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Spain offers 200,000 Cubans a "get-out-of-Cuba card"

miamiherald.com — Marisabel is one of thousands of Cubans who have applied for Spanish passports since Spain enacted a new citizenship law in December. Officially known as the Law of Historic Memory, it grants citizenship to the children and grandchildren of Spaniards who fled the country during the Spanish Civil War or were exiled...

Who dugg this? Made popular Feb 16, 2009

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  • bolomkxxviii, on 02/16/2009, -4/+47How about a get-out-of-Miami card?
  • aznkidx, on 02/16/2009, -6/+30what makes you think the cuban government are going to let them out ?
  • Fiyerstorm, on 02/16/2009, -2/+21No, Elian. You can't go. >:O
  • petebot, on 02/16/2009, -0/+18A Castro is in power, it's just not Fidel
  • barryiggins, on 02/16/2009, -7/+24Florida: America's wang
  • danwgre, on 02/16/2009, -1/+15Louisiana: America's shrunken ball sack?
  • D0nPedro, on 02/16/2009, -3/+15Did Spain learn nothing from the movie Scarface?
  • groo68, on 02/16/2009, -1/+12While it is hard to leave, it is possible, and I'm thinking Spain is gonna provide some assistance.
  • Lynxpro, on 02/16/2009, -0/+9Uhm....point of clarification. Cubans fleeing to the USA are not "illegals"; they are refugees fleeing Cuba's political system. The last time I checked, Mexico isn't a Communist nation; it is a corrupt failed 3rd World regime that has never been capable of getting its ***** together since independence despite having an abundance of natural resources at its disposal. So no, Cuban refugees and Mexican illegals are not the same.

    Cuban Americans as a group also tend to be very conservative - and vote as such - unlike other Hispanic groups living within the US. And as such, they pretty much are the reason why the embargo against Cuba still is in place and also why the Republicans in general do not complain about Cuban refugees, legal or otherwise.

  • danwgre, on 02/16/2009, -6/+14Now why would anybody want to leave Cuba? Its a free health care paradise.
  • inactive, on 02/16/2009, -0/+8you do realize that if you're a Cuban living in America you're not considered an illegal immigrant?
  • Lynxpro, on 02/16/2009, -1/+8...the less people in Cuba, the less there is to feed and find jobs for. The communist standard of living per capita should rise and thus Castro's regime can claim success to its followers. That is why the Cuban government would allow emigration. Plus, Cuba would remain in the good graces of King Carlos which is a geo-political strategy of Castro's to keep the European Union from joining in any further US policies against his regime.
  • schnikies79, on 02/16/2009, -0/+7Tell that to the people that float across the open ocean in igloo coolers trying to get away.

    Better yet, go down the Cuban community in Miami and start telling people that. See how long before you get punched.
  • klawless, on 02/16/2009, -0/+7This article makes it sound like the Spanish government is only offering Cubans to regain their Spanish citizenship, but that's not the case. If you look up the Law of Historical Memory you'll see it's open to anyone who has a parent or a grandparent who was a Spanish citizen and fled the country during the civil war.
    I'm Canadian, and I've applied for my Spanish citizenship as well. And have had the same amount of difficulty finding appropriate documents. This isn't only happening in Cuba.
  • thebaron2, on 02/16/2009, -2/+9Oh yeah, Cuba's the greatest... which is why the offices handling this "get-out-Cuba" deal are overflowing with applicants and opening additional offices to handle the volume of people that want to get the hell out of there.

    And who told you there weren't drug cartels in Cuba?
  • Alheithinn, on 02/16/2009, -2/+8Very cool.
  • anthropodeus, on 02/16/2009, -3/+8my jew-sense noticed that the word "free" was missing from "get-out-of-cuba"
  • inactive, on 02/16/2009, -0/+5Lynxpro: you're exactly right

    crod23: exactly right, also!

    thebaron2: everything you said was accurate including the part about the drugs.

    @ groo68:

    There is no possible way you know more Cubans than I do. Quite simply, everything you said is romanticized and mistaken. You might buy the propaganda, but you haven't spoken to any of the Cubans that have gotten out. I've spoken to them in 5 major cities in the US, in 4 separate cities in Spain, an additional 3 towns in Costa Rica, 4 towns more in Mexico and all of this over the course of 4 decades, etc. Furthermore, it is my job for which I am paid to understand everything about the language and culture.

    I don't blame you for your ignorance; you've merely gotten your info from second hand sources with an agenda. All the Cubans, regarding the plentiful resources of the island, say,"El Partido se lo lleva todo y al que se opone al comunismo se le da carcel."

    But then with your degree of expertise in the matter I'm sure you already knew that.

  • anexanhume, on 02/16/2009, -0/+5So the illegal immigrant strategy is to get so many illegal immigrants here that we have to give up?

