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Forum nameOkay Activist Archives
Topic subjectElian Gonzalez
Topic URLhttp://board.okayplayer.com/okp.php?az=show_topic&forum=22&topic_id=24888
24888, Elian Gonzalez
Posted by krewcial, Fri Apr-14-00 01:22 PM
Okay, people have been way too serious about this whole thing, and it's basically become a propaganda war, so therefor : check this cartoon, and enjoy your day.

http://www.blammo.nl/elian.html


humor can be activism too, you know ;-)


krewcial

OKAYPLAYERSONG PT. 2 :
Real Audio : http://urgent.rug.ac.be/vinylators/audio/okp2s.rm
MP3 : http://urgent.rug.ac.be/vinylators/audio/okp2s.mp3

OKAYPLAYERSONG PT. 1 (the original baybee !!):
MP3 : http://urgent.rug.ac.be/vinylators/audio/okplayer.mp3

homebase : http://urgent.rug.ac.be/vinylators


'We've got to change our own minds about each other. We have to see each other with new eyes. We have to see each other as brothers and sisters. We have to come together with warmth'

24889, I got that in an email today..hehe
Posted by bluetiger, Fri Apr-14-00 02:29 PM
and a quote:
"Crush Kill Destroy Stress" - Organized Konfusion


24890, BAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!
Posted by Battousai, Sat Apr-15-00 06:02 AM
That's good...

But seriously though, I think Elian's relatives have done more damage to the kid than Fidel will ever do.

----------------------------------------
Densetsu no hitokiri, Himura Battousai.

"You guys are funny. I'll kill you last." - Anonymous

"Eff a club. I'm watching Iron Chef." - Me

http://welcome.to/crunchyfrog/
24891, My unpopular opinion
Posted by BooDaah, Sat Apr-15-00 06:13 AM
He needs to go ahead and be with his daddy. He needs to go home. He needs to get out of my ears, and off my TV.

There are kids in my neighborhood who go through hell everyday and are seen as "problems" or at minimum "at risk" with no/very little help in sight. They live in Cali and have NEVER been to the mountains, or seen Disneyland. They walk aroun in hand-me-down clothes and when their parents seek assistace they are told that they are lazy, bad parents, and need to stop relying on the gub-mint. This kid (and his aunts and whatnot) gets new gear, friggin bodyguards, and free trips to EVERYWHERE. At six he can get in places I can't and I have a job and pay taxes. WTF??

Now here comes this little boy, and all of a sudden AmeriKKa is tripping over itself with empathy? Get outta here. If he was from Haiti, his lil ass woulda BEEN back home (if they let him in at all).

This country cracks me up sometimes...

------QUOTE STARTS HERE------
Help BooDaah STAY the Moderator for the OkayActivism Board....

Fill Angiee's Mailbox full of requests for me (HAHA she'll LOOOOVE THAT!!!)

How's THAT for pandering HMMMM???
24892, to avoid any possible misunderstanding :
Posted by krewcial, Sat Apr-15-00 06:26 AM
I think he belongs with his dad too, and I agree completely with what BooDah wrote.

BTW, congrats BooDah, you're an official moderator now, right ?

krewcial



OKAYPLAYERSONG PT. 2 :
Real Audio : http://urgent.rug.ac.be/vinylators/audio/okp2s.rm
MP3 : http://urgent.rug.ac.be/vinylators/audio/okp2s.mp3

OKAYPLAYERSONG PT. 1 (the original baybee !!):
MP3 : http://urgent.rug.ac.be/vinylators/audio/okplayer.mp3

homebase : http://urgent.rug.ac.be/vinylators


'We've got to change our own minds about each other. We have to see each other with new eyes. We have to see each other as brothers and sisters. We have to come together with warmth'

24893, I'm just a temp..
Posted by BooDaah, Sat Apr-15-00 06:29 AM
...but I ain't goin' down with ut a fiz-ight. :-)

Peep the sig...

------QUOTE STARTS HERE------
Help BooDaah STAY the Moderator for the OkayActivism Board....

Fill Angiee's Mailbox full of requests for me (HAHA she'll LOOOOVE THAT!!!)

