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News from Havana: In Search of Peace with Cindy Sheehan
Here's Cindy Sheehan's latest article, written from Havana, Cuba.
News from Havana: In Search of Peace with Cindy Sheehan
After a slightly hairy flight from Cancun, Mexico, to Havana, Cuba, Col. Ann Wright, Medea Benjamin, Adele Welty (Son, Timmy was a firefighter who was killed in the line of duty on 9/11---and she is a member of 9-11 Families for Peaceful Tomorrows), Tiffany Burns and I arrived safely and got immediately down to business.
First of all, I have to say right away that the U.S. embargo of Cuba should end---it is antiquated and hypocritical. Cuba is a Communist country and the human rights issues may not be perfect, but China is a Communist country also, that has an atrocious record on human right's issues. Secondly, BushCo is committing egregious human rights violations right here on Cuban soil, also. Perhaps re-opening relations could shine a spotlight on human rights violations from Washington DC to Havana.
In my opinion, lifting the embargo could only benefit both countries. I would love for as many Americans as possible to visit Cuba and meet the beautiful, wonderful people who live here and an influx of American dollars due to tourism could only help the people of Cuba. There already are many Americans visiting here illegally, one family we met on the plane said they were coming just to say: "up yours" to BushCo. I also do not believe that in a "free country" like ours that our right to travel wherever we like should be impeded.
I was asked if I was worried about being in the country "illegally." Actually, I am not as worried about that as I am about our soldiers in Iraq and Afghanistan who are hated and targeted because of Bloody George the Torturer's inhumane sanctioning of the horrific treatment of prisoners in such places as Guantanamo and Abu Ghraib. I am not as worried about being in Cuba illegally as I am about the peoples of Iraq and Afghanistan who are caught in the cross hairs of American imperialism which is ruining their countries and killing and maiming their populations.
Our group expanded yesterday to include Asif Iqbal who was illegally detained and harshly treated in Guantanamo and Matt Crosswhite who filmed The Road to Guantanamo. Soon we will be joined by the mother and brother of a current detainee.
We travel to Guantanamo tomorrow to begin our march for peace and humanity and to demand that the U.S. give each and every inmate his due process, treat them humanely, whether it is to release them or have them properly incarcerated if found guilty (by a criminal court, not a kangaroo court) and then close down the gulag of Guantanamo.
Our country should be above such inhumanity. Most people would be sick at heart if we discovered that dogs were being treated so horribly---these are human beings, not animals.
Every American who realizes that violence only spreads violence and torture only spawns hatred should stand up on January 11th in solidarity with our contingent in Cuba to call for an immediate closure of Guantanamo and for the restoration of habeas corpus that was stolen from us by the 109th Congress (yes, folks, many Democrats voted "yea" on that one, too!)
En La Paz y Amor!
In Search of Peace is a reflection of Cindy's journey towards true and lasting peace.
Cindy Sheehan is the mother of Spc. Casey Sheehan who was killed in Bush's war of terror on 04/04/04.
She is the co-founder and president of Gold Star Families for Peace and the Camp Casey Peace Institute.
She is the author of three books, the most recent is: Peace Mom: A Mother's Journey Through Heartache
to Activism.
After a slightly hairy flight from Cancun, Mexico, to Havana, Cuba, Col. Ann Wright, Medea Benjamin, Adele Welty (Son, Timmy was a firefighter who was killed in the line of duty on 9/11---and she is a member of 9-11 Families for Peaceful Tomorrows), Tiffany Burns and I arrived safely and got immediately down to business.
First of all, I have to say right away that the U.S. embargo of Cuba should end---it is antiquated and hypocritical. Cuba is a Communist country and the human rights issues may not be perfect, but China is a Communist country also, that has an atrocious record on human right's issues. Secondly, BushCo is committing egregious human rights violations right here on Cuban soil, also. Perhaps re-opening relations could shine a spotlight on human rights violations from Washington DC to Havana.
In my opinion, lifting the embargo could only benefit both countries. I would love for as many Americans as possible to visit Cuba and meet the beautiful, wonderful people who live here and an influx of American dollars due to tourism could only help the people of Cuba. There already are many Americans visiting here illegally, one family we met on the plane said they were coming just to say: "up yours" to BushCo. I also do not believe that in a "free country" like ours that our right to travel wherever we like should be impeded.
I was asked if I was worried about being in the country "illegally." Actually, I am not as worried about that as I am about our soldiers in Iraq and Afghanistan who are hated and targeted because of Bloody George the Torturer's inhumane sanctioning of the horrific treatment of prisoners in such places as Guantanamo and Abu Ghraib. I am not as worried about being in Cuba illegally as I am about the peoples of Iraq and Afghanistan who are caught in the cross hairs of American imperialism which is ruining their countries and killing and maiming their populations.