    Actually, I rather like that idea. Give up on getting the ones here out and focus on preventing new ones coming in (and making it easier to become a citizen). Standardize the work process so everyone pays federal taxes on the wages they earn. Suddenly, you have 10+ million more taxpayers.
  • inactive, on 02/16/2009, -0/+4We'll soon find out.
  • dlofnep, on 02/16/2009, -0/+4Sorry, Irish people are not British.

    We do not use the term "British Isles" in Ireland.

    Don't mean to nitpick, but my great-grandfather didn't die for me to be labelled as british.

    Thanks for your time.
  • graemee, on 02/16/2009, -0/+4California: America's Ass.
  • ciscoconft, on 02/16/2009, -5/+9Mexico: America's Diaper
  • Rotaryknight, on 02/16/2009, -0/+4a pimple???
  • crod23, on 02/16/2009, -5/+9^^Spoken by someone without family in Cuba, obviously.^^
  • WiseGuy1020, on 02/16/2009, -0/+4Exactly, no Cuban (self)exile in Miami really gave a ***** about Elian. They were just using the issue to further their own agendas. Now he is doing fine a national hero set for life, living with HIS FATHER. If he would have stayed he would be just another Cuban in Miami who cannot speak English, forgotten as you have noted.
  • WiseGuy1020, on 02/16/2009, -0/+4who is doing fine with his DAD and would have been forgotten in 6 months had he stayed
  • benplaut, on 02/16/2009, -0/+4Uh oh... what does this make Hawaii?
  • inactive, on 02/16/2009, -0/+4by now you're talking great great grandparents. The last real migratory wave from Spain to Cuba was after the so-called Spanish American war. It was not unlike WWII, after several years of fighting when it looked like both sides had ***** each other up pretty good, the Americans showed up (after blowing up the Maine) so that Teddy Roosevelt could be there in time for a photo opportunity. Then when the war was won the US/Teddy took all the credit. Now, I love Teddy for all the national parks he gave us, but he was a full of ***** egomaniac at times, too, and that's no secret.

    After the war the Spaniards who fought landed in Spain and promptly jumped on the next ship headed to Havana. The soldiers had fallen in love with the people, the island, the culture, the natural joy all Cubans have. It's a hell of a great place except for the government.
  • AROZ, on 02/16/2009, -2/+6Canada: America's brain.
  • persephoneia, on 02/16/2009, -0/+4You're obviously unfamiliar with the Cuban Adjustment Act of 1966, and subsequent 1995 revision, under the Clinton Administration.

    Cubans who make it here are not considered "illegal;" they can pursue residency and U.S. citizenship.
  • Artemis3, on 02/16/2009, -0/+3Your translation is wrong, it means "the ends (opposite) touch" (each other). This could be said, in a political context when both the extreme left and extreme right do the same things.
  • OddFactor, on 02/16/2009, -1/+4I'm so glad I left that city.
  • ThatGeek, on 02/16/2009, -0/+3ulterior*
  • WiseGuy1020, on 02/16/2009, -0/+3I'm right behind you
  • whytey, on 02/16/2009, -2/+5I hope Tupac Shakur get's one of these
  • inactive, on 02/16/2009, -0/+3You don't know the Spanish. What town are they going to take over? Madrid? Barcelona? Sevilla?

    Any ne'erdowells are going to be "taken care of" by the Guardia Civil.
  • fritzbrown, on 02/16/2009, -0/+3Are you making that statement as a life-long resident who was born before Mariel? Or as a recent transplant who can't be comfortable unless everybody looks and sounds the same?
  • inactive, on 02/16/2009, -0/+3no, he'll empty the loony bins and jails of all the criminally insane and throw in a few spies just like during "Los Marielitos".
  • tavallai, on 02/16/2009, -0/+3My mistake - they still allow it for those with parents or grandparents born in Ireland.

    They nixed the qualification for *great* grandparents, as there are entirely too many third-generation Irish descendants.
  • arquita, on 02/16/2009, -1/+3How about asking the people who have NOT got out of Cuba and are NOT asking for a visa? Your way, you will obviously learn only one side of the issue.

    e.g. "I think I'm gonna interview all Americans who have fled the country through the years. I'll definitely get an impartial view of how life in the U.S. is for every American"

    Not denying that some people hate their way of life in Cuba, but don't forget all those who don't.
  • inactive, on 02/16/2009, -0/+2The UK looks pretty brown and black now...all in under 50 years.
    Pretty amazing considering the previous invaders of England took hundreds of years to consolidate their power.The Normans and the Vikings really had to apply for citizenship by the shield and the sword.
    Now its a 10 hour flight from anywhere

