Gerard Dion's Blog, page 23
February 13, 2016
Cuba Unchained Arts & Culture Havana to kick off international book fair
The Fair (February 11-21) offers a culturally enriching invitation to those looking to find books, interact with authors, and enjoy a program of activities promoting reflection, research and other art forms.
Outstanding among the many parallel events is the international seminar focused on the 130th anniversary of slavery’s abolition in Cuba taking place at the Casa de las Americas
New rules to ease the embargo will make it easier for airlines to do business in Cuba
U.S.-based airlines can now negotiate directly with Cuban airlines to lease space on the island, Travel Pulse reports. Carriers can also form code-sharing deals with their Cuban counterparts. The Caribbean destination, for decades off limits to American travelers, is under unprecedented strain with record number of visitors arriving a year after the U.S. eased restrictions to travel there, Reuters reports. Industry experts worry the island will be unable to absorb an even greater surge of tourists when scheduled U.S. commercial airline and ferry services start this year.
Travel News U.S. carriers to begin bidding for air routes to Cuba
In just a matter of days, U.S. airlines will begin a fierce bidding war to win routes and airport slots to a destination that’s been off limits to them for more than 50 years: Cuba.
Arts & Culture A first at Havana Book Fair: exhibit space for American publishers
Although individual American publishers and authors have attended the fair, the ABC stand in Havana is the first organized group of American publishers to have an event space at the event, Publishers Weekly reports. ABC is displaying 600 titles at the fair. The 25th annual Havana Book Fair held February 11-21 at the San Carlos de La Cabana Fortress, opened with a new feature this year: The American Book Expositio —a display of books published by nearly 40 American houses, a collection that marks the first time U.S. publishers has exhibited at the show.
The fair, which opened on Tuesday, was packed with Latin American dignitaries and Cuban government officials. Among those attending were the Vice President of Uruguay and Zuleica Romay Gerra president of The Cuban Book Institute part of the Cuban Ministry of Culture, (the ministry organizes the show).
Held at a sprawling 16th-century fort that dates back to the beginnings of Cuba, the fair is virtually a city in and of itself; walking around the grounds allows visitors to take in a mix of Cuban history, as well as the ability to glimpse the country’s future. With relations between the U.S. and Cuba having just opened up, attending the show–and seeing the ABE’s presence–reminds one that Cuba is entering a new phase politically, not to mention a new era in publishing.
The trip marks the beginning of a new era and, more specifically, more publisher-driven trips to Cuba. “I’m optimistic about future cooperation with the Havana Book Fair and The Cuban Ministry of Culture.”
New Regulations Make It Easier For U.S. And Cuban Airlines To Expand Commercial Flights.
“The new regulations also make it easier for U.S. airlines to work with their Cuban counterparts to expand commercial flights between the countries. The State Department announced that it had reached a deal with Cuba to fly up to 110 round-trip flights a day, quadrupling the current flow of air traffic between the two countries. Tuesday’s announcement expanded on that by making it easier for airlines to work with and operate in Cuba.” [USA Today, “U.S. approves more business trade with Cuba,
February 12, 2016
Would you be open to reviewing my book
http://us12.campaign-archive1.com/?u=...
CUBA Unchained has already received great interest from the media, and has been reviewed by Kirkus, Blue Ink, Clarion, so I thought you might be open to reviewing it.
If so, please reply with your mailing address and any special submission preferences and I will send you a copy in return.
You can learn more about the book at http://www.dionpublishingcompany.com/
I look forward to hearing from you.
Sincerely,
Gerard Dion
Visit us at
http://www.cubaunchained.com/home.html
Join us at https://www.facebook.com/cubaunchained
February 5, 2016
Here’s the past and current situation as I see it.
U.S.-Cuban foreign policy, certainly since the Cold War ended years ago, if not before, is all about politics, votes and influence and money. Money in U.S. politics buys votes. Votes then are influence.
It does not matter who is in office, Democrats or Republicans. They are both really most motivated by the various supporting constituencies, disregarding their moral, ethical, economic, humanitarian or religious veracity and getting and retaining control, prestige and power.
