Anatomy of a parade
One of our readers in Spain wrote asking what do we think of the so called arrangements for the Saturday parade, as they have been publicized by the red press in her country.
To be honest, our sources in Cuba don't give a damn about the preparations of the parade, which they say seem to follow the pattern every parade have followed in the past. They will be reporting, some of them live, though.
As we have said before, this could be his last parade, much a la Brezhnev. Politically speaking, he's dead already.
Having said that, I decided to answer her letter publicly, since it is interesting to share what really happens in such events with our readers who have never visited Cuba, or who have visited Cuba but have never coincided with one of those events.
These are her questions, and my answers (she already received her answer in Spanish)
1- Who goes to see the parade?
A. Attendance to such demonstrations is compulsory. They pressure people in their place of residence with the help of the Comites and the brigades of rapid response, which also keep an eye on any disturbance that might occure.
2- How close can you get to (k)as(s)tro? How is that I have never seen photos taken by Cubans or tourists on those events?
A-There's a buffer zone which is always occupied by "selected comrades" between kasstro and the public in attendance. In the case of a military parade, kasstro is further separated from the public by the path of the parade and the "selected comrades" that are on the first line.
Photos and television images are controlled very tightly by the department of propaganda of the central committee of the commie-party. Cuban television and photo-reporters are usually escorted by the G2 and their equipment is scrutinized till the last screw. The same is valid for the meager representation of the international press in these events, usually the only foreign press you can see in those events are the representatives of some left leaning American news organization, be it TV or printed media. Cubans generally only have old film cameras -a few number of Cubans, to be totally honest, and no cameras in private hands are ever allowed into the grounds of the parade or any other demonstration. Digital devices are not that common in Cuba and people know that it's very risky to carry one to such occasions. Besides, kasstro is always far so if your camera is not fitted with a telephoto (which makes you into a target for the police) you cannot get a valuable image of him. Generally, kasstro appears in front of some sort of lattice work which makes very difficult to obtain a long distance image, not only for photographers, but also for people who might be looking at him through the optical mire of a sniper rifle.
As you see, the socialization of mysery contributes to controlling the population even if they wanted to take a picture of the tyrant (maybe to sell to tourists, I guess) Also, the fact that distance is considerable allows for body doubles to be used.
3- Does (f)idel (k)as(s)tro review the troops?
A. Yes, generally he does. This time around I suspect the "honor" will be bestowed on raul or in other high ranking honcho.
4- Does he review from a military vehicle or on foot?
A. He has done both.
As per question 5, where you sarcastically ask if he wouldn't be better riding in a leftover Popemobile.... Well, hell yes. But he's a very vane individual, he would find that humiliating. This guy's known as a caudillo. Insanely proud and crazy. The impression he wants to convey is that he's recuperating, not that he's weak.
6- Who else will be in the parade?
A. There's a long list of international guests to attend the parade. Mainly the lefties from Latin America, I mean the newly "elected" pricks that are staining the history of the continent, and also a lot of American and European "left wing intellectuals", some left over guerrilla leaders, and maybe some representative of the Palestinians, Syrians, and other terror mongers of the underbelly of the world.
7- Is the parade symbolic for the (robo)lution?
A- It's symbolic of the power of the Army as a tool of repression. It's a coronation of sorts for Queen Raula La Horrible, alias The Queen of Mean.
To finish, my dear Isabel (not her real name) you can consult Cuban newspapers in the collections of Spanish libraries or check online for the traffic patterns associated with the parade. It generally comes along Paseo Avenue, and turns around the Robolution Square. There are many staging areas for the public, tanks, troops, military transports, etc. Security is tight, and jets are going to be seen doing flyovers. Also, you can watch live Cuban TV in Spain, and that I know of, it will transmited via satelite to Europe and Latin America by Cubavision International. I am sure that TeleSur and Al-Jazeera will also carry it.
