Sugar-Coated Myths about Castro and Cuba

I am a senior electrical engineering major at Morgan State University. This letter is in response to one written by Cliff DuRand ("Clinton Should Ignore Myths about Cuba," Sept. 3).

The reason I am writing is that I feel the sheer weight of the inaccuracies in his letter compelled me to answer him.

Mr. DuRand, in an attempt to explain the reasons for the Cuban exodus, uses the most convoluted and backward reasoning I have ever heard.

First he says, "In spite of the best efforts of the world's greatest superpower, 35 years later not only is Castro still in power, but the social project of the revolution remains immensely popular -- even among those now leaving."

He goes on to say that Cuba's economic crisis -- and the subsequent refugees -- is caused not by the failed policies of a socialist system but by the U.S. embargo.

Maybe I missed something, but when did the United States become responsible for putting food in the mouths of the Cuban people?

By Mr. DuRand's reasoning, the Clinton administration is trying to "escape responsibility" for "creating the refugees" by embracing some well worn "myths."

Myth No. 1: "Castro is about to fail; we only need to keep the pressure on a little bit longer."

According to Mr. DuRand, the 1993 national elections (an earth-shaking event for a socialist country that seems to have gone unnoticed by the rest of the world) were "a referendum on the revolution and Mr. Castro's leadership" and showed Mr. Castro to be more popular than Mr. Clinton during his election.

Mr. DuRand just discovered one of the beauties of socialism -- elections tend to be really easy when you're the only candidate. In fact, your "popularity" usually tends to soar.

He also says, "Sure, there is discontent in Cuba. There is also discontent in Los Angeles, but that doesn't mean the government is about to fail."

No, the difference is that the people of Los Angeles are not risking life and limb to cross a 90-mile stretch of shark-infested water to get away from their "discontent."

Myth No. 2: "Socialism has failed in Cuba." Mr. DuRand says that "until the collapse of its trade [with the Soviet Union and Eastern Europe], socialism had created a middle-class society in Cuba."

Couldn't one then say that Cuba's middle class society was created not by socialism but by trade?

If the first responsibility of a government is to see to the basic needs of its people, and that government is socialist, and those needs are not met, then the only conclusion is that socialism has failed.

And I would like to clear up one other point. Cuba never had "trade" with the Soviet Union and Eastern Europe. Cuba was given "subsidies" by those countries, which had an interest in seeing a socialist state act as a thorn in America's side.

In return, Cuba gave those countries more sugar than anyone could possibly need. This transformation of Cuba into one of the world's biggest sugar exporters (if not the biggest) may explain why this tropical island, the largest in the Caribbean, blessed with perfect weather year-round, cannot feed its own people. All the good farm land is used for growing sugar cane.

Myth No. 3: "The U.S. has the right to a government to its liking in Havana."

On this point, Mr. DuRand and I agree. The United States does not have a right to pick what government resides in Cuba, only the Cuban people do. But the U.S. has every right to suggest that they choose a democratic system.

What is more important, the United States has every right to pick and choose whom it does business with.

And if that means deciding not to trade with an oppressive, dictatorial and totalitarian regime, then we do not trade. If Mr. Castro and Mr. DuRand have trouble accepting this, tough.

Mr. DuRand needs to wake up and smell the coffee. Socialism is a proven failure, and Fidel Castro has no one to blame but himself for his country's problems.

Kenneth Hunt

Baltimore

Divorced Parents

In response to Susan Reimer's column Aug. 30, "Think twice before getting a divorce for the kids' sake": I have never been so infuriated in my life. In it she states that a child from a divorced family is emotionally overwrought, underachieving, depressed and in so many words less of a child than children from a family with two married partners.

Let me tell you, my children were three and four years old when I was divorced, and as far as Ms. Reimer's statement about them not having a good life, this is entirely untrue.

I worked two jobs to make sure that they were able to stay in their home, that they had all the nice things that a two-parent family could afford.

My second job was working at home typesetting so that I could be home with them, starting when they would go to bed at night and often times working to 2 or 3 a.m. to finish. Every spare second I had was completely devoted to their needs.

My children are now 12 and 13, a difficult time in any child's life. They are both happy, outgoing, loving and very giving.

They are polite and very well mannered, often times thinking of others before themselves, which you rarely find in most children these days.

There have been occasions when I have seen my children walk up to a homeless person when we are going to an Oriole game and ask me for money to give them because they felt sorry for them, and every time they have done this -- myself knowing that some of these people are just panhandlers -- I have let them do so, knowing that they felt they were doing right.