Political people at the top of the food chain are enjoying the supreme ego trip! It’s very addictive! “Here’s the bottom line. There are about 800,000 Cuban Americans in South Florida, maybe 100,000 in New Jersey, and 100,000 more spread around the United States.
Some of them are quite well-to-do and influential. Some are politically very astute and over most of the past 40-some years have voted as a bloc, giving their 1 million votes to the political candidates who would most likely continue the embargo against Fidel and the Cuban people by association.
Many of them have dreams of returning to Cuba as influential conquering heroes and/or recovering the cost of abandoned property and business. In many cases, the leadership of these influential pro U.S.-Cuban embargoists are depending on U.S. Government officials, in some future cooperative resolution of the relationship, to help appoint them to high office in the future U.S.-supported Cuban Government.
I do not say the view of these people is wrong. I just say, it is biased and has exercised great power without offset, and the Cuban people do not want that kind of 19th century solution! They won’t accept it! “The U.S-Cuban bloc of 1 million votes is a big bloc. You will remember how close the vote was in Florida in 2002.
The Cuban-Americans took credit for getting Mr. Bush number two elected. You’ll recall that shortly after, the embargo was strengthened, primarily against the interest of ordinary Cubans. Business conditions, primarily agricultural products, actually improved.
“The United States of America! The very cradle of democracy! The champion of the poor and disenfranchised of the world for two centuries-plus. The largest, richest, most generous, forgiving society in the world, 300 million strong, has its big heavy foot on the neck of the little island of Cuba and its people like they really pose some kind of threat! Folks, it is absolutely ridiculous! It’s ludicrous! It’s absurd! Cuba is about the size of the state of Michigan.
As American citizens, we can’t let our elected politicians get as far out of control as we’ve let them get in recent years. We have to get control of them and put our foot on their necks when they demonstrate un-American ideals!
January 29, 2016
There are 11 million oppressed people in Cuba. They’ve been oppressed for more than 50 years. They are our neighbors.
“I’m here to talk about Cuba. There are 11 million oppressed people in Cuba. They’ve been oppressed for more than 50 years. They are our neighbors. The only nations closer to us are Canada and Mexico. Cuba and Havana are only 90 miles from the most southerly point in the U.S.—Key West.
If you could drive it, it would be an hour and 20 minutes. By air, it’s 20 minutes. By boat, perhaps two and half hours, depending on what you’re driving. If you could walk it, it would take less than 30 hours. I’m trying to say, ‘Cuba is close.’ Realize Cuba is our very close neighbor—always has been, always will be. But it’s even closer today, due to the speed of travel and modern communications. “The Cuban people are our friends.
The vast majority, if not all of them, love America and American ideals. The Cuban people are a lot like Americans were back in the 1950s. They’ve been caught in a time warp caused by Fidel’s Revolution and stubbornness. Fidel, of course, has been an American political leadership nemesis and bad guy poster child for many years.
But, why did he, how did he, gain power?
That is a historical question, with an answer that is not frequently remembered in the 21st century. But, the answer is not unlike the answers explaining our failed foreign policy right here in the Western Hemisphere with many of our neighbors in the Caribbean, Central America, South America and Mexico. Mass mismanagement!
“To refresh your memory, in Cuba, Fidel came to power to depose the American-supported dictator by the name of Batista, remember him?
The U.S. helped him arrange a military coup because we didn’t like the prior dictator the U.S. put in power. We believe, we say, in democracy, rule of law, free markets and power to the people. But what do we do to our neighbors, the Cuban people?
Do you doubt that what we’ve done, and do now, is for any reason other than the economic gain of some special interest group with lots of money, influence and votes?
“If we, the U.S. Government, put someone in power and keep them in power, are we not smart enough and powerful enough to make a deal that assures a democratic future?
I think yes. “Ladies and gentlemen, the United States directly or indirectly put Fidel in the driver’s seat. Then we proceeded to mismanage him, the situation deteriorated and unbelievably, we lost friends and neighbors only 90 miles away. And before we could figure out what was going on in Cuba, we were on the outside looking in.
