To the Editor:
Alan Gross may have helped other Jewish communities around the world, but his situation in Cuba is quite different. Cuba never has classified his activities as spying, and his charges against the integrity of the state are no euphemism. The fact is that the funding for Mr. Gross’ activities came from a USAID program to "promote democracy" — euphemism for regime change — in Cuba. That program is designed specifically to subvert the Cuban state.
Viewing Gross and his activities, one must take a serious look at the long history of U.S. aggression toward Cuba and the continuing tolerance of anti-Cuban terrorist activities on U.S. soil. It is very difficult for Cuba to feel sorry about Gross’ predicament when considering that the Jewish community in Cuba denies his purpose and, according to them, is in no need of computers or cell phones, and certainly not sophisticated satellite equipment.
Members of the community already have good relations and support from Jewish communities in the United States, and certainly they could legally buy computers and cell phones if provided with the funding. A better way to support the Jewish community, and the rest of the 11 million Cubans, is to eliminate the U.S. economic embargo against the island.
Further, it is difficult for Cuba to consider humanitarian factors when there are five Cubans with young families languishing in five separate U.S. jails for more than 12 years — during the central part of their lives — for infiltrating Miami anti-Cuban terrorist organizations.
Milton Sanchez-Parodi
Poland, Ohio
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