POPE TRUMPS AMERICA WITH INROADS TO CUBA; PONTIFF RIDING REVIVALIST WAVE SWELLING UP ON CASTRO'S ISLAND.Byline: Julian Nava Julian Nava (born June 19, 1927) is an American educator and diplomat. Nava was born to Mexican immigrants in 1927 in Los Angeles, California. He grew up in the barrio of East L.A. In 1945, he volunteered the Air Corps of the United States Navy. WHEN Pope John Paul II Pope John Paul II (Latin: Ioannes Paulus PP. II, Italian: Giovanni Paolo II, Polish: Jan Paweł II) born Karol Józef Wojtyła visits Cuba he will make more history than is apparent. The pope will be speaking to not only Cuban Catholics and Fidel Castro Noun 1. Fidel Castro - Cuban socialist leader who overthrew a dictator in 1959 and established a Marxist socialist state in Cuba (born in 1927) Castro, Fidel Castro Ruz but to President Clinton as well. Americans who are grossly ignorant of American relations with Cuba may be misled by the significance of this event. On the assumption that good questions are better than good answers, why would I assume that this outstanding foe of communism, as well as 20th century materialism and social inequality, would take this opportunity to address Americans from a pulpit in Havana? The answer may lie in the fact that only the pope has the moral authority to remind us that our foreign policy should adhere to adhere to verb 1. follow, keep, maintain, respect, observe, be true, fulfil, obey, heed, keep to, abide by, be loyal, mind, be constant, be faithful 2. our basic American human values Human Values is the universal concept that preserves and enhances Homo Sapiens as a species, this applies to every human being on the present universe, anything against this values brings the consequence of a Self Species Extermination Event (SSEE) like hate, racism or war. . The United States United States, officially United States of America, republic (2005 est. pop. 295,734,000), 3,539,227 sq mi (9,166,598 sq km), North America. The United States is the world's third largest country in population and the fourth largest country in area. today wields more power than any other empire the world has ever known. The falling apart of the Soviet empire has left us as the sole global military power, and the strength of our economic system has outlasted the might of the Asian Tigers. Only communist China remains as a challenger to American economic power. Whereas we prefer ``constructive engagement'' and good business with a power we can't dominate anyway, little communist Cuba next door is another story. The Cuban system has outlasted eight American presidents that vowed to overthrow it, and unless President Clinton is more successful than he has been to date, he will be the ninth American president to be frustrated by Castro. In light of his earlier statements, the pope will probably say that love, understanding and spiritual values are more effective shapers of a good life than the denial of liberty on the Cuban part, or invasions, sabotage and economic warfare economic warfare Use of economic measures by governments engaged in international conflict. These may include export and import controls, shipping controls, trade agreements with neutral nations, and so on. on the part of Americans. Such a message has not been popular so far, but Pope John Paul II is not accountable to public opinion. What the American public does not know is that religion is undergoing a massive revival in Cuba, with the blessing of the regime. The Communists have acknowledged that religious values, such as those advanced by Catholic liberation theology liberation theology, belief that the Christian Gospel demands "a preferential option for the poor," and that the church should be involved in the struggle for economic and political justice in the contemporary world—particularly in the Third World. are not in conflict with socialism. As for the Protestants, the equivalent of liberation theology has been standard fare for centuries. The Roman Catholic Church Roman Catholic Church, Christian church headed by the pope, the bishop of Rome (see papacy and Peter, Saint). Its commonest title in official use is Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church. in Latin America Latin America, the Spanish-speaking, Portuguese-speaking, and French-speaking countries (except Canada) of North America, South America, Central America, and the West Indies. officially silenced priests that were inspired by Jesus and spoke our for social justice, including the redistribution of property. In view of this, Protestant churches have been growing at the expense of Catholicism throughout Latin America. Protestant groups from Baptists to Mormons have shown a concern for self-help and the improvement of everyday life as part of belief in God. Skeptics claim that the church adopted the essence of liberation theology to stem declining church attendance and to maintain central control over clergy. In all honesty, who can claim that Pope John Paul Pope John Paul is the name of two Popes of the Roman Catholic Church:
The papal visit will reveal much about Pope John Paul's thinking as he prepares to meet his maker. The appointment of conservative cardinals will probably ensure the selection of another theologically conservative pontiff before long, but in all likelihood a socially oriented one. The pope's largest Mass will take place in the heart of communist Cuba's capital - the Plaza de la Revolucion. I have worshiped with Cubans in standing-room-only Protestant churches, Catholic chapels, and a Jewish temple. But half a million Cubans in the plaza dedicated to communism - that will be something to behold. By peaceful means Pope John Paul II may have something to behold. By peaceful means, Pope John Paul II may have a greater impact on Cuba than 37 years of American economic warfare that exceeds our punitive measures against Iraq, North Korea or Vietnam. CAPTION(S): Photo PHOTO Cubans march through the streets of Havana on Sunday hailing the visit from Pope John Paul II set to start today. Canadian Press |
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