Olympia Gonzalez. Chicago
Tribune. March 30, 2001.
Chicago -- This is in reference to the Tribune's interview with Cuban
President Fidel Castro ("The revolution will live beyond me, Castro says,"
News, March 18)
It is good that American newspapers get closer to Cuba and inform the public
in the United States about issues and news in Cuba today. However, it is
important that our journalists do not follow a double standard. They must be
careful to examine issues from both the government's perspective and that of
citizens.
The interview that we read on Sunday did not place Castro's answers in the
proper context but simply functioned as a mouthpiece for the dictator's
propaganda. Although he likes the Internet, Castro does not allow regular Cubans
to use it; you should have mentioned that so Americans would know. Only trusted
members of the government can read and use the Internet. People who don't
support his government are kept in isolation. For example, Cubans living in the
U.S. have not been able to make phone calls to their families for weeks;
communications have been interrupted as a punishment and as a way of isolating
people.
How can an American journalist call Mr. Castro a leader? He is simply a
dictator, and, remember this, he is a man who has no respect for the freedoms
that we consider sacred in the United States.
Please do not let the Chicago Tribune become a mouthpiece for Castro's
propaganda. Believe me, Illinois farmers are not going to make much money from
dealing with Castro. He does not want American products to become available in
Cuba because that is the kind of "dependency" that he fought against
when he took over 40 years ago.
Go to Cuba, but be critical and fair. | 