The First Amendment in the United State's Constitution (Bill of Rights) states diffusly that its citizens have the right to freedom of speech, asslembly, petition, and religion. The United States is just one country. Discovering that there are some countries in the world who do not have such freedoms. Take Cuba, for example. Cuba's government is based solely on a totalitarian system since 1959. Cuba may be a great looking island, but its people are forbidden to express their thoughts emotions publicly.
If a guy wants to tell that pretty girl in his class that she looks nice today, he better find a way without expressing it. An American here can holler and cuss at another fellow American when in dispute. Holler and cuss in Cuba and one has committed a sin deserving of a death sentence. The most common thou-shalt-not, interpreting what anyone says. This goes to independent journalists who are banned from speaking their mind and swaping perspectives with others within their country. The government does what is called "gagging the people". "The missiles, the cannons, all the paraphernalia on display are nothing more than the final expression of a phenomena whose heart lies in the possibility that man has of saying or writing certain things." (paragraph 15) It's sad to say that Cuba's land of beauty is silenced by a government who would seem heartless in the eyes of those who have a small piece of that dessert they call 'freedom.' As Jesús Zúñiga (the author of this document) quoted in paragraph 16, "After all, there is no other vaccination against totalitarianism than words that come freely from the consciences and hearts of men without fear. The opposite would be simply intolerable." When one can look beyond their window, they should realize their bit of fortune.
Tuesday, 15 September 2009
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I really enjoyedd reading your article and summary of it. It is soo interesting to read about Cuba's government. It is hard to believe that some countries don't have the freedoms like we do and a goverment made up of many different people. And Cuba has a single leader making all decisions and opinions. I think you chose a great topic to post here.
ReplyDeleteThis article was really interesting! I had no idea what type of government Cuba had, so I'm glad to have learned. I looked at a Constitutional Monarchy, which lets citizens express their thoughts freely. Why do you think Cuban citizens have allowed their country to be run off of a Totalitarian government for so long?
ReplyDeleteWell Nicole, I think it might go back to what Mr. Stetina was talking about with the brainwashing the other day. Or it might be that the people don't have enough support toward eachother to stand up for themselves. They're suppressed so much, they just stay silenced. Sad.
ReplyDeleteYour blog was very powerful and made me think about how fortunate we are to live in America. Do you believe if there are any benefits for living in a totalitarian government?
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