76-14-A5

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Cuba - Trouble in Paradise

Transcript Remember that song some years ago that had the line, "I'll see you in C-U-B-A"? Well, a boatload of American tourists did see a big welcoming party of friendly Cubans when their cruise ship docked in Havana recently -- the first one since the United States severed relations with the Castro regime 16 years ago. But, while the Cubans were welcoming their visitors with smiles, hugs and cheers, the sugar cane -- on which Cuba's economy depends -- wasn't being harvested nearly fast enough to suit the regime. That, at least, is what the Cuban Connnunist Party newspaper Granma was telling its readers. Despite its name, Granma doesn't dispense warm, homey advice. It exhorts and berates its readers in a deadly serious manner. Professor Roger Fontaine of Georgetown University's Center for Strategic and International Studies specializes in Caribbean affairs and he sent me Granma's report, with some comments. "Ordinarily", he said, "I do not quote from the Communist press. Its sheer turgidness can put to sleep even the most hardened insomniac. But, occasionally an article worth inspection does appear, because occasionally (and unwittingly) it reveals more about the Marxist system than perhaps was intended." -- UNQUOTE. Granma, in its editorial on the sugar harvest, began with a routine quote from comrade Castro, blaming all of Cuba's economic woes on capitalism. Then it got to the real story. Bad weather, it seems, was playing hob with the sugar crop. But people were to blame, too, said Granma. Now, in Cuba, there are not individual people (except, of course, Fidel), but only collective people. Granma's editor put it this way -- QUOTE -- "What is most essential (is that) the masses must understand and lend enthusiasm to this concrete, everyday struggle to optimize the sugar harvest." -- UNQUOTE. Professor Fontaine notes that the Cuban workers don't seem to be getting Granma's message. In fact, they haven't been showing up for work. He says that, "despite Granma's pious pronouncement that '80 percent attendance in the field' (that's 24 days per month) is a 'socialist obligation', most provinces have not met their quota. In fact, the booby prize goes to Oriente - the cradle of the revolution.'" -- UNQUOTE. Granma goes on to wring its editorial hands because last year two-thirds of the cutters harvested less than one-third of the crop. It singles out for special criticism the voluntaries (VO-LOON-TARR-I-OSE) because they are, after all, "experienced adults who are physically fit." Of this, Professor Fontaine says, "I suggest that output is low because the 'volunteer' didn't volunteer in the first place. He has no incentive to work in the hot sun at a dirty job, except for the whip held over him. But slaves through history have learned to shirk their duty even in a thoroughly modern police state like Cuba. Well, perhaps that is stretching it a bit. It's not as if a Cuban cane cutter got nothing for his efforts. For that lucky 'vanguard group' which harvests the most sugar cane, the Council of Ministers will hand it the 'Jesus (HAY-SOOS) Menendez' Award." -- UNQUOTE. Meanwhile, back in Havana, a young American who hijacked an airplane to Castro's paradise in 1971 was interviewed by a U.S. newsman and said he has a much different view of things today. He spent most of the last six years in prison, lost an eye there, and now is paid $100 a month to sweep floors in a hotel. Of his experience, Garland Grant of Milwaukee, said, "I've been in this place six years and I'm out of my mind. Believe me, I'm all for the United States now. I'd even wear a Nixon button." This is Ronald Reagan. Thanks for listening.		Details Batch Number 76-14-A5 Production Date 05/25/1977 Book/Page N/A Audio Youtube? No
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