Remember, this is an important piece of propaganda for raul. They want to bury kasstro in the psychis of the public and this is his farewell.
To be honest, our sources in Cuba don't give a damn about the preparations of the parade, which they say seem to follow the pattern every parade have followed in the past. They will be reporting, some of them live, though.
As we have said before, this could be his last parade, much a la Brezhnev. Politically speaking, he's dead already.
Having said that, I decided to answer her letter publicly, since it is interesting to share what really happens in such events with our readers who have never visited Cuba, or who have visited Cuba but have never coincided with one of those events.
These are her questions, and my answers (she already received her answer in Spanish)
1- Who goes to see the parade?
A. Attendance to such demonstrations is compulsory. They pressure people in their place of residence with the help of the Comites and the brigades of rapid response, which also keep an eye on any disturbance that might occure.
2- How close can you get to (k)as(s)tro? How is that I have never seen photos taken by Cubans or tourists on those events?
A-There's a buffer zone which is always occupied by "selected comrades" between kasstro and the public in attendance. In the case of a military parade, kasstro is further separated from the public by the path of the parade and the "selected comrades" that are on the first line.
Photos and television images are controlled very tightly by the department of propaganda of the central committee of the commie-party. Cuban television and photo-reporters are usually escorted by the G2 and their equipment is scrutinized till the last screw. The same is valid for the meager representation of the international press in these events, usually the only foreign press you can see in those events are the representatives of some left leaning American news organization, be it TV or printed media. Cubans generally only have old film cameras -a few number of Cubans, to be totally honest, and no cameras in private hands are ever allowed into the grounds of the parade or any other demonstration. Digital devices are not that common in Cuba and people know that it's very risky to carry one to such occasions. Besides, kasstro is always far so if your camera is not fitted with a telephoto (which makes you into a target for the police) you cannot get a valuable image of him. Generally, kasstro appears in front of some sort of lattice work which makes very difficult to obtain a long distance image, not only for photographers, but also for people who might be looking at him through the optical mire of a sniper rifle.
As you see, the socialization of mysery contributes to controlling the population even if they wanted to take a picture of the tyrant (maybe to sell to tourists, I guess) Also, the fact that distance is considerable allows for body doubles to be used.
3- Does (f)idel (k)as(s)tro review the troops?
A. Yes, generally he does. This time around I suspect the "honor" will be bestowed on raul or in other high ranking honcho.
4- Does he review from a military vehicle or on foot?
A. He has done both.
As per question 5, where you sarcastically ask if he wouldn't be better riding in a leftover Popemobile.... Well, hell yes. But he's a very vane individual, he would find that humiliating. This guy's known as a caudillo. Insanely proud and crazy. The impression he wants to convey is that he's recuperating, not that he's weak.
6- Who else will be in the parade?
A. There's a long list of international guests to attend the parade. Mainly the lefties from Latin America, I mean the newly "elected" pricks that are staining the history of the continent, and also a lot of American and European "left wing intellectuals", some left over guerrilla leaders, and maybe some representative of the Palestinians, Syrians, and other terror mongers of the underbelly of the world.
7- Is the parade symbolic for the (robo)lution?
A- It's symbolic of the power of the Army as a tool of repression. It's a coronation of sorts for Queen Raula La Horrible, alias The Queen of Mean.
To finish, my dear Isabel (not her real name) you can consult Cuban newspapers in the collections of Spanish libraries or check online for the traffic patterns associated with the parade. It generally comes along Paseo Avenue, and turns around the Robolution Square. There are many staging areas for the public, tanks, troops, military transports, etc. Security is tight, and jets are going to be seen doing flyovers. Also, you can watch live Cuban TV in Spain, and that I know of, it will transmited via satelite to Europe and Latin America by Cubavision International. I am sure that TeleSur and Al-Jazeera will also carry it.
Remember, this is an important piece of propaganda for raul. They want to bury kasstro in the psychis of the public and this is his farewell.
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