Yes, Cubans defended tolerance when it wasn't cool

Published Thursday, October 30, 1997, in the Miami Herald ARMANDO I. GONZALEZ

Yes, Cubans defended tolerance when it wasn't cool

Armando I. Gonzalez is director of engineering of the Miami Herald Publishing Co. and a past chairman of Facts About Cuban Exiles.

AS THE MOST recent flare-up of ``Cuban intolerance'' fizzles out, it is appropriate that we try to learn from the unpleasantness. Perspectives may be clearer. Thinking may be more objective. Perhaps we can figure out what really happened here. Let's see:

A Dade County resolution -- with ample political precedent (South Africa), passed by a commission on which Cubans were not a majority, in a county where Cuban voters are not a majority, and which (until now) never was questioned -- came under fire because the Reed MIDEM organization, under pressure from commercial clients, welshed on its contract with Dade County.

A civic volunteer appointed to the Metro film-advisory board by Metro Commissioner Bruce Kaplan made public comments that are perceived as grossly insensitive. Kaplan, who is not Cuban, takes exception and removes Peggi McKinley. (I promise that this is the only mention she'll get. Her 15 minutes are up.)

The Metro Commission unanimously approves. Later Commissioner Katy Sorenson, for reasons that have little to do with the First Amendment and much to do with constituent pressure, changes her vote and wraps herself in the flag.

Then, the deluge.

Entertainers Gloria and Emilio Estefan, deservedly idolized by the Cuban-exile community but apparently underestimating their powerful public stature, openly and sincerely express their adherence to fundamental democratic tenets. Their letter receives prominent display. And the Estefans discover that, when they talk, people listen.

A barrage of letters to the editor ensues. An outpouring of anger fills the airwaves. The Estefans, disappointed and frustrated, take to Spanish television and impromptu press conferences and -- in their one regrettable slip -- blast ``Spanish radio.'' In so doing, they ignored the principled public positions of some of the most prominent commentators (WQBA's [1140 AM] Agustin Acosta, Julio Estorino, Roberto Rodriguez Tejera, and Bernadette Pardo) who had condemned Kaplan's action and supported the Estefans' letter. However unintentionally, the Estefans and many other prominent Miamians throw the entire Cuban-exile community into the same mud inhabited by the cuckoos who call radio-talk shows that don't even register in Arbitron ratings.

That, of course, was not the Estefans' intention. I'm not so sure about some of the others.

Last but not least, the Cuban exile becomes the target of journalism's intelligentsia, the elite club of the politically correct. In comment after comment, in column after column, the intelligentsia expressed their dismay at the ``intolerance of Cuban exiles.'' In so generalizing, they were grossly unfair to those of us who for years have taken unpopular positions in defense of free expression and, to paraphrase Barbara Mandrell, ``defended tolerance when tolerance wasn't cool.''

To those who have tried a whole class of people, I offer some food for thought:

We troglodytes tolerate Francisco Aruca and his Radio Progreso, the pro-Castro Maceitos, Cuban-charter flight operator Vivian Mannerud, others who forward packages to Cuba, and hundreds of visiting Cuban academics. We cavemen elected Steve Clark over Miriam Alonso, J.L. Plummer over every Cuban who has opposed him, and Bruce Kaplan over Conchy Bretos.

Perhaps if the practitioners of political correctness took some time to reflect, they might conclude that there was a dose of unfairness in their reactions and that in the future they should be (dare we say it?) . . . more tolerant.

Finally, this is Dade County, and we live in interesting times. Given the circumstances, we all have done a pretty fair job. If we don't become complacent, it can't get but better.

Gloria Estefan sang the national anthem at the World Series to thunderous applause, and after clearing the lump in our collective throats, we enjoyed the wonderful rush of Cuban pride . . . and the moist caress of exile tears.