Cuba's Future

by Rafael Coutin
Translation by Lillian Martinez

ANNEXATION is opposed by Cubans. Almost immediatley after we opened our eyes for the first time, we were bombarded with how bad that idea was, and that legend of the monster which would swallow us and all that. Martí thoughts taken out of context characterized the teachig that was imposed by the Castro communist regime to present an anti-imperialist and almost Marxist Martí to those of us who had the misfortune to be born as Cubans.

Historically, to present the annexation of the Island of Cuba as the antithesis of patriotic thought precedes Castroism and even earlier in the era of the beginning of the republic and perhaps even earlier. Not knowing the historical ties that since the beginning of the colonization joined us to the United States.

I don't intend to compile a series of events which join us since the beginning to the United States of America. From the participation of the Cuban-Spaniards in founding Florida till the well known heroic deeds of Cuban Spaniards in the wars of independence and secession of the United States.

As a historical premise, I will just go back to the origin of our flag, which was inspired by the United States flag and which was taken to Cuba by an annexationist: Narciso Lopez.

If we analyze the present situation of the Cuban Nation, we cannot break it apart from the United States. A million Cuban-Americans and resident Cubans in the United States are looking toward the great Antille Island. From the part of the island, 11 million people are looking toward this country. Some expecting several dollars, others expecting an invasion and some expecting good weather so they can flee by raft to the north.

The TV that they try to watch are the North American programs, the movies, the videos the music, are those of this nation. The Cuban youth has become more pro-Northamerican during the Castrocommunism decades than it was before Castro took over! Cubans with the inexorable custom of adopting all that is foreign, have changed the name of the American money to fulas. The country itself already is known among us as the Yuma.

Do you remember the band Los Van Van? Surely you do! Well, they have a song whose theme goes: Where do you want me to take you, mom.. And the choir responds " To the sugar..." Well, in all the parties that I can recall where that song was sung, the crowd responded: " To the Yuma!"

And a certain song whose theme was : " Fly, fly!", the crowd sings " Row, row!"

Thus many examples could illustrate many details like the admiration and respect that our people feel toward its neighbor of the north.

Let's look at the other part, those hardened and unyielding demagogues who on both sides of the Florida Straits cover themselves with the Cuban flag to proclaim that Cuba should be an independent nation, alluding at the flag, the coat of arms, the national anthem, etc., etc.

But in reality no one has from a serious perspective the will and the desire to take a devastated country like Cuba to a state of prosperity that approximates even slightly what it used to be before Castro's arrival. Even when there is an honest desire to bring welfare to the impoverished Antillian nation, there aren't sufficient resources to get the state budget out of the negative balance in which it is. Only the strategic association with a great nation as the United States could be the short term solution to the Cuban national problem.

But what is an Independent Associated State (IAS)? I recommend a study of Puerto Rico as a comparative measure. When Luis Munoz Marin began his battle to take the Puerto Rican people from its colonial status to an association of mutual benefit with the United States, not only did he resolve the status of an occupied nation, but he erradicated hunger, poverty and precariousness forever in Puerto Rico.

The IAS does not destroy national identity, nor compromise the nation's name, nor even the patriotic symbols. The IAS has a right to sports and cultural representation in the community of nations. It has its own laws, its own government and autonomy for all situations that affect the individuals. It instead delegates its international political representation to the United States of America, as well as its national defense and its currency. Let's see just how traumatic this situation would be for Cuba:

1) What does the common citizen care that internationally we be represented by a North American diplomat or a Castroite berserk oligarch chancellor?

2) Would we be concerned that we be relieved from having an army, which has only brought us 100 years of corruption, abuse and repression?

3) Would it be untenable if the currency is changed, the wrinkled bill with the Marti image, which has no value, and the US Dollar be introduced? Surely not! The fact is that that part of the IAS has already been adopted by Castro.

Which benefits would we get in return? Many!:

1) First a passport which is respected and welcomed in all parts of the world, in place of the booklet in sarcophagus color which is rejected in all consulates of the world!

2) Access to credits, state as well as private, for the reconstruction of the nation, at interest rates that no other nation in the world has.

3) Federal help for welfare of those in need and for victims of natural disasters.

4) North American investments, creation of millions of well paid jobs and access to low prices for products of that nation.

5) Supervision by Uncle Sam to protect us from the endemic tendencies of our politicians and officials to feed on public funds.

I'm sure that if this option is explained to any common Cuban, he would accept it immediately. However, the opinion molders, the mass leaders, on both sides of the Straits of Florida will tear down this idea, blandishing all demagogic talk in their arsenal, which has not gotten anything positive for Cuba in more than 100 years as a republic That has led to the terrible present situation.

Independence? Yes, personal independence, sovereignty of the family and individuals, full enjoyment and practice of rights. The Republic? It only serves to give employment to the politicians in turn.

Rafael Coutin is coeditor of La Voz de Cuba Libre.

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