As far as Mr. Reimer's statement about their having poor grades in school, let me tell you my 13-year-old has received an award for the last three years. He is on the principal's list for maintaining an honor roll grade average every semester throughout the course of the school year.

My 12-year-old is in gifted-and-talented classes. He has maintained an A-B average for seven years.

Last year he received a letter from the White House and the secretary of education for his outstanding achievement in scholastic abilities. So don't tell me children from divorce families tend to do worse in school.

And how dare Ms. Reimer state that they would have been better off if the parent would have died. For what? So that they could have been placed in a home where the other parent didn't care? The parent that leaves is usually the parent that has other priorities in life -- their own lives.

She states that it would have been better for these children to live in a family that has trouble instead of one that is divorced.

Why? They would have lived in a family life that had constant fighting, contention and stress. This would have been better for my children?

Maybe Ms. Reimer is lucky and has a husband who puts effort into his children and his marriage. I wasn't that lucky. But my children are well adjusted and very happy. My four-year at the time of my divorce stated, "Don't worry, Mommy, Daddy was never here anyway."

I feel Ms. Reimer owes every hard-working, caring and giving mother a written apology in her column.

My children are my whole life, and I know many other single mothers who are friends of mine who feel the same way. Maybe Ms. Reimer should have spent some time looking a little deeper into these families instead of giving her own biased opinions.

Mary Rosenfeld

Baltimore

Italian Restaurants

"It is a large world and there is no accounting for taste," so how can I criticize the taste of your restaurant critic, Elizabeth Large?

But her piece on Strappaza at Camden Yards in the Aug. 19 Maryland Live section brought me to write my first-ever letter to the editor.

My wife and I moved to Baltimore from Miami about nine years ago. I grew up in the New York area, my wife, in Germany.

We lived in New York about 20 years. In New York, one is exposed to the finest Italian food.

We often went to Angelo's on Mott Street, Luna and Umberto's Clam House. These are among the finest in the city, but it is virtually impossible to get bad Italian food in New York.

All specialize in the cuisine from Campania, that is, from Naples and surrounding provinces such as Bari, Abruzzi, Avellino and Calabria.

This is where most of the Italian dishes as we know them, come from. The sauces are fresh, light and delicate pink; rather than red. Fresh garlic, fresh basil, fresh tomatoes and the finest cold pressed olive oil are used exclusively, in the sauces as well as the salads.

There is no such thing as "creamy Italian" or "garlic bread" served in these restaurants.

In Boston we had the "North End." In Philadelphia we were able to go to "South Philly." Miami has its share of good Italian restaurants; not as good as New York, but acceptable.

Then, what a letdown, moving to Baltimore and not finding one single restaurant that came close to these standards.

The biggest disappointment was Baltimore's "Little Italy," where the food is over-priced and over-spiced.

It seems like the restaurants in this area try to modify, or enhance time-tested recipes that have been passed along for centuries. Perhaps this commands a higher price from the tourist trade.

The last straw was when I ordered spaghetti with red clam sauce in one of the more popular spots. I could not believe what I was served.

The spaghetti was covered with a thick dark red sauce, which must have been simmering for hours, if not days. Over the top was thrown some chopped clams out of a can. All for only $10.95.

After seven years in Baltimore, we finally discovered Strapazza in Towson. The menu was not extensive but the food was fresh and it was good, in the style of Naples, Campania and New York. Eureka!

Later we found the Strapazza reviewed by Ms. Large and liked it even more.

Ms. Large's comments were unjustifiably critical. She may be a professional, but knows very little about the standards for good Italian food.

My wife and I will spring for lunch or dinner if Ms. Large will join us at Strapazza. I believe we can give her a lesson she sorely needs.

We'd like her to try real clam sauce, made with a fresh, light marinara sauce with fresh clams . . ., or the "Spaghetti alla Putonesca," made with fresh olive oil, garlic, tomatoes, basil, imported black and green olives and just a touch of anchovy . . . very delicate . . ., or how about the "Spaghetti al Filete de Pomadora"? This is simply made with filet of fresh tomatoes, (not crushed), slivered onions and imported prosciutto (Italian smoked ham). Both these dishes are prepared in about 15 minutes.

If after having dinner with us, Ms. Large still wants to write an uncomplimentary article, she can then go ahead and do it . . . We will then write a letter of apology.

We still do not understand why we have never found one single person in Little Italy who speaks Italian.

atthew E. Russ

Ellicott City

Dundalk Parade

I feel the need to offer some clarification to your Sept. 9 article regarding the move of the "I Am an American Day" parade from Baltimore City to Dundalk.

The headline indicates "fees" drove the parade from the city. This is misleading.

For some time now, organizations sponsoring events have recognized and accepted that the city can no longer afford to subsidize their festivals or parades.

