Jeffrey Goldberg says Fidel is trying to wiggle out of his statement

[flamingdem]

http://www.theatlantic.com/international/archive/2010/09/fidel-tries-to-wiggle-out-of-one/62826/

Fidel Tries To Wiggle Out of One

Sep 10 2010, 9:28 PM ET
According to CNN, Fidel Castro is claiming that I misunderstood his statement, "The Cuban model doesn't even work for us anymore":

In a speech at the University of Havana that was then broadcast on Cuban TV, Castro said he meant "exactly the opposite" of what was understood by Jeffrey Goldberg, who was interviewing him for The Atlantic...

On Friday, Castro said he was correctly quoted, but that, "in reality, my answer meant exactly the opposite of what both American journalists interpreted regarding the Cuban model. My idea, as the whole world knows, is that the capitalist system no longer works for the United States or the world," he said. "How could such a system work for a socialist country like Cuba?"

Castro called Goldberg "a great journalist." "He does not invent phrases, he transfers them and interprets them," he said. "I await with interest his extensive article."

First, thank you very much, Fidel, for the kind words. Second, I'm sorry to say it, but I think the expression, "The Cuban model doesn't even work for us anymore" means, "The Cuban model doesn't even work for us anymore."

Jeffrey Goldberg: Fidel: 'Cuban Model Doesn't Even Work For Us Anymore'
Fidel says that his answer meant "exactly the opposite" of what Julia Sweig and I heard him say. Just as a language experiment, here is what the opposite of his statement would sound like: "The Cuban model works so well for us that we want to export it." But he didn't say this. What he said was -- well, you've read what he said. I'm not sure how this statement --accurately quoted, according to Fidel -- could mean anything other than what it means.

[flamingdem]

1. Jane Franklin thinks that the media doesn't understand the Cuban sense of humor

I buy that for sure, but I'm surprised Julia Sweig didn't detect that.

-------------
One of the main problems that U.S. media confront in their coverage of Fidel Castro and Cubans in general is the media's failure to understand a sophisticated sense of humor that they consistently seem to consider non-existent in Cuba.
Jane Franklin
janefranklin.info

[Downwinder]

4. The media take themselves too seriously. n/t

[Zorro]

2. I think Fidel was trying to be funny

Along the lines of "Export the Cuban economic model to other countries? Hell, the Cuban model doesn't even work in Cuba anymore!" Yuk yuk yuk...

[naaman fletcher]

3. I think violetlakes interpretation in a previous thread is correct. nt.

[flamingdem]

5. The most logical take on this comes from a Cuban bloggerr

Billy is the closest! Julie Sweig disappoints me.

Notes from alongthemalecon.com
M. H. Lagarde, of the pro-government Cambios en Cuba blog, says Fidel Castro is only repeating what his brother Raul has been saying, that Cuba's economic model needs to be adjusted and improved.
Lagarde defends Castro's quote, and says the foreign press - "that press," he calls it - will never understand that Fidel Castro's admission about the system's shortcomings is evidence of the strength of the Cuban model. Lagarde writes:

There's no way that press will notice the paradox in Fidel's quote: The Cuban model itself is viable simply because its creator and leader is able to realize otherwise.



Read more: http://alongthemalecon.blogspot.com/2010/09/castros-comment-outburst-of-sincerity.html#ixzz0zED9FW9c


http://cambiosencuba.blogspot.com/2010/09/fidel-el-gran-disidente.html


Por M. H. Lagarde

Los gusanos de la blogosfera cubana y toda la prensa que se dedica a difamar contra Cuba anda regodeándose en la repetición de una gran noticia. Fidel Castro ha dicho en una entrevista que “el modelo cubano no funciona ni para los propios cubanos”.

Se trata de la misma prensa que se hace pasar por tonta ante los injustificados premios que se le otorgan a la bloguera Yoani Sánchez, que convierte en un personaje de la oposición cubana a un borracho como Pánfilo, a las Damas de Verde en Damas de Blanco, a los mercenarios en luchadores por la libertad o que le da categoría de analista político al record Guinnes de las huelgas de hambre -y de las entrevistas-, Guillermo Fariñas.

Por supuesto que los expertos en manipulación no podían pasar por alto la oportunidad de que alguien confirmara lo que esa prensa desea profundamente y no se cansa de repetir. Sobre todo si ese alguien es nada menos que el propio Fidel Castro.

A fin de cuentas, las campañas de difamación contra el socialismo cubano, desde el primero de enero de 1959 hasta hoy, no han tenido otro objetivo que el fijar en la mente de las personas la inviabilidad del modelo cubano.
En su frase Fidel simplemente ha resumido lo que Raúl ha venido diciendo desde que lo relevó en la presidencia de la Isla en 2006.

Desde hace cuatro años la dirección del país encabeza los cambios indispensables en la economía y la sociedad cubana. Uno puede preguntarse, ¿por qué razón no tienen esas propuestas de cambio la misma resonancia que la frase de Fidel?

La respuesta es sencilla. Una frase resulta fácil de manipular, no así los discursos en donde la actual dirección ha dejado claro que los cambios al modelo cubano que “no funciona” tienen como único fin el perfeccionamiento del socialismo.

Como dejó claro Raúl en una de esas alocuciones: “Se me eligió presidente para mejorar el socialismo, no para derrocarlo”. De ese tipo de pronunciamientos, por supuesto, la prensa de las campañas mediáticas contra Cuba no quiere oír hablar.

La prensa que descontextualiza frases no dice tampoco que Fidel no solo ha sido el más grande disidente que ha tenido el imperio norteamericano, sino que ha sido además el más grande e importante disidente de sí mismo.
Como buen francotirador, durante este medio siglo de revolución, el Comandante en Jefe cubano, como nadie, ha sabido corregir el tiro cuando la realidad no ha acertado en la diana del mejoramiento humano.
De ningún modo esa prensa se dará cuenta de la paradoja que encierra la frase de Fidel: El modelo cubano sí es viable, justo porque su creador, y líder indiscutible, es capaz de darse cuenta de lo contrario.
Publicado por M. H. Lagarde en 10:12
0 comentarios:

[Judi Lynn]

8. Interesting. "Involuntary cynicism!" Thanks for the links. n/t

[VioletLake]

6. Thanks for the updates, flamingdem. nt

[Joe Chi Minh]

7. I thought he turned into a fly. Oh, no. That was Jeff goldblum, I think.

[Judi Lynn]

9. Two other Goldberg "jounalists," Lucianne and son Jonah Goldberg:

[Joe Chi Minh]

10. Of ill-repute in this household, Judi.