I dare you to forgive. Starting with _________________.

After a series of, well, “varied” Facebook comments on forgiving Fidel Castro, CHE, Hitler, Bush, Obama?

(*I must say in advance that these names represent topics some people simply cannot have a civil, respectfully conversation about. So excuse any word  wars that make no sense.  :)

From the Facebook comments – I found it interesting how many people have “forgiveness” misunderstood. So I’ve decided to say what few Cubans dare to do publicly. “I forgive Fidel Castro.” Though I never had to.

And to take it a step forward in the hopes of creating a transformational conversation. I’m blogging about it for public inquiry.

The funny thing is, I personally think it’s funny if not bordering insanity to think me or anyone else truly needs another persons forgiveness. Hence the beginning of the confusion.

Forgiving is nice as a gesture, but it too often gets mangled with a variety of other emotional opinions that have nothing to do with forgiving ontologically.  I trust much more will be said on this…

So here is my version of exploring forgiveness. I hope you participate in what’s possible  for all of us when we truly forgive. Please add your thoughts below.

“Forgiveness is a gift I give myself.”

Said another way. “Forgiveness is a gift you give yourself.”

No one requires my forgiveness, and I don’t require anyones. (Unless of course you think you do, however incorrect that may be.)

When you don’t forgive someone, you are saying more about yourself than the other person. Especially if you are as religious as you say you are; if you are religious of course.

I look forward to your expressions on this topic.

In the mean time, “I dare you to forgive.” Starting with__________________.

Fall in love like never before, See The Cuba Film Cuba’s Love and Suicide.

17 Replies

  1. sonicdeatheater

    June 8, 2009 at 4:27 AM

    none of those people deserve or require forgiveness. castro and che both did what they thought was good for their contries, whether they succeeded or not. hitler is beyond forgiveness, and bush was not at the center of things. obama… well, he hasnt quite had his chance yet. someone like clinton? yeah, id forgive him for fucking up.

    Reply
  2. Dieter Doneit-Henderson

    June 6, 2009 at 9:16 AM

    I am not sure, personally, what I would forgive him for, being a Canadian, who has not been affected in any way, negatively, by Fidel Castro & actually it’s the contrary, I have enormous respect for the fact that the man gave his life, to make Cuba better. He served his entire life for what he believed was right for Cuba & he always kept his word. No matter what the consequences, even when faced with impunity from the Empire to the North. He stood by his principles & defended Cuban Sovereignty & allowed for a Cuba, that for the first time in it’s turbulent history, was finally under no foreign ownership, occupation or oppression!

    Should we forgive Batista too? Or where his crimes, which included 20 thousand Cuban lives lost, those were only the recorded one’s, to his blood thirsty, US backed Dictatorship :: Or is that too much for forgiveness?

    How about his robbing the Cuban Treasury of 100’s of millions of dollars, billions in today’s dollars.

    One can safely say, that things are much better, today in Cuba. I know that, as I’ve seen it with my own eye’s, countless times. The CIA Factbook and State Department, speak for themselves on the accomplishments since Batista was ousted.

    I have read extensively, the 100 Hours with Fidel, in both Spanish & in English. I have the very rare, original, newspapers, in pristine condition, in the special carton, which was given out to few, in which one can really evaluate the mind & goals of Fidel Castro.

    Is he or all that he has done perfect? No, but it’s better than any of it’s neighbors, by a long shot. Imagine the possibilities of Cuba without this Embargo! The options are endless, but do not include reoccupation of Cuba, by US Interests or by US influence or re-corruption of Cuba, like it was before, under Batista.

    When I hear the rationale that Castro is the devil or what have you, I refer people to his own words, via Oliver Stone :: And then I dare you to ask the question, what does Fidel have to lose, by speaking the truth? Why would he need to lie? He said he had made many mistakes which he wishes he could take back and have done differently, generally, those are not the words of a Dictator. But that is another discussion, for another day.