How's THAT for pandering HMMMM???
24894, RE: to avoid any possible misunderstanding :
Posted by guest, Sat Apr-15-00 12:03 PM
That boy needs to be sent back home. If the issue was the safety of a six year old, the average of a poverty stricken child in this country wouldn't be around the same age as this boy (as it is). The truth of the matter is, Castro and Cuba are two very sensitive words to the U.S. Keep in mind, police still run wild, and that there are still other issues to be considered. We shouldn't give too much focus on these other issues which one would argueably call a "distraction."

peace.
24895, RE: to avoid any possible misunderstanding :
Posted by mikaela_h, Sat Apr-15-00 12:19 PM
good point, do you think that all of these distractions have been thrown into the mix on purpose to stray away from the logical answer to the problem?

I mean it's evident that the media is having a field day with this story, and American bias to Cuba is also influencing peoples reactions, but I wonder just how conscious the choices have been to import a lot of the peripheral "distractions"/issues, which although valid to the case, should have no real bearing on what the decision is that's made...

****************************************

"...buy her a washcloth and dove for all major holidays....if that doesn't work just tell her you don't like the taste of fish....if that doesn't work, tell her you can't stand the putrid stench coming from her na and that she's killing innocent animals, and while the rankness may keep rats and roaches at bay, it's tearing up your relationship and ruining your nasal cavity(ies)..." From " How to tell your chickenhead her coochie is STANKIN!!! by me
24896, RE: to avoid any possible misunderstanding :
Posted by guest, Sun Apr-16-00 11:38 AM
It seems to me that whenever an issue comes up involving another country and U.S. in conflict, we get an extremely accurate "americanized" perspective, which makes sense being that a country is not going to advocate citizen's dissent. at the same time, knowing that there is some history between the two countries, we should look a little more critically at what's going on and try to be as objective as possible. The thing i was stating about issues or distractions coming up is the fact that whenever the social norm is threatened, an issue like this comes up to divert attention. I hope noone has forgotten about Abner Louima or Amadou Diallo. Elian Gonzalez is an obvious case of controversy, but look at what's being relatively ignored right now.

peace
24897, Isn't it ironic
Posted by Nesta, Sat Apr-15-00 02:15 PM
That a group of people that fled a country because of a dictator that didn't adhere to fair laws and jsutice will refuse to follow the rules and laws of this country that they swear is the ideal. Hmmmmmm.

I hate this whole thing, the boy needs to be with his dad. But the one thing i do like about this is that the Cuban extremists in Miami are playing themselves and even your average Joe is seeing it. I was in DC's Nat'l airport yesterday waiting on my flight back to Newark and I heard a couple of good ol' boys discussing the case. They were clear as hell that the boy should be with his dad. One cat even said "Castro is a muthafucka, but he's right on this one!"

There are a bunch of Cubans in Miami that hate Castro with a passion but feel that using this boy is dead wrong. A lot of these same folks feel that the embargo should be lifted and that it simply didn't work and is harming more people than anything. But these cats are afraid to express themsewlves because of their fear of being harassed by extremists. The Cuban extremists have loot and clout in Miami and don't take it lightly when folks side against them.

Furthermore, I hate the fact that all this Elian shit is taking away from the fact that there are real life Cuban dissidents IN CUBA that are catching hell in Cuba and are trying to fight some of Castro oppresive ways, but these cats in Florida who never have to worry about being dragged from their homes in the middle of the night are playing all high and mighty. FUCK THEM.

Castro has major issues but I also repsect how he'
s getting down and how he has stood his ground over the years. Change in Cuban is coming soon and the US better recognize that everyone else in the world has welcomed Cuba back into the fold.


"Is someone speaking? Do I hear someone speaking?" - Uncle Junior Corrado of the Sopranos

"And cos of Nesta today I'm using more horns in my songs" - Krewcial OKP Song Pt. 2

The Smut Phoenix has arisen, and the Floozy Age now officially begins - no more fun and games. All who are inexperienced and just plain wack in bed - be afraid. Be very afraid." - Didi

"I could be a pimp right now if I wanted to be. My pimp game is strong." - Snoop on the Howard Stern Show
24898, RE: Isn't it ironic
Posted by guest, Sat Apr-15-00 04:44 PM
>That a group of people that
>fled a country because of
>a dictator that didn't adhere
>to fair laws and jsutice
>will refuse to follow the
>rules and laws of this
>country that they swear is
>the ideal. Hmmmmmm.

