Tuesday, March 06, 2007

Send Me Your Reading Suggestions

Fellow infidels, I have a friend of mine who was brainwashed by leftists philosophy and poly sci Northeastern professors that Cuba was saved by Mr. Fifo. He was shocked when I simply read off some of the provisions of the 1940 constitution which as y'all know is an incredibly progressive document. But I'd like to refer to him some scholarly books which debunk the fifo myth which gives real data vis a vis how Cuba fared in relation to the Americas pre fifo; debunking the myths about infant death, illiteracy, etc. that is parrotted by the left, and how much worse they are now (notwithstanding the political repression).

My friend says that he would like to read an alternate point of view which of course he's never been exposed to or taught. So put the suggestions in the comments below and I'll be most appreciative.

11 comments:

Henry Louis Gomez said...

Have him start with this scholarly work entitled:

RENAISSSANCE AND DECAY: A COMPARISON OF
SOCIOECONOMIC INDICATORS IN PRE-CASTRO AND
CURRENT-DAY CUBA by Kirby Smith and Hugo Llorens.

mts said...

I can't help you with Cuba specific books, but as far as medicine to cure the leftist mindset that's not hard to swallow, but in fact is quite good, turn him on to P.J. O'Rourke. A textbook that's as fun to read as the phone book may not hold his interest. No offense, Henry - I'm sure a scholarly work would be great as part of a one-two punch of awakening. But left thinking people are more prone to emotional arguments, the facts bore them.

O'Rourke slays the left with weapons it is defenseless against - humor and mockery. All the Trouble in the World has some good highlights (lowlights, really) on the former Warsaw Pact that shows the true legacy of communism on the people and the landscape. He wrote a ton for Rolling Stone back when it was worth reading, and he helped me see what a croc the left was in action, once it got power, not as some leftist's construct in theory in some college.

Eat the Rich is supposed to pan Cuba's socialist economy, but I haven't read the book, so I can't say more than that.

Pete Moss said...

Better than reading a book. Tell him to take a trip to Cuba and see for himself outside the tourist areas.

Tony said...

I agree whole heartedly (sp) with Pete. Pastors for Peace and the Venceremos Brigade both have trips planned for this summer.

Henry Louis Gomez said...

No surprise that you would endorse that idea.

Tony said...

You should give it a try Henry :)

Henry Louis Gomez said...

No thanks. I'll leave the direct subsidizing of tyrannical abusers of human rights to others.

I can know exactly what's going in Cuba by talking to recent arrivals, as I do often. If I had to experience everything to believe it then I wouldn't believe in the moon landing, the atomic bomb, or herpes.

Tony said...

Then perhaps you shouldn't pay your taxes.

Very glad to hear about your lack of herpes :)

Henry Louis Gomez said...

If I thought I could get away with not paying them I would try. Two wrongs don't make a right by the way.

Herpes free for 37 years.

El Guardia Rural said...

You may have to look these up but the United Nations has certain statistics on Cuba from 1958(b.c). You can compare them to ones from today and also to other Latin American countries at the time. One statistic that is my favorite to point out is the head of cattle stat. Before Castro cattle in Cuba numbered around .9 head of cattle per habitant of Cuba. Now the number is a shocking 0.0something per habitant. No wonder beef is a controlled substance in Cuba. I ask my non Cuban fiends could you imagine Texas without cattle. Well that is one of many of the Revolutions "logros".

El Guardia Rural said...

Oops typo meant friends.