    Even the biggest of haters of Castro, must take a moment and acknowledge the achievements the man has brought to the people. Cuba is far better placed in the world and has a much deeper, more intimate & educated understanding of the world & sustainability. Cuba is a model of sustainability.

    If the Embargo was lifted & Cuba given the chance, without pre-conditions to show the world, that despite having a different take on democracy, they are far better in reality, than they have been portrayed all these long years. That they are FAR from being the Chinese Regime, which the US seems to have no problem with at all, despite their horrific acts of Human Rights.

    On the Domestic US FRont, If the US can allow Human Rights violations and pure HATE in their own nation, for example, by oppressing minorities in California with Prop 8, which is pure H8, to name just one of many, major Human Rights complaints against a number of Administrations, which like an endless loop, do what they please, and manipulate the masses to think “This must be our course of action” :: Not true, there is another way, we in Canada know that all too well, with 100 years of trading with Cuba, being one of their biggest trading partners, a relationship that has only grown stronger during the Revolution, despite numerous attempts by US Govt. to sue, block, ban & do anything else dirty, you can imagine, to stop us here in Canada and cause even greater problems in Cuba!

    One Canadian PM, after the other, refused to buy into the rubbish from Washington, devised and schemed up in Miami and all around FL. That is until Dictator Harper, a Bush Clone came to Minority Rule. He’ll be gone shortly!

    When the Embargo is lifted, we will all be able to see that the Economic problems of Cuba will lift, just like the Embargo has.

    DDH

    Reply
  3. Sigrid

    June 6, 2009 at 4:13 AM

    this one’s for you Luis, from my heart to yours:

    okay, well, you are right, i did not read your article; just snapped out an answer [did castro need forgiving??]when i saw your question.

    and after, just now reading your first few paragraphs, i am willing to say that i forgive bush, etc – though i never had to. hitler, not so sure (i just don’t know enough of his personal history, i.e. upbringing… how his feelings & beliefs were formed – but i probably would end up forgiving him, too.)

    said another way… if you forgive someone, the burdon of anger, hate, etc, is no longer on you, but them (true, i’ve always felt this to be a sneaky way around it, however, having done it, i do know how liberating it can be).

    i’ve been getting really annoyed w/many of the muslims w/in my FB friends who seem to be delighting in transferring (right or wrong is yet to be known), their hatred of bush onto obama… to the point of getting pretty kind of pissed off today. for one, i realised i was finding myself feeling guilty for being a christian. but then i thought, wait a second, i don’t have a prob w/their beliefs, so why i am i ALLOWING them to be “suggestively” distasteful of mine? so i stopped.

    it’s all good. i actually – with maybe far too little knowledge – admire castro. kennedy & trudeau liked him. but he is not your actual issue here, is he. as far as bush, i almost feel sorry for how he was brainwashed and manipulated by cheney. but even cheney i find myself having pity for.

    look. in the words of john trudell “I’m just a human being trying to make it in a world that is very rapidly losing its understanding of being human.” and, i image you are, too. and as dimwitted as cheney, bush, and some others appear to be, i think they are, as well (how they got off on the wrong track is not for me to deal with. that’s their’s to deal with, with their “higher power”.

    i have never known anger resentment hate to serve any good purpose.

    xoxo, sigrid

    Reply
  4. Frank Lopez

    June 5, 2009 at 4:16 PM

    Wow this is amazing to see how much pain people carry around with them. They go through life carrying this hate with them and it affects every aspect of their being. It molds them into exactly what they hate in the first place. I always say what is done is done, put it behind you and move forward. Walk in the light not the dark, accept what happened, learn from it and let it go. Move on through life with a free spirit and a clear mind. Sigmond Freud once said Pride is the basic breader of most human difficulties, It is the Chief block to true progress. Let go and let God, don’t let pride keep you stagnant in life, FORGIVE!

