My comments to the discussion board on this article:

Walter Lippmann

posted 1/08/08 @ 7:34 AM EST

It's a lovely paint job on the little plane, but have you given any thought to the fact that the plane was hijacked and flown into the United States from a foreign country, one which Washington has declared to be a state sponsor of terrorism? Something doesn't quite compute with this.

Cubans have been hijacking airplanes from the island for almost fifty years, and they were always welcomed because they were supposed to show how bad life was under the Cuban system. So their hijackings were considered to be politically useful in the United States

After the September 11, 2001 attacks on the Twin Towers and the Pentagon, hijacking came to be understood as a terrible threat to the United States. Two groups of Cuban hijackers were prosecuted and sentenced to long prison terms for their activity. Twenty years on one case I remember.

This hijacked plane, which the Beacon is saluting, got in before, when hijacking was approved by the federal government, at least, anti-Castro hijackings.

Really, something isn't right about this.


Thanks for having this discussion board.
   
   

THE BEACON
Student Newspaper of Florida International University

ART FROM THE SKY:
Plane used to flee from Cuba donated as part of art exhibit

Evelyn Diaz / Staff Writer

Issue date: 1/7/08 Section: News
 
Paint Job: The Antonov-2 Colt biplane was painted on one side by Xavier Cortada in memory of Cubans who suffered under military rule. Courtesy Photo
Paint Job: The Antonov-2 Colt biplane was painted on one side by Xavier Cortada in memory of Cubans who suffered under military rule. Courtesy Photo
In 1999, a Cuban family fled to the United States on a vintage Antonov-2 Colt biplane, landing safely in Key West.

Cuban American artist Xavier Cortada donated that Antonov-2 Colt biplane to FIU.

Cortada painted a representation of freedom on half of the biplane and purposely left the other half in the same condition as when it arrived in Miami. One of the main reasons Cortada donated the plane is because of the large number of Cuban students and faculty at FIU. Cortada hopes that Cuban students look at the plane and reflect on their history and non Cuban students look at the plane and learn something.

"I created this exhibit in order for my parents, grandparents and all other Cuban exiles to not fade from memory," Cortada said on his Web site.

A painting of a key represents the unlocking of freedom, while a painting of a white dove represents a sign of hope. A painting of a lightened candle represents the meaning of truth, according to Cortada.

"Art and conception are the same thing, it's not about making things pretty, its about making them real," Cortada said.

Part of the plane's exhibit are 46 pieces of luggage that surround the plane. Each piece is numbered in sequence from 1959 to 2004, which are the years that the Cuban community had been under rule by Fidel Castro.

"The individual accounts of a peoples' journey to freedom can never be forgotten. Carrying their voices to future generations may prevent this tragedy from ever happening again," Cortada said on his Web site.

The vessel arrived disassembled to FIU on Dec. 22. The plane will be stored at the Campus Support Complex.

Madaline Baro, an assistant director from Media Relations, commented that the plane will eventually be hung for everyone's viewing pleasure from the roof of the Deuxieme Maison building.

Cortada is known for his philanthropic endeavors involving the Cuban community.

He received the prestigious Millennium International Volunteer Award from the U.S. Department of State and USA Today in 2000. In February of 2000 Cortada was invited to meet Pope John Paul II in Rome.

For more information visit Cortada's Web site at www.cubanmonumenttofreedom.com .
 
SOURCE:
http://media.www.beaconnewspaper.com/media/storage/paper540/news/2008/01/07/News/Art-From.The.Sky.Plane.Used.To.Flee.From.Cuba.Donated.As.Part.Of.Art.Exhibit-3146832.shtml