To be clear, most of the "Miami Cubans" are people who fled Cuba when Castro and co. overthrew Batista's dictatorship, who certainly "didn't adhere to fair laws and jsutice" as well—i.e., the Cuban exile community there is the outgrowth of the rich Cubans who fled Cuba when they realized they wouldn't have the political support to keep their priviledge, so it shouldn't be at all surprising that their stated principles aren't consistent with their actions. (It is interesting that the activists who do there work in the country get much less attention than "Cubans" living in Miami, BTW.)

There are many groups of people like this around the world (thought it probably isn't good to generalize too much). For example, where I live you can meet a significant number of former Iranian citizens who moved here ~1978-82. Most of them had some major connection or were a part of the Shah's dictatorship, who fled for their lives when Ayatollah Khomeini came to power. I know they complain about the Iranian fundamentalist regime's various crimes on principle, though I don't think that's why their upset.

Regardless, there's lots of dictatorships around the world, and it makes little sense for
a child to be kept from his family for narrow political reasons (and since when does "relatives" naturally mean "distant cousins"?). But in the average American's mind today's Cuba is rather like hell, with barbed wire running along the whole shoreline, pictures of Castro everywhere, military police on every corner with AK-47s, no power and electricity, young prostitutes on every corner, etc. This Elian thing isn't a hard story for the media to sell.

CJL

24899, RE: Isn't it ironic
Posted by guest, Sun Apr-16-00 12:19 AM
Did y'all read the pice on Common's journey to Cuba to meet Ms. Assata Shakur? It was nice, and Common's words were saying a lot about this situation. My opinion: In the eyes of Capitalism (U.S. Government and it's followers West Europe and shit) it's like this "We're good, Cuba and everything that's different is bad.

Peace Loot from http://www.art12.com
24900, RE: Isn't it ironic
Posted by guest, Sun Apr-16-00 08:44 PM
Cuba is a major tourist destination for many European travelers. The US is seen as wrong in this by most if not all 'western' nations

The US only embargoes Cuba because they wouldn't provide any significant economic gain to the US economy (i.e. they have no resources American corporations can't take from other places). They would not help the huge trade imbalance, and they were an enemy during the cold war. Hell look to China and see how economics is more important than ideology for American business.

Simple math: 1.2 billion potential customers is far more than 11.1 million
24901, RE: Isn't it ironic
Posted by Battousai, Mon Apr-17-00 03:24 PM
>look to
>China and see how economics
>is more important than ideology
>for American business.

True, it's not necessarily about ideology. However, if you look at the history of US-Cuban relations, you can see that Cuba was essentially a US dependency for about 60 years.

Cuba was granted independence after the Spanish-American War of 1898 (denied to both the Philippines and Puerto Rico), but a treaty signed in 1901 (I think) gave the US right to intervene in Cuban affairs. Hence, Cuba became a convenient playground for US business and the Mob.

Of course, all that was lost when Fidel Castro dared to overthrow Fulgencio Batista and say "fuck you" to American interests. Ever since, the US has been acting like a petulant child screaming for a toy that does not belong to him...

Honestly, I think it would be the same if Castro hadn't gone Red. Maybe not as intense, but all the same.

----------------------------------------
Densetsu no hitokiri, Himura Battousai.

"Why don't you masturbate in hell!" - Chow Yun Fat, "Full Contact"

"Mweh. Heh. Heh." - Me

http://welcome.to/crunchyfrog/
24902, well, sort of
Posted by DJ_scratch_N_sniff, Thu Apr-20-00 05:08 PM
>The US only embargoes Cuba because
>they wouldn't provide any significant
>economic gain to the US
>economy

true.

>(i.e. they have no
>resources American corporations can't take
>from other places).

actually, the reason is that Cuba is socialized aka (that dirty word) Communist. This means that the people aren't starving and therefore are not willing to accept sweatshop wages like any "good" Latin American country.