Our group expanded yesterday to include Asif Iqbal who was illegally detained and harshly treated in Guantanamo and Matt Crosswhite who filmed The Road to Guantanamo. Soon we will be joined by the mother and brother of a current detainee.
We travel to Guantanamo tomorrow to begin our march for peace and humanity and to demand that the U.S. give each and every inmate his due process, treat them humanely, whether it is to release them or have them properly incarcerated if found guilty (by a criminal court, not a kangaroo court) and then close down the gulag of Guantanamo.
Our country should be above such inhumanity. Most people would be sick at heart if we discovered that dogs were being treated so horribly---these are human beings, not animals.
Every American who realizes that violence only spreads violence and torture only spawns hatred should stand up on January 11th in solidarity with our contingent in Cuba to call for an immediate closure of Guantanamo and for the restoration of habeas corpus that was stolen from us by the 109th Congress (yes, folks, many Democrats voted "yea" on that one, too!)
En La Paz y Amor!
In Search of Peace is a reflection of Cindy's journey towards true and lasting peace.
Cindy Sheehan is the mother of Spc. Casey Sheehan who was killed in Bush's war of terror on 04/04/04.
She is the co-founder and president of Gold Star Families for Peace and the Camp Casey Peace Institute.
She is the author of three books, the most recent is: Peace Mom: A Mother's Journey Through Heartache
to Activism.
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Ms. Sheehan,
For true and lasting peace, we must address injustice in all areas of the world, regardless of which country (or leader) is responsible. I believe your hatred of George Bush and the U.S. government has created tunnel vision that keeps you from seeing a larger, more urgent crisis in Cuba. The Ladies in White are an example of courage and strength when confronting injustice and working for peace. If you would only take the time to visit the Ladies in White and hear their stories (and visit the prisons where their loved ones are detained), I think you would have a better perspective on inhumane treatment. I am in no way excusing our own country's actions in the matter of detaining terrorist suspects without trial. However, the first hand information many American journalists and Cuban American families are receiving from people living in Cuba is a reality check for anyone who believes hard beds and razor wire fences are inhumane treatment.
I agree the Cuban people are wonderful, loving people. I have experienced the same in my husband's family. However, the people of Cuba yearn for the freedom you have to speak your mind to the world. They suffer not under the U.S. embargo but under a regime that has forced their silence for more than 40 years. You have used the same argument as Castro: It's the U.S. government that keeps the Cuban people in poverty. Are you aware Castro has amassed more than $900 million of personal wealth as he has taken over farms, homes, and businesses from honest, hard-working Cubans? Then he murdered them (at the hands of Che Guevara) before they could speak out against the injustice. Today he continues to silence hundreds in his prisons, releasing them only when on the verge of death. I encourage you and anyone visiting your site to visit http://www.marcmasferrer.typepad.com/ for the truth of what the Cuban people are forced to endure and who is responsible.
I hope before your next visit outside the United States you will consider researching the country's history and current struggles and work for peace and justice in that country as much as you villify the actions of your own.
For true and lasting peace, we must address injustice in all areas of the world, regardless of which country (or leader) is responsible. I believe your hatred of George Bush and the U.S. government has created tunnel vision that keeps you from seeing a larger, more urgent crisis in Cuba. The Ladies in White are an example of courage and strength when confronting injustice and working for peace. If you would only take the time to visit the Ladies in White and hear their stories (and visit the prisons where their loved ones are detained), I think you would have a better perspective on inhumane treatment. I am in no way excusing our own country's actions in the matter of detaining terrorist suspects without trial. However, the first hand information many American journalists and Cuban American families are receiving from people living in Cuba is a reality check for anyone who believes hard beds and razor wire fences are inhumane treatment.
I agree the Cuban people are wonderful, loving people. I have experienced the same in my husband's family. However, the people of Cuba yearn for the freedom you have to speak your mind to the world. They suffer not under the U.S. embargo but under a regime that has forced their silence for more than 40 years. You have used the same argument as Castro: It's the U.S. government that keeps the Cuban people in poverty. Are you aware Castro has amassed more than $900 million of personal wealth as he has taken over farms, homes, and businesses from honest, hard-working Cubans? Then he murdered them (at the hands of Che Guevara) before they could speak out against the injustice. Today he continues to silence hundreds in his prisons, releasing them only when on the verge of death. I encourage you and anyone visiting your site to visit http://www.marcmasferrer.typepad.com/ for the truth of what the Cuban people are forced to endure and who is responsible.
I hope before your next visit outside the United States you will consider researching the country's history and current struggles and work for peace and justice in that country as much as you villify the actions of your own.
For more information:
http://www.marcmasferrer.typepad.com/
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