So Florida Cubans want to return to Cuba--ABC news item

[Skidmore]

They want to return as soon as Castro dies. They want to change everything back to the way it was before Castro. They want to take all their money and go home and tell every other Cuban on the island how to do democracy. What other nation in the world has had the experience of exiles going home and telling them how to do democracy? Iraq. And we know what a fabulous success that has been.

I watched this item and was struck by the certitude of these people in Florida that people would want the changes they bring. And I was impressed by their completely romanticized and rosy view of pre-Castro Cuba. The very people that Castro kicked out and their descendants think that they will return triumphant to Cuba and be welcomed by the people who threw them out.

Reality never bears much resembland to our best nostalgic memories.

[killbotfactory]

1. Castro overthrew the government starting with a handful of people

That wouldn't have been possible unless their were major problems in Cuba.

[Robbien]

3. Back then Cuba's leadership was a bought and paid for puppet of the US

Only the rich had it good in Cuba back then. The exiles who went to Miami right after the revolution were the Cuban elite who supported US policies.

[tsuki]

2. I remember the flight of the Batistas. They landed in Miami

with their furs and jewels fresh from the rape of Cuba. I remember Castro coming to the US and being hailed as a hero by the people, but rebuffed by the corporate and political establishment. Those are my nostalgic memories.

[longship]

4. Let 'em go.

They vote Repug anyway.

[RebelOne]

5. I wish every single one of them would return to Cuba.

[katmondoo]

7. I second that

[cynatnite]

6. How do those same people feel about Jeb

readying to block the potential influx of Cubans leaving? They vote primarily repug, don't they?

Gov. Bush Aims to Stop 'Mass Migration' From Cuba

Gov. Jeb Bush and state emergency management officials are watching developments out of Cuba very closely.

Bush, speaking to reporters before a Cabinet meeting in Tallahassee Tuesday morning, said the state is reviewing an emergency mass migration plan to thwart any potential rush of refugees should instability in Cuba grow.

“We're monitoring carefully what's going on there," Bush said. "There's a lot of people in our state yearning for democracy and freedom in Cuba."

The governor was in Miami Monday, with his brother, the President, when he spoke with federal officials about updating the government’s plan to prohibit mass migration. "Yesterday, coincidentally, I was with the Commandant of the Coast Guard, Thad Allen, who helped craft that plan and we were actually talking about getting together and going through it and updating it,’’ Bush said.

For years, Florida officials have assumed that whenever Fidel Castro leaves power, Cuban dissidents could flee in mass toward Florida, overburdening South Florida. Bush said beefed up Coast Guard patrols would turn back illegal immigrants, and urged Cubans not to leave the island nation.

http://cbs4.com/local/local_story_213114617.html

[B Calm]

8. and they call themselves United States citizens... I'll leave it at that!

[tanyev]

12. Remember how outraged many on the right were by the fact that

people were *gasp* waving Mexican flags during the immigration protests? I haven't heard any of them whining about the crowds in Miami waving Cuban flags. How odd.

[Lasher]

14. You know, I was thinking exactly that

But it was in the form of self-reflection. I must admit that there was a point when I resented the display of the Mexican flag quite a bit. That might have come after the American flag was replaced by the Mexican flag at that school.

I was watching the celebration in Miami on TV yesterday, where Cuban flags were being held up everywhere. I guess I disliked that somewhat, but not as much as when the Mexican flag was exhibited. I don't know why that is, but I'm still sorting it out.

You must have noticed the heated DU debates about developments in the mideast. I've been lately thinking, "Well at least we're not fighting about illegal immigration any more."

[Skidmore]

15. You know, you are absolutely right. The reporter as one man if

his first loyalty was to Cuba or America. Guess what he chose? Cuba. Said that it was "his country."

[Norquist Nemesis]

21. Exactly! Numerous people on camera saying they'll go back

and others saying they'll move there to be where their mother/grandmother grew up...all saying they'll take their money and move there. Not a single word about being an American. All are saying, "I love 'my' country. I want to go home."

And from the echo chamber of hate: *crickets*

[Lasher]

9. This doesn't seem right

If you were Cuban or Cuban-American, where would you want to live - Havana or Miami?

Think most of these folks would want to return to Cuba for a visit, but don't want to stay there? I guess it's more complicated than that, particularly when you think about Florida residents who have relatives in Cuba. Assuming these families would be permanently re-united, I wonder which location would be most people's preference for this to occur.

[Disturbed]

10. When Fidel Castro dies Cuba will not fall apart.

Another leader will take his place and Cuba will remain Socialist. These ex Cubans are delusional.

[LostinVA]

11. Little Batista Fascists

THAT'S what they want. Ugh.

[gulfcoastliberal]

13. Good, get out of our country, Cuban mafia thugs.

Let's see how the REAL citizens of Cuba gret them.

[WinkyDink]

16. But what will the Republicans do without them?!

Send Gloria Estefan back first, okay?

[UTUSN]

17. Can the ROS-LECETIN and the BALART-boo-boo go PLEASE? n/t

[FooFootheSnoo]

18. I saw a similar report on CNN

The reporter stated most of them consider themselves "exiles" and yearn to return to Cuba. What the heck are they doing voting in our elections and holding citizenship if they don't consider the US home? I think they are pretty arrogant. What makes them think Cuba wants them back with or without Castro?

[cgrindley]

19. They want to turn it into a right wing hellhole

It'll just be another shitty place if they get their way.

[KharmaTrain]

Notice How All The Cubans They Interview Are Old?

Yep, some want to go back to the Batista-type right wing kleptocracy (but why should they leave when they have one right here in the good ol US of A???) and sit in the casinos and sing Guantanamera...but that's a generation that is 40 years removed from Cuba and several U.S.-born generations have grown...and became Floridians, not Cubans.

The falling of the Berlin Wall and crumbling of Communism didn't lead to a large exodus of Eastern Europeans from the U.S. back to Poland or Russia...au contraire...it went the other way. The most telling tale about the fall of the wall was the biggest thing most of those on the East side wanted to do on the West side was shop.

"Rebuilding" Cuba doesn't fit the lifestyle of many Floridian Cubans who have propsered into a major force in that city and region...returning to Cuba and its poorer infrastructure would be a crimp in their lifestyles. They talk a good game, but when pushed, they'll let someone else do the rebuilding.

Just shows how ingrained right wing talking points and fear of iritating the Roves and Limbos of the world the corporate media has become that they now spin stories to fit the talking points rather than the facts.

[Catherine Vincent]

20. I say let all the republican voting Cubans-Americans go and the Democratic

voters remain. :-)