Dear
Editor:
RE: “Diagnosis: Panderitis,” March 23, 2008:
It
was disheartening to read how your March 23rd editorial, cynically
titled “Diagnosis: Panderitis,” made light of my efforts as a
member of the Florida House of Representatives.
I
was elected to represent my constituents who, unlike your editorial
board, do not take communism, tyranny, and legalized discrimination
lightly, since many of them have suffered its effects firsthand.
As
a duly elected member of the Florida House of Representatives, I have the constitutional
authority to file legislation to regulate the issuance of licenses, medical or
otherwise, in our state. This bill does not affect our relations with any
nation and is therefore not a foreign policy initiative. Rather, it sends
a clear message that Florida will not recognize
medical degrees from a regime that so unashamedly rejects the basic tenets of
humanity in its own apartheid medical system. This bill has wide support,
including many of my colleagues, constituents, and organizations such as the
Florida Medical Association.
Contrary
to myths promulgated by duplicitous American film directors
who attack the very system that grants them their lives of
privilege and luxury, ordinary Cuban citizens do not have access to
their own beaches, their own hotels (which are all government owned), or
uncensored information, among other things. Specifically on the issue of
healthcare, ordinary citizens are relegated to subpar, archaic, and quite
frankly, abusive conditions in absolute squalor, while high-level government
officials, communist party elites, and hard currency-paying foreigners are
treated to proper care in state-of-the-art facilities. This Cuban version
of "free" healthcare is nothing more than healthcare apartheid, and I
believe that those who selfishly turn a blind eye to such human and civil
rights abuses do not possess the basic judgment and character required for the
ethical practice of medicine in Florida.
To
his credit, Rep.
Charles Rangel
rightfully championed U.S. sanctions and divestment against the repressive
apartheid regime of South
Africa
in the 1980's, and I salute him for it. However, I do not recall him
being accused of pandering to an “extremist” base.
In
2000 the very same Rep.
Rangel
led a congressional delegation to Cuba to meet with the architect of
Latin-American apartheid himself, Fidel Castro. Upon their arrival, the
Cuban tyrant unveiled a program offering 500 medical scholarships to
U.S. nationals, which was classified as a "cultural exchange" program
by the State Department to avoid the restrictions of the embargo against Cuba.
Our students should not be contributing to, nor legitimizing such a blatant
system of apartheid, nor should they be used in what is merely a
propaganda and public relations ploy by a sworn enemy of America,
which shares the unsavory distinction of other rogue states such as Iran and North Korea of being included
on the State Department’s list of terrorist nations. I am certain
that most Americans would cringe at the thought of their children participating
in a Mahmoud
Ahmadinejad
or Kim
Jong-il
Scholarship Program.
In
conclusion, there is no question the merits of my bill are open to debate and
discussion, and had one of your columnists or editors taken the time to contact
me, I would have gladly explained the bill. However, to broadly label
those of us who condemn tyranny, oppression, terrorism, and
institutionalized discrimination as "extreme" is irresponsible
and intellectually lazy.
Rep.
Eddy González