Cubans worthy of respect

Sunday, December 15, 2013

President Obama’s homage to Nelson Mandela on Tuesday was moving and heartfelt. He celebrated a “great liberator” who demonstrated the power of words, ideals and actions to change history. But the president added an awkward footnote to his tribute in Soweto by stopping to shake hands with Raul Castro, a man whose regime, led for a half-century by his brother Fidel, has bashed heads and broken arms to stifle freedom.

A handshake is a gesture, in this case one freighted with symbolism that cannot be ignored. Tuesday marked the 65th anniversary of the adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights by the United Nations. On the streets ofHavana and other cities, a crackdown on civil society was under way. Mr. Castro’s goons showed that they have not lost their taste for violence and coercion to extinguish even the slightest protest or expression of free will.

Elsewhere on the island, there were reports that independent journalists, filmmakers and writers were arrested.

While Mr. Obama was shaking hands with Mr. Castro, courageous people attempting to uphold Mr. Mandela’s ideals were suffering beatings and arrests.

The president ought to follow his handshake with a loud and unambiguous salute to the real champions of human rights-those fighting for it on the streets of Cuba.

Editorial, Pages 78 on 12/15/2013