Cuba: A nation forgotten

author : Brendan Funtek topic : Cuba

by Brendan Funtek

Out of all the grim remnants remaining from the Cold War era, the trade blockade and travel ban imposed on Cuba casts the longest shadow from the US. This shadow's stretch doesn't have to extend far since Cuba is a mere 90 miles from Florida, but it's been the most historically persistent. In fact, when broached on the subject, I've found people often aren't aware there's still an "embargo" and are somewhat aware of the travel ban but confused as to its origin. This makes discussion of Cuba complex.

George Carlin said in a 1972 routine that the most difficult thing about having a beard was people thought he was a "commie -- fag -- junkie" and that "it's tough to talk them out of three things at once." The same challenge exists with conversations here about Cuba. Simultaneously explaining why Castro isn't the oppressive dictator he's demonized to be, how Cuba has suffered pointlessly due to severe trade restrictions and why the country's not going to imminently collapse once Castro is dead are just a few of the hurdles. It's never fun for people to realize they've unwittingly become another propaganda pawn in the elaborate bogeyman stories the US has spread about Cuba since getting humiliated at the Bay of Pigs.

Even worse, any conversations about Cuba that rest on the defensive end leave little time to explain about all the positive developments happening that leave international observers in reverent awe. An unprecedented health care policy that not only provides all Cubans with free health care but extends their treatment to other nations, regardless of political beliefs. The US government notoriously chose Blackwater operatives for Katrina victims over the thousand Cuban doctors prepared to offer experienced hurricane treatment at no cost or expectation. A government that treats illiteracy with the same dire concern that other nations fixate on their trade surplus. Cuba's energy conservation policies born out of necessity to the trade restrictions that are becoming emulated worldwide.

But what deserves its own paragraph is the offer of free medical school to any aspiring US student who isn't interested in acquiring over a hundred thousand dollars in debt from their own country. Six years of medical school is offered at the Latin America School of Medicine along with a preliminary course for those who don't speak Spanish to learn, and a program in the last year that prepares students for the US license test. The offer extends to 500 students and less than a hundred from this country are currently involved.

But the simplest way to learn about Cuba is to go there. It's true, the US offers a travel license that involves scrutiny, background checks, excessive paperwork and a likely rejection (especially if you're Cuban-born and hoping to see a dying relative). But why contribute to their ridiculous charades? Reject the licensing process.

And it's also true that you can go to Canada or Mexico and catch a flight to Cuba. But why be evasive for the simple matter of going to a country that will welcome you?

I had the opportunity to travel to Cuba last year with Pastors for Peace, an internationally comprised caravan, and the experience was life-altering.

My initial interest in Cuba came at a young pre-teen age when I learned that we, as priviledged citizens of the United States, are not allowed to travel there. Already attentive to the reality of US foreign policy, I planned for Cuba to be the first foreign country I would ever go to. And outside of the Canada -- Mexico sphere, the plan came through and my memories will be resplendent through life.

The inspiration emanating from the Literacy Museum (built on land converted from a former military base) left me teary-eyed about Cuba's immediate and successful actions to end illiteracy once the Revolution came to be. The brilliance of an improv children's theater group that performed for our caravan along with festivities from various communities. The pastoral beauty of Havana province.

Also, our caravan was given significant access to the political and religious groups in Cuba, which was essential to truly learning the country (and an opportunity rarely afforded to those who travel alone and confused). There were so many pinch-me moments like when I was speaking with Communist Youth members about the US's harsh treatment toward juveniles and defiance of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child. I asked how they treat juveniles who commit crimes and was astonished of their patience and optimism relative to my country's policies.

Cuba provides so many positive examples to social issues we in the U.S. struggle with that conceptions like ideology feel moot. Who cares what we label ourselves or what party we side with when countries with far less resources than us offer better sustainable networks for their people? Meanwhile, our people live in fear and witness the negligent horrors of Sept. 11 and Hurricane Katrina. These are not the thoughts my government wanted me to mull over when returning to the US and this is why they prevent people from going to Cuba.

The best way to travel there is with those in mutual conscience to the injustice of US foreign policy. There are two US-based groups that annually make such a trip.

Venceremos Brigade is a work brigade that spends three weeks in solidarity with the Cuban workers on whatever project is assigned to them. They cross in Buffalo, New York, publicly en route to their Canada flight to create awareness to their defiance of the travel ban.

Pastors for Peace (an interfaith caravan that assembles all those interested in making the journey regardless of belief) collects material aid through 14 routes around the US. Every place they stop is given a presentation on the history of the caravan along with all the answers to questions people have about Cuba but are too shy to ask. I found this portion of the trip to Cuba inspiring in and of itself with all the people I met around the country. Then PFP crosses the Mexico border, subjected to the US Border Patrol's harassment to and from.

One of the PFP routes is traveling through Olympia on July 3. Come to Traditions Café (300 5th Avenue in downtown Olympia) at 7 pm to hear their story, and feel free to bring some disposable medical supplies or money to donate.

Brendan Funtek is a member of the Olympia Movement for Justice and Peace.