Castro Given Dignity Award

(Havana, Cuba) Tropical punch for everyone! Fidel Castro has been honored by journalists.

The Cuban Union of Journalists (UPEC) has given the Dignity Award to Cuban President Fidel Castro in recognition of his exceptional merits and work in favor of the press and the homeland.

The announcement was made during a ceremony at UPEC headquarters in Havana, with UPEC president Tubal Paez saying that the Cuban president represents a synthesis of the dignity of all Cubans, the homeland and humankind.

It's assumed that President Bush won't be receiving a dignity award from American journalists since the media have generally demonstrated a less than warm relationship with the Bush administration.

Nevertheless, it sure would be nice if someone could explain what "representing the synthesis of dignity" even means. I'm guessing it's academic-sounding communist rhetoric created to kiss the dictator's glutes.

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(Caracas, Venezuela) In other news, journalists are questioning the Venezuelan government's involvement regarding an alleged incident of currency trafficking to Argentina. A suitcase containing $800,000 was confiscated by Argentine authorities after arriving from Venezuela concurrent with the arrival of President Hugo Chavez in Argentina.

As a result, Venezuela's Minister of Energy and Oil Rafael Ramirez issued a warning about media attacks on the government.

Due to this, said Ramirez, we have to warn people to avoid manipulation and stay alert since anything can come from the media.

We have to be clear, added the minister, since this is part of a fighting that did not end with the defeat of the coup d' etat or the end of the oil sabotage.

Ramirez mentioned the coincidence of the release of the events with the arrival of Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez in Argentina, and even that the media tried to link the member of the official delegation with the incident.

The events unleashed a kind of media lynching, expressed Ramirez, with the same old channels broadcasting in a stage that recalls us the episode of the oil sabotage.

It appears that the Chavez regime has difficulty controlling the media outside Venezuela so a bit of preemptive stink is being cast upon the messengers. Consequently, a warning has been sent out.