When Castro took control of Cuba in 1959 the US flipped out. Similar revolutions were bound to happen all over Latin America, so Kennedy started the Alliance for Progress which included founding the School of the Americas... this is where today's militant dictators all over Latin America were trained in how to prevent revolution... to keep the people poor and disempowered to benefit local elites and foreign (meaning US) businesses.

For example, the US has done plenty business with Guatemala whose gov't randomly massacred 150,000 indigenous people in the early '80's in reaction to leftist organization and disapproval of the gov't's policies which drove more and more people into poverty.

> They
>would not help the huge
>trade imbalance

the US is the biggest trade imbalancer of them all, so why would it bother the US if Cuba was too? Nah, you got it backwards. Cuba is socialist. Their trade is far more balanced than most countries. Castro has some effed up policies, but as far as trade and distribution of wealth, he's got good ideas. He was a great revolutionary, but not a great president.

>and they were
>an enemy during the cold
>war.

because they're Communist. The trade embargo against Cuba had Cuba unable to trade with virtually the entire western hemisphere. So they had no choice but to deal with the Soviet Union. Cuba was basically a dependent of the USSR. Cuba had Soviet missiles pointed at the US. That's why they were an enemy during the cold war.

> Hell look to
>China and see how economics
>is more important than ideology
>for American business.
>
>Simple math: 1.2 billion potential customers
>is far more than 11.1
>million

it's true that economics are more important to business than ideology, but don't think population has anything to do with the embargo. That's silly. The embargo is the US waving its dick at the world saying "don't be communist or this is what happens". The reason there's no embargo against China is that China provides us with cheap sweatshop labor and some of the cheapest in the world. Cuba does not, and would refuse to. Yes, Cuba and China are both considered "communist" but China does not behave like it so it's okay.

"I'd rather have a bottle in front of me than a frontal labotamy." -- a psychotic drunkard
24903, You are quite right
Posted by Nesta, Sun Apr-16-00 03:37 AM
The Cubans that fled when Castro took over were the very privilged that were used to a double standard anyway. So it does follow that they expecta double standard here as well.

Speak on it!!!!!!


"Is someone speaking? Do I hear someone speaking?" - Uncle Junior Corrado of the Sopranos

"And cos of Nesta today I'm using more horns in my songs" - Krewcial OKP Song Pt. 2

The Smut Phoenix has arisen, and the Floozy Age now officially begins - no more fun and games. All who are inexperienced and just plain wack in bed - be afraid. Be very afraid." - Didi

"I could be a pimp right now if I wanted to be. My pimp game is strong." - Snoop on the Howard Stern Show
24904, RE: Isn't it ironic
Posted by Battousai, Sun Apr-16-00 07:49 AM
>Furthermore, I hate the fact that
>all this Elian shit is
>taking away from the fact
>that there are real life
>Cuban dissidents IN CUBA that
>are catching hell in Cuba
>and are trying to fight
>some of Castro oppresive ways,
>but these cats in Florida
>who never have to worry
>about being dragged from their
>homes in the middle of
>the night are playing all
>high and mighty. FUCK
>THEM.

I read an article where this anonymous Cuban dissident commented that everything the exiles did to provoke Castro resulted in the local dissident movement catching some serious hellfire.

I think the Cubans, regardless of political opinion, hate the exiles. I wouldn't be surprised if the democratic government that (hopefully) succeeds Castro tells the exiles to take the Cuban flag they always wave and shove it up their collective asses. In my opinion, the exiles no longer have any claim to Cuba and should not participate in any future democratic governments there.

Fuck them. Fuck them all. :-(

----------------------------------------
Densetsu no hitokiri, Himura Battousai.

