Who's Out of Touch?

So I'm feeling really depressed when I'm reading all the bashing of Bush's speech, particularly when I read this, found in W's out of touch on what's really going on in Cuba

"The speech insists again on his passion for controlling Cuba, and disrespects Cubans by trying to dictate to them what they must do," said Eloy Gutiérrez Menoyo, a Cuban dissident living in Havana. "Maybe the President forgot he has no right to intervene in matters that concern Cuba."
Gutiérrez Menoyo, not a government sympathizer by any stretch of the imagination, pretty much summarizes the generalized reaction in Cuba.

Then this AM, I blessedly turn to PayoLibre's reports by independent journalists on the island and find this joint communique from dissidents. I'm translating some of it here.

......support the words spoken by the President of the United States, George W. Bush on Wednesday, October 24, because we consider them positive, humane, and in solidarity with the Cuban people, as they offer moral, political and material support for the inhabitants of the island.

In the aforementioned speech, there are well-deserved criticisms of the castrista military dictatorship and demands for profound changes towards a transition, including the immediate liberation of political prisoners...legalization of opposition organizations, multiparty elections, and freedom and democracy..

Cuba needs the path toward transition not the succesion that signifies the continuation of the castrista dictatorship. We support totally peaceful changes, orderly, gradual, without traumas, without vengence, without fighting, without destruction and with justice. Enough of fears and terror, enough of misery, enough of pretense. Cubans have the right to be free and independent. Cuba is a great homeland where all fit.

Let's say yes to support and solidarity, we will all construct a free homeland, independent and sovereign.

Okay, okay, so I translated the whole thing. I find it enlightening. They apparently have no problem with accepting the President's support and don't see it as impeaching their sovereignity. Reading the article, it becomes clear that the future they envision for Cuba is free and independent and inclusionary. Vaya con Dios, mis hermanos.