They also understand that increased demand on city agencies, whose main function is to provide essential city services, makes this not only an issue of cost but also an issue of available $H personnel.

The "I am An American Day" parade is a wonderful Baltimore tradition. To keep this parade in the city for the last two years, I provided "seed money" to the committee in an effort to help it establish a financial base that would stabilize the event for years to come.

In addition, the city suggested several cost reducing options, including alternative parade routes, that the committee rejected. Offers to meet to negotiate a resolution and help develop a fund-raising plan were met with intractable inflexibility.

I find it ironic that committee chairman, Del. Anthony DiPietro, was unwilling to share in any of the city's expenses or consider a modification in the parade's route to save money; yet, per your article, he was willing to pay Baltimore County for a parade route in Dundalk.

I feel that this is not only unfair, but also an insult to all the citizens of Baltimore who have supported this parade both financially and in spirit for 56 years.

The decision to move this parade was truly unfortunate. As for the future, the city stands ready to work out a mutually acceptable resolution that works for this parade committee and also fair to all sponsoring organizations which produce events in the city.

urt L. Schmoke

Baltimore

The writer is mayor, Baltimore City.

Historic Virginia

Andrew Ratner's Sept. 10 commentary on the opposition to Disney's proposed theme park in Northern Virginia is simplistic and provincial.

Mr. Ratner equates Disney's venture with the construction of Camden Yards.

He can't understand the outrage voiced by Disney's critics, and he urges these critics to examine the success of Baltimore's gleaming new ballpark.

It's not that easy. Camden Yards is a wonderful facility and a cathedral to baseball, but the land on which it was built housed only a few grimy industrial buildings. It was hardly historic nor was it a hallowed Civil War battlefield. A new dog pound couldn't have marred that land.

Northern Virginia is doubtless looking to slow progress, ease congestion and maintain the sanctity of a special place.

Baltimore was only maintaining the Orioles. The new ballpark was a great idea, but displacing a sausage factory isn't exactly visionary.

Mr. Ratner ought to get out of Baltimore more often. Northern Virginia is only an hour's drive from here. But when it comes to progress, it's a lot farther.

John Burke

Baltimore

Bus Procedure

The letter to the editor by Michelle Wallace entitled "Protecting Children at School Bus Stops" (Sept. 3) started me thinking, and I submit the following solution:

On all two-lane roads at stops, the school bus should turn at a right angle and blockade the road with lights flashing red both ways. Children should proceed to the open bus door or exit from and move to or from their side of the road completely, eliminating the necessity of crossing prior to or after the bus arrival. After all children are on their respective sides of the road or in the bus, the school bus can proceed to its next stop.

Further, this procedure would save our traffic courts 3,000 cases a year involving motorists who have run flashing red school bus lights. No additional costs to taxpayers should result, perhaps even a savings.

Is there any reason why such a procedure will not work?

Caleb R. Kelly Jr.

Claiborne

Finding a Home

Kudos to staff writer Frank P. L. Somerville and to photographer Michael Litzky, who produced an engaging and accurate Sept. 5 portrayal of Congregation Beit Tikvah and of me.

Our members and I are extremely pleased by your staff's ability to compose words and images. I am hearing comments like, "This is the most cogent and succinct description of Reconstructionism I have ever seen."

People who attended our worship services used the story as a mirror, and what they saw reflected in it made them proud to be present.

Finally, a personal note of thanks. By coincidence, your piece appeared on the second anniversary of my moving to Baltimore. Finding a reporter who so well grasped what I was trying to say -- in the short space of two hours together -- deepens my growing sense that I have found a home here.

David Sulomm Stein

Baltimore

The writer is rabbi, Congregation Beit Tikvah.

Tobacco Research

I wonder how many Maryland taxpayers and contributors to the University of Maryland realize that their money is being used to support research on ways to produce more and cheaper class A carcinogens.

I recently learned that the tobacco research center used the university seal and scientific name and goes out of its way to show off fields of tobacco and shelves full of research to visitors. Research results are released to area farmers at yearly meetings to allow Southern Maryland tobacco growers to cut costs and increase production using technology found on the farm.

Since the manufacturers of tobacco products make enormous profits, one must question why the industry doesn't do this research instead of having the state waste our tax money. Couldn't our tax dollars be better spent on cancer research at our excellent medical school where we try to counter the negative health effects of tobacco?

I encourage all taxpayers to complain to their elected state officials about this waste of money. All contributors to the University of Maryland ought to ask the university to eliminate its tobacco research and to use the funds to find ways to benefit society instead.

Ron Beyna

Bowie