New Orleans Jesuit CS Feb 2017 The Curse of Castros Past

Andrew and I negate

Resolved: The United States should lift its embargo against Cuba.

Our one and only contention in this round is Castros Curse.

Frances Martel 2016 explains that throughout the 50 years of Castros reign, many witnesses
claimed that he secretly practiced the Afro-Cuban religion Santeria. One Santerian priest, called
a Babalawo, claimed to have cast potions and spells on Castros behalf and to have consulted top
military officials in 1992.

Then, the connection grows stronger. The Spain-based newspaper, Diario de Cuba, explained in
2016 that in the Santerian religion, you wait nine days until you bury or cremate the dead. And
this is exactly what the Cuban government did for Castro after he passed away last year.

As a result of all this, Cuban Santerian priest Obbara Meyi warned after his death in 2016 that
Castros spirit could be wandering around the island, and that the only way to protect from
possession by Castro is to wear a special religious headdress.

Now, what does all of this have to do with embargo?

If we lift the embargo, that would greatly increase tourism from the US to Cuba. Erika Sato
2016 from the Council on Hemishperic Affairs explains that Cubas recent growth in tourism
promises to become exponential should the United States remove its economic and travel
embargo on Cuba. If and when the United States removes its embargo, they say, Cuba will
likely receive an avalanche of US tourists.

And considering a Gallup Poll found that only 34% of Americans believe in the existence in
ghosts, American tourists would likely not take the correct precautions to avoid being possessed.

Now what are the consequences if Castro possesses an American? To understand this, you need
to understand first how ghostly possession works.

First, how do ghosts form? According to the Spiritual Science Research Foundation, anyone
could can become a ghost after they die. And whatever people desire most in their physical life,
but DONT achieve, is what that ghost desires most in the spirit world. What was Castros
greatest desire in physical life? To eliminate Capitalism and end the United States of course!

Second, how could the ghost of Castro achieve this? Well, the Spiritual Science Research
Foundation explains that different ghosts have different power levels, and the most powerful
kind of ghost is called a mantrik or subtle-sorcerer. Mantriks, the SSRF continues, have
nearly unlimited power to wreak havoc depending on their power level. They have the ability to
to spread and possess anywhere between 100,000 people and the entire world.
New Orleans Jesuit CS Feb 2017 The Curse of Castros Past

Now the third question is: how do we know that Castro would turn into such a powerful ghost?
The Spiritual Science Research Foundation explains that people involved in adversely
affecting humanity at large are more likely to become subtle-sorcerers or mantriks. And
considering that University of Hawaii historian R.J. Rummel reported that Castros death toll is
most likely up to 73,000 people, its fair to say that he was involved in adversely affecting
humanity.

THUS, FOR ALL THESE REASONS, only maintaining the embargo prevents tourists from
being possessed by Castros ghost. Only maintaining the embargo prevents this possession from
spreading throughout America and destroying our great country.
And thus, only maintaining the embargo and voting CON is a reasonable decision in this round.
New Orleans Jesuit CS Feb 2017 The Curse of Castros Past

Cards
Martel 2016:
As Cuba continues to endure a mandatory nine-day mourning period for its late dictator Fidel Castro, the
nations Santeria
priests (babalawos) have once again begun to speculate about decades-old rumors that
Castro practiced their African religion and to warn that Castros spirit may still haunt
the island.

One babalawo told the Spain-based Diario de Cuba that he fears Castro may continue
to plague the island as a ghost. That spirit is wandering around and good luck to whoever it
possesses, says babalawo Obbara Meyi, advising, according to the newspaper, that his
religious community cover their heads when they go out in public to prevent Castro from
possessing them.

Frances Martel. Santeria Priest Warns Cubas: Cover Heads to Stop Fidel Castro From
Possessing You. Brietbart News. December 2016. http://www.breitbart.com/national-
security/2016/12/01/santeria-priest-warns-cubans-cover-heads-stop-fidel-castro-possessing/

Betanzos 2016
"Viste qu casualidad? Hay que esperar nueve das, como con todo santero", dice Jessica que
le dijo su madre, quien tiene coronado Oshn hace ms de 20 aos y siempre ha sostenido,
como otros tantos, que Fidel tena hecho santo.
"A los santeros no se les crema y hay que esperar un tiempo necesario para, al final, hacerle el
desayuno y el Oro al Eggun", aclara un babalawo que prefiere hacerse llamar por su oddun de
If, Obbara Meyi. "Pero ese espritu ya debe de haber pasado por el Ituto, que es la ceremonia
en la que se le da camino a los santos del iniciado, donde se rompe la tinaja del ro, la misma
que recibi el da en que se coron", seala.
Betanzos, Maria. "A Cinco 'fulas' Los Peridicos Dedicados a La Muerte De Castro." Diario
De Cuba. Diario De Cuba, 29 Nov. 2016. Web. 04 Feb. 2017.