    Reply
  5. Clara Sowers-Rodriguez

    June 5, 2009 at 3:13 PM

    A funny thing about forgiveness, it can be very simple and yet complicated. It’s easy to forgive someone we love, if we truly love them…the key to forgiving someone you love is to continue to behave with love towards them the same way you did before they wronged you. Lord knows we’ve had to do that with family and friends.

    Now, how do you forgive someone that you’ve never even met in person…or in the case of cubans, someone that wronged your country, family, culture, and future in such a deep way that it changed your personal history? Now, that is a challenge for anyone. It takes courage, clarity, and wisdom.

    This challenge to forgive Fidel Castro could actually cause a change. Unfortunately, in my opinion, Castro’s dictatorship lasted so long because of many reasons, and one of them being the unaccomplished task of actually forgiving Castro and his followers. Would we be as divided as we are if we could forgive? Could we actually unite forces for the one true cause, Cuba’s freedom? What do we love more??? Cuba? Castro? Hating Castro? Nostalgia?

    As cubans, we tend to be nostalgic…okay, VERY nostalgic. “Hating” Castro has pretty much become a part of our culture. Has “hating” him actually accomplished anything? Has our nostalgia left us stuck in this phase of just “hating” Castro and blaming him for our sorrows? Maybe daring to “forgive” him can be the first step out of this vicious circle of talking about how much we hate him to actually doing something about the island so many of us are proud to be descendents of…the island and people we supposedly love. If we hate Castro it’s because we love something he’s wronged, something he’s done against what we love…even if it’s ourselves.

    After we dare to forgive him…for whatever and everything he’s done…let’s dare to just stop hating him, clear our minds of that and see what ideas we come up with next. Maybe we’ll actually come together to become more active, more committed, and more realistic. Let our eternal nostalgia turn into a force of determination to see our island become a democratic nation where human rights can be respected and economic growth and prosperity doesn’t have to be considered derogatory capitalism.

    Reply
    • themororeflex

      June 6, 2009 at 2:00 AM

      Bold Clara, bold. Obviously our history on the topic is a successful failure. I’m standing in the future that illuminates all our past hates, etc. Thank you for what you wrote.

      Reply
  6. JP

    June 5, 2009 at 2:18 PM

    It is the Cuban people in Cuba who have failed to bring change to their country. If they all were unhappy, they should then take over their government. I believe that the poor in our country (the USA) are treated 100 times worse than those in Cuba.

    Reply
    • themororeflex

      June 6, 2009 at 2:03 AM

      JP Have you been to Cuba? Being poor anywhere sucks. But being poor in the U.S. is considered well off in most countries. I don’t think it’s as easy as saying it when it comes to changing any government. Look was it takes in our own USA. Self interest still dominates most so called “leaders”.

      Reply
  7. Digna

    June 5, 2009 at 9:14 AM

    Well, as a child that was pulled from her family, friends and country and separated from my loving mother, I went through hell when they shipped me to a foster home. It took me 28 years to recuperate so NO, I DON’T FORGIVE CASTRO. NEVER EVER. Not for what he did to my country, I lost all my family (we’re only 4 people here) and struggled for 28 years to come to terms with my nightmare. He destroyed Cuba, he made the people there turn against each other and live in fear. My mother, after 45 years still can’t talk about how she struggled to come here and get me back. She lost her mother, father and her 8 siblings and never saw her family. Forgive? Nope, notme. But his punishment I will leave to God.

    Reply
    • themororeflex

      June 6, 2009 at 2:08 AM

      Digna, I get it. I feel your pain. I have my own personal stories of loss, destroyed family and multiple deaths. I do recommend you truly find a way to forgive it all. You are fortunate. I simply think of our First Nations Native Americans. What if they all decided not to forgive. Will we all start giving them the land we now call ours? Our place in history is what it is, but it’s not any better than the history that got us here. With love and respect for your personal family history.