    I wonder what Churchhill and the British soldiers of 42 would think.
    Probably think it was a good thing for a more open and diverse country
  • hakluytbean, on 02/17/2009, -0/+2This is very cool, I'm surprised more Spanish speakers don't consider going to Spain and thereby gain access to the rest of Europe - better employment conditions, better welfare, more vacation, less crime (especially less violent crime), better access to higher education and healthcare, politics less influenced by Big Business, more history, traditional culture, but with nearly the same access to American popular culture, sports and fast food. America is run for the benefit of wealthy men. If you're going to be one of those (or you think you are), then go there. But as 1% of the adult population is in jail, and the percentage for non-whites even higher, it might pay to think again.
  • akatsuki, on 02/17/2009, -0/+2Actually they probably will. After all Spain doesn't have as ready a source of migrant labor to exploit as the US does so conveniently located right across a border. Hell California would probably never have made it to the 5th largest economy in the world without proximity to Mexico, just like the US would have taken a lot longer to develop without slave labor.

    Don't underestimate the power of an underclass in bootstrapping your nation's economy.
  • inactive, on 02/16/2009, -0/+2
    The Cubans that fled in the late 50's to the 70's were a different kind. The Marielitos were chosen by Castro for their tendency to cause chaos anywhere they go. I know a lot of families who sent ships to pick up their families and were forced to take many, many other people, also. Most of them by all accounts were ***** scary individuals who are the product of communist Cuba's jails.

    Not your typical Cubans. The one's who arrived in FL during the 60's just made more money than everybody else until the 80's then yes it got disgusting, but that wasn't just the Cubans. The whites, other latin american groups and gov't agencies were involved in all that or were you not aware of Iran/Contra?

    Cubans are just more intelligent and prosperous than your average American. And for the record: I'm not Cuban... I just like them and the Lebanese and Vietnamese and Persians and...
  • GlobalGizmo, on 02/17/2009, -0/+2I think this is great the Spanish government is doing this. A lot of people do not understand or do not know enough about what went on during the Spanish Civil War. Hopefully many many people will get the chance to get back their citizenship that they should of had a long time ago if not for the war and Franco. I do wish though that stories of other people from different countries were covered as mentioned above, they are eligible to regain their citizenship also.
  • akatsuki, on 02/16/2009, -0/+2Because immigrants also need to buy stuff when they arrive. Because protectionism of job markets isn't always desirable. Because European populations are in free fall.

    There are lots of reasons.
  • anotherjack, on 02/17/2009, -0/+2You are actually going to be offended that someone is posting in Spanish on a thread about Spain and Cuba? Do you suppose it is being used as a *secret code* to annoy you? It's his native language and a subject dear to his heart. You are so upset that a person can speak two languages? Most people have respect for an accomplishment like that.

    If you don't want to speak Spanish, don't. You don't owe it to anyone. But I think you are missing out. It is not a betrayal of yourself and your culture to learn a few phrases....every city in this country has had people who only speak Hebrew or Chinese etc, it's not a threat to the nation - I promise you. I'm sorry some people have been dicks to you, but that is all they are. They aren't representatives or ambassadors. They are just lazy dicks who don't want to learn. If someone calls you a name, tell them that racism isn't cool and leave them cold. If they don't understand why racism is a bad thing, they have a big problem, and it isn't your problem, right?
  • inactive, on 02/16/2009, -0/+2Artemis3

    You're why I like digg. There are some really resourceful and astute people around here. You are exactly right about the translation.

    @ Wise

    You may have noted that I responded to the post above which reads: "Discusión en Español va aqui.". This can be translated as "Discussion in Spanish goes here."

    A translation of my post:
    These imbeciles have never lived in a communist country and they think that the opposite of Fascism is Communism, but that's not true.

    As they say in Spanish,"Extremes/ends meet." (meaning sthg like,"They come full circle"; there is no idiomatic equivalent in English)


    Get yourself some emotional control and stop insulting people randomly. That brings digg down.
  • hakluytbean, on 02/17/2009, -0/+2Please stop telling people who they should be and what words they should use.

    Ulstermen are Irish and British, irrespective of your opinion. And the Irish on the mainland, about 6 million with a grandparent from Ireland, are also Irish and British. They include some of my relatives by way of Carlingford: lovely place, Viking settlement, later a Norman town and very picturesque with King John's castle or what remains of it up the hill. Unsurprisingly people there tend not to be tribal or chauvinistic.

    You're wrong about British Isles as well, it's a controversy to Irish nationalists, but it's the geographical term for this end of Europe and can be used in Ireland. It includes 7 political states or entities. British Islands describes what you think is meant by the British Isles.

    So from one Anglo-Celtic-Norman-Viking mongrel to another - Thank you for YOUR time.

    (Then there's my Polish-Lithuanian side, but I guess you have probably already heard quite enough).
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