The island of Cuba has been a unique player on the international stage since the 1950s.
Cuba's larger than life existence in the Caribbean and its closeness to the world superpower U. S. A., just 90 miles south of the Florida Keys, projects the island as a significant force in both America's history and America's topicality. One aspect of its uniqueness -- the reconstitution of the overthrown U. S. - backed Batista dictatorship on U. S. soil in January of 1959 -- has produced the most lasting impact on the U. S. democracy, revealing just how malleable and fragile it is. The reaffirmation of the Batista-Mafia dictatorship in South Florida, Union City (NJ), and Washington (D.C.) has, arguably, been the most indelible and the most nefarious event in the history of the American democracy, which got its foundation in 1776. For that reason, I believe in the year 2013 Americans should not still be getting their daily doses of Cuban information from the reconstituted Batistianos who, for the most part, have a firm stranglehold on both the U. S. government and the U. S. media when it comes to Cuba.
That backdrop brings me around to a lady named Julia E. Sweig. She knows more about Cuba and U. S. - Cuban relations than any living soul. Moreover, she is unbiased in dispensing information about those two topics. And that is precisely why, I believe, you will rarely see or hear her on biased, slanted, or politically correct Cable News, Talk Radio, etc. But if you want to know about the true history and topicality of Cuba and its relationship to the U. S., Ms. Sweig's incomparable insight is readily available. She is the Director of Latin American Studies at the Council on Foreign Relations and that organization's Website highlights her incomparable expertise and insight. Her books are also excellent portraits of Cuba and its unique place in the Caribbean, Latin America, and the world.
Julia Sweig's 2004 book "Inside the Cuban Revolution" remains the best source of information on how the female-powered urban underground paved the way for Fidel Castro to shock the world by becoming the first and only revolutionary to overthrow a U. S. - backed dictatorship.
Julia Sweig's 2009 book "Cuba" indeed had the correct sub-title: "What Everyone Needs to Know." On April 15-2013 an updated book entitled "Cuba: What Everyone Needs to Know" by Ms. Sweig will be published. I've already pre-ordered my copy from Amazon and so should you if you want the unvarnished truth about Cuba, including the good, the bad, the beautiful, and the ugly. For important and accurate information about Cuba, Julia Sweig is your prime source unless, of course, you prefer slanted, self-serving propaganda or hyperbole from self-serving sources, either pro or con.
If you have the opportunity to see and hear Julia Sweig speak about Cuba, take advantage of it to compensate for the fact that you will rarely see her on television "news" shows...for the reason stated earlier. Of course, if the mainstream media such as the New York Times or the BBC want a history lesson on Cuba or topical data on the island they consult her. But it's also easy to read her Cuban updates on the "Council on Foreign Relations" Website. The latest major article penned by Ms. Sweig is entitled "The Post-Castro Era Is Today." With unique insight, she explains why that is so.
Above is one way birds stay warm on cold Virginia nights.
Yes, the nine siblings above are real ducklings loving the warm water.
**************
No comments:
Post a Comment