      Reply
  8. menochez

    June 5, 2009 at 8:16 AM

    What a great post. It reminded me a lot of a documentary called “Forgiving Dr. Mengele” where an elderly holocaust survivor chronicles her process (and the fallout) of having forgiven one of her captors during WWII.
    It seems like you are getting a lot of flack for having spoken so accurately about what is needed not only in Cuba but in the world…I think you are absolutely right.

    It is my stand that the forgiveness trend will catch on.

    Reply
  9. anu

    June 5, 2009 at 7:28 AM

    “Resentment is like taking a poison and waiting for the other person to die.” Malachy McCourt

    Forgiveness doesn’t mean you have to forget…it means you acknowledge how you were wronged and then you let it go so that the energy you put out is towards a positive outcome, instead of continuing to direct negative energy out into the universe. Your holding onto your resentment doesn’t serve anyone. However, if you put your intention out for the change you want to see happen, it has a better chance of becoming a reality.

    Reply
    • Sandra Castillo

      June 5, 2009 at 8:21 AM

      “Forgiveness doesn’t mean you have to forget…it means you acknowledge how you were wronged and then you let it go so that the energy you put out is towards a positive outcome.”

      This is a Buddhist concept, certainly very admirable. Most people cannot even begin to imagine how to do this (they are not that enlightened).

      It is interesting to see this very Eastern concept attached to Cuba, Cuban exile politics.

      Reply
      • themororeflex

        June 6, 2009 at 2:15 AM

        I think forgiveness is a human element found in almost every religion, principle, concept of life, etc. Forgiveness is not boxed in by any one experience, ones words, it actually seems freeing – to me. But don’t let my words box what forgiveness is for you, and others.

  10. themororeflex

    June 5, 2009 at 7:22 AM

    THESE ARE THE RECENT PUBLIC COMMENTS ON FACEBOOK THAT SPARKED ME MAKING THE DARE “I DARE YOU TO FORGIVE__________________” I LOOK FORWARD TO YOUR COMMENTS.

    Marcos Ceruto at 4:03pm May 31
    good luck hahahhaah! people in miami r silly

    Ovi Garcia at 4:08pm May 31
    AWESOME!! justice was served!!! Glad that pig is dead…

    Jeannie Feria at 4:38pm May 31
    It is stories like this that the people in this country should be aware of, so that they stop walking around wearing t-shirts with Che Guevara’s face on them. He was a cold blooded killer, nothing else!

    Marcos Ceruto at 4:40pm May 31
    i liked this story a lot too cuz i think it exposes the rabid irrational hate cuban americans down in the MIA have with the old country, i think this is kind of laughable to read and would make some people question the attitudes and opinions on Cuba that stem from down thar

    Michelle Zaldivar at 4:46pm May 31
    La franchise,c’est la seule solution!.Hasta siempre!

    Cristian Moreira Fossatti at 4:50pm May 31
    Had Fidel been taken out back them also, Cuba would be like Chile is now & maybe so many Cubans would not have suffered .

    Communism one of the worst ideologies ever!

    Marcos Ceruto at 4:53pm May 31
    wasn’t that bad, i had a great childhood in Cuba ♥

    Jeannie Feria at 4:56pm May 31
    Consider yourself lucky, I know a great deal of people that had no idea what a steak was till they came to the USA.

    Marcos Ceruto at 4:57pm May 31
    not in this economy :(

    Jeannie Feria at 5:03pm May 31
    Even in this economy people get to eat, and enjoy life in this country. Obviously you didnt experience communism or maybe dont remember it as clearly as other Cubans do.

    Luis Moro at 5:41pm May 31
    Marcos great job on mini-doc. I appreciate you bringing those views to audiences. Continued success. I look forward to your follow up film…

    Lillian Aborlleile at 5:44pm May 31
    hey marcos, people in Miami are Silly? I guess you do not have family members that do not know when their next plate of food will be placed on their table,but what would you know, you look healthly enough to NOT KNOW WHEN TO STOP EATING

    Pete Denis at 5:52pm May 31
    Silly!! Go eat some rice & beans you Cubano Repentido

    Pete Denis at 5:55pm May 31
    If it wasn’t so bad, why you here?

