Cubadebate

Traducción para Cubadebate Damaris Garzón.

The spotted lie: Washington

Words of Condolezza Rice, US State Secretary, during the Conference on the Americas:

"We, in the Americas, considering our diversity, are in reality an alliance of peoples. We celebrate each other's success, and enjoy a mutual interdependence that helps us achieve that success. For all this, I would like to thank you for being here today.

The promise that we carry within us also unites us; the revolutionary promise that life in the Americas represents an opportunity to all peoples, independently of their social class, culture, race, religion, heritage or place of birth; an opportunity to break away from the past and start a new life; to substitute poverty with prosperity, injustice with dignity, and oppression with freedom.

This is the original promise of the Americas, and modern history in the region exemplifies the attempt, although imperfect, to comply with that promise. The peoples in our hemisphere have had to deal with colonialism, slavery and tyranny; together, they have created a trans-american consensus which contemplates free economy and democratic government as the most appropriate for each and every one of our citizens. There is only one country whose population tragically lives under a government that they did not elect, and that country is that belonging to the great people of Cuba"

10th July 2007

Our reply: Havana

1-  In the USA, there are over 50 million people (including 3.3 million children) without medical insurance (in 2005, approximately 18,000 individuals died every year as a consequence of this). And those who have insurance, pay a high percentage of their salaries to large monopolies. Besides, the great majority of insurance covers, at its most, around 80% of the costs of hospitalization and doctors' work. The insured person has to pay from his/her own pocket the remainder. Moreover, red tape, middlemen and bureaucracy take up a vast amount of time. In Cuba there are no insurance companies, given that the whole population is entitled to access to doctors, hospitals and clinics, free of charge and without red tape.

2-  In the USA only the children of wealthy people can afford to pay the high fees associated with studying at private universities, the majority of which apply quotas. The average expenditure is $50,000, not taking into account additional expenses such as housing, transport and others. The paperwork required in order to be admitted is time-consuming and laborious. The great majority of the working classes cannot afford even attending public universities. In Cuba there are no private universities nor quotas. Paperwork is minimal and every citizen has free access to every university of the country.

3-  In 2004, the USA appeared in 49th place in the list of countries with more illiterate people. In 1961, Cuba was already a country free of illiteracy.

4-  In 2005, the USA appeared in 41st place in the list of countries with highest infant mortality. Infant mortality in Cuba then and now remains below that of Washington DC. In 2006 Cuba had the lowest infant mortality index of its history (5,3 for each 1000).

5-  Cuba is well known for sending doctors, nurses and teachers to other continents, especially to remote areas in the developing world. The USA on the contrary, only sends sporadic leftovers when it appears convenient to the country.

6-  The USA is well known for sending thousands of troops, military trainers and mercenaries to many parts of the world, especially to third world countries known to have large amounts of natural resources. Cuba is not known for this.

7-  In 2004, a PEW-AP survey found that 43% of American citizens thought that the use of torture is justified. In Cuba very few people would agree to this, and except for that perpetrated at the illegally occupied base at Guantanamo, there is no torture.

8-  The USA has the largest ratio of weapons per inhabitant in the world (90 weapons for each 100 people). It is also the nation with the largest number of weapons exported, and it has bombed more nations than any other country in the world. Cuba does not export weapons and it does not bomb anyone.

9-  The USA maintain a criminal commercial, economic, human and political blockade against Cuba. Cuba has never imposed such a brutal measure on anyone else.

10-  The USA kidnaps and attempts against the life of the leaders of countries that do not bow down before them. Cuba's hands are innocent in this respect.

Verdict: Havana 10 - Washington 0