The Law of the Funnel

The Law of the Funnel / Fernando Damaso
Posted on March 5, 2015

Fernando Damaso, Havana, 3 February 2015 — Following December 17, 2014,
and the first working meeting between the United States and Cuba
delegations to reestablish diplomatic relations and find solutions to
other questions that affect both governments, the Cuban authorities have
framed the event as a victory.

They say it is a result of "almost half a century of heroic struggle and
faithfulness to the principles of the Cuban people…thanks to the new era
in which our region lives, and to the solid and brave demand from the
governments and peoples of the Community of Latin American and Caribbean
States (CELAC)." Once again, the false triumphalism that has given us so
many headaches makes an appearance.

What goes unmentioned is the courageous decision by the president of the
United States and the measures which — without any concessions in return
by the Cuban government — he is taking, despite criticism from both the
Democratic and Republican sectors.

The Cuban authorities, knowing that they only have two years (the time
left in office to the current North American president) to get something
— instead of facilitating his gesture, complicate matters with absurd
and out-of-context demands, mixing them with others that might be
accepted. Thus, along with the end of the embargo, the green light for
travel by American individuals, the granting of credit, the removal of
Cuba from the list of state sponsors of terrorism, the procurement of
equipment and technologies, and a trade relationship — all of which are
fair requests and in keeping with good relations between neighboring
countries — there is the return of the Guantánamo naval base, the
ceasing of Radio and TV Martí broadcasts, compensation for the human and
economic damages of the embargo, as well as not requiring anything from
the Cuban government in return, which will be very difficult for an
American administration to accept. It is a classic case of the "law of
the funnel": the wide part for me and the narrow for others.

These unrestrained demands make one think that the Cuban authorities are
only interested in buying time, delaying the resolution of the dispute,
without daring to leave the game, come what may. It is a matter of a
sick addiction to power, believing themselves designated by the gods to
exercise it eternally, without any regard for the Cuban people. After
sinking the country and dragging it down to poverty, they still consider
themselves its saviors and, worst of all, they try to make us citizens
accept them as such.

Translated by: Alicia Barraqué Ellison

Source: The Law of the Funnel / Fernando Damaso | Translating Cuba -
http://translatingcuba.com/the-law-of-the-funnel-fernando-damaso/