By Brian Carnell

Friday, January 25, 2002

There's simply nothing like a scrumptions seafood and chicken luncheon with a Latin American dictator, and 40 women from the University of Washington's Center for Women and Democracy (!) -- including Sen. Maria Cantwell (D-Washington) -- weren't about to pass up their chance to get up and closer and personal with Cuban dictator Fidel Castro.

Connie Niva, the vice chairwoman of the center's board, describes the exquisite lunch she had with Castro,

At the lunch table, he and Maria [Cantwell] got into discussions about what could occur to continue this process of bringing down the barriers between our two countries. Washington state could benefit greatly with a special trade status with Cuba.

Doesn't a member of a center dedicated to women and democracy feel a bit odd schmoozing it up with a Communist dictator? Don't be silly. According to Niva,

You don't have any sense that this is a police state. They are in poverty but they are very happy people. I think Cuba has relaxed greatly to empower tourism and encourage people to be entrepeneurs.

Well, since Niva didn't have any sense that it was a police state, and the people seemed "very happy" who should complain? Certainly not dissidents locked away in Cuban jails for their criticism of their state. And certainly not Cubans who don't often get to enjoy luncheons with chicken and seafood due to the privations experienced in Cuba thanks to Castro's mismanagement of the economy.

But don't you think for one second that these women were going to let Castro off the hook and completely ignore potential horrors in Cuba. No, siree. In fact, Niva intensely grilled Castro about her fears for theCuban people,

I asked him about a concern that we had that when the country opens up, the investment world will come in and try to change the look of Havana -- that they'll have Hard Rock Cafes and the Golden Arches instead of silver bridges. He said absolutely not. They have a great interest in urban redevelopment . . .

Hell, who can argue with that? That Castro turns out to be a standup guy after all. There might be a handful of journalists and political dissidents in jail and Cuba might be tottering on the edge of hunger after the end of Soviet subsidies, but gosh darn it, at least he's willing to do something about the Golden Arches.

Bless you, Connie Niva, for going to bat for the oppressed of the earth.

Source:

State residents explore fresh ties with Cuba. Mike Benbow, The Herald (Everett, Washington), January 22, 2002.

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