Aug
18

What’s Goin’ on Rogue Side

11 Comments

Today I kept coming across quirky articles about more or less ”rogue states” and decided maybe it was time for a political post for a change. The U.S. originally classified five countries, including North Korea, Iraq, Iran, Afghanistan and Libya as falling under that definition. After dual invasions and Libya’s ”diplomacy”, all that was really left over was North Korea and Iran. But I wanted to include Cuba in this post because, frankly it shares some traits, sociologically speaking with the Bad Two.

Just like North Korea’s people, Cuba’s populace has been politically suppressed and economically distressed, its citizens forced to make money on the black market best they can so as to feed their families while trying to lay as low as possible to escape official ”punishment”. And US sanctions don’t help these people, in fact, they hurt them by handing the regime greater power to mislead their people than would be possible if the two countries had normal ties. I applaud President Obama’s rumored move toward again loosening travel restrictions there, but it surely won’t be nearly enough. Meanwhile, free-speech is non-existent, and people die routinely in death camps for political prisoners in North Korea. And it  doesn’t take much to end up there. As one official put it: ”All of North Korea is a gulag”, noting that as many as 2 million people have died of starvation while Kim Jong Il has amassed the world’s largest collection of Daffy Duck cartoons. But not to worry, perfect for dictators on the go, North Korea just announced its official Twitter service.

Speaking of Twitter, Iran’s mullah led government went a step in the comical direction recently, outlawing ‘un-Islamic’ haircuts. The Daily Mail reports that long hair and ponytails are definitely out this summer – though a dab of gel is acceptable, as per the country’s morality police! Do we really not have better things to do with our lives than worry about what other people are wearing ON THEIR HEADS? Kinda reminds me of the recent (un)European behavior in France, when they outlawed burquas for Muslim women, but that’s a whole ‘nother post. Fact is, most Iranians are pro Western minded. The ancient kingdom of Persia was one of the grandest on this earth, and the home of Zoroastrianism, a very special religion, whose beliefs predated Christianity by a few thousand years while containing the same core elements – monotheism, justice and punishment.

Of the three countries mentioned, Cuba has the most potential to become a wealthy and advanced nation, virtually overnight; all it needs, is its markets to open and restrictions to lift. The EU pursues a much saner policy with Cuba at the moment than the States. While I have no wish to see all of Cuba turned into a ClubMed resorts for Jewish retirees from Florida, I would like to see the hard working people there given a chance to at least live semi-normally. And I wish the same for the Iranians and the North Koreans. BTW, the beautiful painting at the top is by Ri Sok Nam, an artist who wasn’t allowed to travel to her own exhibition in Vienna. What we really lose sight off way too often in the West, is that at the end of the day, we’re all just people. Led by almost without exception, shitty, short-sighted politicians. The difference is, we get to complain about them.

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Posted in Global trends Politics Society
11 Comments Posted by Nick Taylor

11 Responses to "What’s Goin’ on Rogue Side"

  • Heather says:
    August 19, 2010 at 3:46 PM

    Well, it wasn’t written super-clearly, but it seemed to try to say that Cuba was sort of like Iran or NK. which is a rather odd comparison. cubans might be poor, but they’re relatively free. there’s zero comparison to NK. no country compares to NK. and as far as Iran goes, it’s a theocracy, not a dictatorship. so, rather different again. “most Iranians” might be pro-western minded, but only when it doesn’t violate Sharia law. which is only for superficial things like fashion and entertainment, not morality or ideology.

  • Nick Taylor says:
    August 19, 2010 at 11:36 PM

    You’re right to point out the differences Heather, I guess I was thinking more about the parallels… Cuba is NOT free in terms of freedom of speech, right to protest or economically… North Korea is obviously the worst of the three and least likely to change, at least until Kim the III screws up… while Iran IS a theocratic dictatorship – polls show most Iranians would support democratic Western style government, IF given the choice… the last elections were a farce and as it stands, less than 10% of Iran’s population (the ruling mullah class) are the only ones who get to decide on anything of substance, since they control the military. Down with theocracy, what the world needs is a secular Iran!