    Ovi Garcia at 5:55pm May 31
    stay on the idiotic “HOPE” and “CHANGE” garb…wata crock!! Michael Moore for pres is next…and so goes the clueless clan LMAO

    Ileana M. Olivera at 6:08pm May 31
    Cubans in MIA don’t hate Cuba, we just hate Fidel and his enforced Communistic views rather you wanted it or NOT!! After all, he killed his own nephew but I’m sure you think he’s a good guy.

    Carlos Rendo at 7:39pm May 31
    Many young Cubans are losing persepective of what our parents sacrificed for our freedom. To embrace Castro, Che and the Communist ideology is a direct betrayal of them. I’m not part of that belief that if the Communist executed a family member, then all is forgotten.

    Pete Denis at 7:49pm May 31
    Why is Marcos here? If you loved it so much, you could legally go live there at any time. Instead you get a real life, now you use the freedom the United States gives you to spread your obtuse generalization of fellow Cubans.

    Ileana M. Olivera at 7:54pm May 31
    I agree Carlos, I never really experienced life in Cuba (under Fidel) and I Thank God and my parents for that. I was able to experience life with freedom and my parents still talked to me about Cuba before Fidel so that I could also be proud to be Cuban so to continue to love the country, its people but also realize what was lost when Fidel … Read More

    Jeannie Feria at 8:25pm May 31
    Ileana/Carlos, I experienced Cuba under Castro, and I left when I was 9, and I had never tasted Ham, or something as simple as a piece of gum, and that was back in the 70s, now its even worse. My parents left their parents and family behind to bring me here and give me a better life.
    That is why it kills me to hear people say, that communism is … Read More

    Marta Sosa at 9:04pm May 31
    Very Good point Jeannie, I never thought about it before. Perhaps we should have T shirts with both photos on it to make the point since they don’t get it! But …. maybe not, people.
    And… people who had a great childhood in Cuba can have a great adulthood there as well!

    Jeannie Feria at 9:10pm May 31
    You are absolutely right Marta, if they feel that communism is so wonderful and they have no complaints of their childhood they should go back and spend the rest of their life there as well!!!

    Luis Moro at 8:42am June 1
    WOW! – With love, my response is for all of us

    As often when discussing U.S. politics on Cuba, the #1 point gets diluted by the past based “facts”. The current U.S. Cuba policies have not worked, are not working and will never work. We need to abolish the U.S. embargo on Cuba today. Everything else is more of the same “Cuban” bullshit. (I say it knowing I do/have it – “Cuban bullshit.)

    I empathize with all the hardship stories, I have my own; I forgive everyone involved…. Read More

    Luis Moro at 8:42am June 1
    I assert every single “Cuban” person who continues to harbor their hate, vengeance, “I’ll never forgive Castro”, etc – towards anyone – is giving that person the victory of having a say on your day to day life. Your hate towards them, has them controlling you, and they are not even around you – at all.

    “If you don’t forgive someone, you are saying more about yourself than the other person.”

    Now, don’t confuse forgiveness with forgetting. … Read More

    Luis Moro at 8:44am June 1
    ***take a few minutes and see Marcos Ceruto video on his FB video section *** see if you can relate, maybe learn, etc XO 2 all.

    Pete Denis at 8:53am June 1
    He can go jump off Moro Castle, Luis! I live with MANY Holocast survivors, I never heard one of them say they forgive Hitler. There are entire Cuban families that no longer exist, having all been killed by Fidel. But the point here, NOW, is that this fool called Miami Cubans “silly”. Generalzations like that are only for the feeble minded. If it … Read More

    Luis Moro at 9:05am June 1
    Pete… he was not “attacking” Miami… and man we all know that “some” Miami Cubans are silly… just like all people everywhere. He was talking about, as I am, the use of the courts in the way they have been used. And the duplicity of it all. Anyway…. there is a lot that has happened that I don’t know. I know first hand there are plenty of Holocaust survivors who have forgiven Hitler and moved on – but again, the point is muted with OUR Cuban blah blah blah –

    the embargo has not worked, does not work and will never work.

