Replies

LETTER TO ANOTHER IDIOT

Open Letter to Jimmy Carter

FOR FREEDOM & JUSTICE GROUP | 6/17/02 | Oscar B. Pichardo
June 16, 2002

Jimmy Carter
The Carter Center
453 Freedom Parkway Atlanta, GA 30307

Re: Hand written response: “To Mr. Pichardo You’re completely confused - I’m not shilling for anyone or promoting terrorism.” Jimmy C.

Mr. Carter: No Mr. Carter, I am not confused. In my previous communication, I presented a valid case why your visit to Cuba would serve no useful purpose, but legitimize the abominable dictatorship that has existed for the past 43 years. I requested you refrain from joining the succession of American elected representatives and corporate representatives placing profits over dignity and not meet with Cuban dictator Fidel Castro.

You chose to make the trip, - actions speak louder than words - and by your actions became a shill for American corporations, and a tacit promoter of terrorism.

“I’m not shilling for anyone” Yes you are Mr. Carter, you certainly are! You stated in Havana this past May 14 “First, my hope is that Congress will soon act…and repeal the embargo” (NY Times 5/14/02.)

Who would benefit? “Companies like Archer Daniels Midland, Riceland Foods, Gold Kist Inc. and about 18 others that have sold food to Cuba since late last year” (NY Times 5/26/02.) As a direct result of your proposal, American corporations would line their coffers, the Castro dictatorship economically sustained, and a dynasty begun - his brother is anointed as the successor. The Cuban people would continue to suffer oppression, denied human rights, and subjected to the continued reprisals of the Castro tyranny when daring to exercise a basic right such as freedom of speech. An unlikely scenario, I think not!

During the same speech you gave as a viable example “when I normalized relations with China in 1979.” Let us look at the progress of human rights in China the past 23 years, easily summarized in two specific cases: Tiananmen Square June 1989, and religious persecution.

Normalizing economic relations with the Chinese Communist Government has had zero impact on the rights of the average Chinese, but it has greatly profited the exceptionally corrupt and parasitic rulers and their collaborators.

The very same rulers who ordered the bloody crackdown on peaceful unarmed student and worker demonstrators in Tiananmen Square in June of 1989, to protect their personal fortunes and lifestyles. Who can forget the images of an unarmed man standing up to a tank? The failure of “normalization” with China paid in blood by the thousands of slain students and workers.

Religious persecution in China is an incessant abomination. Any and all religions are viewed as enemies of the state, whether Christianity or Falun Gong, and its followers are subjected to persecution by the Chinese government.

This systemic religious persecution is sanctioned at the highest levels of the communist Chinese regime. “During last December’s National Religious Working Conference in Beijing, President Jiang Zemin called for the elimination of spirituality’s encroachment on China’s Communist Party rule. The three-day meeting was attended by a “who’s who” list of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China and the State Council.” (National Review 1/23/02.)

In calling to repeal the embargo Mr. Carter, you condemn the people of Cuba to another 40 years of systematic oppression, subjected to economic apartheid, virtually enslaved, and robbed of human dignity. Just as the “normalized relations with China” has allowed the communist regime to castigate the Chinese people for the past twenty plus years.

Furthermore, why do you not extend the oppressed population of Cuba the same solidarity and support you expressed for the people of South Africa and Rhodesia? You supported the trade embargo against those countries as a means of effecting changes in government that enfranchised those citizens to participate in self-determination. Yet, you would sentence the population of Cuba to the failed Chinese model. Why?

The obvious answer, is economic pressure. There were no corporations lobbying for trade with South Africa and Rhodesia; you would have been pilloried in the media as conspiring with governments that trampled on the human rights of their oppressed citizens. Yet, the plight of the Cuban people provokes no cry for justice.

You genuflect at the altar of corporate profits, mindlessly repeating the mantra of your corporate sponsors - repeal the embargo for “humanitarian” reasons. You sir are shilling for Archer Daniels Midland, Riceland Foods, and Gold Kist Inc. “or promoting terrorism.”

“First they came for the Socialists, and I did not speak out because I was not a Socialist. Then they came for the Trade Unionists, and I did not speak out - because I was not a Trade Unionist. Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out - because I was not a Jew. Then they came for me, and there was no one left to speak for me.” Reverend Martin Niemoller’s oft-quoted condemnation of the bystanders. You Mr. Carter are one of those bystanders.

Over the past years some of the most notorious terrorist organizations in the world - PLO, IRA FARC ETA, FALN, Hamas - have been hosted and encouraged to open training facilities on Cuban soil by Fidel Castro. When you fail to denounce Castro’s involvement with these organizations, you are promoting terrorism.

The US State Department lists Cuba and Iran as terrorist states. Five short months before the cowardly attacks of September 11, Castro visited Teheran where he and Ayatollah Khamenehi stated Iran and Cuba would hand in hand defeat America, and swore publicly to destroy the United States. When you share a meal with Castro, you are promoting terrorism.

The World Health Organization classifies countries into five categories depending on the development of their biological industry. Cuba is classified as category 4.based on its capacity to produce bioweapons.

There is a bilateral agreement between Cuba and Libya, Cuba and Iraq, and Cuba and Iran on biotechnology. Iran’s major Biotechnology Center, was inaugurated by Castro on May 2001. When you tour the Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology in Havana and naively state there is no danger of Castro transferring technology that can be used to make weapons of mass destruction, you are promoting terrorism.

“Mr. Carter said the Cuban government would now have to decide how to respond to the petition (Varela Project) campaign’s demands” (NY Times 5/18/02)

Well Mr. Carter the Castro government has decided: “Defying calls …for democratic reforms, Fidel Castro led a march of hundreds of thousands of people Wednesday to ratify as ``untouchable’’ the one-party socialist system that has ruled this Caribbean island for four decades.” (AP 6/12/02)

It appears Castro has made a dupe out of you. It has been a month since your visit and Castro has said nothing publicly about Project Varela. He led you by the nose in his VIP “dog and pony show” as you praised his corrupt oppressive regime, used your visit to legitimize his tyrannical political system, and had his failed economic policies validated as you foolishly called for a unilateral repeal of the embargo.

In truth sir, you have done a great disservice to the Cuban dissidents and the Varela Project. Even before your visit, the Castro regime began a campaign to discredit the Varela Project as the “work of marginal people paid by the United States.” At the same time turning “to more direct dissuasion with threats and home searches. Some were detained and taken miles from their homes, then forced to walk or hitchhike back.” (NY Times 5/14/02.)

Despite your assertion “I did not come here to interfere in Cuba’s internal affairs” (NY Times 5/14/02) you handed the communist regime the perfect excuse to reject the Varela Project - the first time the majority of Cubans are introduced to the Varela Project is through a speech by a foreigner and an American to boot! You simplistically played right into the hands of the dictator, validating the Castro regime’s claim that “it was crafted by foreigners” and therefore has no merit.

Castro has thumbed his nose at you, Mr. Carter, using his typical propaganda machinations: “The proposed constitutional amendment declaring Cuba’s socialist system to be ``untouchable,’’ and the mobilization, appear to be Castro’s response to the Varela Project, the proposed reform referendum.” (AP 6/12/02.)

Foolishly Mr. Carter, you made your asinine visit. Paying homage to Castro the repressive dictator, who for the past 40 years has systematically oppressed and trampled the human rights and dignity of the Cuban people.

Respectfully, Oscar B. Pichardo

2109 Ernest Ave. Redondo Beach, CA 90278