  • Heather says:
    August 20, 2010 at 1:59 AM

    While cuba is lacking in the generous freedoms granted by America, they’re by no means super oppressed. Go to Cuba and you can ask any citizen exactly what they think about their gov’t and they’ll tell you without fear. Protest is generally accepted about as much as in America, with perhaps a few more instances of police breaking it up without due cause. Cuba has free worship, parties other than the communist party ARE allowed to have candidates for gov’t that are voted in. In some ways, Cuba might even be seen to have a gov’t that is MORE for the people, since while there is limited political conflict, there is zero corporate control of politics; no lobbyists, etc. Economically, Cuba is free. “Communist” doesn’t mean marxist. There are job opportunities, however limited, in Cuba. Everyone in Cuba is entitled to work and work for the improvement of the country as a whole, and if it were not for foreign interference in trade, Cuba might be a more prosperous nation today.
    the irony that the US a factor in limiting Cuban freedom.

  • frue says:
    August 20, 2010 at 8:17 AM

    sorry but this blog is written in such an american way it’s, well, i don’t even have words for that..
    i don’t know why but for americans everything is black and white, bad and good countries, no middle way, nothing in between. well, i hate to be the one to tell you but the world doesn’t work like that.. when i read this blog entry all i could think of is who gave usa the right to act like a world’s policeman? who gave usa the right to judge which countries are good and which bad? and who gave the usa the right to use any kind of sunctions?
    damn, i don’t like american way of thinking – too narrow minded for my taste..

  • Nick Taylor says:
    August 20, 2010 at 5:32 PM

    Heather, according to http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Economy_of_Cuba, the Cuban government sets most prices and rations goods to citizens, which isn’t exactly what I’d call a free market economy. And their GDP per capita is closer to that of South Africa than that of the United States.

    As for you frue, I don’t really know what to tell you – if my blog is written in ”such an american way” it’s probably because I’m American. Also, I actually tend to NOT see things in black and white at all, even my article, while critical of dictatorships around the world is balanced enough to admit that the EU has a more sane policy towards Cuba than the US does… but what do you want me to say, that the death camps in North Korea for political prisoners are OK, that the Cubans deserve to be poor even though they’re right on the doorstep of riches or that Iranians should continue to be ruled by a minority elite?

    As for the US role of ”policeman”, all I can tell you is that my grandfather Daniel Taylor was amongst those brave soldiers fighting in Normandy on D Day in 1944. Why is it that Europeans are always so quick to point out the faults of American foreign policy yet so closely depend on America for their own defense (NATO)?

  • AJ Dembroski says:
    August 21, 2010 at 1:11 AM

    An American Way? Why must I constantly remind people that the way of lives that they enjoy today was brought about by Americans? It was America that pioneered the concept of government by the consent of the governed, it was America that made the idea of self government a reality. Oh, wait, that’s right, Europe has rejected all that now. Congratulations, while we continue to fight for what we know is worth fighting for, your cultures are slowly being absorbed by Islam’s peaceful invasion.

    “Americans see things as black and white” is such a tired, arrogant, elitist expression uttered only by those who think that it would be better if a collection of specially educated “experts” made my decisions than me. I find the assertion insulting. It’s not the United States that is arrogant, but the powers of Europe, who in their ego continue to cling to failed social policy and must piggy back the United States to survive. And the United States has tolerated… no, enabled… this behavior since WWII.

    Neville Chamberlain saw shades of grey. Churchill saw black and white. Who was right?

    As for Cuba’s “relative freedom”, socialism is, by definition, slavery. You are not free unless you are free to enjoy and/or dispose of the fruits of your labors as you so choose. What is slavery if not labor for the benefit of another? How much does the Cuban laborer benefit from his own labor? And what right does he have to enjoy the fruits of those labors?

    Lets say, for the sake of argument, that you’re right in saying that Cubans are permitted to speak out against their government. Can they demand change from their government? Do they have the means to change the government that they don’t like? No, they cannot. They are bound to the state and dependent on the state. They have next to nothing, and without the state, they have nothing.