    The great state of Miami should represent all Cubans around the world and put it’s energy towards abolishing 50 years of failed policies…. Read More

    Marta Sosa at 9:20am June 1
    Luis, I have no problem forgiving. Many times I have said I hate Castro but Castro to me does not really exist anymore, he is but a faint memory. The after effects of what that man has done has affected me and will continue to affect Cubans as long as he or his regime is in power. I bet you have not asked a woman being raped continually every day … Read More

    Marta Sosa at 9:24am June 1
    OK Tshirts are in order.
    Sadam, Hitler, Castro, CheGuevara.. Lets find the worst scum and put their pictures on it and under the pics say “I forgive” HMMMM What kind of a reaction would we get? Or Would we be Targets of attacks, after all, we forgive anything.

    Marta Sosa at 9:26am June 1
    Luis, will you post a link to the Video? thanks!

    Pete Denis at 9:52am June 1
    I agree that the embargo does not, and has never really worked. It was a mistake that continues today. My problem is with being called “silly” by a hypocrite. Thats all. I am a Jersey Cuban, living in Miami. For over 30 years now. I see up close & personal these people daily. They are not “silly”. They just believe what they believe. Look up what… Read More

    Andrea Puig-Salazar at 6:05pm June 1
    Luis, While I believe the embargo hasn’t worked and we need to make changes in our policy, there is no way I will ever forgive Fidel. No, this doesn’t mean I let my dislike for him control my life. What it means is that I will never let history be distorted into making this man a hero. Che is another murdering idiot. Just because Santana wears … Read More

    Andrea Puig-Salazar at 6:06pm June 1
    Marco, is a perfect example of what makes this country so great. Freedom of speech to all, even communist. Too bad he didn’t have those liberties in Cuba. That is what I hope the embargo will help change. When Cubans in Cuba can complain about the government and not be hauled off to jail.

    Andrea Puig-Salazar at 7:11pm June 1
    I saw the video. I think Omar Martinez put it best and the reason I want to go back to visit “They can learn from my percpective”. As for the quick shot of a Che poster,the sign of “yo supporto a fidel” and other pro communist signs the government puts up. I think, showing them in the film without show the opposition were in poor taste. It is … Read More

    Jeannie Feria at 7:29am June 2
    I agree with Andrea.
    To forgive is divine, but in order to be forgiven you have to repent. I dont even think God would forgive Hitler, Castro, Che, Sadam, Osama Binlanden, they have tortured, and killed so many, and destroyed so many innocent lives and broken up so many families.
    To clarify, I dont let these things rule my life, I dont live my … Read More

    Marcos Ceruto at 5:12pm June 2
    whoooooooaaaaa, calm down people, this is that irrationality I’m talking about, the inability to see other people’s perspectives, it doesn’t help anyone

    Pete Denis at 5:20pm June 2
    And you are exactly what we’re talking about.
    Go away, go to Havana, live with your brothers, see if you can talk there, like you talk here! If anyone is irrational, it is you, you don’t accept others views, you dismiss them as irrational. Practice what you preach.

    Andrea Puig-Salazar at 7:20pm June 2
    LOL…Seriously I was just giving you a tip to make better documentaries….you know…another percpetive…..Chill

    Marcos Ceruto at 2:30pm June 3
    i’m talking about the wall of text since i last checked this, thanks for the feedback, i haven’t read most of this honestly… but post the coments on the video and I’ll be sure to read them there, I’m hoping to make a similar project in the future

    Reply

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