"Why don't you masturbate in hell!" - Chow Yun Fat, "Full Contact"

"Mweh. Heh. Heh." - Me

http://welcome.to/crunchyfrog/
24905, RE: Isn't it ironic
Posted by guest, Sun Apr-16-00 08:46 PM
I agree with some of what you are saying, but you need to remember that dissidents of both the pre-castro dicatorships and castro himself fled the country. Don't these people have some say? Plus the language of:
>Fuck them. Fuck them all.

is a little offensive, and I'm not even cuban
24906, RE: Isn't it ironic
Posted by Battousai, Mon Apr-17-00 06:22 PM
>I agree with some of what
>you are saying, but you
>need to remember that dissidents
>of both the pre-castro dicatorships
>and castro himself fled the
>country. Don't these people have
>some say? Plus the language
>of:
>>Fuck them. Fuck them all.
>
>is a little offensive, and I'm
>not even cuban

True, but the present generation of Cuban exiles weren't the same folks that were here pre-Castro. That generation went back to Cuba post-Castro. It's true that some were disillusioned by Castro's courting of the Soviet Union, but for the most part the present-day Cuban exiles are dominated by former landowners and those who had privilege under Batista. My FU's were directed to those so-called "friends" of Cuban "democracy."

----------------------------------------
Densetsu no hitokiri, Himura Battousai.

"Why don't you masturbate in hell!" - Chow Yun Fat, "Full Contact"

"Mweh. Heh. Heh." - Me

http://welcome.to/crunchyfrog/
24907, RE: Isn't it ironic
Posted by krewcial, Tue Apr-18-00 06:43 AM
>It's true that
>some were disillusioned by Castro's
>courting of the Soviet Union,

Castro's "courting" of the Soviet Union was more the "only way out" for him than a deliberate choice.
It's mainly becos of the constant threats and intimidations by the US that he resorted to the "Soviet camp" (which was the only other option in the Cold War era).

krewcial

OKAYPLAYERSONG PT. 2 :
Real Audio : http://urgent.rug.ac.be/vinylators/audio/okp2s.rm
MP3 : http://urgent.rug.ac.be/vinylators/audio/okp2s.mp3

OKAYPLAYERSONG PT. 1 (the original baybee !!):
MP3 : http://urgent.rug.ac.be/vinylators/audio/okplayer.mp3

homebase : http://urgent.rug.ac.be/vinylators


'We've got to change our own minds about each other. We have to see each other with new eyes. We have to see each other as brothers and sisters. We have to come together with warmth'

24908, RE: Isn't it ironic
Posted by Battousai, Tue Apr-18-00 08:00 PM

>Castro's "courting" of the Soviet Union
>was more the "only way
>out" for him than a
>deliberate choice.
>It's mainly becos of the constant
>threats and intimidations by the
>US that he resorted to
>the "Soviet camp" (which was
>the only other option in
>the Cold War era).

But there were some in his camp (Christ, I need to reread my books) who felt that Cuba could become non-aligned. Needless to say, Castro taking the obvious solution to the US problem was seen as a betrayal by those who favored non-alignment.

But this is all an interesting tangent. ELIAN NEEDS TO GO HOME!

----------------------------------------
Densetsu no hitokiri, Himura Battousai.

"Why don't you masturbate in hell!" - Chow Yun Fat, "Full Contact"

"Mweh. Heh. Heh." - Me

http://welcome.to/crunchyfrog/
24909, RE: Elian Gonzalez
Posted by altruist, Sun Apr-16-00 08:44 AM
Be glad you're not in Miami. I get 18 hrs of elian a day because i do. Elians Miami family isn't helping him either they had that 6 yr old tell his father on tape he isn't going back to Cuba. His acting was very bad and he surely isn't mature enough to know the full extent of what is going on. It's sad to see his "loving family" would exploit him like that.


"blah blah blah-me

"Freedom! You askin me about freedom. Askin me about freedom? I'll be honest with you. I know a whole more about what freedom isn't than about what it is, cause I've never been free...--Assata Shakur

"Just because you're style is booty doesn't mean you the shit"--Talib Kweli

"Ya'll niggas tickle me like elmo"--Talib Kweli


24910, Cats are whylin'
Posted by Dub, Mon Apr-17-00 01:53 AM
Whats the deal with such animosity towards the Cuban folks. Lets remember that these "Fuck Them" targets may be the "Cubano Activists in the Spotlight" and not Cubans.

What I mean is lets recognize these people in the news as the hoge but I don't dig hearing generalizations like that. I mean shit they created Chan Chan and El Carretero.

CJL - good poinbt about the Iranians or is it Persians...whole nother discussion

Peace - Dub


24911, Cats are whylin'
Posted by Dub, Mon Apr-17-00 02:08 AM
Whats the deal with such animosity towards the Cuban folks. Lets remember that these "Fuck Them" targets may be the "Cubano Activists in the Spotlight" and not Cubans.

