Around America's Neck
Ernesto Samper {Photo courtesy: Reuters/Carlos Garcia Rawlings} is still an influential man throughout Latin America. The 64-year-old Samper was President of Colombia from 1994 till 1998. He is now the Secretary-General of The Union of South American Nations {UNASUR}, which is comprised of twelve nations plus two observer nations. He is providing strong advice to Josefina Vidal, Cuba's Minister of North American Affairs, during her diplomatic negotiations aimed at normalizing relations with the United States. Mr. Samper's advice: "Do all of Latin American a favor by insisting on the return of Guantanamo Bay to its rightful owner, Cuba." In fact, as the leader of UNASUR, Mr. Samper maintains that "South America should reassess its relations with the United States if all of the U. S. military bases in the region are not closed. The U. S. is still fighting the non-existent Cold War in this peaceful region while it should concentrate on dangerous conflicts elsewhere. Instead of projecting its imperialist power in the Americas, the U. S. should point to a new agenda by eliminating its military bases in the region, starting with acknowledging the bully-theft of Guantanamo Bay from Cuba. That's the place to start making amends."
Actually, in her three official diplomatic meetings with her American counterpart Roberta Jacobson, Josefina Vidal has stated conclusively that Cuba would never agree to fully normalizing relations with the U. S. as long as: {1} Cuba remained on the U. S. Sponsors of Terrorism list; and {2} the U. S. was unwilling to discuss the return to Cuba of the lush port of Guantanamo Bay. The first prerequisite, removing Cuba from the terrorism list, has been accomplished because the Cuban-American zealots in the U. S. Congress have admitted President Obama has the power to do that. But the second prerequisite, returning Guantanamo Bay to Cuba, is something the Cuban-American zealotry in the U. S. Congress can continue to dictate.
Even in casual meetings, such as this one, Josefina Vidal has made these points to Roberta Jacobson: "Not only Cuba but the entire region demands that Guantanamo Bay be returned to Cuba. Frankly, Roberta, I am surprised that the United States is willing to endure the insult Guantanamo Bay attaches to your country. Like an Albatross around your neck, don't you realize that everyone except a few anti-Cuban extremists fully understand that the imperialist United States stole Guantanamo Bay from Cuba just because it had the power to do so? The Bush-installed prison at Guantanamo Bay is still called 'the gulag of our time' by Amnesty International and others. Guantanamo Bay makes the U. S. look like an imperialist bully with a wounded democracy that can't deal with it. What about asking for a majority opinion in your democracy?"
Guantanamo Bay, Cuba!!
Not Guantanamo Bay, USA!!
And by the way.................
This riveting portrait is back in the news, reminding Americans of America's Greatest Generation. The incomparable Norman Rockwell created this masterpiece for the Saturday Evening Post on May 29, 1943. He called it "Rosie the Riveter." It helped America and its allies win World War II. The patriotic Mr. Rockwell was showing how American women replaced the U. S. men in the factories while the men were off fighting the world-domination plans of vile dictators in Germany, Japan, and Italy. This poster was used to raise millions of dollars in war bonds while American women were making vital war machines...tanks, planes, etc...needed to win the war. The reason this poster is back in the news relates to Mary Doyle Keefe. Mary was a 19-year-old telephone operator in Arlington, Vermont in May of 1943 when Norman Rockwell asked her to pose for the portrait. For years thereafter, he apologized for needing to make her look so "bulky."
Mary Doyle Keefe, Norman Rockwell's "Rosie the Riveter," died recently at age 92. She was always proud of the portrait and "how much it helped my country." This photo of Mary standing beside the iconic painting was taken at the Norman Rockwell Museum in August of 2012 in Stockbridge, Massachusetts. The original painting in 2002 sold for $4.9 million and has since been sold for much more than that. But regardless of which museum it is in, it proudly remains an integral part of America's "Greatest Generation."
Norman Rockwell is one of the all-time greatest Americans because he lavishly shared his enormous talent with everyone. He died at age 84 in 1978 in Stockbridge, Massachusetts, but the lives instilled in his paintings will live on forever. He painted the Greatest Generation, including "Rosie the Riveter."
No titles or captions were ever needed to explain Norman Rockwell's paintings. They spoke for themselves. After getting beat up by a boy, this girl was taken to a doctor and then called to the Principal's office. But study the smile on her face. Yes, the boy beat her up but..."wait till you see what he looks like!"
To this very day, I still subscribe to "The Saturday Evening Post" because the magazine still features paintings by Norman Rockwell. To me, Norman Rockwell personifies the Greatest Generation, the generation that preceded the generation that shamefully aligned America with the Batista-Mafia dictatorship, the remnants of which to this day makes the Greatest Generation that much more memorable.
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