Miami school board bans Cuba book

[drain.you]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/5082584.stm

[Vendetta]

Any idea what was actually in the book that was so controversial (as far as I can tell, it was a simple geography book...)?

[Karl Marx's Camel]

I assume it was lack of bias that was the "problem", not otherwise.

Not mentioning the dictator in a geography book sure is bias. :rolleyes:

[bcbm]

If its the kind of book I think it is, there are a crap ton of those books about just about any country, and they all present ridiculous idealized versions.

[Mesijs]

Originally posted by black banner black [email protected] 15 2006, 03:41 PM
If its the kind of book I think it is, there are a crap ton of those books about just about any country, and they all present ridiculous idealized versions.
That's true.

[pcb]

Exiled Cubans have such a reach in Florida that school books could be construded as material that is detrimental to the USA. Their ability to manipulate is breath taking

[Axel1917]

Originally posted by [email protected] 15 2006, 11:41 PM
Exiled Cubans have such a reach in Florida that school books could be construded as material that is detrimental to the USA. Their ability to manipulate is breath taking
I have heard such things as well. I think they even managed to get a showing of The Motorcycle Diaries delayed at some public library.

[Angry Young Man]

They say it portrays an idealised view of life in Cuba - and fails to reflect what they describe as the harsh conditions Cubans have lived under since Fidel Castro came to power in 1959.

I suppose life was peachy under Batista. The peasants didn't revolt because he was a despot, oh no, they just thought...
I don't know. Somebody continue my sarcasm.

[poetofrageX]

Originally posted by lovechild of Kahlo and [email protected] 16 2006, 10:14 AM
I suppose life was peachy under Batista. The peasants didn't revolt because he was a despot, oh no, they just thought...
I don't know. Somebody continue my sarcasm.
they just thought, "hey this guy Castro's got a nice beard, and that Argentinian doctor with him seems like a cool guy, lets go follow them," yep, that makes perfect sense.

[The Beat]

Guys,

Castro is one of the best leaders of the island of Cuba in its entire history, including Martín. He has practically eliminated illiteracy, has a social health care system that is so successful he recently sent doctors to Bolivia to help set up clinics there, FREE OF CHARGE OF COURSE, and has eliminated poverty in many ways.

I swear. Sometimes you guys sound more right wing than Bush.

Don't you ever get out in the world???

[poetofrageX]

exactly what i was thinking, Castro's nowhere near perfect, but come on, there are certain things a socialist nation needs to do to be able to survive 90 miles from the U.S., including restrictions on the press etc. It's a nessecary evil to protect the huge gains of the revolution. do you guys want Castro to go out like Allende?

[bcbm]

Um, nobody was even talking shit on Cuba or Castro in this thread.

[Gura]

They say it portrays an idealised view of life in Cuba - and fails to reflect what they describe as the harsh conditions Cubans have lived under since Fidel Castro came to power in 1959.
I guess none of these idiots has ever looked at other geography/travel books before. Generally these types of books don't get into politics.

These Cuban Exile guys could use a reality check.

[Rawthentic]

hey, The Beat, are you really all that altrusitic when it comes to Cuba? Well, aside all those achievments that you mentioned, its not even socialist, much less a utopia as you were making it seem. I dont beleive in Castro's rhetoric about freedom, they dont have freedom of speech, freedom of press, they cant even leave the island. Plus, its an authoritarian dictatorship, lets not be hypocritical. That is, if we are Marxists, because this is not what he advocated as the free and peaceful society he scientifically envisioned. Its a welfare state and soon capitalist, since it stalled that process in 1959, and cant stay a welfare state forever, just like Russia, Vietnam, China, and the products of Leninism over the century.

[Mesijs]

Originally posted by [email protected] 18 2006, 12:30 AM
hey, The Beat, are you really all that altrusitic when it comes to Cuba? Well, aside all those achievments that you mentioned, its not even socialist, much less a utopia as you were making it seem. I dont beleive in Castro's rhetoric about freedom, they dont have freedom of speech, freedom of press, they cant even leave the island. Plus, its an authoritarian dictatorship, lets not be hypocritical. That is, if we are Marxists, because this is not what he advocated as the free and peaceful society he scientifically envisioned. Its a welfare state and soon capitalist, since it stalled that process in 1959, and cant stay a welfare state forever, just like Russia, Vietnam, China, and the products of Leninism over the century.
They could, if they combined freedom, socialism and democracy from the beginning on. But now it's too late for that. I'm curious what happens if Fidel dies.

[More Fire for the People]

Originally posted by The [email protected] 16 2006, 11:36 PM
Guys,

Castro is one of the best leaders of the island of Cuba in its entire history, including Martín. He has practically eliminated illiteracy, has a social health care system that is so successful he recently sent doctors to Bolivia to help set up clinics there, FREE OF CHARGE OF COURSE, and has eliminated poverty in many ways.

I swear. Sometimes you guys sound more right wing than Bush.

Don't you ever get out in the world???
No, the Cuban people have eliminated illiteracy and established a well-running health care system.

[CubaSocialista]

Originally posted by Axel1917+Jun 16 2006, 01:54 AM--> (Axel1917 @ Jun 16 2006, 01:54 AM)
[email protected] 15 2006, 11:41 PM
Exiled Cubans have such a reach in Florida that school books could be construded as material that is detrimental to the USA. Their ability to manipulate is breath taking
I have heard such things as well. I think they even managed to get a showing of The Motorcycle Diaries delayed at some public library. [/b]
Delayed? try cancelled.

While I wouldn't associate all Cubans with this reactionary attitude, the amount of wealth the exiles' families hoarded under Batista flows through their wallets to this day, and money is the primary medium of influence in American politics.

They CAN and often DO wield their influence to alter how people see reality; one of the reasons capitalism is such a messed-up system. However, their influence is doubled by the Jacksonville-Tallahassee-Central Florida conservative Christian types.

[CubaSocialista]

Originally posted by [email protected] 18 2006, 12:30 AM
hey, The Beat, are you really all that altrusitic when it comes to Cuba? Well, aside all those achievments that you mentioned, its not even socialist, much less a utopia as you were making it seem. I dont beleive in Castro's rhetoric about freedom, they dont have freedom of speech, freedom of press, they cant even leave the island. Plus, its an authoritarian dictatorship, lets not be hypocritical. That is, if we are Marxists, because this is not what he advocated as the free and peaceful society he scientifically envisioned. Its a welfare state and soon capitalist, since it stalled that process in 1959, and cant stay a welfare state forever, just like Russia, Vietnam, China, and the products of Leninism over the century.
Cuba has taken security precautions in the face of a TREMENDOUS and DESTABILIZING threat to Cuban independence 90 miles north of the island.

If you know anything about the People's Power Assemblies, the Cuban government, and the CIA, you'll understand Cuba's reasoning is very valid, and the authoritarianism is ALWAYS exaggerated to villainize Castro so as to maintain the ignorance of the masses, and their support for anti-Castro activity.

If you don't understand this... Ugh.