What I mean is lets recognize these people in the news as the hoge but I don't dig hearing generalizations like that. I mean shit they created Chan Chan and El Carretero.


24912, Nah Fuck them for real.
Posted by Nesta, Mon Apr-17-00 05:32 AM
When I say fuck them I'm talking about the Cubans that are mugging for the camera. These folks are a small faction of Cubans. Many Cubans continue to hate Castro but realize that (1) the embargo is causing more harm then good (2) that the embargo isn't working because Castro has survived 9 presidnets, 3 popes, God knows how many Sneators, etc. and (3) they also realize that the boy belongs with his father. These more reasonable cats understand that their support is needed for the folks who are still in Cuba and are catching hell.

So when I say fuck them. I'm talking about all these wanna be revolutionaries who are pimpng a six year old kid to fight a battle that they really don't want to fight. There are people in Cuba that want to bring down Castro and the ARE IN CUBA FIGHTING THE FIGHT and taking the losses that come with bumping heads with Castro. They are not in Miami or Union City watching cable and talking shit.

"Is someone speaking? Do I hear someone speaking?" - Uncle Junior Corrado of the Sopranos

"And cos of Nesta today I'm using more horns in my songs" - Krewcial OKP Song Pt. 2

The Smut Phoenix has arisen, and the Floozy Age now officially begins - no more fun and games. All who are inexperienced and just plain wack in bed - be afraid. Be very afraid." - Didi

"I could be a pimp right now if I wanted to be. My pimp game is strong." - Snoop on the Howard Stern Show
24913, amen to that!
Posted by gemini, Mon Apr-17-00 05:57 AM
It never ceases to amaze me how "exiled" Cubans are pimping the American public, how George Bush and Al Gore are pimpin' the Cuban vote, and/or how easily people can invoke "the rights of the child" in a country (the U.S.) that has yet to sign the U.N. declaration on the Rights of the Child. HUH?

THEN the "relatives" are gonna come out and accuse the daddy of being "abusive" with no factual data, no proof, no nada........slander is OK, but Communism is real bad news.....yeah, uh huh..........

It never ceases to amaze me how people forget that most of the 1 milion or so Cubans in Miami vote REPUBLICAN and "fled" Cuba when thier money was gettin funny when Batista was ousted.......C'MON!

This is not about "human rights" and if it were, Cuba would be the least of our worries. Much more grievous offenses are happening in Countries that the U.S. does busine$$ with........

this is all a crock of SHIT if you ask me.....and a six year old is being treated like a human football................


"Y'all don't believe fat meat greasy!!"-my mama
24914, RE: Elian Gonzalez
Posted by Ailyha, Mon Apr-17-00 05:16 AM
What I don't understand is is why weren't people that sympathetic when those Haitians died coming over and why were they sent back?? Something is really wrong here...
Peace Ail
"Maybe i didn't touch yo heart in da right place cuz I ain't sayin it no mo'!"

"It's nation time!" -- Leroi Jones AKA Amiri Baraka
24915, THANK you!
Posted by DJ_scratch_N_sniff, Thu Apr-20-00 05:21 PM
When a light-skinned Cuban boy comes (illegal Elian) to Miami on vacation, we can't see him go back to horrible horrible Cuba, god forbid. But when black Haitians come to take refuge from starvation and political oppression, nah, we can't have that. we gotta send them back.

"I'd rather have a bottle in front of me than a frontal labotamy." -- a psychotic drunkard
24916, Havanita (Miami) vs. the nation
Posted by HotThyng76, Mon Apr-17-00 06:40 AM
It seems as though the only folks who want Elian to stay are those Cubans in Miami who are using the boy as a political tool. I don't get the sense at all that there is much sympathy for Elian throughout the nation. The uproar seems like only a Miami thing - and I bet it's only a small portion of Miami that wants him to stay.


"You a grow tired fe see me face/ Can't get me out of the race" -Bob Marley, "Bad Card" (1980)

"My only weapon is my pen/ And the frame of mind I'm in/ I'm a songwriter, a poet" -Sly and the Family Stone "Poet" (1971)