News24.com. 15/12/2000
11:25 - (SA).
Havana - American and Cuban high school students wrapped up a third round of
debates on international relations this week, agreeing to disagree on ways to
improve relations between their countries.
But they did find common ground on salsa music and baseball.
"If we've accomplished something it's this: demonstrating the
importance of process, the importance of dissent," said American student
Misha Issak. "They heard things today that they would never have heard
otherwise."
The debates were the brainchild John Tredway, the debate coach at Ashland
High School of Portland, Oregon, who is leading the visiting debate team of
American students from several Oregon schools. They are designed to build future
understanding between young people from both nations.
The encounter on Thursday at the Instituto Politecnico Agropecuario, a trade
school in the outskirts of Havana province, capped two weeks of debates in
Havana and Washington DC between the Oregon students and Cuban students from
Havana area high schools.
It was the third time in less than a year that the students debated issues
ranging from the US trade embargo to human rights in Cuba.
After tackling sticky issues in the early part their seven-day visit, the 18
American students thought Thursday's final topic was easy: agree on ways to
encourage the US and Cuban governments to tone down political rhetoric.
American students in jeans exchanged inquisitive glances with Cuban students
in brown uniforms before all 36 of them sat down to exchange their views under a
photo of revolutionary icon Ernesto "Che" Guevara. A banner the wall
read: "For the solidarity and the friendship of the people of the Americas".
The debate remained cordial for 15 minutes - about as long as a Wednesday
debate on human rights.
Isaak offered an example of what he considered offensive Cuban rhetoric,
pointing to a book carried by Cuban students entitled: A Demand by the Cuban
People to the Government of the United States for Human Damages.
The tract is a lawsuit that Cuba filed against the United States last year
demanding compensation for 40 years of suffering caused by the US trade embargo,
as well as other actions against the island nation. It is mandatory reading in
Cuban schools.
"When I see that book it makes me defensive," said Isaak. "Let's
look at what the cover of that book says: the first word is demand. If you want
to have diplomatic relations you don't make demands, you make requests."
Cuban students said that American students didn't understand that the book
reflects Cuban reality.
"What we have done is tell the truth with our beliefs, our system,"
Cuba student Ariel Valdez said.
Frustrations on both sides crested. American students struggled with the
Cubans' insistence to talk about the past. Their Cuban counterparts appeared
perplexed by an unfamiliar debate format.
Isaak kept pleading for a change in language by both governments. "We
shouldn't be saying that Cuba is a dictatorship and you shouldn't be saying that
the United States has committed awful human rights violations if we want to make
progress," he said.
Further divisions emerged when the Cuban students accused the American
government of committing genocide against the island through the trade sanctions
- a charge that left American students incredulous.
Valdez, 17, defended the comment, saying it should not "be considered
abusive or offensive".
After the two-hour debate, the 18 American students voted to approve a
resolution on toning down political rhetoric; the 18 Cuban students rejected it.
The only unanimous vote was to end the day's debate and hold an afternoon
baseball game. A salsa party followed later. - Sapa-AP
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