cubanos.org
Press Release
FOR
IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
CONTACT:
Edgar Veytia
Cubanos.org
310-657-9310
310-657-9311
e d g a r @ c u b a n o s . o r g
www.cubanos.org
Not
your Father's Embargo
Los
Angeles , CA, 9/24/2001 — As the old guard Cuban-Americans retire
or die off, the next generation is taking over the anti-Castro cause,
but not without controversy.
For
forty years, the Cuban-American community has held a hard unwavering
line against their arch nemesis, Fidel Castro. But with age taking
its toll, a new generation of Cubans is assuming command. "I think
Fidel Castro's worst nightmare is that there's a younger generation
here that has not forgotten Cuba," says Jorge Mas Santos, recent heir
as chairman of Cuban American National Foundation, the powerful anti-Castro
movement based in in Florida. The transition however, is anything
but business as usual.
Mas
Santos has unleashed a storm of controversy, leading to the resignations
of many of the founding members of CANF by suggesting that the foundation
"look past Castro" to the future. In reflecting the sentiments of
a younger generation, many of whom were born in the U.S. or emigrated
here as children, Mas Santos is the most notable figure to join the
growing debate about what to do about Castro.
"The
Miami hard liners undermined much of their credibility in the eyes
of the American public through a series of events, especially in how
they handled the Elian Gonzalez debacle and again with the Latin Grammys
retreating from Miami," says, Edgar Veytia, founder of Cubanos.org,
a progressive Cuban-American organization whose web site is quickly
becoming a central meeting place for Cubans debating their future.
"Other
viewpoints have been around for a while, especially among Cubans living
far away from the Miami community," adds Veytia, "While frustration
has been eating away at Cubans everywhere, few have dared to question
or challenge the views espoused by the exile community's hard line
leaders. Some Cubans have been afraid of retaliation but mostly we
Cubans have not wanted to appear disloyal or to be sending the wrong
message to Castro."
Even
the long standing policies of the U.S. government have come under
mounting pressure in recent months. Resolutions are advancing in Congress
aimed at easing travel and trade restrictions, even suggesting an
end to our 40 year old quarantine of Cuba. With the Miami based leadership
in transition, many Cuban-Americans, especially those outside of Miami,
feel emboldened to take a fresh look possible options and talk about
it candidly.
"Momentum
is building toward a new concensus, but it won't be pretty and it
won't be neat until a lot of public debate takes place. There are
many Cubans scattered all over the United States with deep feelings
that need to voice their opinions openly." says Veytia, "It's a healthy
thing that's taking place, not a sign of weakness."
With
web sites like Cubanos.org offering a safe haven for dynamic debate,
the new look of the Cuban-American community will be that of many
fresh faces and shaped by many new voices. And they're not all coming
out of Miami.
KEYWORDS:
CUBA,
CUBAN-AMERICANS, INTERNET, TRADE-EMBARGO
For
additional information or a sample copy, contact:
Edgar Veytia
Cubanos.org
310-657-9310
310-657-9311
e d g a r @ c u b a n o s . o r g
www.cubanos.org