Council on Hemerispheric Affairs 2016:

Cubas coral reefs are well known for possessing some of the best places in the world for diving. Off the coast of Jardines de la Reina, one can
find plenty of biodiversity in pristine condition.[1] Since the Cuban Revolution, the government (in spite of economic constraints) has
successfully implemented progressive ecological policies that, along with the isolating effects of the embargo, have so far protected its
ecosystemsperhaps more effectively than any other Latin American nation. The
recent boom in tourism (Cubas largest
industry) promises to become exponential should the United States remove its economic and
travel embargo on Cuba.[2] This sudden and extreme growth in tourism may jeopardize Cubas natural heritage. Experts
fear that Cuba may face severe environmental degradation and see its coral reefs eventually disappear if it does not take further
environmental precautions. If and when the United States removes its embargo, Cuba will likely
receive an avalanche of U.S. tourists, corporations, and cash , which could quickly destroy much of its
currently healthy coral reefs.
New Orleans Jesuit CS Feb 2017 The Curse of Castros Past

Erika Sato [Research Associate]. Cubas Tourism, the Embargo, and the Environment. Council
on Hemispheric Affairs. June 7, 2016. http://www.coha.org/cubas-tourism-the-embargo-and-the-
environment/

Darren K. Carlson for Gallup 2000

Who is it that believes in witches and ghosts? Men were more likely than women to say they
believe in witches (24% to 20%), while the opposite is true about ghosts (women were more
likely than men to say they believe in ghosts -- 34% to 27%). Admitting to a belief in ghosts also
decreases with age. Forty-four percent of 18-29 year olds said they believe in ghosts, compared
to 38% of those ages 30-49, 19% of those between 50-64, and just 13% of those over the age of
65.
Darren K. Carlson. One Third of Americans Believe in Ghosts. Gallup. October 31, 2000.
http://www.gallup.com/poll/2380/one-third-americans-believe-ghosts.aspx

Spiritual Science Research Foundation:

The word ghosts is arguably one of the most searched terms on the Internet and ghosts have been subject to speculation for millennia. Do they
exist and if so what are they like? How do people become ghosts after they die? In this section SSRF provides an in depth view gained through
spiritual research on various aspects of negative energies right from the common ghost to the powerful subtle-sorcerer also known as
a mantrik. The world of ghosts is all around us and they can affect us in various ways. Perhaps one of the main reasons they affect or possess a
person is to satisfy their desires through that individual. However as we go higher up in the hierarchy of negative energies, it is more about
exerting their power over society. Negative energies accomplish their goals through an intricate well organised hierarchy of power similar to
that of the mafia, and because they are subtle in nature they almost always go unnoticed and unopposed. Through spiritual research we have
any one can become a ghost. The desires, cravings and attachments we have during
found that
our life on Earth if not controlled and overcome, become our weak point in the afterlife.
Higher level negative energies control lower level ghosts in the afterlife.

Spiritual Science Research Foundation. Ghosts.

http://www.spiritualresearchfoundation.org/spiritual-research/ghosts/

Spiritual Science Research Foundation:

Severe possession is when the possessing ghost is a subtle-sorcerer ( mntrik). At this
level the intention of the possessing ghost is to create nationwide destruction or worldwide
detrimental effect. The relative strength of this ghost is 100,000-infinity. An example of this would be
Hitler who was possessed by a subtle-sorcerer from the lower regions of Hell.
Spiritual Science Research Foundation. Levels and Signs of Demonic Possession.
http://www.spiritualresearchfoundation.org/spiritual-problems/demonic-possession/signs-of-demonic-possession/

Spiritual Science Research Foundation:

The main reason behind a person becoming a certain type of ghost or type of demon is due to their predominant personality trait and their
For example people involved in adversely affecting humanity at
predominant thought at the time of death.
large are more likely to become subtle-sorcerers. On the other hand excessive worldly desires and constantly
thinking ill about others may culminate in one becoming a common ghost after death. This also depends on how much the trait is ingrained in
oneself and how often it has manifested into action.
Spiritual Science Research Foundation. Types of Ghosts and Demons (devils, spirits, negative energies etc.)
http://www.spiritualresearchfoundation.org/spiritual-research/ghosts/types-of-ghosts-demons/
New Orleans Jesuit CS Feb 2017 The Curse of Castros Past

Glenn Garvin for the Miami Herald 2016:

The late and widely respected University of Hawaii historian R. J. Rummel, who made a
career out of studying what he termed democide, the killing of people by their own
government, reported in 1987 that credible estimates of the Castro regimes death toll ran
from 35,000 to 141,000, with a median of 73,000. I think thats a good range, says Smith. Its compatible with
what were comfortable using, which is tens of thousands.

Glenn Garvin. Red ink: The High Human Cost of the Cuban revolution. The Miami
Herald. December 1, 2016. http://www.miamiherald.com/news/nation-
world/world/americas/cuba/article118282148.html