience to spend in Belize. The Belizeans adopted the election as their own. This election was followed around the world and what a wonderful victory for all Americans it was. Belize is a beautiful country. Getting a chance to see jungle, beach, snorkeling, sea kayaking and caving was a real bonus and afforded great relaxation.
Hamanasi felt like home. It is a beautiful seaside resort. My favorite spot was the end of the pier by the sea. It was utter tranquility. I had a chance to read, have some adventures and totally relax in a beautiful setting.
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