The accountability process fails, the communication process fails, leadership fails! Democracy, I’m confident, is the best system in the world, history proves it, but it is only as good as the stewards we elect to protect and perpetuate American ideals. “Therefore, the failure of America’s elected politicians and their Cuban policy brought, permitted, Fidel to come to power, and then another series of leadership bad decisions, bad foreign policy, permitted Fidel and his revolution to become perhaps the last, or certainly the best, well-known dictatorship in the world over the next 50-plus years. Ninety miles off the coast of the United States is our closest noncontiguous neighbor, 11 million depressed, oppressed neighbors!
They are hungry for freedom, democracy and the American way, but intent upon retaining their rich heritage, culture and control of their way of life. They want help, but not domination, and interference by the United States. “As their closest neighbors, we should have addressed those needs, probably through Fidel in the beginning and before he nationalized U.S. assets in Cuba. American business lost hundreds of billions of dollars. The IRS lost hundreds of millions in taxes. The U.S. lost what should have been a strategically located ally 90 miles off our coast. Worse, we wasted 50 years of influence in Cuba and permitted Russia
Russia! — six thousand miles away—to endanger every American son and daughter during the years of the Cold War! “So, you’re wondering, what am I trying to say?
In my judgment, the current Cuban mess was America’s own fault, continues to be our own fault, and that now is way past time to correct the problem. And, that is my mission, my personal Signature Event as an ordinary American, a citizen diplomat with many resources, to try to lead the American people to a peaceful coexistence with 11 million of our good neighbors to the south, the people of Cuba.
January 22, 2016
YOU have the power to change the course of mankind. How will you wield it?
First, please let me share a little of my personal history with you.
I’m a graduate of the University of Illinois, with a degree in business. While in college I joined the NROTC and after graduation spent four years in the U.S. Marine Corps. I was a reconnaissance officer in the beginning of my military career and in Intelligence at the end. I served my country another six years as a Marine Reserve officer in San Diego, California, where I had started a small defense company. I remain Chairman of that company today. My son is CEO. “When I started to plan my semi-retirement a couple of years ago, I knew that I had an awful lot to be thankful for. Life has been very good to me. I knew I wanted to give something back to my fellow man, and especially those at the very bottom of the economic ladder—those who were down and held down, disadvantaged to the degree that few Americans can really understand.
My time in the Marine Corps, and in the defense industry, has given me the opportunity to travel much of the world. “I can tell those of you who are not well-traveled that when you leave this great country of ours, you’ll discover that most of the rest of the world lives in abject poverty.
Yes, there are a lot of reasons why, but, in general, the reasons are political, educational, economic, and the greed of their leadership. In my judgment, America as far and away the wealthiest, well educated, largest, most influential economy in the world has not, does not always, assume a proper leadership role.
Foreign policy-wise, in my opinion, we cause as many problems as we correct. Are Americans a generous people? Yes, we give away billions every year! But, we’re not smart enough to require proper accountability for the hard-earned money we send offshore. I am not sure our politicians really even care, as long as they get their share of the pork.
“Look at New Orleans—our politically focused leaders can’t effectively manage money right here in the United States when U.S. citizens are desperate for help. Look at the billions we’ve sent to Iraq, for which there is not even a proper paper trail to track its disappearance. How about the billions we’re spending on the war on drugs?
Has that changed drug use in the United States? In the war on drugs, U.S. citizens are the problem, not the Colombians or Afghans. And there’s the war on illegal immigration. We’re spending billions on walls and fences to protect us from our next-door neighbor Mexico.
Come on! Does that make sense to you? Did the Great Wall of China protect the Chinese? Did the Berlin Wall protect Russia? Long, tall walls went out as protection following the Medieval Age.
The foreign policy of the United States in some cases has been, and is, a failure perpetuated by Republican and Democratic politicians alike, who spend most of their time and energy developing strategies and tactics in a very expensive battle for control and supremacy of their political careers and party. That which is ethical, moral, legal, and in the spirit of our great Constitution, are the ideals to which our founders subscribed, but not the ideals to which many of our elected politicians aspire.
CUBA Unchained is my last great effort to show that any one man or woman can change the course of mankind on the world stage, including each of you