    America is the antithesis of that. America is where, traditionally, you rise and fall on your own merits. You owe none of your own comfort to the state, and you have nobody to blame but yourself for your failure. Unfortunately, this is changing as the current administration moves us ever closer to the European model, even as France herself, the birthplace of progressivism and the Cultivated Mind.

    Whether Cuba can be defined as a “rogue state” is up for question. Personally, I would define that as a belligerent state, Iran and North Korea being the most obvious examples. Cuba lacks the means to be a threat to much of anybody. They’re a prime candidate, however, should another power (such as Russia) offer them the opportunity to be a greater thorn in the side of Western society.

  • Kyle says:
    August 21, 2010 at 2:36 AM

    “It was America that pioneered the concept of government by the consent of the governed, it was America that made the idea of self government a reality.”

    Really? Because I could’ve sworn it was Athen’s, since they are the ones who actually created the word “democracy” along with the concept.

    Typical Americentrist view.

    “As for Cuba’s “relative freedom”, socialism is, by definition, slavery. ”
    Actually, socialism is by definition, socialism. If you really think that paying into social services is slavery, then you have a terribly warped world view. Ever wonder how firemen, police, and your public library get paid?

    “Lets say, for the sake of argument, that you’re right in saying that Cubans are permitted to speak out against their government. Can they demand change from their government? Do they have the means to change the government that they don’t like? No, they cannot.”
    They can demand change, there’s even a program for it. They have a means to change their gov’t, as parties other than the communist party are allowed to have electoral candidates.

    “[In America]]You owe none of your own comfort to the state, and you have nobody to blame but yourself for your failure. ”
    Really? I’m pretty sure that you owe the rule of law to the state, as well as various other services. Is it really one man’s fault when he loses his livelihood because another plays fast and loose with economics because the gov’t isn’t doing its job in protecting the people while protecting corporate interests, or irresponsible practices due to a lack of regulation leads to a major company dumping a bunch of oil where he catches his fish?

    “They’re a prime candidate, however, should another power (such as Russia) offer them the opportunity to be a greater thorn in the side of Western society.”
    Still stuck in the cold war, eh? Though, I already gathered that.

    The world is a bigger place than just the US of A.

  • Phil says:
    August 21, 2010 at 6:58 AM

    This was a well written article, and contained some great little tidbits of info that I was not aware of. Thanks for another “reader’s digest” (info packed) article!

    @frue – I can sense some American style to this article as well, but it’s obvious that research and attention to detail were included. The truth is the truth (hence “black and white”).

  • Nick Taylor says:
    August 21, 2010 at 1:03 PM

    Very interesting debate, thank you for your comments and I have to commend everyone for keeping it so civil, considering we’re talking about such highly charged topics. Let me say that I fervently believe everyone here is entitled to their views, and that obviously someone from Europe is going to have a different take than someone from the States. That being said, I find it interesting that we’re the best of allies politically and economically, yet we’re fighting over the definition of socialism… The term carries a significantly negative charge in the US, while in Europe, and especially in the now independent states of the former Yugoslavia it was something beneficial, implying government for the greater good. Perspective is a logical consequence of what one experiences, I suppose… as for Cuba Kyle, I don’t know where you get your information from, but the ”free” elections they have there are a farce, at best. Yet you bring up a great point about Greece; of course the democratic US owes a debt to ancient Greece, as does all of Western society… yet the US is miles ahead of many other countries of the world when it comes to freedom of speech. Slovenia is falling behind in that respect: http://www.dw-world.de/dw/article/0,,3085350,00.html.

  • Kyle says:
    August 21, 2010 at 4:01 PM

    ” yet the US is miles ahead of many other countries of the world when it comes to freedom of speech. ”

    How do you figure? There is no other country that has a law (DMCA) that is explicitly designed to censor expression because of corporate interest.
    More importantly, there are also no shield laws that protect journalists, allowing US courts to force them to reveal sources under penalty of imprisonment.

  • Nick Taylor says:
    August 21, 2010 at 5:32 PM

    Here’s my ”proof” http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Press_Freedom_Index… US @ #20, Slovenia @ #37, Scandinavian countries in the lead…

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